Red Headed Pirate needs victims.....err Crew

[Izza]

Hey all.

In a recent "secret santa" type mini exchange, I recieved a loverly painted Fiona the Black (thanks MrsEvilBeetles:D).

So I have this merc caster, but no army for her to lead.

hmm time to fix that, but I honestly have no idea what to take with her.
I have been reading up on threads about her, so I know she likes infantry more than jacks (drat!).
So I'd like a bit of advice on good (and fun) things to take with her.
Below I will go over the likely candidates, good points, bad points, etc

I do have a couple of merc models I have collected over the years that I'd like to use with her, as they dont get any use atm.

Eiryss - I got Eiryss thru the NQ redemption offer, but cant use her at all (since she wont work for Cryx).
So I'd really like to include her in my Fiona lists.
I think she's a good candidate for Telgesh Mark. A stealth, cammo-ed Arc Node? yes please.
Hit the caster with a distruptor bolt and Soul Fire to hearts content.

Alexia - I picked up the IK version for use with the WFT I'm running atm, so am planning on picking up some risen and thrall warriors and am good to go.
Thinkin Risen can take advantage with Affliction (if they can hit).


One of my friends gave me a Vanguard for Christmas, so he will be jack number one.
Nice high arm, and Shield Guard to keep Fiona safe. Possible Arc Node?
All good. Love the model.

Jack number 2, I think will be a Mariner. Again, love the model, and with Nonokrion Brand, no one is safe. Pity Affliction is "direct hit" :(
Pair him up with Dougal, and I'm good to go.


Now comes the hard part, units.

Here are the possibles I'm thinking of:
Boomhowler
Cylena Raefyll
Sea Dogs
Croes
Press Gangers
Kayazy

Boomer - Nice and soild. High ARM goes well with her feat. Roths Mercy keeps Boomer around to the last. Good tarpit, but do I need 2 tarpits (Alexia and Boomer) Wont be getting many bodies for Alexia thou.

Cylena - Dunno, I know how good they are, I'm not a fan for some reason.
High DEF is good with feat, Affliction goes well with their shooting. hmmm

Sea Dogs - Focus Bonus is good, cheap, more bodies for Alexia. DEF and ARM arnt great. Problem is I dont like most of the solos that you need to add to make them good. I dont like Grogspar nor Rockbottom, dislike the models, and the background.
I really like Hawk (cool model), I think she'd make another great Arc Node candidate. Mr Walls is kinda cool too.

I could always just grab a Deck Gun for the extra Focus, goes well with Dougal too.

Croes - I like these, they just seem expensive (same cost as Cylena), poor DEF and ARM. But they do have stealth. hmm

Press Gangers - Dont really have much of an idea here. Seem reasonable. Do I need to take Sea Dogs as well, to take adavantage of Shanghai?

Kayazy - These look good on paper (good DEF and abilities), but I just look at those models and I cant bring myself to field them :(


Other options - Steelheads? na not really my cup of tea.
Sam and Devil Dogs? maybe. I like the models, dont know much about them, never seem them played. Have they gotten better in MKII? DEF13 ARM 13 is average
Maybe a unit of Long Gunners or Gun Mages (under Highborn)? hmm Gun Mages look good, high DEF, good RAT, Sniper + Double Powder = RNG 16.
Plus Affliction? hmmm interesting.
What jacks can the Dude marshall in Highborn? RNG 21, model ignoring, Mariner sounds nice.



So yeah, if any Fiona player out there have some advice, I'd be keen to hear.
:D

[Rosicrucian]

You seem to be leaning Four Star ATM but you might want to consider running her under Highborn for one simple reason. Long Gunners. With access to Brand and Affliction LGs start doing all kinds of nasty things like putting POW 21 CRAs into warcasters or doing 20ish damage to clammed up Devastators or acting like 10+ double shotting widowmakers vs. troops. Kayazy are great and Croe's okay, but Long Gunners are Fiona's soulmate.

Also, although Fiona doesn't do much to support them she can actually go Jack heavy fairly easy on the strength of her 8ish focus. If you go this route I'd be sure to get some cultists of some sort (I like deck guns). Put some melee heavies on Fiona and marshal some ranged jacks with our awesome marshals (Thor/Sam/Dude) and you've got a great looking Jack heavy force.

[Izza]

You seem to be leaning Four Star ATM but you might want to consider running her under Highborn for one simple reason. Long Gunners. With access to Brand and Affliction LGs start doing all kinds of nasty things like putting POW 21 CRAs into warcasters or doing 20ish damage to clammed up Devastators or acting like 10+ double shotting widowmakers vs. troops. Kayazy are great and Croe's okay, but Long Gunners are Fiona's soulmate.

