Feild testors opinions

[Ballasar]

Greetings all. I am a recent convert to trolls.(actually new to hoards, dabbled a bit in circle) I have a battle box, DTM, and a unit of Fennblades. All of there where bought because I liked the look. Nothing more to it than that.

I was looking a the Runeshapers, Fell caller, and Champions as my next round of pickups. I know most folks love the Champs and the fell caller. What do people think of the Runeshapers? Chances are I'll still get them even if yall think they stink, but I may delay their purchase.

I havn't seen much said about them, so I thought I'd ask.

[Verjigorm]

I haven't used them yet, but I don't think they look terrible. Tremor is an out right useful ability, and rockhammer is still a cool pow 14 blast. Against infantry, you let the blasts scatter, against heavy targets you go for direct hits.

In all honestly, I say buy what you like. I respect very few of the opinions generally presented on this forum(in particular), because it seems that they were too caught up in Mk1 and can't get out of the rut of complaining about certain things, such as the Kriel Stone Bearer(he's so much of an auto-include, that I don't use him in over 50% of my games, and I do pretty good), cav and even runeshapers.

I play this game both for fun and for competition, and I pick models that I like the look and flavor over, and find ways to make them work. And I find enjoyment in my little metal men that way. If you're of that kind of mind frame, then I say go for what you like, and damn the torpedoes!

[Turtle]

Honestly, I really like how the runeshapers look.

[Elmiranda]

Now I have not heard anybody use them yet but I have come up with a good use. They combine well with KW since their UA grants them Steady. When your KW are engaged send in the Runeshapers to Tremor behind them to knock down the enemy. Then activate the KW to auto hit. What makes this even better is if the enemy had Shield Wall/Defensive Line as they lose it when they are knocked down. What makes it nasty is if you have Caber Throwers:)

[Stevenswayze]

I use these guys as flankbuster/defenders. They can create matchup issues on the sides, and they are tough enough to survive. You have to use them carefully but I find them invalueable in keeping people from just running around my Troll Champion wall and into my Krielstone unit.

They are also nice because they get up to magic attack 8 so they can reliably take out some pesky stuff.

Sometimes they are their own combo, just have them charge in, and the first one knocks everybody down and the other two then hit the knocked down models with pow14s. They are high enough arm to take the blast damage rolls which is great, and they do not have to worry about accidental crits knocking themselves down.

I like them. Not enough to get in every list but enough.

[Saerko]

Greetings all. I am a recent convert to trolls.(actually new to hoards, dabbled a bit in circle) I have a battle box, DTM, and a unit of Fennblades. All of there where bought because I liked the look. Nothing more to it than that.

Really, there never has to be anything more than that. This hobby attracts all kinds, and the rules are being tweaked so that whatever you bring is probably worthwhile.


I was looking a the Runeshapers, Fell caller, and Champions as my next round of pickups. I know most folks love the Champs and the fell caller. What do people think of the Runeshapers? Chances are I'll still get them even if yall think they stink, but I may delay their purchase.

The Fell Caller is good, but with the buff to Kriel Warriors and Long Riders, I find he's become much less necessary in quite a few of my lists. Also, since Madrak1 has Carnage, you've got an easy way to buff melee attack rolls without him. He's still a great model though, and it always helps to have a solo with Weapon Master on the field.

The Champions are solid, but if you get them you'll also probably want to pick up the Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes (KSB for short). The KSB can buff Champions up to ARM 20, and with Madrak you can run a classic TB list know as "The Brick". It's not required by any means, but it allows you to get a global +2 ARM bonus across a decent area, especially if you take the full unit plus its Unit Attachment, the Stone Scribe Elder.

The Runeshapers are definitely good, but I wouldn't necessarily run them on a flank like I think Stephenswayze is suggesting. Their best place is sitting right behind your Champions or Fennblades, and then either knocking down targets with Tremor or throwing out Rock Hammer attacks like candy. Make sure to get the bonus from having them within 1" of each other, which works best if you form them into a little triangle to bring their Magic Ability up to 8. They have a lot of Knockdown abilities, so with Madrak1 you'll definitely want to upkeep Sure Foot.

Welcome to the Kriels, and let us know if we can help out any other way!

[sepher32]

Play tested with the Runeshapers a couple times, they're solid, not spectacular I like them a lot with Calandra, but then what's not to like with Calandra. As has been said they function very well with the Kriel Warrior or Fennblade screen otherwise their short range and low defense will see them killed probably the turn after they throw their first Rock Hammers

[Negative9]

Pathfinder and wounds is what makes these guys. Typically, I have them on the flanks in concealment or cover. Generally anything that is fast enough to get a round the center mass of trolls has a hard time dealing with pow 14 direct hits or pow 7 blast damage.

[HandsomeDan]

I'm a big runeshaper fan. They slaughtered some aggravating bloodtrackers for me over the weekend. I may even get a second unit someday, but sadly the price is a little steep. Their MkII rules make them seem more worth it though.

[HandsomeDan]

Pathfinder and wounds is what makes these guys. Typically, I have them on the flanks in concealment or cover. Generally anything that is fast enough to get a round the center mass of trolls has a hard time dealing with pow 14 direct hits or pow 7 blast damage.

Wow I never even noticed they had pathfinder. I had grim put Cross-country on em and everything.

[sepher32]

Cross-country isn't a terrible buff for them. Shooting through forests is cool.

[Invader Larb]

I've played them and I love them. They Tremored warjacks for me and droped AOE's on all sorts of units. I think they are perfect at what they do for thier cost.

[Ballasar]

Thanks for the replys. Always thought the troll forum was the most helpful..if a bit of a downer from time to time:D

[kneemus]

Play with what you like. I played with BWs in MKI a lot with Grim because of a bit of fluff I read with him and a unit of BWs in it. I had fun with them. The forums are great for learning more about TBs. That's all we do here is talk about them. However I understand that I can "take or leave" a lot of the posts here.

Play with models you think are cool. You'll learn how to use them. The MKII dust will settle soon enough...

[i_like_tool]

I am not huge on Runeshapers. If they could shoot through our units, I've left feedback asking this, they would be much better. As they sit now, most of my opponents simply kill em before they do anything

[caramelthunder]

Play what you like. That's why I rarely play with the KSB anymore (stopped using it as anything but point filler a year ago) and why I owned two Pyres and two Blitzers pre-MKII. The champs are good on their own and get better with the different buffs. I used two fell callers in MKI: one to buff, the other to attack. Now one can do both, so two are awesome. So I say yes on the champs and fell caller. I have no experience with the runeshapers so my only advice is buy them if you really want them. Just remember that the field test isn't final. If you're like me and play stuff that aren't optimized because you like them, and you aren't like me and have the funds ;) then don't worry about the rules and buy them.