Ashlynn, Competetive Play

[KainMalice]

Hey guys. So, as you can all tell I currently play Retribution as my main faction. But there is pretty much a general consensus that the faction is lacking when placed up against certain lists, which I do agree with. I have seen it, and it wasn?t pretty. {Rahn + Mittens vs. Kromac + Druids} So, while I do have about 100+ points of Retribution, and do not plan on leaving this faction because I love them, I would like to make a 35 point list in something outside of my faction, mostly just for competitive play. I have 2 faction decks that I have bought. One being Cryx {not sure why} and Mercenaries. I figure that making a 35 point Mercenary list wouldn?t really be ?cheating? on my elves, because they aren?t really a faction in and of themselves, so I have come here looking for advice. I want to play using Ashlynn. I really like the model, and she looks pretty decent on the card as far as abilities, etc. go. Is she a competitive caster? And, can I get some advice on what sort of list I should bring to really make her a serious threat? Any information is very much appreciated.

[PG_vytzka]

Ashlynn is a very fun caster to play, and I think you're going to have a blast with mercs. A number of mercenaries, usually Elves of some sort, not only work for Retribution and Highborn covenant but also fit very well with her.

When looking for synergies with Ashlynn, you're best off looking for aspects like these:

Have good critical effects. On Feat turn criticals are plentiful, and the more use you can make of that the better. Example: Horgenhold Forge Guard, Mule, Gun Mages, Wroughthammer Rockram.

Have high Defense. For one, Ashlynn has Quicken, which can be used to boost DEF of units against ranged and magical attacks even higher. Also, the feat again lets you weather the storm rather well, and the higher Defense, the better. Example: Nyss Hunters, Gun Mages, Vanguard when standing in charge lanes.

Help you with focus economy. When Ashlynn really lets the enemy have it, she won't have a lot left to run her warjacks - that means people rarely have more than one or two jacks in the battlegroup, and some even don't use all the free jack points settling for a single Vanguard. Thankfully you're *** deep in great jack marshalls with Highborn. Examples: Gun Mages again, Sam MacHorne & the D. Dogs, Thor Steinhammer, arguably Rutger Shaw and in a way Lanyssa Ryssyl (free charges! whee!).

Just enable general asskicking from Ashlynn herself, and usually help the rest of the army just as well. Examples: Anastasia di Bray, Taryn di la Rovissi, Lanyssa Ryssyl, Lady Aiyana & Master Holt, Reinholdt, Gorman teh Wulfe. This is where the solomachine comes in, in general. Shield guard models that you usually want to have around Ashlynn also fit in this category, as do privateer jacks with Lash so you don't get KD'd and wasted.

That should give you enough ideas. Here's also the 35 point list with which I won our local Steamroller, mostly by the way of assassination:

Ashlynn d'Elyse (-6)
- Vanguard (5)
- Nomad (6)
Horgenhold Forge Guard, min (5)
Gun Mages (6)
- UA (2)
- - Mule (8)
Lady Aiyana & Master Holt (4)
Lanyssa Ryssyl (2)
Reinholdt (1)
Taryn di la Rovissi (2)

Most important of all, have fun.

[KainMalice]

What is it about these Gun Mages being included in lists with them? I am looking through my Merc cards, and I don?t see any Gun Mage unit cards at all with this box. Am I missing something? By the way, I have absolutely NO idea how ?charters?? work.

[Mod_Faultie]

You must select a Mercenary Contract or a Theme List in order to play pure-Mercenaries.

The Highborn Covenant Contract (the only one with Ashlynn) allows you to take either a unit of ATGMs (+UA) or a unit of Long Gunners (+UA). In both cases, they count as Mercenaries.

[PG_vytzka]

I hope this helps!

http://privateerpress.com/company/bl...ii#attachments

[Ger]

I'm going to point out that in most competitive environments you can bring two lists.

Ashlynn's a great all rounder. There isn't really anything she doesn't do well with. Although I'm not sure how well she fairs vs Kromac. Their an odd matchup, very nasty to each other.

[KainMalice]

Ashlynn's a great all rounder. There isn't really anything she doesn't do well with. Although I'm not sure how well she fairs vs Kromac. Their an odd matchup, very nasty to each other.

I'm not looking for something to just beat Kromac. I am simply stating that while Retribution is a faction that I do thoroughly enjoy, until they get more models that can help them in situations such as that particular one, then they are more or less uncompetative. Not to say I have not won with them or anything. I have won plenty of games. But it's kind of like when Hordes Primal came out, and you are comparing them to Warmachine Prime. The original Prime casters were, and sometimes still are, the freaking beasts of the game. The main Primal casters were decent at best, but were not game breaking. The faction needs some support with a lot of its units, solo's etc. So until that stuff comes out, I am looking for something I can play until we basically get more models. I would like to win a tournament at my LGS at least once.

[kantoboy]

Retribution took templecon. they've been doing well in tourneys in my area too. Just keep playing ret, you'll get a hang of it.