Also, although Fiona doesn't do much to support them she can actually go Jack heavy fairly easy on the strength of her 8ish focus. If you go this route I'd be sure to get some cultists of some sort (I like deck guns). Put some melee heavies on Fiona and marshal some ranged jacks with our awesome marshals (Thor/Sam/Dude) and you've got a great looking Jack heavy force.

cheers.
I had been looking at Four Star, but the recent changes to Highborn made me have a look at them.

Long Gunners look pretty awesome, cheers for showing what they can do.
Am liking the look of Gun Mages and Devil Dogs atm. (dont ask me why the Devil Dogs, I dont know.)
That will probably change before purchase time. lol
Having a couple of good jack marshalls (Rutgar Shaw as well maybe?) could be an option for running more jacks.

[Rosicrucian]

Devil Dogs are actually an excellent marshal for our ranged jacks. Pronto is a great Drive, particularly with the Mule, and the DDs are pretty cheap and provide good support for a ranged jack when something tries to tie it up in melee. Also their leader Sam has a hand cannon which is always useful. If you like the models, proxy them and give them a try. You might be pleasantly surprised.

[DevonV]

(dont ask me why the Devil Dogs, I dont know.)


Six models, six sculpts. All characterful. What's not to love?

Pronto is great, but I've come to favor Snipe from the Gun Mages because you can't fail a command check. With the Dogs I always included Rockbottom for his coins. I'm thinking of taking the Dogs back to my original thought and using them with Freebooters for the double knockdown/Trash synergy. The Dogs can set up the 'Booter, or the 'Booter can set up the Dogs.

[Izza]

yeah I guess it is the Devil Dog models that do it for me, and the background.
Glad to hear they are worth the time. :D
hmm I guess a Buccaneer would also be a good jack for Sam to marshall

So here's what I was thinking of for a base 35pt list.

Fiona the Black
->Vanguard
Alexia Ciannor & the Risen (Alexia and 9 Risen Grunts)
Arcane Tempest Gun Mages (Leader and 5 Grunts)
Arcane Tempest Gun Mage Officer
->Mariner
Captain Sam MacHorne & the Devil Dogs (Sam and 9 Grunts)
Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios
First Mate Hawk
Master Gunner Dougal MacNaile

or drop the Devil Dogs to min and add in a Deck Gun.

[Devilsquid]

Actually, Epic Eryss is more disgusting as an Arc Node for Fiona. You've got the Stealth and AD, but you also have her innate ability that jacks within 5" of her can't arc spells/recive focus.

So your enemies can not run an arc node up to 5" of her (to negate stealth) because now they can't arc spells at her.

Plus, killing upkeeps on enemy models (and your own units) is quite useful, and she has Whiplash built in.

Yeah, she doesn't have the Disruptor Bolt, but i find Epic Eryss to be a solid support option as Fiona's arc node.

[The Happy Anarchist]

Epic Eiryss is amazing. It is mainly a choice now as to whether you prefer the prevention of allocation and upkeep removal, or the ability to shut a caster down for a turn with Taryn.

Most times, I will probably take epic though. With Fiona not having much in the way of buffing for troops, it is important to be able to get rid of things like Arcane Shield or Defender's Ward.

[krom71]

I like running Fiona with Boomhowler and Pressgangers. I run Doc with the Pressgangers, so I have 2 front line units that are tough on 4+ (with Boomy's fell call and Doc's doctoring).

Behind them, I run any and all rangy stuff I can get my hands on. I've been going with a Mariner, MacNaille and Long Gunners in Highborn. Alexia's a nice addition so that when your tough models do die, they come back for another round.

You can cycle Nonokrian Brand back and forth between 2 ranged models/units each turn and pluck off all of those annoying support models your opponent brings while your melee units are a tarpit to slow down his front line.

Once you can get in close enough for caster shots, a POW 20 from the Long Gunners and a boosted POW 14 from the Mariner will put a serious dent in most casters.

[Izza]

Actually, Epic Eryss is more disgusting as an Arc Node for Fiona. You've got the Stealth and AD, but you also have her innate ability that jacks within 5" of her can't arc spells/recive focus.

So your enemies can not run an arc node up to 5" of her (to negate stealth) because now they can't arc spells at her.

Plus, killing upkeeps on enemy models (and your own units) is quite useful, and she has Whiplash built in.

Yeah, she doesn't have the Disruptor Bolt, but i find Epic Eryss to be a solid support option as Fiona's arc node.


ooo that is evil!
i like it!
:D


the tarpit seems to be a theme, bog everything down (boomer, press gangers, alexia) while stuff behind shoots right thru at the caster.