35/50 point pdenny for new player, feedback appreciated :)

[douglasrad]

iv played tabletop games before but im new to warmachine. iv done some research and this is my theoretical pdenny list. would love some feedback before i start buying some of this stuff.

35 point:
pDenny (grants 5 toward bonejack)
'JACKS
2 Deathripper (8)
UNITS
full Bane thrall unit (8)
Withershadow Combine (5)
SOLOS
Scarlock (2)
Tartarus (4)
2 Warwitch Siren (4)
Gorman Di Wulfe (2)
2 Pistol Wraith (6)
Machine Wraith (1)

the concept of this force is assassination. my Pistol wraiths are the assassins in this concept, the intention is to engage the caster when scourge and withering are both in effect. the combine, scarlock, sirens, and gorman seem very important to any pdenny list, and the machine wraith is cuz i had an extra point. The banes are basically there to be a scary distraction. i have two concerns with this list: first, is 2 arc nodes enough, and if not, what can i sacrifice that isnt integral to my strategy? also, im worried that the most important parts of my strategy dont have stealth, whereas the expendable part, (the banes) does. im concerned that this may result in my opponent shooting at things that i really dont want them shooting at. an alternative i can think of would be to ditch the banes and machine wraith (total of 13 points) in favor of either a full mechanithrall unit with 2 brutes and a necro (8 points), and 5 bile thralls (5 points), OR a full mechanithrall unit with a necro (6 points), and Cylena Raefyll and Nyss Hunters (7 points), OR alternatively, a simple 26 model horde of 2 full mechinithrall units (5 each) and a half unit (3 points) ..... are there any experienced players who can weigh these options and tell me where my best initial investment is?

heres my 50 point theory list


50 point:
pdenny (grants 5 toward bonejack)
'JACKS
2 Deathripper (8)
Defiler (5)
Nightmare (10)
UNITS
full Mechanithrall (5)
Brute thrall (1)
Bile thrall (5)
Withershadow Combine (5)
Cylena Raefyll and Nyss Hunters (7)
SOLOS
Skarlock (2)
Necrotech (1)
2 Warwitch sirens (4)
Gorman Di Wulfe (2)



As it stands, my current 50 point list removes the machine wraith, replaces the pistol wraiths with nightmare as my assassin piece, replaces the banes with a maxed mechanithrall unit with a brute and a necro, adds an arc node, adds nyss hunters, and adds a unit of bile thralls. the concept is still the same, but adds several different threats to the table, to deal with a larger enemy force. the idea is to make the enemy caster or a unit near the enemy caster nightmare's prey, and simultaneously get nightmare into charge range, and an arc into scourge range. the nyss are there to serve as backup assassins if nightmare doesnt work out. i feel like this force does a better job of keeping my important pieces in play, since nightmare will have stealth, and ill have another node. but im new to this, so feedback is appreciated

[deademon]

first list, drop gorman and machine wraith and get the UA for the bane thralls, they arnt bane thralls without their UA.

machine wraith is nice but, meh... and gorman is good, but pdenny is THE debuff queen. along with her stealth, and the wws bind, you dont really need him.

second list, drop the defiler. youll need to max out the nyss, get a necrosurgeon for those mechithralls, and maybe more brutes. not sure how...maybe drop gorman in this list too.

nyss are overcosted at low pts and under at high pts. necrosurgeon to keep the tarpit...a tarpit, brutes to block charges to denny and stuff.

[douglasrad]

thanks thats helpful... i totally screwed up those lists, too, because i used necrotechs instead of necrosurgeons. nooby mistake. so thats another point i gotta free up somewhere. and i read that gorman is important to have situationally because his smoke can protect denny from units that ignore stealth. is that the case?

[deademon]

thanks thats helpful... i totally screwed up those lists, too, because i used necrotechs instead of necrosurgeons. nooby mistake. so thats another point i gotta free up somewhere. and i read that gorman is important to have situationally because his smoke can protect denny from units that ignore stealth. is that the case?

i guess its personal preference. i never have her close enough to people that can ignore stealth. i have arc nodes, i make sure theyre dead before they think about going after her. it might be my ultra small meta of 3 other people, but ive never really needed gorman.

[Gamingdevil]

and i read that gorman is important to have situationally because his smoke can protect denny from units that ignore stealth. is that the case?

Things that ignore stealth, often ignore clouds as well, so it's useless for that. If something gets within 5" to ignore stealth, you've done something wrong to begin with.