New to Magnus

[RuneGrey]

Well, with the Hordes stuff having lost my interest, I decided that it's time to start up a Merc army. As a local store had the Magnus battle box on clearance, and I got a Merc deck anyways to get my Gorman and Orin cards for Cryx... figure it's time to join the Traitor side and go Merc as well.

So, my interest is running a Most Wanted list, with dabblings into 4 Star so I can run all of those fun Merc models my Cryx army never let me due to... y'know. The whole evil undead out to destroy all life thing.

Right now I've got the Magnus Battle Box (pMagnus, Mangler, Renegade, Talon), plus Gorman and Orin. My next purchases are going to be another Renegade (must have), Kell, Saxon, and maybe Stannis. This of course brings me to expanding a bit more - I need Steelheads, but the Steelhead heavy cav is probably going to be out of my price range for the time being.

So is running 2 groups of min steelheads workable, if added in alongside a unit of Long Gunners? Does Stannis give them a decent boost as well, or am I better off sticking to a more solo heavy force and only getting 1 unit of Steelheads for now? That would probably have my swap over to adding Aiyana and Holt + The Elf Wench for 4 Star, then maybe adding in Alexia as well.

Any thoughts or opinions? Additional suggestions for jacks or solos?

[Falstead]

MKII Magnus the traitor is amazing. He is a really phenomenal caster and he loves his Warjacks. That said he doesn't do well with solos, take 1, maybe 2 with him. Typically I can squeeze in Gorman at 35 points and maybe Kell or Stannis at 50.

For his battlegroup I've had great success running a mangler, 2 renegades and a mule. The sniped mule is just fearsome. 1 focus to boost to hit and you have a death dealing machine with a 12" range that no one bothers to shoot because they're terrified of the IA'd Mangler rushing at them.

The steelhead advance move is great. I have halberdiers and cav and run both to get the tier bonus, but two min units of halberds would work wonders. In my experience the traitor loves a full Boomhowler unit. They're tough to kill quick and they provide a great anchor and screen for him and his battlegroup. They get stuck in, the halberdiers rush forward to deal with annoying support/harassment units like widowmakers and mags and his jacks advance whilst providing fire support. Use your feat to refuse one flank and position yourself to paste the caster next turn. Very very effective.

[studderingdave]

im eyeing up magnus for a 35 point 4th tier "most wanted" list. ive been running my khador alot lately and looking forward to running a few merc games.

[RuneGrey]

I appreciate the advice. Also to check - if you arc Obliteration into the back arc (or just get Magnus there himself), does the entire attack get +1d6 to damage (IE, both target hit and blast) or does only the initial target take the extra backstab damage?

[Verjigorm]

Everyone takes the backstab damage. Yes, it really is that nasty. Note that arcantrik bolt's stupid "must damage to make stationary" bit works alot better when you can boost to 4d6.

I'm actually liking rheinholdt more and more with magnus.

[Rosencrantz]

Magnus was my first Caster and intro into the game about 2 years ago. Something I'd like to have new players spread around is insisting that it is Magnus the Loyal, as he was the only one to stand next to the true king as the blue coats betrayed the crown and throne. http://privateerpressforums.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[capamerica1980]

I was dumb and didn't pick up that Magnus box when i had the chance... I started with Bart and more pirate themed force, but picked up a good number of regular merc stuff, well now I picked up p Magnus and a Renegade and can't wait to give him a try... I wish i had the Mangler but I have the mariner that give some thresher death !!!