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Post by Gamingdevil on Jan 24, 2020 7:35:44 GMT
So, the good doctor is apparently an LVO pre-release, which means that his rules are up for grabs for us to gush over. Note that, in light of this thread he will not take up the Merc slot in Scourge of the Broken Coast (nor in Black Industries), so becomes a very valid contender for a caster attachment. I could see him appearing alongside Deneghra 1 and Skarre 1 in Scourge, where he can cast their support spells without having to off one of your own models. Other casters might still find the free upkeep and Sucker! that the Blood Priestess brings valuable, so there is still a contest here. I have no idea why anyone would ever play a Skarlock again in Black Industries though. If you make the swap, you basically lose the Undead and Thrall markers, as well as Dark Fire and Soul Taker, which are all things I've rarely used, if ever. In exchange you gain Stealth, a much better stat line, an extra Magic Ability, healing for your living casters, Pathfinder and actually useful melee capabilities. It's also quite big for Ghost Fleet, which didn't have any caster attachment available at all, up until now. Though I don't think you will want to use your Merc slot on him most of the time, but having the option does seem nice. |
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Deller
Junior Strategist
I’m on a Boat
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Post by Deller on Jan 24, 2020 14:03:54 GMT
I doubt I’ll ever play a Skarlock again. Stygius is a massive upgrade, & I’m pretty sure he goes in every Skarre1 list even when you need to use the Merc slot.
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Post by tiberius on Jan 24, 2020 16:11:02 GMT
Its nice to see Cephalyx getting some love too. I agree, a straight upgrade to the skarlock. I have no idea why I would ever play one again unless I am hard up for a spell slave and need my merc slot for something else. I guess technically a skarlock can be a requisition slot while Dr. Stygius cannot. But the abilities he brings are just straight up better in pretty much every category. I don't know if I have ever had the skarlock actually gain a soul token for boosting, that would be really the only thing that would set him apart.
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Post by gedditoffme on Jan 25, 2020 7:13:06 GMT
I think the req point could be significant in dark host, which sometimes struggles to use all 3 points. Eg skarre1 with bane riders can take blt and machine wraiths but no obvious 3rd choice.
But agree he is basically redundant outside a few edge cases.
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Post by custardboy on Jan 25, 2020 7:26:47 GMT
Plus, having 3 spell slaves and 1 sorta-spell slave in the same faction is just silly. And 2 of the attachments have a free upkeep. Hopefully rather than just making the Scarlock cheaper, they give him a different ability altogether. The casters who don't have spells to slave would sure appreciate an attachment.
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Deller
Junior Strategist
I’m on a Boat
Posts: 605
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Post by Deller on Jan 27, 2020 6:43:32 GMT
I think the req point could be significant in dark host, which sometimes struggles to use all 3 points. Eg skarre1 with bane riders can take blt and machine wraiths but no obvious 3rd choice. But agree he is basically redundant outside a few edge cases. Even though he uses the merc slot, Stygius can be a Req card in Dark Host & Ghost Fleet. The Skarlock’s niche is gone. |
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Post by Gamingdevil on Jan 27, 2020 7:51:51 GMT
The Skarlock definitely needs a new niche. It should probably keep Spell Slave, but aside from that, anything is fair game. Personally, I think Arcane Repeater would be great and I think that might even keep him at the same cost (Runebearer is 5 points, but also has Harmonious Exaltation). If he must go to 5, adding something minor, like Soul Taker: Collector and/or Soul Transfer (from the Soul Trapper) would be pretty cool.
But, as it stands now, the Skarlock Thrall is definitely dead to me, and not the good kind.
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Post by tiberius on Jan 27, 2020 11:28:26 GMT
I would like to see it have some sort of tactics ability for thralls in its command range. It would at least make me consider it in our thrall theme. Maybe give out tough, + to a stat or something, reposition? Lots of options.
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Post by thebuoyancyofwater on Jan 28, 2020 10:33:16 GMT
I would like to see it have some sort of tactics ability for thralls in its command range. It would at least make me consider it in our thrall theme. Maybe give out tough, + to a stat or something, reposition? Lots of options. Maybe something more thematic would be magic attacks and/or blessed? |
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Post by Gamingdevil on Jan 28, 2020 12:17:56 GMT
I would like to see it have some sort of tactics ability for thralls in its command range. It would at least make me consider it in our thrall theme. Maybe give out tough, + to a stat or something, reposition? Lots of options. Maybe something more thematic would be magic attacks and/or blessed? Admonia from the Withershadow Combine already has Sigil of Power, so that would just cause more overlap again. Also, I almost never have a need to use Blessed or Magical Weapons on a stick, even when I do have it. Sure, it's nice to have, but it should probably be more of a "free" ability, rather than the unique selling point of a model. For instance, Admonia gives a free upkeep, Dark Fire, and has Sigil of Power, Tremelus has Puppet Master and Dark Fire, Maelovus has Spell Slave and Dark Fire. The unit is often taken for the combination of their three first abilities, casting the second only when they have nothing better to do. Note how Sigil of Power is an additional ability that Admonia has over the others, that is used in maybe 10% of games with them (number pulled from my own experience) |
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Post by tiberius on Jan 28, 2020 16:50:34 GMT
Or even let it start with a soul token or generate them? That may be too OP for someone like Deneghra 3 that can reposition them to herself and turn one soul into 3 focus for jacks or a spell. But allowing them with that free boost to start is what made the Circle tharn something to be feared, allowing them to start with corpses in their theme.
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Post by thebuoyancyofwater on Jan 29, 2020 4:33:16 GMT
Maybe something more thematic would be magic attacks and/or blessed? Admonia from the Withershadow Combine already has Sigil of Power, so that would just cause more overlap again. Also, I almost never have a need to use Blessed or Magical Weapons on a stick, even when I do have it. Sure, it's nice to have, but it should probably be more of a "free" ability, rather than the unique selling point of a model. For instance, Admonia gives a free upkeep, Dark Fire, and has Sigil of Power, Tremelus has Puppet Master and Dark Fire, Maelovus has Spell Slave and Dark Fire. The unit is often taken for the combination of their three first abilities, casting the second only when they have nothing better to do. Note how Sigil of Power is an additional ability that Admonia has over the others, that is used in maybe 10% of games with them (number pulled from my own experience) Fair enough. Not 100% on the ins and outs of Cryx, so didn't spot the overlap. Cheers, Dave |
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Post by gedditoffme on Jan 31, 2020 10:39:10 GMT
There used to be stories of skarlocks acting in lieu’of bust warcasters. Eg skirmish scenarios where a skarlock acted as a warcaster with Asphyxious’ spell list.
I think it would be interesting to treat the skarlocks cmd range as the attached warcasters control range. It would be interesting with some warcasters and different from arcane assist or admonis or the satyxis.
Could be fun with pDenny: to spread the withering further. Likewise with a few feats.
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Post by grudgeonion on Feb 6, 2020 2:04:01 GMT
Thralls in theory are cheap and play well with recursion, what if the Skarlock after being killed had a rule allowing their Warcaster to return them to play by spending focus?
Alternatively, after being killed, you could nominate a small based warrior model in your CTRL to be replaced by your Skarlock at the start of your turn.
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Post by Gamingdevil on Feb 6, 2020 7:33:48 GMT
Thralls in theory are cheap and play well with recursion, what if the Skarlock after being killed had a rule allowing their Warcaster to return them to play by spending focus? Alternatively, after being killed, you could nominate a small based warrior model in your CTRL to be replaced by your Skarlock at the start of your turn. Normal thralls are easily mass produced, but Skarlocks are highly intelligent and normally take more complex rituals to create. |
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