Mercs at 15pts or less

[PG_Dino-Czar]

I'm starting a paint and play group with my friends to introduce them to the game. I'm painting up some old Cygnar stuff I never got around to (pNemo, Centurion, Sentinel, Lancer) and another guy just bought the Cryx box. I mention this because both another guy and my girlfriend are quite taken with mercenary aesthetics and I need help suggesting models for them to build battle boxes around at the 15 point scale.

Both own the mariner, and she wants to play either Ashlynn or Fiona. He bought Madhammer at the same time as the Mariner (and didn't stop to ask me if this was a good plan), so he might build around either a Rhulic or a Human 'caster.

Anyway, assuming Ashlynn and Madhammer, what would be some good complimentary jacks?

Also: is there anyway to run a Mariner in Seaforge?

[Almightyfoon]

Mule, Mangler and Vanguard for ashlynn i think. For madhammer.... Two bashers and a driller. Thats what I'm thinking.

Also to your other question, I don't think theres a way to run a mariner in Searforge as all the casters and marshall's available to it can only run Rhulic Jacks as memory serves.

[brotherscott]

Ashlynn seems to do pretty well with a Mule (or two, in larger games), Nomad, and Vanguard. Depending on taste, one could also go with a Talon. Fiona works well with a Vanguard as well, and if there is a loader available the Mariner is decent.
Madhammer I think is pretty good with a Rockram and a few Blasters and Gunners. The Basher is out now, and seems to be a really good choice for Durgen.

If they end up leaning toward other 'casters, the Privateers (Shae, Bart, and Fiona) are thematic and a lot of fun to run. Bart works good with a Mariner or two, She does well with one, but is limited to Privateer/ Talion Charter, and Fiona does well with more warrior models, though she can run 'jacks pretty well.

And sadly, no. There isn't any way to currently run a Mariner is a Searforge contract.

[maxxev]

You can't run a mariner in Searforge... HOWEVER Both the Rhulic casters can be run in 4star and Highborn, so you COULD use Sam, Meg or Rutger (jack marshals) with the Mariner in a List with Madhammer as the caster.

For Searforge I recommend getting the Gorten battlebox if you can find it (even if he doesn't want Gorten for the money it's worth it if you can find it) Then some blasters and Forgeguard.

For Ashlyn Mules, a Vanguard, Nomad, Sam and the devil dogs, Precursor Knights are pretty good, erm Gorman.

Not a lot in the Merc list is bad, just don't point them at the Rockram or Talon jacks, both these jacks do not perform for their points cost, the Talon is WAY outclassed by the Nomad and the Rockram, is not a viable option when put along side the Driller and the Basher (though I suppose if you have an exact 8 point gap and nothing else to fill it it COULD be worse...)

[bashamer]

would yuo really bring a vanguard at 15 pts ?

try nomad, nomad & mule.

[mrhuettel]

15 points are a difficult amount to really get into the game - they're too little to get the full impact of ranged and melee combat in combination of jacks and units. thus, i'd recommend a start of nomad, nomad and mule, just as bashamer mentioned - the mule adds loads of nice tricks and the nomad is a plain, cheap beatstick - especially nice withe ashlynn's quicken and the "flashing blade" spell. the mariner is one of the best looking jacks, but it needs either mcnaile or another warrior model in b2b to work - i think it's best used with broadside's bart and mcnaile (a mariner and a mule with "hot shot" and "broadside" are ugly to play against!).
if your girlfriend wants to add some further points to an ashlynn list, i'd add aiyana and holt as soon as possible to get into that "great merc character unit"-feeling, and then a melee unit for the "gallows" and "distraction"-combo. either precursors or forge guard seem great (i know what i am talking about playing cygnar and searforge ).

your friend, on the other hand, has a bit of a problem - the mariner cannot be run in searforge, dirty meg is the only marshall (apart from the costy sam machorne with her devil dogs) to bring it into a four star list. if he still wants to field durgen, suggest a list as follows:

durgen madhammer
driller
gunner
thor
meg
mariner

thor is imho the best jack marshall in the whole game and can give your rhulic jacks quite some boosts.

further additions could be herne and jonne or ayiana and holt and e.g. some steelheads.

however, i love to stay as much in theme as possible and play searforge only - get durgen and some rhulic jacks, forge guard, high shields, thor, rockbottom, some bokurs and the such...

the bokurs do actually make some nice "very" light melee jacks to hit your opponents hard obn their flanks - but that's a different chapter!

[maxxev]

No I guess a Vanguard might not be a good choice for 15 points, Nomads and Mules would be my vote too (though the Buccaneer is a good choice as well along side Nomads).

Just a point on Jack marshals, Don't forget that Rutger Shaw is out (this?) month, we still don't know what contract he works in but it's probably for certain that he'll work in either 4 star or Highborn.

Madhammer does not benefit from being run in a Searforge list over 4star or Highborn, as much as I'd like him too, there is no reason to keep him tethered to dwarves unless (like me) you are a dwarf Nut. Therefore if it's Dwarves hes after, as I said before Pick up the Gorten battle box if you can get ahold of it, otherwise Bashers have MASSES of synergy with Madhammer and Drillers are an Excellent beat stick choice.

As mentioned above you Can't go wrong with Thor, just keep him away from assassin solos and CRA units / ranged jacks as he's not got the defence or armour to survive, pretty much any ranged attack. Even if he's not marshalling a jack his "tune up" and repair abilities are crazy good.

Anyway. Have fun.

[Jugrnot]

I'm strictly a Searfoge Madhammer nut playing in a Mangled Metal League right now (also trying the paint and play method).
15pts Close Combat: 2 Drillers and 3 Lights (mostly gunners)
15pts Ranged: 1 Avalanche and 4 Gunners
(I know the Avalanche isn't out yet but the card is and I chose to convert my Wrought Ram into one until it comes out in April/May)

Third option if your sticky about the models: 1 Driller and 4 gun bunnies.
At 15pts, Madhammer is awesome with just jacks. Points wise you will get the most out of it and depending on how well you look it is cost efficient financially.

I'd wait until 25pts before adding Thor, that way you can get a Bokur and a unit of Infantry.

[Solarc]

The Mariner is good with Ashlynn because of one thing. If you are playing a small point game with a caster that knocks things down, Ashlynn can remain on her feet (which is important). But that's the only real thing that the Mariner brings to the party. She's better with a more melee oriented heavy - like a Freebooter which costs less, can keep her on her feet, and can surprise the snot out of someone (quicken + Jury rig can really surprise someone).

@ 15 points, unless it's mangled metal, she's good with 1 unit of heavy infantry with the heavy jacks. While the mule is pretty fun and cool, since there will be fewer troops on the ground, your not likely to get the best bang for your buck from a Mule @ 15 points.

Here is what I'd do:

Ashlynn
Nomad
Freebooter
Horgenhold (min or max unit)
*Eyriss (either version, only if you have min Horgenhold)
Reinholdt

That is 15 points, and allows you to purchase Horgenhold infantry, which will work for Madhammer and Fiona as well.

Note that taking Eyriss at low points is especially brutal.... but you know... page 5 and all that...