Tiered Armies?

[Festablo]

Hey guys,
I've been a long time fan of Warmachine and finally took the plunge last week. I bought a box of mage hunters, the unit leader, a mage hunter assassin, and Garryth. I mainly picked them up because I liked the way they looked and their fluff. My question is how are the tiered forces? I see they are pretty restricted. Are the benefits worth the restrictions? Has anyone used them? What were your thoughts? Thanks!

[thecsharian]

The tiered forces are quite restricted, but if you're going mage hunters it isn't too bad - if you're play Garryth you can field a fair few MHAs).

Over all, the benefits you get aren't terribly great, I'd think of the tiers as a way to play a highly themed force, and the rest is just gravy. (The restriction also help mitigate faction pewter addictions.)

All the forces are also reasonably viable, but quite directed to a certain type of play.

Since you have Garryth here's his tiers:
Garryth, Blade of Retribution: Assassins

Tier 1
Requirements: Garryth, non character jacks, mage hunter units, mage hunter assassins or nayl
Benefit: Mage Hunter Strike force are FA U. Mage Hunter FA increase by for each Mage Hunter unit included.
Tier 2
Requirements: In adddition to 1, include 3 ore moare mage hunter assassin solos.
Benefit: +1 on starting roll.
Tier 3
Requirements: In addition to 2, inlcude 3 mage hunter strike force units each iwth souless escort attachments.
Benefits: Add Nayl for free
Tier 4
Requirements: In addition to 2, include only light warjacks.
Benefit: Battletroup gains AD.

Which I personally find to be quite comparable to those for Kaelyssa:

Kaelyssa, Night's Whisper: Shadows of Retribution

Tier 1
Requirements: Kaelyssa, non character warjacks, mage hunters (includes Eiryss and Narn), arcanists solos, ghost sniper solos or mage hunter solos.
Benefit: Mag Hunter Strike Force are FA U
Tier 2
Requirements: In addition to 1, include to more more mage hunter strike force.
Benefit: UA for free ignoring FA
Tier 3
Requirements: In addition to 2, include 4 or more mage hunter solos
Benefit: Redeploy any one mage hunter model/unit
Tier 4
Requirements: In addition to 3, include 3 or more warjacks.
Benefit: Your deployment is extended 2"