A tale of four holy 'jacks...

[Lord Xalys]

Hey there,

About a week ago I stumbled around in my model collection, and came to the rather interesting conclusion that I own four Menite 'jacks: Crusader, Vanquisher, Repenter, Revenger. From the day I started playing this game, I've loathed the Protectorate with a passion, always facing off against them and nearly always getting the shaft through superior playing by my opponents (for some reason the best players I know use PoM). Ironically, the two guys I taught the game also chose PoM as their faction... sigh.

Then I looked at my 'jacks. I had already added a Throne of Judgment brazier (WH40k Witch Hunters) to my Crusader, which adds a lot of character to it IMHO. I already knew what colour scheme my Menites should once have, as I already painted one PoM piece... a torn-apart Redeemer laying on the base of my Woldwarden (holding the 'jack's head in its hand): black, with bloodred as contrast and brass/metal elements. Shoulderpads gleaming white with bloodred trim. Basically, Black Templars.

So, all in all I decided to finally do something with my quartet of holy 'jacks: decorate them (I asked my gaming group for extra WH40k bitz like purity seals), put them on cobblestone/temple bases and paint them. Maybe, *shudder*, even play with them? In that case I'll need a 'caster, seeing as how I never got Kreoss when I took over that battlebox. The Vanquisher, Crusader and Revenger total a nice 20pts, which means every PoM 'caster can use these three in a 15pts MM game.

But, which 'caster should I take?

With MKII now upon us, I'm a bit at a loss as to how PoM plays (always was, but now more then ever). I'm looking primarily for a 'caster now, to round out a nice 15pts list to paint-and-play. By the looks of it I like the Crusader/Vanquisher/Revenger-combination best, but if anyone has a better idea, I'd like to hear it.

Cheers,
LX

[nealb]

the most warjack points you can get is 6.

this leaves you with, basically the battlebox option of:

Repenter, Revenger, Crusader.

as you cant fit the 8 point vanquiser in - Unfortunately!
Caster Choice
I think that your main choices will be between the following 3:

Kreoss - to complete the battlebox - his feat, I am sure you know about pop 'n' drop. His spells are well rounded, but I find after his spells are cast, you dont always have many for jacks

Severius - His feat will be devestating in 15pt games, leaving jacks almost useless. His spells, again are well rounded, and he can make great use of the arc node

reznik - I honestly aint used him, so not really going to say much. Althoughin 15 pt jack games, his ability to wrack is redundent.

[Moonblade]

In 15pt games, you can field your three favorite jacks. Crusader, Vanquisher, and Revenger will cost 20pt and with your warcaster's warjack points it'll fit well in the game size.

Kreoss is very good, as usual. Pop & Drop is powerful, lamentation is hated by many, and his focus is high enough for you to spread around to the 'jacks.

My favorite is Feora, although I would not suggest her for a warjack-army.

Harbinger will make your list fit 15pt perfectly. Crusader's Call is good, and her 10 FOC is enough to fully fuel your jacks all game long. Although Fear of God will be more or less useless (except to negate *Attacks), Purification is good to negate your enemy's upkeeps, and Guided Hand can win you games on assassinating with jacks.

[Hysteresis]

Reznik could be a reasonable fit. He's not the 'jack caster he once was, but can use his movement tricks (Perdition/Witch Hound) to overcome the low SPD of your heavies. Iron aggression can also save a good deal of focus when it matters if you upkeep it, and it's hilarious on a Vanquisher if it ends up in melee. His feat can be nasty against a mangled metal list, as your opponent can't allocate to 'jacks.

Oh, and nealb, his ability to wrack isn't entirely redundant. Bragging rights for wracking a caster count for something, right?

[Lord Xalys]

Thanks for the first tips, guys. Yes, Kreoss remains an allround great 'caster with hardly any flaw. You might say his feat suffered a little due to the new Shake rules, but I'll judge that when it happens on the field (haven't sene anyone Shake yet). Reznik also sounds tempting...

What about Feora2 though? Escort seems pretty hot for the battlegroup, she still has Ignite (I think?) and her Fire shenanigans could do a lot of damage.

Also, I looked at the (future) interaction between the Harbinger and the Reckoner. I'd really hate to be a living model that is both within 10" of Harby (-2 on attack rolls) and 2" of the Reckoner (-2 on attack rolls)... Seems like a pretty spiffy setup against warbeasts.

LX

[Justicator]

eFeora is fun. With a Vanquisher to light things on fire and her caustic presence and mobility, it's pretty easy to get the enemy caster on fire and keep them that way.

Reznik would be fine with that list.

I always recommend pKreoss to newbies as he's a very good all-around menoth caster. He does a bit of everything we do well. Buffs/Denial and some decent attack spells to arc through the arc-node you're brining.

