Building up to 35 points: Cylena or Boomhowler?

[Sign Ahead]

I've been away from Warmachine for a while and I'd like to get reacquainted with my Cygnaran army. Right now, this is what I have painted:

eStryker
Ironclad
Lancer
Squire

6 Stormblades
Stormblade UA
3 Stormgunners

Rhupert Carvolo

That puts me at 22 points and I'd like to expand towards 35 by adding Murdoch and a unit of mercenaries, probably either Cylena and her Nyss Hunters or Boomhowler and Co. But I am a pretty awful player and I'm not sure which one would work better for me. I'm leaning towards Boomhowler, because I like the models better and it feels like I could really use a durable unit. If you were a not-so-good player who was considering these units, which would you choose? Or would you choose another unit altogether? And finally, what would you do with the remaining points?

I should also note that I don't want to take any models out of my army until I have 35 points of fully painted miniatures. So right now I'm looking to add models, rather than replace them. Once everything is painted and I've had a chance to play with them for a while, then I'll think about dropping or replacing some figures.

[tonylipira]

My vote's for Boomhowler & Co. Nyss Hunters are notoriously frustrating to assemble and the trolls look more fun to paint.

[Zakmahr]

Adding the following gets you to 35pts.

Boomhowler and Co. (6)
Journeyman Warcaster (3)
Black 13th Mage Strike Team (4)

The Journeyman can cast and upkeep Arcane Shield on the Stormblades, and the Black 13th is a great unit.

If you want to keep the Stormblades as the only infantry unit you could go this route to 35pts too:

Arcane Tempest Gun Mages (6)
Arcane Gun Mage Officer (2)
Gun Mage Captain Adept (2)
Journeyman Warcaster (3)

I'm still new to the game and I'm sure the more experienced players could offer much better suggestions, but I can relate to wanting to build up to a certain point level as opposed to buying lots of stuff and having to pick and choose...

[PG_Electric Seal]

I'd add Ol' Rowdy or a Stormclad and the Journeyman Warcaster. Both effectively get one free focus a turn and have good overall synergy with your current list. Having two sources of Arcane Shield is kind of a thing for a pStryker list as it relies heavily on high armor with the feat.

That's 34 points with Rowdy and 35 with a Stormclad. You can add reinholdt to fill in that one point gap.

[Sign Ahead]

I'd add Ol' Rowdy or a Stormclad and the Journeyman Warcaster. Both effectively get one free focus a turn and have good overall synergy with your current list. Having two sources of Arcane Shield is kind of a thing for a pStryker list as it relies heavily on high armor with the feat.

That's 34 points with Rowdy and 35 with a Stormclad. You can add reinholdt to fill in that one point gap.

It's actually eStryker rather than pStryker. I have the pStryker model too, but it isn't painted.

I do like the idea of adding a Stormclad though. I have a converted Stormclad model that I base-coated and never finished, so I could probably complete it by the end of the week. It would be easy to finish it before I add another unit, and it would get that half-painted model off my conscience.

With the Stormclad, would I be better off taking Strangeways and Reinholdt instead of the Journeyman? Then I could marshal it with the Stormblades and still fill it up with focus (or something that's very close to focus) every turn.

[H'lingus]

At 35 you sort of want utility Units so id probably go the nyss hunters as they cover a little more gaps in 35 points.


Build with some idea of what you want the list to do i try to get all of these in my lists (Range threats. Heavy disablers/killers, scenario play, infantry clearers, last ditch assassinations)