Ashlynn is fun and is definitely one of the better merc casters. BUT, I wouldn't put her at the level of Rahn.

[PG_vytzka]

I don't know, if you find Retribution noncompetitive maybe they just don't fit your style as people seem to be doing well with them. But there's nothing wrong with having some mercenaries as secondary faction to break up the rut, you just run the risk of having it become your primary faction as it happened to me

[Lanz]

, because they aren’t really a faction in and of themselves,

*scoffs* Mercs have more faction stuff than Ret has. Mercs are totally a faction, they just also have a myraid of sub-factions. Make no mistake that a good Merc list is as competative, flexible, and fluffy as any other faction list.

Now, as for Ash herself. Consider that basically Ravyn and Garryth both learned their tricks from Ashlynn, and she is similar to both in different respects. She has an attack range similar to Garryth, in being a weaponmaster with Gallows, and high defense, and is also like Ravyn in her ability to take out lots of infantry with a little focus. And, like both, is a Gunfighter/Virtuoso(and the original one, at that).

Ashlynn is very dynamic, placing a strong emphasis on critical effects and speed. Overall, she's very balanced as a warcaster, but her style caters to a more elitist gameplay. When I say that, I don't mean the players, I mean the style of army. Very surgical, precise, usually works with more elite units over generic cheap units.

To give an idea, this is the list I use at 35 points.
Ashlynn
-Bucaneer (Used for knockdowns against potential mule targets, to better the odds of crits. Generally between this, and a boosted Mule shot, I consider critical devistation to be a reliable element).
-Vanguard (A fluff peice really, but a reliable bodyguard in all conditions. Tough as nails, above average in every stat, and between Shield guard and Quick Draw, Ashlynn can be very tough to handle with ranged attacks. Causes reliable damage on an Assault as well, and just overall good to have around.)

Alexia & The Risen (My assassin unit. Can reliably deliver weaponmasters into the enemy warcaster's face, and harass them for most of the game. She's very tough to deal with when used defensively, and threat range for Thrall Warriors easily justifies the price tag).
Gun Mages(with UA) (These are my 'wizards'. A broad range of spells and abilities make them hugely versitile, and are a perfect delivery for my Mule. They bring a bit of everything; Punch, control, threat range, etc.)
Cylena & Nyss Hunters(full) (these are my Quicken targets, and are basically my Cavalry. They can range out completely independant from the army for flanking maneuvers, and are just a brutally-awesome unit. Too fast to engage in melee until they want too, and as hard to hit as Ashlynn against ranged attacks and spells with Quicken up. Pair that with Pathfinder and Hunter, and they basically are the backbone of my army.)

Anastasia (My trump card. I'm still working out the kinks to the assassination run, but generally even if I forget to use Gallows, she either pulls off Espionage every game, or comes like 0.5" short. Generally if I remember to use Gallows first, it'll always work, and Espionage is practically a Feat in it's own right. Every time I've used Espionage, it's been a game-ending move. Standard idea is to have her chill with Ashlynn(protected from sniping by the Vanguard), and wait until either the enemy warcaster gets close, or Ashlynn does. On a feat turn, Gallows is pretty much guarenteed to pull the warcaster and knock it down. Activate your army, they do thier business and try to end activation close to the warcaster, then Anastasia activates and basically gives everyone a second activation. Game over after that.)

You'll notice that pretty much every model/unit is either ranged, or hybrid ranged/melee. This is semi-intentional. It makes the army very flexible, yet it is not restrained to being as black and white as a 'melee' list, or a 'ranged' list.

[PG_vytzka]

Haha, Ashlynn caters to elitist gameplay.

I like that phrasing!

[McNs]

+1 to those lulz vytzka!

Playing Ashlynn is easy, playing Ashlynn well takes some finesse. She's terribly, terribly squishy and KD can and will be the death of you. Like Fiona, she needs to mid- to front- field (more front than mid, especially compared to Fiona) to deliver her feat. Unlike Fiona, she can personally finish the job (i.e. - caster kill) if you're army has its teeth taken out.

Her'e's what I've been playing to reasonable success at 35:

Ashlynn
- Mule

Steelhead Halbrediers (6)
Steelhead Heavy Cav. (3)
Nyss Hunters (10)
Gun Mages (6)
- Gun Mage UA

Epic Eiryss
Rhupert Carvolo (or Corbeau... still playing around here).

*******

Also, try out Ravyn for Ret. She doesn't really have bad match-ups, especially if you avoid the "MAGE HUNTAR ASAZZIN + UA x2 LOLOLOLOLOL" internet list. Rahn makes a good counter-point for her in SR, but that's a discussion for a different board.

[PG_vytzka]

Oh, and as a short commentary regarding Vanguard. Don't be deceived by thinking it's just a fluff piece for Ashlynn. It is that, yes - but it's also a terrific light jack in its own right, and they both support each other well.