New to Jack Marshalling. Train me?

[Silopolis]

So, my other factions are Cryx and Trollbloods (and some Skorne), so I haven't really done anything with Jack Marshals. Retribution is positively brimming with them, though. So I wondered, what's the deal?

Any general pointers for working with jack marshals? I'm starting more or less from square 1, here, but it seems like the better jacks for marshalling are the Griffon (good with the Invictors/Scyir), the Gorgon (a lot of neat no-Focus-required tricks) or the Hydra (give it Focus with the Arcanist, or let it build focus as it gets hit). That sound about right?

What considerations make a jack good for Marshaling? What qualities do you look for? What, in the end, determines whether you take a jack to be marshaled, or whether you let it stay in the caster's battlegroup? Do you find the loss of the marshaling character to be a major handicap for a marshaled jack?

[Lighten]

I've had good luck marshalling a Griffon with Invictors. I don't own a Gorgon yet, and of course you can't arc through a marshalled jack, so Chimera is out.

I'm not a Hydra fan, but I don't like it marshalled in theory... arcanist can only give it focus if it has none, and sitting on one focus for P+S 13 range 13 isn't that great. I don't like relying on my opponent to charge me.

I'm playing with marshalling Manticores and Phoenixes to Sentinels lately. Manticores can still get all 3 shots (and often aiming, with Pronto), and +6" of threat range in melee for -1 focus seems like an interesting trade. I have had the issue that it's easier for people to keep the Manticore out of combat, though - shake off is in the control phase, and you can't get focus to the Manticore in that phase if it's been knocked down. You can still stand back up and shoot, though.

And I haven't tried it yet, but I really want to marshall a Phoenix, just to walk 12" and then combust (followed by two P+S 19 reach attacks).

Lighten

[FranzGrenstein]

You might want to ask the Searforge players they have a lot of jack marshals and get a lot of milage out of them.

Not trying to put down the question; I am in the same boat as you.

Edit: I thought you lost your inital attacks when you combust. If you think about it thats a 13" combust.

[Lighten]

I mainly see using the heavies with Sentinels + 1-2 arcanists. So with 2" radius combust, pronto 6" + walk 6" + combust 2", and then spend 1 focus from arcanist and 1 pseudo-focus from jack marshall for the two attacks (which are P+S 19 if another arcanist gave you +2 damage).

Lighten

[kc7sbp]

During its activation a marshalled 'jack can gain one of the following benefits:

-It can use its normal movement to run or charge.
-It can make one additional attack during its combat action.
-It can boost one attack or damage roll.

If I understand it all correctly, the real advantage to using a 'jack marshal comes into play if you want to set up a strategy that requires a 'jack to be outside the warcaster's control area. A marshaled 'jack is more effective than a warcaster's 'jack outside of the caster's control area, but (considerably) less effective than a warcaster's 'jack within its caster's control area. Which I could see as a solid strategy if you want to set up a reinforced flanking attack or you want to hold your warcaster back for whatever reason.

[Ger]

Edit: I thought you lost your inital attacks when you combust.

Combust is a *attack yes? Then you do loose initial attacks. However, you still get to make additional attacks as possible.

[CeltKhan]

If I understand it all correctly, the real advantage to using a 'jack marshal comes into play if you want to set up a strategy that requires a 'jack to be outside the warcaster's control area. A marshaled 'jack is more effective than a warcaster's 'jack outside of the caster's control area, but (considerably) less effective than a warcaster's 'jack within its caster's control area. Which I could see as a solid strategy if you want to set up a reinforced flanking attack or you want to hold your warcaster back for whatever reason.

Yes and no. It can be used for that purpose, but is more typically used when your warcaster requires his/her focus for casting, but you wish to run warjacks. A Sorscha list built around freezing/KDing targets and rushing with warjacks would be one example. When Kodiaks had Hammerfist, this was fairly popular, as you could Feat, Tempest, charge, and pound it to death with two Kodis.

[Silopolis]

I do remember being sad when I saw a Khador force with a single, jack marshaled warjack. It generally meant that my Trollbloods/Cryx were going to get Infantrymachined to death.

[turok152000]

I'm playing with marshalling Manticores and Phoenixes to Sentinels lately. Manticores can still get all 3 shots (and often aiming, with Pronto)....

Lighten

How do you get all 3 shots while Marshalling?...useless you bring an arcanist to give it one focus, I don't see how that's possible. That's a pretty good idea, now that I think about it....

[Jetboy200]

Could someone explain to me how jack marshel works ? I have a vag understanding from the rule book and would like a different wording if at all. Thank you :)

[Jice_]

How do you get all 3 shots while Marshalling?...useless you bring an arcanist to give it one focus, I don't see how that's possible. That's a pretty good idea, now that I think about it....

First is free, second with the Arcanist focus, third with the Marshal bonus.

Assume when anyone talks about focus abilities when it comes to marshalling, the Arcanist is included in the combo. It's really the reason we can get away with marshaling almost any jack.