Admon Raza is more of an advanced caster, but he can be fun with a handful of mellee jacks in this setting.

Severius is good to sit back and cast through the arc node while your vanquisher and crusader run interference.

Depends on how you want to play.

[nealb]

Oh, and nealb, his ability to wrack isn't entirely redundant. Bragging rights for wracking a caster count for something, right?

That would be amazing :-)

have not seen it happen though!

[Mr.B]

Reznik for sure!

[Lord Xalys]

Hey there, people! I took up some of your advice and decided to go with Kreoss as my first 'caster... He is still one of the coolest in the faction, and I found his alternate sculpt in my LGS (not the resculpt, but I don't care really). I think I'll be taking him with the Crusader, Vanquisher and Revenger next Thursday for a first match!

Cheers,
LX

[Marius]

That would be amazing :-)

have not seen it happen though!

Points to sig. One of them was against Alex, who i'm sure you know :p.

[corrinmana]

Where is the Amon love?

If your playing with just jacks, he makes them better.

[Lord Xalys]

Where is the Amon love?

If your playing with just jacks, he makes them better.

I know Amon is great with 'jacks, seriously great. He is the stock 'caster of one of my gaming group though, and I reckon him a tad more advanced to play than good old Kreoss. If the Protectorate is to my liking however, I'm sure the Idrian will pop up in due time...

LX

[Seanmcd]

I played against a Sorsha list at 15. Amon did really wel except that I didn't ask if it was E or not. So through my fault he lost. Although the khador player did state that I would have won if I had known the difference. Mobility made him cry. SPD 4 jacks that get crazy speed and pathfinder. Oh don't forget flagellation ignore spell buffs and overboosting... OK. The best part....(drumroll)... FOCUS 6!

[Hysteresis]

Seriously, you managed to miss the best part of Amon: SYNERGY. There is little in this game more shocking than a light hitting at P+S 20+ or a heavy hitting at P+S 25+. The fact that they can skip across the battlefield at SPD 6/7 is just the icing on the cake!

[Seanmcd]

Sorry I have only used amon 5 or 6 times but every time he does well but at 35pts I am a huge ekreoss fan I have played every caster save the testament and reclaimer. But at 15 Amon trips up my opposition cause they think I will use Ekreoss or Reznik. So while far drom an authority I do like him at 15 with at least 2 dervishes.

[Lord Xalys]

Yes, a load of lights fare well with Amon. The regular Amon player I mentioned played him incredibly well in MKI, and I have a healthy respect for being on the wrong side of a Synergized battlegroup... I know how sweet Mobility is thanks to playing Vyros, but 'jacks enter a whole new level of awesome when under Amon's spell (pun intended). Yeah, I'll guess I need to try out Amon if Kreoss fares well this week...

P.S. can Amon be played full-'jack in MKII? With only Choir(s), Vassal(s) and Reclaimer(s) as support?

LX

[Seanmcd]

I would recommend those but you will want a unit of zealots or something to produce soul tokens for the reclaimers. Unfortunately its friendly faction models sometime I feel like skorne with all the friendly faction soul stuff.

[Lord Xalys]

I would recommend those but you will want a unit of zealots or something to produce soul tokens for the reclaimers. Unfortunately its friendly faction models sometime I feel like skorne with all the friendly faction soul stuff.

Heretic souls are unclean! If they would be worth saving for Menoth their mortal incarnations would have joined the Protectorate. ;)

Ontopic, my mate always uses two Choirs, which seem to provide enough soul tokens to get him through the battle.

LX

[Hysteresis]

Q. Can Amon be played full-jack in MkII?

A. Yes, as long as you have something to fuel the reclaimers (or don't use them). I find that his focus starts to run a little thin if you're trying to do anything clever with more than one or two 'jacks at a time. The rest should just be hitting whatever they can to build the Synergy bonus. I find that (at 35pts) a cheap unit of Zealots works quite nicely as a speedbump/soul token source that can't be ignored except by the highest ARM opponents.

For reference, my current 35pt list (which is by no means perfect) is
Amon
Crusader
Reckoner
Dervish (assassination threat - though most people avoid it)
Devout (to prevent spell assassinations on Amon, mainly)
Choir (6)
Vassal
Reclaimer
Zealots (10)
Wracks

It suffers a bit with infantry swarms (not common at the moment), but can handle most other things.

[Blackraine]

On a completely unrelated note: Amon ad Raza, four Dervishes, a full choir, and a Heirophant is exactly 15 points.

[MoDination]

I took a 35 point Amon list to a tourny this past saturday (3 dervish/2 devout/2 reckoner) and took 2nd (to a PoM list) but that was due to moving a dervish a little too far and leaving a lane open :(

Amon LOVES dervishes and reckoners while devouts are nice for reach. The only support I took was a full choir which I think worked out fine.