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Post by gedditoffme on Jan 31, 2019 13:22:57 GMT
Hello,
Preparing for a big tourney and want to minimise gotchas. Im thinking of focusing reading on most common themes, casters, options etc that have appeared in top 3s of discount games tourney tracker.
Anyone know an easy way to mass download and analyse the lists in discount games inc? I've seen some graphs for most common choices by faction within major tourneys- is this app widely available?
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Post by gedditoffme on Jan 31, 2019 13:24:08 GMT
Typos everywhere: clearly awake too late. Sorry about that, bed time
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Post by deathbymelancholy on Jan 31, 2019 19:06:36 GMT
I am completely unaware of a way to do that which you wish. I would look at the ATC stats to identify what the big players will be, and then filter that down to the casters/locks used.
And of course this means nothing if your local meta doesn't like that stuff. Circle, Skorne, Crucible Guard are always good bets lately. But Trolls, Cryx, Ret, Mercs, etc can't be discounted. Its really wide open right now without knowing something of your personal area.
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Post by gedditoffme on Jan 31, 2019 20:53:57 GMT
And of course this means nothing if your local meta doesn't like that stuff. Circle, Skorne, Crucible Guard are always good bets lately. But Trolls, Cryx, Ret, Mercs, etc can't be discounted. Its really wide open right now without knowing something of your personal area. All of this is difficult when travelling interstate for a tournament |
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Post by hocestbellum on Jan 31, 2019 21:46:31 GMT
Quick Cliff's notes version:
Circle is riding high with Devourer's Host. Iona seems to be the most popular caster there by a margin. Strong trend of Wurmwood and Kreuger2 Bones. Bones and DH are the big themes
Protectorate has High Reclaimer and Harbinger, commonly in Exemplar Interdiction, very commonly with a Judicator
Skorne is basically defined by its huge bases. Themes will be Exalted and Warhost, most likely, watch out for Rasheth Winds of Death. Makeda3 is popular
Any Khador pair will have Armoured Corps, but it's hard to say the caster. Vlad2, Irusk2, Sorscha3 most likely. Any Ret pair will have Legions of Dawn, where Goreshade4 is popular, as is Issyria.
Trolls are commonly running Borka or Kolgrima. Storm of the North is a gimmie, other list is far more varied.
Mercs is commonly Ossrum or Magnus2, and the theme will be Irregulars
Legion will almost certainly have Primal Terrors with a Blightbringer, probably run by Anamag or Kallus1
Cryx could be running anything they like, but Gaspy 3 Black Industries, Skarre1 Dark Host, and Skarre 3 Slaughter Fleet Raiders are probably the main ones.
Not really sure what Cygnar is running at the moment, but I'd be surprised if you didn't see Gravediggers with Haley 3 or Brisbane 2
That's just my view from scanning things like conflict chamber and discount games tournaments.
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Post by sand20go on Jan 31, 2019 22:13:06 GMT
This is just so hard and really why, to be blunt, a relatively few guys (and it is all guys) win big "travel to get their tournaments". It takes YEARS of playing - probably at least 150 games a year - before you are able to see everything and commit to memory all of it. Themes (and bonds) have only made that harder. Trying to game it out in advance I think is a fools quest (and yes, _I_ have been a fool)
But I get it. Airfare is expensive. Your time if valuable. You want to do well.
So here are some ideas.
First and foremost, KNOW YOUR LIST(S). Beyond stopping any gotchas this is the first thing you should ALWAYS do. By that I mean know all their stats, all their rules, all their activations, etc. etc. etc. DO NOT get caught unawares. IN many ways you should have ONE list you have been playing really for a year. Now if they CID'ed you that may not be true but generally this should be the case. For example, I have been playing Vlad2 in AC since at LEAST June and there are still things I screw up - like forgetting the exact distance for Rightous Vengeance (5 inches) and how that should impact where Vlad2 is on turn 2. You WILL win games if familiarity with your lists puts you less in the tank.
Second, during list selection go over the feat and the spells of your opponents two casters - especially if unfamiliar with them. Do you understand them and their interactions? Is something "odd" that isn't intuitive (San looks right at Essence Blast and Mordikar or Zerkova2's feat). Ask your opponent. Many will tell you but some might not. Play conservatively if it isn't clear until their plan reveals itself. Remember, your number one job is to keep your caster alive.
THird, examine Solos (and Horde's beasts). MOST of these are where threat extension and defensive and offensive layering exist.
