Newbie playing in local Gnarls league, Siege or pStryker?

[Adamant]

Hi yall! So I am participating in my local Gnarls league tournament, and have rather recently started playing Warmachine. I have two warcasters, Siege and pStryker, and I am wondering which one I should play, considering the army composition I have available (I will most likely be playing 25 pts games).

So here is what I have available:

Heavies:

Ironclad
Magnetized heavy warjack kit ('clad/Cyclone/Defender)

Lights:

Charger
Lancer
Hunter

Units:

B13
Stormblade infantry (no UA)

Now, what would you recommend using? I know this isn't much to work with, but I would appreciate any advice :)

P.s. proxying is allowed to some extent ( i would love to field as many of my original units as possible, but if there is something that would be just AWESOME to field, i'd gladly consider it. Looking for the most fun, not necessarily being super competitive

[Ikras]

I don't know whether you would want to give something like this a shot

Commander Coleman Stryker (*6pts)
* Hunter (6pts)
* Defender (9pts)
* Ironclad (7pts)
Black 13th Gun Mage Strike Team (4pts)
Stormblade Infantry (Leader and 5 Grunts) (5pts)

Arcane shield on the stormblades, defender or hunter getting snipe, and then blur on the B13th maybe.
Most turns just upkeep the spells and split remaining focus between the defender and hunter for taking boosted damage potshots at things.
Stormblades I guess would take up point at the front, not exactly where they want to be but if they can block a charge to your jack then thats all good.

Earthquake could be thrown out later on to try and knock stuff down as well to make it easier to hit. The lancer can be nice to take for arcing earthquake but with points this low. It might be an idea. I suppose you could switch the hunter for the lancer and try running a more disruptive force with arcing earthquake to knock down large areas. When the points are this low taking even a handful of models out like this or at least lowering their effectiveness can have a great effect.

The stormblades might appreciate blur more depending on how much ranged your opponent has but I guess the buffs can be moved around as well.

I think that siege could work with most of this as well but would need to lose a point somewhere from the above list. I don't really have any experience with him so wont say too much on that subject and leave that to someone else. From my understanding the hunter would be better off than the lancer for him but thats about it.

[shaner]

Ikras has presented the most sound list with the available models. Siege needs a few additions to what you have available...well, to be super effective that is.

Have fun with your tourney.

[Cridler]

Not a lot to work with, you'd really benefit from some more infantry (a little too jack heavy for either caster to properly support). I also strongly recommend your next purchase be a squire (he's fantastic with Siege and works reasonably well with pStryker and hes pretty useful for most, if not all, our other casters as well).

With pStryker:
Proxy the Ironclad as Ol'Rowdy (trust me he'll be the first thing you'll want to buy if playing Stryker regularly)
Cyclone
Charger
Stormblades
B13th

The game plan: 1st turn: Arcane Shield Ol'Rowdy (bumps him up to ARM 23) and puts him firmly into the hard to kill range (something you need since he's your only real heavy hitter). Blur the stormblades (assuming your opponent has ranged support, otherwise don't bother), snipe the charger. The cyclone should lay down covering fire each turn as far forward (and in the most inconvenient place for your opponent) to shield you against whatever melee infantry they're moving toward you. If you are upkeeping all 3 spells, this leaves you 3 focus each round. Decide each turn whether you're better off: using the charger to full effect with all 3 focus, casting earthquake, or feeding Ol'Rowdy 3 for melee. Its very important to drop the upkeeps you don't need anymore to free up focus for more options ie. if the opponent is really close, drop snipe, if they are in melee with stormblades drop blur. I'd keep Arcane Shield on Rowdy all game unless you need to swap to Stryker himself for some reason.

Positioning: I'd deploy Stryker right behind the Cyclone most of the game (keep him out of enemy LOS), he can pop out shoot/earthquake then the cyclone can activate move over to screen him again and drop covering fire templates. If an enemy jack busts through your lines, two handed throw him away with the cyclone and disrupt him using strykers pistol. Ol'Rowdy should be up front with the blades closeby (hopefully so he can "protect" them with counter charge) and the charger should be just behind them (far enough so he cant be charged) providing covering fire. Priority for you has to be protecting Rowdy so he can take on the enemy heavies (don't be afraid to Tremor attack on the charge then pound away with your focus), and getting a line on the enemy caster with the charger to drop him at range (boosted 12s kill or at least seriously hurt most casters). Use your feat early in the game (basically once you engage (or are about to engage) the enemy so you can get out ahead of the attrition game. Hope this helps.

[Adamant]

Thanks a lot for the advice! I'll definitely give this list consideration (love how fast I got a response,and actual tactics along with it!). I have never run a game without my charger, will be interesting to have 3 focus lying around for neat upkeeps. I also just realized that this thread is in the wrong place, sorry about that :(

[Ninja Dozer]

Seige is awesome but his toolbox nature require you to think about how you're going to use him every turn. Take a full min, get a stop watch, and go over what you need to do now that your opponent is done their turn. You should have a good idea, but go over it. Edit as needed but don't forget an old military term "Selection and Maintenance of the Aim" (I'll get to that at the bottom). Seige's versatility is is greatest weekness to new players, their is so much he could do and only so much he can do and the bredth of selection can swamp a new player.

Seige needs to be able to help, his weapons, feats and spells are great. Just know when to use them

His feat can be tricky if you don't maximise you chance when you get it. Make sure you can hit as many things as possible under his feat. Support each hit to take adavantage of that 1/2 armour and be ready for a return in kind. If you can make sure you're able to take the retaliation and at the same time by your own target selection minimize their response. Either take the hit or get rid of their ability to hit back. But the end result if a lot of dead troops and injured multi-wound ('jacks, man-o-wars, beasts, etc...)

Otherwise, his spells are turn by turn. Just keep in mind what your end goal is and work towards it.

Seige List

*I like the cyclone as the 2d3 Rapid Fire shots at POW 12 is awesome and will end many heavy infantry on Feat Turn.
*IronClad is awesome and cheap, on Feat turn he can make sure to leave a whole in the enemy lines.
*Hunter is great outside of Siege's feat turn and control range
*Lancer allows to Seige to get the range for his Explosivo, Forcehammer and Rift.
*Charger on Feat Turn is awesome and his focus efficient fire is handy when you have the focus
*B13 has a lot of shots and supports the turn to turn shift in tactics as Seige is prone to do. They make his job simpler.
*Stormblades are handy and hit hard but be warry of their soft armour and no wounds, Foxhole.

Feat Turn could look like this

6 Focus Total
-1 Iron Clad
-3 Charger
-2 Seige (Used to cast Explosivo and one for him) or 2 on the Cyclone to hit dodgy enemy units

'Selection and Maintenance of the Aim' - google it

Selection and Maintenance of the Aim is a concept that was invented to focus one’s efforts for the conduct of war. It is also the first principle of success. When you are up to your backside in alligators, it may be difficult to remember that your original aim was to drain the swamp. Remember it – find the plug – drain the swamp. Most of the alligators will follow the water. - Pick what you are going to do and do it. The question is 'Does make you closer to your goal?' if you can't answer yes to it then re-think what you are doing.

Good luck and enjoy the league.

[Adamant]

Thank you guys so much! It is awesome to get such great responses so soon!