Thinking of getting a small Circle secondary force

[PG_Viper114]

I've had a recent desire to try and play a bit of Circle as a small, secondary thing while I still stick with Trollbloods as my primary. Specifically, Baldur and his stone beasts. I was thinking of maybe going no more than 35 points to keep things small. And then if the opportunity presents itself, I could maybe then sell it all to someone at a decent price if only to get them started in playing Circle for our local area.

I was thinking of starting like this:

Baldur the Stonesoul - +5
Megalith - 11
Woldwarden - 9

A good start for 15 points. Then, for 25 points, I add:

Druids of Orboros - 7
Druids of Orboros Overseer - 2
Gallows Grove - 1

And then for 35 points, I add:

Woldwatcher - 5
Shifting Stones - 2
Stone Keeper - 1
More Gallows Grove - 2 (for 3 total)

Thoughts?

[Stallandor]

Prob don't need 3 gallows groves - but those 2 points could be used in a variety of other ways - Blacclad wayfarer jumps to mind first for you list, or a second unit of stones.
Otherwise, looks like an excellent start, with only 1 problem, Circle will definitely become your main force, because there awesome.

[Lighten]

So how competitive do you want this list to be, and why the Stonesoul?

I mean, I enjoy eBaldur and will happily take him to tournaments, but I can't imagine why a Troll player would opt for eBaldur and constructs when it's generally easier for you to brick up and get rock walls in Trolls, and that's eBaldur's thing. I think someone else would probably be a better introduction to Circle, for you or a new player. If you want to run the rock theme, pBaldur can do it arguably better - and be a control caster, which is more of the Circle norm.

If you particularly like the Stonesoul, and you're trying for the rock theme, I'd go with a Guardian rather than Warden, at least. He doesn't need more geomancers than Megalith with so few Roots targets around. And druids + UA at 35 isn't bad, but it certain does accentuate his weakness of not having much punch.

If you want to run the Stonesoul but aren't fixed on the stone theme, he works well with megalith + a couple warpwolves, and you have extra options for troops as well.

[PG_Viper114]

...with only 1 problem, Circle will definitely become your main force, because there awesome.

Sadly, no. I've spent a LOT more on Trolls and don't plan to dump them anytime soon. I just wanted to try some Circle a bit as a change of pace. If I hadn't invested so much into Trolls, I would play Circle.

So how competitive do you want this list to be, and why the Stonesoul?

Not super competitive. But I'm not looking for it to be a pushover, either. And I figured I'd go with eBaldur because he just seems more interesting in pBaldur what with that Wurm power of his. And his spell selections aren't bad, either.

I mean, I enjoy eBaldur and will happily take him to tournaments, but I can't imagine why a Troll player would opt for eBaldur and constructs when it's generally easier for you to brick up and get rock walls in Trolls, and that's eBaldur's thing.

True, Janissa's Rock Walls are very good, especially in conjunction with an EBDT, but I feel like trying Circle out for a bit. And, as I mentioned, I could sell the force to someone at a slight loss to me if only to get a regular Circle player getting in our playgroup.

If you particularly like the Stonesoul, and you're trying for the rock theme, I'd go with a Guardian rather than Warden, at least. He doesn't need more geomancers than Megalith with so few Roots targets around. And druids + UA at 35 isn't bad, but it certain does accentuate his weakness of not having much punch.

If you want to run the Stonesoul but aren't fixed on the stone theme, he works well with megalith + a couple warpwolves, and you have extra options for troops as well.

I suppose I could try the Woldguardian instead, since it is a lot more sturdy. I just thought pulling off Geomancies all over would be fun, especially with things like Ground Zero.

[Lighten]

You can only Geomance crevasse and roots of the earth; no SELF or CTRL range spells. So Wardens are a bit spotty under eBaldur.

[PG_Viper114]

You can only Geomance crevasse and roots of the earth; no SELF or CTRL range spells. So Wardens are a bit spotty under eBaldur.

Ah yes, right. I forgot about that. It would have been funny if they could. Oh well, Megalith's still pretty much a no-brainer with either Baldur, but I'll switch the Warden for a Guardian instead. It'll be tougher than the Warden, anyway, with the bonus of transferring to it even when maxed.

[BlkSt4r]

The only thing with this is if your going for something a little different Wolds is not the way to go they run similar to trolls in the essence of punch things in face and live to tell the tale the best bet if you want a taste of circle would be kromac krueger or E Kaya and wolves

[PG_Viper114]

I thought about it, but Baldur an the Wolds just seem more interesting to me. I think it's more of that "living stone" aspect that draws me to them a little.

[Jetty Smurf]

I would probably drop 2 Gallows Groves for a 2nd unit of shifting stones. One of the most fun things to do with Circle is teleport shenanigans. With one set, this might happen, but with two sets it definitely will!

[PG_Viper114]

I threw in three because the Gallows Groves don't seem very sturdy, but the idea to use them as Channelers to throw out Crevasses and Roots out further is appealing. But will one suffice generally?

[BlkSt4r]

Typically one will your Wolds are slower so gallows can keep in range rather well just keep it behind the guardian or warden with animus up to give it stealth

[Lighten]

One will usually suffice to throw out Roots, anyway. If you try to use them to Crevasse things and/or remove tough, they'll die a lot. Still, Baldur usually wants to throw out a roots and rock wall over spending 4 fury boosting a Crevasse... Megalith does that better.

