New to Circle- Pointers?

[Obeisance]

Hey guys,

I've been playing WMH since the release of Cryx MKII. I also play Legion. Decided to pick up Circle for my third faction. At the moment, it's a painting project- but as a competitive player I like do my research.

My first order just arrived, a 35pt Kromac list.

Kromac, Stalker, Ghetto, Gorax, max Trackers, Stones, Stones/Keeper.

I see a lot of talk about Trackers or no with Kromac, apparently Woldstalkers are great.

Who is the best complimentary lock for him in 35/50pts? p/eKruger? p/eBaldur?

The Warpwolves.
- Stalker is a stealthy beatstick.
- Feral has better MAT and higher P+S than the Pureblood.
- Pureblood has better utility and ARM than the Feral.

Under what circumstance/list would you run Pureblood over Feral and visa versa?

Any good articles I can read?

Thanks!

[Razious]

Woldstalkers are great with kromac because how how inherently good they are about getting off warpath movements. With Zephyr they're all effectively RAT 8 with a 13'' threat range every turn. Plus if they dont need the movement, concentrated fire is just gravy. Also, MAGIC WEAPONS, I know that seems minor but since you're coming from cryx you obviously know how badly incorporeal can mess up some armies. While the bloodtrackers are fast and can do more damage against their pretty their RAT is only average against anything that isnt prey. They're also a cheaper option at 5 points. Many people argue that BT needs to be full and have nuala to really get your bang for your buck. by using woldstalkers you free up a bunch of points. (Personally I like to use a second unit of stones, a gallows grove and gobbers with him)

With kromac at 50 I tend to take Ghet/Stalker/Pureblood, with a gorax. Mostly for utility you mentioned. His spray and his ability to hand out ghostly, due to the lack of Pathfinder on Ghet that can cause him alot of issues for charging. Basically these 3 heavies syngerize with Kromac super well. IR on Ghet puts him at ARM 21 in melee which is gross when you consider he's also def 14. Stalker tears through infantry with berserk, warpath and wild agression (which ghet shouldnt need cause of is naturally high mat and the buff on the charge)

I would really like to make a case for just about always having atleast 1 gallows grove in a kromac list. Alot of your opponents will think of Kromac's feat very one dimensionally. They'll try to prevent him from getting within 14'' of their caster so you can't melee assassinate him. Before groves this worked for the most part, but now we have spell assassination (with some help) as a possibility) with his feat he can put out 4 rifts in a turn with 2 boosts to hit or damage. Anecdotally, the last 3 out of 4 games I've played (and won) with Kromac used this tactic. Either it strips some fury by making a warlock transfer or you put so preemptive damage on the caster that either ur stalker or ghet can finish off. (I should also mention that alot players may not think this is possible because it requires you feating to do it. Alot of people think Kromac has to beast out when he damages himself for fury, this is not the case. The exact word used is "may" change to beast form. Meaning you have the option not to.)

Some great tactics articles about kromac can be found in the sticky at the top of the forum. Skiltz wrote an "in-depth guide" which I thought was pretty good.

As for other casters, Ekrueger is very good with scenario play so he's a good balance with Kromac who's more of an all-comers style, i think. Though I enjoy playing pBaldur more.

[Obeisance]

Tanks for the reply.

I've played against Circle a lot. So I've got a fairly good idea what works in lists- I'm just not sure of the logic behind any choice, list/caster synergies- or preferred matchups.

I was intending on running Stalker/Pureblood/Gorax/Ghetto with Kromac. Pureblood over Feral, because I want Wraithbane. I imagine Wraithbane is going to be key, once people start running Colossals. Double Stones in every list. I get that you need Woldstalkers to try and trip Warpath and they're decent at taking down a lot of stuff. (I have listened to the Road to War episode on Circle)

Trackers seem really good with Kromac. Why don't some people take them?

And yeah, I get it. You want Bark Nodes with Kromac to try to pull the occasional rift-spam assassination.

[Razious]

Some people do take bts with him and they arent bad at all. If anything, woldstalkers really outshine bts in only a few cases. One of them being with kromac.

As far as wraithbane its good to have but you just need toe be mindful of th cost ure paying for the benefit. Thexan be of adding of magic weapon to a beast can be really awesome, cause as i said, imcoporeal for us is a pain. Blessed is nice to have but for 2 fury u need to make sure that ure getting enough out of it to justify casting it.

[PG_cheddercaveman]

Usually there is a list that Bloodtrackers are better in than Kromac is why people tend not to take them there if they don't. For instance, if your other list is Morvahna or Mohsar, Bloodtrackers w/ Nuala go there. Personally, I find it hard to play BTs w/out Nuala, especially for those 2 casters. Either Krueger likes the BTs quite a bit too actually.

