A new player's experience with Ossyan.

[BrotherOracle]

So I'm new to Warmachine and specifically Ossyan, I've had 4 games with Rahn before trying Mr. Timewarp out and I have to say I like him, his feat can be brutal! So hopefully my newb-ish-ness can help some other new players.
First my 35 point list:
Ossyan
Sylys Wyshsysle (Yeah I know that is not right)
Phoenix
Manticore
Arcanist x 2
Magister x 2
Stormfall archers
Full Riflemen with UA

Yup no hypnos

My first game with him went poorly but I learned a lot, was playing a Menoth player with eSev, Errants, Daughters, choir, avatar and another heavy (I think) and was brutalized mainly due to poor deployment and poor planning on my part. Spread my forces out too much and my opponent really exploited it. Just really dumb on my part, and any chance of salvaging it was ruined by bad dice.

1st lesson: Deploy Melee threats where they can intercept enemy units before they become a problem.
2nd lesson: Do not over extend jacks, charge only when you can limit reprisals.
3rd lesson: Feat+Shatter Storm and shooting from unit of riflemen is sweet. Infantry heavy armies beware!

Second Game was much better against a merc army.
Gorten
Alvalancher
Basher
Gun Mages
Eiryss
Dougal
5 strong Ogrun Assault
2 other solos unsure of what they were.

My Mistakes this game:
Found out the range on the Avalancher the hard way, lost a Magister while running him to cover, 5 box Def 15 Arm 12 dies as easy as 1 box.
Moved my Archers too far forward. Luckily he was only able to kill half. Need to use that 16 inch range better.
Did not use the range of my Riflemen to full effect due to poor placement.

What worked:
Chronomancer being upkept for free and a loaded Manticore.
My timing on the feat was good, my plan worked perfectly I was able to kill every Gunmage (and some solo that died via blast) that wasn't getting charged by my quikened Phoenix with my surviving Stormfalls. My Phoenix's reach included Eiryss (normal, not epic) so she could not escape.
My feat turn crippled his Ogruns and they were unable to finish off the Manticore, which then got whip-snapped by the Magister into said Ogruns next turn to great effect. This was awesome because I assumed I would lose it that turn and was fine with it, when it didn't die as expected I was ecstatic!

We had to call it there but my opponent was confident I had the win when I ended my turn every piece of my army save Ossyan himself was positioned to threaten his caster. He still had both his Jacks but Ossyan was safe. I had a pristine Phoenix, a half health Manticore, a Magister, 2 Stormfalls, and 9 some Riflemen with Officer all within about 10 inches of his caster pinching him. Looked grim for my opponent. Proper use of quicken to get charges and move my squads was huge.

Going to go to local tournament on the 26th, gotta get some more games in!

[Rampaging Elk]

3rd lesson: Feat+Shatter Storm and shooting from unit of riflemen is sweet. Infantry heavy armies beware!

Just FYI, Shatter Storm is a spell effect, so it does NOT benefit from Ossyan's feat. Ie., the AOEs from Shatter Storm do not get boosted damage under his feat. Ranged AOEs (like from the Pheonix and the Stormfalls) are boosted. Maybe you knew that, but this made it sound like you didn't.

However, glad you're enjoying Ossyan! He's an extremely powerful caster with some really clever tricks. And by the sound of it, I agree. You had that second game in the bag. Just the Riflemen alone might have been enough to finish it depending on what buffs his caster had on.