What do you do with Rahn?

[Ghyrrshyld]

I played a game with Rahn the other day, and it seems that the only thing he did was upkeep Polarity Shield, and either spam Chain Blast around, or move things around for a slam. Oh and feat.

Maybe it was a "toolbox Warcaster faced with an infantry horde" situation, I dunno.

What do you find yourself doing with him normally?

[FranzGrenstein]

I view Rahn as kind of like the pool cue, applying large base or medium into others. I am always looking for angles to set up super slams or to hit key models (this may be why I to run 2 arc nodes at 35 pts, I would run 2 at 15.) For instance I had a kill with Rahn; I force hammered a large base into the caster. KD the caster and using the mittens to pull said caster into charge range for the sentinels.

[Steampunk Jim]

The billiard ball example is an excellent one. If you're finding it hard to get that ball lined up for the knockdown, take a griffon. 4 points, and can be MAD quick. Run it up in front of the enemy caster, move up arc node, slam griffon into target. Works like a charm.

[Ghyrrshyld]

The billiard ball example is an excellent one. If you're finding it hard to get that ball lined up for the knockdown, take a griffon. 4 points, and can be MAD quick. Run it up in front of the enemy caster, move up arc node, slam griffon into target. Works like a charm.

That's the thing. Since most Casters have reach, it requires either being able to roll a 3 or better on the slam, or being able to hit a defense 16 regularly, which when combined with the running Griffon is going to cost me a lot.

I lined up a perfect slam the other day, I just rolled a 2 for the distance, which hosed my entire turn.

[Indy]

The angry killbot speaks:

That's what his feat is for! You use it when you are going to slam the caster. Then you still have four more focus to play around with; you can still upkeep Polarity Shield if you want, and then throw out a fully boosted Chain Blast. Then, if the caster is still somewhat far back from your heavy hitters, you can either use a mage unit to pull the KD'd caster forward, or use a Magister to whip-snap a heavy those extra few inches up. It's worked pretty well for me for the last four or five games!

[hausdorff space]

KD the caster and using the mittens to pull said caster into charge range for the sentinels.Can you pull knocked down models?

[hausdorff space]

...What do you find yourself doing with him normally?Rahn does what he needs to do.

I don't think he's so much a toolbox caster as a caster with options.
...seeing the options can be the difficult part.

While he can easily provide a devastating assassination set up, I find he tends to work best at just plain disrupting the enemy army. Turn around key models, deny charges, chain blast mobs, slam things through advancing warrior lines. Sow disruption through half the enemy ranks, while your army focuses on the other half. If the time arives, take the assassination, but don't focus soley on it.

[Steampunk Jim]

Can you pull knocked down models?

Yes. The only limitation is that a knocked down model can't be slammed.

[hausdorff space]

Yes. The only limitation is that a knocked down model can't be slammed.Cool. Though does the rulebook distinguish between moving and being moved? (given that knocked down models cannot move)
... off to search the rules forum.

[Ellesar]

Up until now, he is an infantry-killer and a very potent assassin caster for me.

2 Chain Blasts on a feat turn is enough to kill high-DEF-low-ARM casters. And you still have 2 Focus left to spend, either to put them to your Jacks or use Telekinesis to pull the enemy warcaster.

Against high-ARM casters however, use Force Blast and Force Hammer to bring the enemy warcaster into your heavy hitter's range (Phoenix, Manticore, MHA, Narn, etc2..).

[Demeritus]

For me he has been an amazing caster. So far I have gotten the most use out of Telekinesis and on an 8 focus caster that spell will give people fits. Since we currently do not have a way of bolstering our jacks chances to hit (ie caster or support model) TK does a great job of filling in by giving them back strike.

He excels at disrupting enemy plans and providing board control. Being able to reposition your opponents forces even those 2" is amazing. The only thing I do not like about Rahn is his feat. It's uses are limited but it isn't bad when going for the kill but since it affects so few models it is not the best.

[elvenlovemachine]

i thought a knocked down model could not be pushed or 'moved by a slam' i will check the book on that one.

TK means you can slam lights into heavies negating the -2 by adding the +2 back strike. juice up some hydras and power attack the enemy break his lines until you can slam a model into the caster knock him down then his def is 5 base pepper him to death. either slam or throw a gorgon into his casters face force locking him next turn or throw a pheonix then stand up in melle range and combustion auto hit POW 12 fir continuos. plus a heavy myd in their face. board control is rhan's think move the enemy around till you get the assasination attempt a knocked down caster is easy prey for a MHA and with plenty of charge lanes opened up and a force field to protect them when some AOE try spam your stealth models.

[Steampunk Jim]

i thought a knocked down model could not be pushed or 'moved by a slam' i will check the book on that one.


Nope. Prime, page 63. The only restriction is it can't be moved by a slam. It can't move (obviously), but it can be pushed or placed.

[moz]

I tend toward assassination with Rahn. So the armies square off against one another - nice and normal. Then Rahn pulls some shenanigans and the enemy caster is now hanging in the wind, often knocked down and dragged into the heart of my army by feat boosted battle-mages.

The list of shenanigans you can pull are extensive with access to TK, hammer, and force blast. Clear a path and get it done. The beginning of each turn should start with an internal dialog "Alright, how do I grab the caster this turn?" If you really can't get them this turn, then ignore the caster and work on fixing the 'regular fight' to your advantage. Set up first strikes by turning models around, slamming enemy models through their own forces, and maybe popping polarity shield on a frontline. Chain blast is a fine spell and will get used from time to time, but Rahn really has better things to be doing than clearing out hordes of infantry every turn.

[possiblyarowbot]

I used to have a hard time justifying playing with Rahn, but after several games he comes across as an incredibly balanced Enabler®. He's a lot of fun when you have the right support models on the table. Even if you don't win it's always fun to throw heavies around like paperweights.

[Der Dexter]

i also use him as the enabler, moving or slamming key models to make way, or TK you killer to a slightly closer or to the side, thus enabling the kill.
My opponents so far haven't really given a chance for him to personally kill anyone, but feated mittens tend to drag really efficiently something into range, and if that doesn't end it, rest of the army does...

[Bearded Dragon]

it requires either being able to roll a 3 or better on the slam, or being able to hit a defense 16 regularly, which when combined with the running Griffon is going to cost me a lot.

As mentioned, if you are going to kill the enemy warcaster, it's feat time. Also, you should have back arc to the Griffon in that example (just turn its back arc towards you when you run it into place).

Also, if it's a small based warcaster and you slam the griffon through him, you could do fun stuff with force blast to push him into range of your other things.