I'd agree that eBaldur doesn't generally want multiple groves; that's usually reserved for our offensive spell slingers like Mohsar and Cassius.

[PG_Viper114]

Alright, makes sense. I can drop two of them for a Wayfarer.

[stupidmonkey]

Wayfarer or second set of stones. once you get the hang of them they are really useful. They heal, Fury Manage, Teleport, Block charge lanes. The wayfarer can be good also for spraying infantry caught in Megaliths Animi and increasing your threat ranges on your Guardian.

And +1 on the Guardian suggestion. I need to buy more for myself (only have one and need more for Baldy).

[PG_Viper114]

So I'm thinking maybe perhaps bumping things up to 50 points total before I then try and sell the whole thing to someone. Here's what I devised at 50 points:

Baldur the Stonesoul (*5pts)
* Woldwatcher (5pts)
* Woldwyrd (5pts)
* Megalith (11pts)
* Woldguardian (9pts)
Druids of Orboros (Leader and 5 Grunts) (7pts)
* Druid of Orboros Overseer (2pts)
Druids of Orboros (Leader and 5 Grunts) (7pts)
Shifting Stones (2pts)
* Stone keeper (1pts)
Shifting Stones (2pts)
Blackclad Wayfarer (2pts)
Gallows Grove (1pts)
Gallows Grove (1pts)

This lets me get both Gallows Groves from the blister in play, while sticking with the staples and being within theme limits. Of course, without a Celestial Fulcrum the benefit from T2 is wasted, but I'd leave that for the new owner to worry about.

[Moriarty]

I have been playing for about 6 months - but inside of that limited experience my thought is a pBaldur tier 4 is quite tasty at either 35 or 50 points. Plus many of the models (beasts, Druids, black clad, shifting stones) work with both Baldurs, upping the value/flexibilty of a circle package down the road for future players. It's like building a "Baldur though the years" collector's set

[Bollster]

I'm by no means an expert on Circle, being halfway through painting the battlebox, but it seems that that list is a little lacking in punch. You really only have Megalith and the Wold Guardian, and no way of buffing their hitting power. Everything else is movement shenanigans, Driuds and Blackclad can kill troops in a pinch but do you think there might be room for more heavy hitters in that list?

[PG_Viper114]

I was thinking of trying to stay within the Tier list, but I could look elsewhere. Maybe one of the medium-based units, like Skinwalkers.

[PG_Viper114]

I've figured out that perhaps this would be a decent 50 point list:

Baldur the Stonesoul (*5pts)
* Megalith (11pts)
* Woldwrath (20pts)
Druids of Orboros (Leader and 5 Grunts) (7pts)
* Druid of Orboros Overseer (2pts)
Shifting Stones (2pts)
* Stone keeper (1pts)
Warpborn Skinwalkers (Leader and 4 Grunts) (8pts)
Blackclad Wayfarer (2pts)
Gallows Grove (1pts)
Gallows Grove (1pts)

Changing some beasts to put in a Woldwrath in their place, keeping Megalith for the healing. Dropped the second unit of Druids and put in their place a unit of Skinwalkers, which should add some decent melee punch to the list. Thoughts?

[PG_Viper114]

I played a 35 point game yesterday against eVlad, using:

Baldur the Stonesoul (*5pts)
* Woldwatcher (5pts)
* Megalith (11pts)
* Woldguardian (9pts)
Druids of Orboros (Leader and 5 Grunts) (7pts)
* Druid of Orboros Overseer (2pts)
Shifting Stones (2pts)
* Stone keeper (1pts)
Shifting Stones (2pts)
Gallows Grove (1pts)

Some things to note:

- The durability of the force is extremely strong. With Roots of the Earth going all over the place, damaging anything of mine proved tough for him. Hell, my Woldwatcher went toe-to-toe with Drago and proved to be hard to get rid of (the Woldwatcher was going to lose, but Drago was heavily damaged in response)

- It's true, the army lacks punch. While I did like disrupting the Shield Wall of the Pikemen with Force Bolt, they still proved hard to hurt anyway, and the Druids ended up getting wiped out anyway. The list needs something that can do real damage, like Skinwalkers or Tharns, and I might go with that 50 point list I made above (even if it breaks the theme force).

- The Stones did little, the one without the UA even less. I think only one unit with a UA is going to be needed, and a Blackclad Wayfarer should go in its place.

- The Gallows Grove did sit pretty in a forest for a while, but it died before I could get a spell through it. Oh well, for 1 point, might as well keep it.

[Ergonus]

Stones take a lot of practice to get used too. You always need to think 2 turns ahead with them, of where your beasts are going to be so they can heal, manage fury, and be ready to teleport something. They are extremely useful for only 2 points they just take some getting used too.

[PG_Viper114]

True, but I still think I may just go with one set of Stones, as the improved CMD of the UA can allow them to spread out more. We'll see if one set can work.

[CrimsonRage]

For your latest 50 pts list, wouldn't it be better if you swap Skinwalkers and a Gallows Grove for a full unit of Gatormen Posse instead?

[PG_Viper114]

I suppose I could if they'll work. I've never tried them, and I was mainly thinking just within faction.

[mattjh]

eBuldar really shines in scenario play. He's fun, but definitely is a very different playstyle from normal circle.

Skinwalkers are not going to add any punch for you. They do not hit very hard but are very hard to kill.

If you want to add a huge hitting power, people say that Ghetorix is really good with eBuldar. I don't own him yet, but will eventually.