Highlander Caster

[MrChomperz]

I have a Highlander tournament coming up, that is one jack and one caster, and was curious to what the win game combos are. This is going to be a big free for all with maybe around 15 players on one table.

I was thinking about
pAsphixious
Deathjack

or
pDenegra
Nightmare

I have been toying with
pDenegra
Defiler

and have had great success, that was a very fast list and throwing crippling grasp on a jack takes it out of the game.


I hear a bunch of talk that Goreshade works best at this low levels, but I have never played him. Love the model and fluff though, might try him out.

If anyone has any experience in this format let me know.

[Blasterbonatti]

Goreshade and Deathjack dude. Deathjack because, well, why wouldn't you? And Goreshade because:

1) he can make himself and DJ stealthy (and I would imagine there'll be a lot of big guns at this game!)

2) he gets a free unit of infantry, which will give you a definite one up on most people. Not to mention they're pretty decent at the old 'jack beating.

3) Mage Blighting that many casters would be hilarious.

Don't use Denny, she can be a real pain but with only 1 jack she's not got much to seal the deal after she makes your enemies useless.

[Jyggdrasil]

Aye - Goreshade and the DeathJack FTW!

But be prepared for everyone else to hate you for it :)

[the pirate king]

Yeah, what number 2 said. But as number 3 said, everyone will hate you if you do. :D

[Gorg]

also, dont forget you get the deathwalker with him from the beginning of the game. thats 9 models on your side vs usually 2 models on the enemies side. now thats dirty. :p

[bjorkgnu]

My fav Cryx caster for a Highlander is eSkarre. She works very well with whatever 'jack you give her, and in the event that you lose your 'jack, she can still beat face on her own.

One might think that Obvious Casters are Obvious (pGoreshade, pVlad, etc), but they usually don't fare so well for the exact reason that Jyggdrasil cited - everyone will hate you for it, and won't hesitate to form a temporary alliance and gang up on you to get you off the field.

Last time we did a Highlander (still Mk I at the time), it came down to eDeneghra and Karchev. eDenny was slowly wearing him down with spells, and he couldn't catch her due to Predation, but eventually the eDenny player got sloppy and Karchev caught and pasted her.

[2LiveIs2Die]

Do not take gorshade.
You will be the first out because people think you're a butthead D:
I would personally take Deathjack with any caster that can allow him to ignore free strikes, or increase his speed. Fast jack is fast.

[blakeh1]

My fav Cryx caster for a Highlander is eSkarre. She works very well with whatever 'jack you give her, and in the event that you lose your 'jack, she can still beat face on her own.


Epic Skarre does seem good. Admonition could really come in handy. And yes, she can be a nice beaststick on her own

I'm thinking Mortenebra might also be a good option since she can repair her jack, something which I don't think any caster except Darius can do, Plus you get a Skarlock who can use Doom Spiral to get some direct damage on casters via there jacks as well as extending her control range for purposes of focus allocation. Mortenebra and Deathjack would probably be the best combo since the Deathjack can cast some of her spells like Doom Spiral as well and Spectral Steel will help him out

[MrChomperz]

Thanks for the tips, I will try out some combos before I play in the event.

I like the idea of eSkarre. She is a workhorse already and has a spell for every occasion. Plus I already have her painted.

[Rave0183]

Epic Skarre does seem good. Admonition could really come in handy. And yes, she can be a nice beaststick on her own

I'm thinking Mortenebra might also be a good option since she can repair her jack, something which I don't think any caster except Darius can do, Plus you get a Skarlock who can use Doom Spiral to get some direct damage on casters via there jacks as well as extending her control range for purposes of focus allocation. Mortenebra and Deathjack would probably be the best combo since the Deathjack can cast some of her spells like Doom Spiral as well and Spectral Steel will help him out

Personally. I agree with the Goreshade comments. People will hate you...people will kill you first...so unless you plan on staying in your deployment all game...don;t take him.

Eskarre. Amazing. Perdition, admonition...5focus deathjack with Deathward...hard to take down. I vote her...plus the feat..is just wrong. Here's my jack... RUN! Ok now u cant attack me...muaha. Being her feat is both offensive and defensive is amazing.

Morty can be good...repair is nice. But most of her "tricks" are based off killing things. Unless you just want to use TV, and charge a 5foc deathjack with lots of boosted attacks into a caster and they die. Deryliss will be a prime target though i can tell you that much.

But as stated...stay away from Goreshade...even though his spell list lone is just amazing for this format regardless of feat...people will hate you, you will die....I'd go with Eskarre...she's fun. :D

[bjorkgnu]

@Blakeh1 - Morty did make my short list, and she's got a lot going for her, but ultimately I went with eSkarre because if and when Morty loses her warjack (and it almost always happens sooner or later), she's really got very little left to offer. She's all support. eSkarre is support plus beatstick.

