Ashlynn: Theme or Elf?

[PG_Dino-Czar]

So, once I get tired of my Pigs I'm thinking I'll pull out the ol' mercs and giving them some love. Which means I've been fussing around with my favorite resistance fighter. Each time I add up her points I find that there is only one thing I miss when I'm putting together her theme: Sylys Whyyyyyshyyyyynayyyylyyyyyr.

Extra spell range, extra spell dice and free upkeep are all a fantastic boon to Ashlynn. But is he more useful than an extra ATGM UA and a couple AD warjacks? I'm not sure. So I'm throwing the question out there. Are people running Ashlynn in her theme or not, and if not what was your deal breaker?

[MagnustheJust]

That is one hell of an enigma, wrapped in a riddle, surrounded by a conundrum you got going there Dino-Czar...

I guess it just boils down to which one sets off your Ooh Shiny Syndrome more. If they are about equal, then the obvious answer is lots of table time with both lists!!

[drazz00]

So, you lose out on a second Amethyst Rose GM UA? Did you plan on taking two ARGM units at all? I think that's usually pretty much not required and a bit of overkill, unless you commonly come across full stealth armies.

The AD warjacks are nice. What's better (arguably) is that ASHLYNN is AD, as she is part of the battlegroup. If you tend to play her super aggressive (super-solo style), then this is pretty significant. She's not often a back line caster, so getting her up the field to start with means she's not tagging along behind the whole game.

Is it worth losing Sylys? Extra range on Gallows and Distract are both very, very nice. A free upkeep (of other of her strong upkeeps) is also nice to get her more focus. She doesn't take many warjacks herself, so the AD battlegroup is limited and her focus is usually held for herself, so I think its a bit of a waash personally.

I'd say, if you use her aggressively, looking for the assassination first, the Theme is a better deal. If you use her as a support, midline caster, Sylys pays off.

[John of Arc]

Non-theme for Silly Willy, Forgeguard and Rocinante. I assume you'll have a light battlegroup anyways, and I wouldn't bother with the second gun mage unit most of the time.

[PG_vytzka]

I don't even bother with the theme force unless I actually want the two units of Gun Mages. And I tend to miss the Forge Guard the most, although Wishnailer is ace too.

In general I prefer Highborn, it has a lot more options and Ashlynn is a good enough caster to be able to use most of them to great effect.

Also, armor busting.

[PG_Dino-Czar]

I didn't realize that the affinity on Rocinante was Quick Work rather than Guard Dog. Thats kind of a big deal.

I'll have to see about this, maybe do some poxying.

[Arkio]

I have found that a major issue with the theme force is the lack of halberdiers or forgeguard. Within the theme your melee / tarpit options are Devil Dogs or Precursor Knights. Precursor Knights cannot get buffed via Quicken and are slow, not really the best option for Ashlynn. Devil Dogs can be a speed bump with quicken but non-reach and no pathfinder on a tar pit ...... bleh. On the flip side AD and 2 Vanguards are a great delivery system for Ashlynn and her feat.

[MagnustheJust]

I didn't realize that the affinity on Rocinante was Quick Work rather than Guard Dog. Thats kind of a big deal.

I'll have to see about this, maybe do some poxying.

Proxy my butt!!

Run, don't walk...
Buy, don't rent...

Rocinante is worth it, big time!!

[John of Arc]

With all of our casters, none the less. Everyone has something different to offer/gain with Rocinante, and even if they didn't he's still a great jack.

[DocMerc]

I never use her theme force.
I prefer highborn, so I can get Lynyssa and ayanna and holt.
Also theme does not allow Nyss either.
I guess basically I should model my Ashlynn as an elf...
Heck she even has a 'Y' in her name!

[drazz00]

Yshlynn?

She needs a resculpt anyway.

[sleet01]

I play Ashlynn with Welshnylons most of the time. Too often I want to cast Distraction or Gallows on some high-DEF target on the turn *after* Roulette, and Arcane Secrets makes either much more reliable. It also makes Twister effectively a POW 12/blast 7 RNG 12 spell on a FOC 8 caster, very nice against the occasional Incorp unit.

On the Theme front, I've toyed around with some list ideas but even though I play Cygnar I don't see myself getting two units of Gun Mages. Running Ashlynn out of theme gives access to enough extra troops, 'jacks, and solos that I've never found myself wanting the theme benefits.

[PG_vytzka]

I never use her theme force.
I prefer highborn, so I can get Lynyssa and ayanna and holt.
Also theme does not allow Nyss either.
I guess basically I should model my Ashlynn as an elf...
Heck she even has a 'Y' in her name!

I tend to think of Highborn as the unofficial "Elf" contract.

Now if only Dahlia worked for Highborn...

[DocMerc]

I tend to think of Highborn as the unofficial "Elf" contract.

Now if only Dahlia worked for Highborn...

That would be sweet.
Even just for the complete elf army look.

Actually if we are going to "wish" for elves, I would with for Narn

[slinkdawg]

@Dino (back to the OP) out of theme is just fine w/ash. I'll echo the comments for Forgeguard (bring rhupert if ya go that route, heck almost by default with sister ashlynn).

Whether you play la resistance or stay in HBC, you need at least one damage booster in the list to make up for lack of POW 18+ in highborn. So Gorman, Ragman, A&H or a combo there of.

In highborn, if your boomhowler & co need a vacation from your Kara lists, they can be darn good w/Sister Ashlynn as well (imagines 4,5,6 tough or ragehowler against jacks under Roulette and smiles)

Lastly, pAlexia can be lots of fun with Ashlynn. Mack used to run pAlexia with her in MK1 and drive me crazy. While she's been toned down, I think there's something to bringing pAlexia here as Ashlynn loves to bring at least 2 units. Additionally, roulette will help keep Alexia safe, reduce the need to boost her attacks, and help our risen and thrall warriors hit better.

[PG_Stevo]

I would never play Ashlynn without Sylas. Free Upkeep and Arcane Secrets and extended range are all too good to pass up. Especially with Rocinante and/or Gallant. I've had a great time running her lately and have lost only one or two games (mostly because of scenario or forgetting to keep Admonition on her). Highborn contract is way better to me than an extra unit of Gun Mages, but your mileage may vary.

Reinholdt's lucky charm ability stacks with Arcane Secrets, allowing you, on the feat turn to roll up to 7 dice to hit, selecting the best three, or 5 dice for damage on a spell selecting the best three. Even off of the feat turn, you can mimic her feat for Gallows, Distract, or Twister *every* turn by stacking Lucky Charm with Arcane Secrets.

The theme force really doesn't do anything for me, though the idea of Ashlynn with AD is nice.