Fourth, theme benefits SHOULD be listed on the SR sheets (but sometimes are not). ASK your opponent if unfamiliar with the benefits. Open information, they should tell you.
Fifth, look at Jacks/beasts to understand threat extenders and anything that "breaks the rules" (yes, along with Mordikar San is looking at the Archidon's Long leash).
And lastly, have fun! Put your chances in perspective. Again, to really excel at the upper levels of this game in big cons (top 2 tables) you have to make warmachine a way of life. Most of us don't. So accept that, push your metal men around and roll crits to piss off the good players.
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Post by albertairish on Feb 1, 2019 15:56:39 GMT
In addition to what hocestbellum laid out, Grymkin are fairly popular as well, mostly still running Pat Dunford's lists from last year (The Dreamer in a beast brick with lots of Gremlin Swarms, Old Witch 3 with the same). If you're not familiar with Arcana, it'd be good to give them a read ahead of time.
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Post by gedditoffme on Feb 1, 2019 21:05:38 GMT
In addition to what hocestbellum laid out, Grymkin are fairly popular as well, mostly still running Pat Dunford's lists from last year (The Dreamer in a beast brick with lots of Gremlin Swarms, Old Witch 3 with the same). If you're not familiar with Arcana, it'd be good to give them a read ahead of time. Thinking of taking Grymkin dreamer, so hopefully across that  Hard to pick her weaknesses: though I think some of the new hotness circle feels bad for her list: Iona looks terrifying |
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Post by albertairish on Feb 3, 2019 14:32:55 GMT
In addition to what hocestbellum laid out, Grymkin are fairly popular as well, mostly still running Pat Dunford's lists from last year (The Dreamer in a beast brick with lots of Gremlin Swarms, Old Witch 3 with the same). If you're not familiar with Arcana, it'd be good to give them a read ahead of time. Thinking of taking Grymkin dreamer, so hopefully across that Hard to pick her weaknesses: though I think some of the new hotness circle feels bad for her list: Iona looks terrifying The new Skorne (Exalted) isn't great either. |
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Juris
Junior Strategist
Posts: 578 
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Post by Juris on Feb 5, 2019 20:11:25 GMT
This is just so hard and really why, to be blunt, a relatively few guys (and it is all guys) win big "travel to get their tournaments". It takes YEARS of playing - probably at least 150 games a year - before you are able to see everything and commit to memory all of it. Themes (and bonds) have only made that harder. Trying to game it out in advance I think is a fools quest (and yes, _I_ have been a fool) But I get it. Airfare is expensive. Your time if valuable. You want to do well. So here are some ideas. First and foremost, KNOW YOUR LIST(S). Beyond stopping any gotchas this is the first thing you should ALWAYS do. By that I mean know all their stats, all their rules, all their activations, etc. etc. etc. DO NOT get caught unawares. IN many ways you should have ONE list you have been playing really for a year. Now if they CID'ed you that may not be true but generally this should be the case. For example, I have been playing Vlad2 in AC since at LEAST June and there are still things I screw up - like forgetting the exact distance for Rightous Vengeance (5 inches) and how that should impact where Vlad2 is on turn 2. You WILL win games if familiarity with your lists puts you less in the tank. Second, during list selection go over the feat and the spells of your opponents two casters - especially if unfamiliar with them. Do you understand them and their interactions? Is something "odd" that isn't intuitive (San looks right at Essence Blast and Mordikar or Zerkova2's feat). Ask your opponent. Many will tell you but some might not. Play conservatively if it isn't clear until their plan reveals itself. Remember, your number one job is to keep your caster alive. THird, examine Solos (and Horde's beasts). MOST of these are where threat extension and defensive and offensive layering exist. Fourth, theme benefits SHOULD be listed on the SR sheets (but sometimes are not). ASK your opponent if unfamiliar with the benefits. Open information, they should tell you. Fifth, look at Jacks/beasts to understand threat extenders and anything that "breaks the rules" (yes, along with Mordikar San is looking at the Archidon's Long leash). And lastly, have fun! Put your chances in perspective. Again, to really excel at the upper levels of this game in big cons (top 2 tables) you have to make warmachine a way of life. Most of us don't. So accept that, push your metal men around and roll crits to piss off the good players. There are actually a handful of women who travel to tournaments and are capable of winning big events. Mostly east of the Rockies, however. |
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