Also on the Pureblood vs Feral debate, keep in mind that with the Pureblood you now have three competing animii that almost every warbeast might make use out of between Primal, Wraithbane and Lightning Strike. You aren't going to be able to use all of them on the same warbeast, making Primal and Wraithbane a bit overlapping potentially. Not saying the Pureblood is bad, just something to consider.

[Obeisance]

Ok, so I've ordered a bunch of stuff, after reading this thread/etc.

First order: Kromac, Stalker, Pureblood, Gorax, max Trackers, Stones, Stones/Keeper.
Second: Kit/Ghettorix, Nuala, 2x Woldstalker units, Wilder, Gallow Groves, Woldwarden, Druids and Overseer, Blackclad, eKruger.

There's still a few things I need to pick up, like Wolfriders, Megalith, Woldguardian, Fulcrum, Feral, solos and different locks. But that's the majority of stuff I'm going to need in most lists covered.

[Rez]

Ive got a bunch of spare NIB crap, so if you need stuff just let me know.

And yeah, check out Skillts thread on Kromac, its a really good read.

[Obeisance]

Rez - Sweet. What you got?

Also, are there any tactics articles on how to use Stones? Placement, abuse, etc.

[Gunther]

Hey here is the thread on the shifting stones =)

http://privateerpressforums.com/show...-pictures!-%29

-G

[Warcaster Feiss]

Judging by what you've got already / coming from your first and second orders, I'd probably just look to add Krueger1 for the time being and crack on with that lot, it's a really good starting selection of 'beasts and units for Kromac and the two Kruegers.

[Obeisance]

Gunther - Thankyou. =D

Feiss - Yeah, I suspect I probably have all the tools for pKruger as well. I've played against him with Cryx, many times. He's just brutal against infantry.

[SillySod]

Ob - are you really so determined to live in Rez's shadow?

[Obeisance]

Ob - are you really so determined to live in Rez's shadow?

a) Eat a ****.
b) I actually put this to a vote on my local forum. Trolls, Skorne or Circle. Majority vote Circle.
c) He's played Khador, Trolls, Mercs, Circle and now Skorne. He can't own all the factions.

[Obeisance]

Messing around with an eKaya list.

eKaya
- Laris
- Feral
- Pureblood
- Gorax
2 Blackclads
Druids
- Overseer
Stones
Stones
- Keeper
2 Groves
Gobbers
=50

I suspect something like Wolfriders go in Reinforcements. That, or Bloodtrackers?

Druids and Blackclads, to kill infantry or fish for heavies.
Groves for arcing and random contesting.

But yeah. I guess it's decent.

[Warcaster Feiss]

I'm a big fan of Kaya2's theme force. Arguably you get the best benefit at Tier 1, Advance Deployed heavy 'beasts.

It does limit what you can take quite harshly, but it's really fun running a pretty much pure Wolfpack. The only things I generally take that isn't a heavy 'beast, is a Gorax, a Druid Wilder, and a single unit of Shifting Stones (to teleport Laris forward on Feat turn, for arcing Dogpile, so that when he activates he teleports back to Kaya).

[Obeisance]

I didn't even look at her tier. Reading it now, it seems fairly solid. Reduce the cost of heavies and AD for them, +1 to start.. and Skinwalkers gain Advance Move. Can't take Blackclads, Groves or Gobbers.

Problem is, I have to spend 5-8pts on Skinwalkers, though part of that is recovered by tier.

If I re-write to tier..

eKaya
- Laris
- Feral
- Pureblood
- Stalker
- Gorax
- Wilder
Druids
- Overseer
Stones
Stones
- Keeper
5 Skinwalkers
=50

I think that might actually be better. I also tend to assume doubles Stones is auto-include with like, all Circle lists?

Her tier is incredibly restrictive for reinforcements, though. 5 Skinwalkers/2 War Wolves. Or a heavy/War Wolves.

Innnnnteresting.

[Warcaster Feiss]

I generally go min Skinwalkers, and with the 3pts saved, include the Stones UA and a Druid Wilder (to Condition on Feat turn, and to hand out Lightning Strike every other turn).

I generally consider double Stones to be auto-include, but then I play quite reactively and they're good for that. There's a couple of good Circle players over here that play very aggressively and Stones don't suit the way they play. Kaya2 likes them for Serenity, since on Feat turn in particular it's possible to generate a LOT of Fury.

Reinforcements is something I struggle with, since my two favourite tier lists (Baldur1 and Kaya2) are both very restricted. Another heavy isn't a bad idea, but then it's more Fury to deal with. Druids and 3 War Wolves is something I want to try, since Druids can push things out of zones, and the War Wolves are 1pt scoring models, or medium bases to stop tramples and such.

[Obeisance]

Ok, awesome. I think I've got a fairly good grasp on what to include with eKaya now. Thanks a lot.

I'll probably post again later, as I'm also working on Kromac/eKruger.