New Warmachine Player - Playing in Local Fight Club

[RPM44]

Hello everyone, this is my first post, as I just recently picked up this game and I'm very much so still trying to get a grasp on things. I'm playing in a fight club at a local shop here in Springfield, IL and I was hoping I could get some critique on my lists for this month and next, and maybe some suggestions on where to go from here.

For the first month we are limited to just casters and jacks in a 15pt Mangled Metal / Tooth and Claw format so I opted to just go with the Cryx battle box, as it seemed as the easiest way to start playing. The second month we're allowed 25pts and originally I was what I think was a bit jack heavy, so I changed my list. In the following months it moves to a 35pt and 50pt list respectively.

I'm looking for a mobile force with decent ranged units, and I'm not even sure that's a possibility with Cryx. Any and all feedback would be appreciated. This is what I'm currently working with:

Month 1 (15pts)
War witch Deneghra -5
Deathripper +4
Deathripper +4
Defiler +5
Slayer +6

Month 2 (25pts)

First I was going to go with:
War witch Deneghra -5
Deathripper +4
Deathripper +4
Defiler +5
Slayer +6
Helldiver +3
Nightwretch +4
Nightwretch +4

After realizing this is too Jack heavy and I'd spread my focus too thin I went with this:

War witch Deneghra -5
Deathripper +4
Deathripper +4
Defiler +5
Slayer +6
Withershadow Combine +5
Black Ogrun Boarding Party +4
Skarlock +2
Bloat Thrall +2

I'm hoping that with this list I'll be able to use the boarding party to pull jacks to the combine, and let them do their thing, but this is only a theory. Also, I like the Bloat Thrall's Arcing fire, so hopefully it'll all work out.

Again, any comments or suggestions are very welcomed, as I really don't have a clue as to what I'm doing. My list for the second month still isn't submitted so I can change that. Also, I don't know what I'm going to add going forward into the 3rd and 4th months.

Thanks for the help,
-Rob

[Redphantasm]

It can be tough to go "ranged heavy and mobile" with Cryx. They are not really the army for run and gun. They can do mobile, they have some good guns, but for that playstyle they can't hold a flame to Retribution or Cygnar.

Your first 25 pt list is certainly too jack heavy. In general I think you have too many arc nodes. The bonechickens can fight for sure, but most players use them as arc nodes first. I'd bring 2 at the lower point levels, maybe 3 at higher (35+)

Second list looks good. My only worry would be that you are getting into the combine too soon. As a character unit with lots of rules they can be a bit of an investment in points and plans. You might want to consider more of a main line unit, first. Mechanithralls are a good pick.

Hopefully some of the more dedicated Cryx players will post here next, they can give you more army specific advice about later lists and tactics.