pre-Vessel FAQ: What cool stuff have you done with it?

[Silverstar843]

Hey, all. So I'm planning on writing up an article for the canon on the battle engine, the Vessel of Judgement. Here's the catch: every time I've used it I've found some new trick to apply, some new way to use a miracle, or some crazy new tactic. Normally I would just keep using it and using it, but even talking to people or seeing people mention it on the forums often have other things to do with it that never even crossed my mind. I figure other people have had a unique experiences, so I'm hoping to collect all the knowledge I can.

So what cool stuff have you done with the Vessel? What have you done that just seemed really useful or very powerful? How have you applied these tricks?

[regleant]

I know loramer has had a lot of success with it using Harbinger. You might want to reach out to him for added input.

[PG_Fellio]

I've... primed mine? It is actually mostly painted...

I really want to use it, I promise.

I just haven't the will to paint it because I wasn't happy with what I've done with it so far.

[SteakAndSpirits]

I would like to recommend that you keep your eye on Nicia, if you're fielding a Vessel of Judgement. Because of her combination of SPD: 7, reach, and Acrobatics, an out-of-activation move from her, followed by an attack can really be a way to squeeze that final ounce of utility out of her. Also, she fires her 10" POW: 12 gunblade just as well as she swings her sword, so a move like this could foreseeably threaten a number of support models, or drop a key Unit Attachment.

-s&s

[jandrese]

Admonisher only triggers on enemy models sadly.

[ZealousJohnny]

Aside from the usual uses (of which there are many and all are great), I tend to like Doors of Judgement in conjunction with Madelyn Corbeau to get some nice out of activation annoyance. I often use Cinerators or Bastions, and if my caster isn't set up for the kill Maddy's intrigue move works great on them anyway. Combine it with doors of judgement and you get to move a warrior an extra 3" to an annoying place, running to threaten free strikes if you can't get the charge. Then, once your oponent is forced to deal with the model in question it gets a free advance and swing, either hitting the attacking model anyway, or moving past it and killing a support piece.

It's not game winning and doesn't come up every game, but it's an example of how versatile our Battle Engine can be, with the right combination. If I get more time I'll post some of my other findings

[Del Fuego]

Vessel + Bastions or Cinerators = Irritating zone control. I've put my entire army into the other zone or objective which forces the opponent to respond or get flanked in. What little beast/jack or unit they send to square off with your medium based infantry won't stand much of chance, since your getting another punch from a Cinerator or Bastion before they go down thanks to Doors of Judgement.

Edit: I'm also in the exclusive "Assassinated Your Caster with my Zombie Caster Club" in this case, pFeora against pButcher.

[Blackraine]

Edit: I'm also in the exclusive "Assassinated Your Caster with my Zombie Caster Club" in this case, pFeora against pButcher.

wat...

Why did I not think of this before? Brilliant! That's almost as fun as Cassius' mission to fertilize every female Warcaster and Warlock in the game!

[PG_strangedane]

I use it primarily to annoy the heck out of my opponent! The best time I had with it, was against Ol' Rowdy with his special ability on. Charged him with a Paladin, died to his Grudge strike, used Miracle and hit him again. Charged with Vilmon and hit him hard. Next turn he gave Rowdy 3 focus and killed Vilmon with something - used Miracle again and destroyed Rowdy

It is also good with Rhoven to take out annoying stealth things such as Eiryss/Tartarus/Nuala etc

[Circle noob]

when using the doors of judgement miracle i always try to kill the opposing unit leader. in doing so you are taking 2 attacks away from your opponent (the leaders attack plus the attack of the promoted model/ i love abusing the field promotion rule)

the push miracle is a trap, as you have to be way to near to the enemy. each game i used that miracle i lost the vessel in the following turn.

there is one thing i hate about the darn engine! i cannot cross a wall without running!!!!

[Circle noob]

darn double post

[Charming]

I love the fire miracle, people always run to engage my engine, then I just push them off and proceed to shoot something in the face

[Silverstar843]

Thanks, guys. This is turning out well. Circle Noob, that trick is EXCELLENT!

I'm also in the exclusive "Assassinated Your Caster with my Zombie Caster Club" in this case, pFeora against pButcher.

I thought the miracle was errated to target a "non-warcaster or warlock"

[dchadpage]

Are you saying a promoted model can't attack the turn it is promoted?

I just received mine as a gift from a friend, so I haven't played with it yet. But I'm thinking the push miracle might be good to fuel eFeora's feat turn. Plus it can't go out with her nearby. Most other ways of getting cont.fire on enemy models also often kills them, so no focus from her feat.

[zulu81]

Edit: I'm also in the exclusive "Assassinated Your Caster with my Zombie Caster Club" in this case, pFeora against pButcher.

Me too. I got it done with eSevy and Creator's Wrath

[zulu81]

Door of Judgement stuff is probably the most memorable for me. Besides the aforementioned zombie eSevy assassination I have...
Boxed ol' Rowdy with a charge from an ignited Vilmon, followed by DoJ'd Vilmon (20 damage followed by 15)
DoJ'd Holt to shoot and kill eEryiss
DoJ'd Gravus to break Crippling Grasp off my Errants on the turn it was cast on them
DoJ'd a Paladin to kill an enemy Vilmon. This was cool because my Paladin had just killed an enemy Paladin who then DoJ'd to kill my Paladin in return. So 3 dead paladins and 2 DoJ's.

[jandrese]

Thanks, guys. This is turning out well. Circle Noob, that trick is EXCELLENT!
I thought the miracle was errated to target a "non-warcaster or warlock"

It was going to be, then the purplenames changed their mind and let it stand. I specifically asked when the last errata was released and it was stated to me that the devs think this is too much of a corner case to warrant an errata entry. So yay.

[Silverstar843]

cool, thanks, Jand.

[Spatulor]

Are you saying a promoted model can't attack the turn it is promoted?

That is correct. It gets overlooked a great deal, though.

[Circle noob]

if you read the rules for light artillery (sry dont know the correct spelling) i think there might be a trick for our sunburst cannon. as the movement restriction only applies during the activation. the out of turn shennenigans should enable you to move the sunburst and fire therefore increasing the threat range.

for the germans: the german translation for doors of judgement is wrong!!! you are not restricted to melee attacks.

[Silverstar843]

yes, thanks, but that trick was mentioned on the sunburst thread going currently. If they kill the leader of the unit, you can move and get one move it and get one shot off.

[loramer]

I've had a lot of sucess and fun with the vessel with harby and bastions. Between sanguine bond, martyrdom and DoJ, you get to control which models die and when.
Admonisher on the gun has let me take out a lot of support models or stealthed solos, and has gotten me a couple of wins by arcing onto their caster.
Eruption of faith has won me a couple of games through scenario by pushing their models out of the control zones.
About the only thing that I don't use it much for is the cleansing aura, but I usually have a caster with purification or Rhoven in the list.
I also have 2 zombie caster kills with it, Harby vs. Estryker, eFeora vs. pButcher.

I don't think that I have done anything unusually cool with it, but I have had a ton of fun using it and it has been exceptionally useful. One of the best purchases I have made.

[Bibious]

Glad to see all this fun stuff! I just got my Vessel on Friday and am looking forward to giving it a whirl.
I have some nice Knights Exemplar and Errants to give it some juice for DoJ.