[ResurrectioN]

http://privateerpress.com/files/imagecache/1up/products/cryx/warcasters/goreshade-the-bastard-and-deathwalker.png http://privateerpress.com/files/imagecache/1up/products/cryx/warjacks/deathjack.png

[Jyggdrasil]

...but where is the picture of everybody hating you?
:)

[Invaderzahn]

...but where is the picture of everybody hating you?
:)


I think that would be a picture of Karchev and a picture of a Sock.

[ErsatzGnomes]

you don't get deathwalker- it doesn't start in play =P

otherwise goreshade is the "busted" list to use.

For style points though, I'd say take coven and something silly like levi to just hide and snipe people all game

[2LiveIs2Die]

you don't get deathwalker- it doesn't start in play =P

otherwise goreshade is the "busted" list to use.

For style points though, I'd say take coven and something silly like levi to just hide and snipe people all game
Sure she does...
"...This model is included in any army or horde that includes Goreshade the Bastard..."

[Kaptain Von]

If you don't want to endure hate for packing Goreshade (it's a valid option, but if your group has any easily bruised scrub egos who play by invisible rules then you might want to take something a bit less format-breaking), try the Coven with the Deathjack. Use Occultation, Ghost Walk and Veil of Mists to move the brute upfield in safety, switching to Infernal Machine and a pseudo-arced Curse of Shadows to wreak havoc, flinging Stygian Abyss at counter-attackers via Necromancy... ahh, 'tis poetry in motion. You could even try using one Coven member like a Skarlock, as a semi-disposable spell support solo, since two of them will still have enough focus to keep the Deathjack charged up.

[ResurrectioN]

...but where is the picture of everybody hating you?
:)
They will have to distribute their hate on Kreos+Avatar and eHaley+thorn so it will be easier to carry that burden :)

Does Old witch come with Scrappy + jack of choice in this format?


I think that would be a picture of Karchev and a picture of a Sock.
DJ is better for socking. Lighter - sure, but more sharp edges :)


you don't get deathwalker- it doesn't start in play =P

otherwise goreshade is the "busted" list to use.

For style points though, I'd say take coven and something silly like levi to just hide and snipe people all game

If there are supposed to be "about 15 players on one table" witches are gonna die fast. I wouldn't take caster who can't kill jack all by him/herself.

Goreshade>eSkarre>Gaspy + DJ

[hauntingexperience]

I'd say Terminus and the Deathjack. The 2 Foc allows Terminus to camp focus so he can weather a storm or two.

[ResurrectioN]

Terminus has no feat and 2 of his abilities don't work in that format.

[hauntingexperience]

Terminus has no feat and 2 of his abilities don't work in that format.

Is it MK1 or Mk2?

[Jyggdrasil]

you don't get deathwalker- it doesn't start in play =P

It does in mk2.

One of the changes from mk1 to mk2 was an assumption that GShade had, at some point in his long undeath, killed a living model. :)

[MrChomperz]

Is it MK1 or Mk2?

This is a MK2 tournament for warmachine and hordes.

[bjorkgnu]

Does Old witch come with Scrappy + jack of choice in this format?
Yeah. "Bonus" models (e.g. Scrapjack, Deryliss, Halfjacks, etc.) that come with a caster don't count toward the one caster + one warjack limit.

[blakeh1]

If there are supposed to be "about 15 players on one table" witches are gonna die fast. I wouldn't take caster who can't kill jack all by him/herself.

I agree. You definitely need a caster who can take care of business with jacks unassisted. The coven is much more of a support caster and if anyone gets to the Egrgore, they are all dead anyway.

Speaking of beatsticks, I wonder if Terminus would do well in this format. He can definitely handle his own. He would just be upkeeping Maldeiction and giving focus to his jack. His MK1 feat would have been better though since it prevent focus allocation to warjacks as well.

[blakeh1]

I had not considered him earlier, but Prime Asphyxious might also make a good option since he can use Shadow wings to get him out of tight spots.

Running him with the Deathjack would work also and he has a good spell list for it to utilize, plus if Asphyxious has to hoof it with Shadow wings the Deathjack can stay behind and run on the focus it gets from the skulls of hate or any living caster(s) it happened to eat the turn before

With Scything touch/parasite he should be able to take on the heaviest jacks as well if needed.

[Ersatz Nihilist]

What's wrong with being hated for playing Goreshade?

Goreshade... the Bastard.

That said, I wouldn't go into a game like this with a *must win* mentality as there's too much chaos and random stuff happening all over the place to make a plan workable.

I'd go for Asphyxious and the Cankerworm. Make hit and runs with your extra advance on Canker, and generally sow chaos and discord with those nasty caustic mists.

[hauntingexperience]

MK2? Well in that case Goreshade all the way!

[Galleon]

Play goreshade and deathjack. You will have to to compete with the other factions gay combos. Like daruis and jack , kreos and avatar , karchev and behemoth and many more.