Post by Armchair Warrior on Dec 9, 2018 14:42:00 GMT
So, let’s talk about Wolves of Winter and warjacks.
One big question I’m struggling with, especially in light of the Season 9 ADR lineup, is whether or not its a good idea to bring a colossal. Vlad 2 and Irusk 2 really appreciate a Victor in their lineup. However, I’ve found Wolves’ primary win condition is scenario, and I think bringing just one colossal disadvantages you in a world where 4 scenarios have two rectangle zones, and you want to be able to score both (or at least threaten scoring both).
Now, you could fit in both Vicky as well as an 8 point jack and still have 60-61 army points with nearly all of our casters. So...Here me out here, and let me me make a theory machine case for the lowly Mad Dog and Berserker.
In two of the current scenarios, the far rectangle zone is 19” and 20” from your deployment line if you go first. Bringing a jack that can move upfield at least 10” per turn puts you in a position to score the far zone starting at the bottom of 2.
If you’re bringing multiple large heavies, then you might logically reach for a Kodiak. This is a fairly obvious choice - he runs 10”, and has native pathfinder.
But what if you brought Vicky and you’re playing Spread the Net or Stand-off? Well, if brought a Mad Dog, you can hustle that bad boy up 10” per turn without having brought any additional caster support. If you brought Vlad 2 or Irusk 2, you can trample 11” or run 12” due to Assail and Energizer.
The problem I’m having with that idea is that the Mad Dog isn’t going to solve any other problems for your army other than scoring, and for those same 8 points you could have brought Fenris, so I don’t love the option.
So this then brings me back to the question of whether your always better off leaving your colossal at home and bringing 2 or 3 heavies instead. This then raises the follow on question of - 2 or 3, and which ones.
Two is logical - more points for Doomreavers, and you probably brought Ruin (because why the hell not), so you can bring one more jack and not dig deep into army points. But I hate only bringing a Plan A with no backup Plan B. That leads me back to the Berserker, who you can squeeze in for 8 points.
Thinking more broadly, what jacks do you want to reach for in a Wolves list?
#1. Ruin. Because, well, Ruin.
#2. Marauder. I think Wolves struggles a bit with Colossals, and Ruin (who might deal nicely with an Arcane Shielded colossal) is going to have a huge target on his back.
#3. Kodiak. This is the only high quality jack that you can always reliably get downfield to a far zone, regardless of terrain.
So that’s 41 points if you brought all 3, which feels like a lot, leaving you only 61-62 army points, especially since Wolves lists without 5 units of doomreavers feel a bit flimsy, which brings me back to potentially swapping in an 8 point heavy.
And finally, since Vlad 2 is in our ADR lineup, is Drago worth it? You can easily get him up to DEF 15 against ranged attacks, so there’s that.
Thoughts?
One big question I’m struggling with, especially in light of the Season 9 ADR lineup, is whether or not its a good idea to bring a colossal. Vlad 2 and Irusk 2 really appreciate a Victor in their lineup. However, I’ve found Wolves’ primary win condition is scenario, and I think bringing just one colossal disadvantages you in a world where 4 scenarios have two rectangle zones, and you want to be able to score both (or at least threaten scoring both).
Now, you could fit in both Vicky as well as an 8 point jack and still have 60-61 army points with nearly all of our casters. So...Here me out here, and let me me make a theory machine case for the lowly Mad Dog and Berserker.
In two of the current scenarios, the far rectangle zone is 19” and 20” from your deployment line if you go first. Bringing a jack that can move upfield at least 10” per turn puts you in a position to score the far zone starting at the bottom of 2.
If you’re bringing multiple large heavies, then you might logically reach for a Kodiak. This is a fairly obvious choice - he runs 10”, and has native pathfinder.
But what if you brought Vicky and you’re playing Spread the Net or Stand-off? Well, if brought a Mad Dog, you can hustle that bad boy up 10” per turn without having brought any additional caster support. If you brought Vlad 2 or Irusk 2, you can trample 11” or run 12” due to Assail and Energizer.
The problem I’m having with that idea is that the Mad Dog isn’t going to solve any other problems for your army other than scoring, and for those same 8 points you could have brought Fenris, so I don’t love the option.
So this then brings me back to the question of whether your always better off leaving your colossal at home and bringing 2 or 3 heavies instead. This then raises the follow on question of - 2 or 3, and which ones.
Two is logical - more points for Doomreavers, and you probably brought Ruin (because why the hell not), so you can bring one more jack and not dig deep into army points. But I hate only bringing a Plan A with no backup Plan B. That leads me back to the Berserker, who you can squeeze in for 8 points.
Thinking more broadly, what jacks do you want to reach for in a Wolves list?
#1. Ruin. Because, well, Ruin.
#2. Marauder. I think Wolves struggles a bit with Colossals, and Ruin (who might deal nicely with an Arcane Shielded colossal) is going to have a huge target on his back.
#3. Kodiak. This is the only high quality jack that you can always reliably get downfield to a far zone, regardless of terrain.
So that’s 41 points if you brought all 3, which feels like a lot, leaving you only 61-62 army points, especially since Wolves lists without 5 units of doomreavers feel a bit flimsy, which brings me back to potentially swapping in an 8 point heavy.
And finally, since Vlad 2 is in our ADR lineup, is Drago worth it? You can easily get him up to DEF 15 against ranged attacks, so there’s that.
Thoughts?
