Army Selected, and a new forum started.

[justjohn]

Ok, so I'm really having a time choosing an army for tomorrow's tourney.

It's 400 points, on the same set of maps that were used at GenCon.

So far, I came up with an army for my wife that has been dominating in our playtesting: Krav, Nakita, Raelin, 2x WoA. It's just a house of an army. She's set, but I'm not.

This is our first "competitve" event, and after reading some tourney reports, I kindof know what to expect, but I'm unsure how I want to combat it.

First for my play style... I like my armies to be aesthically pleasing. I prefer having fewer units to decide between moving, 4 different cards (multiple commons, not counting) is about the peak of my comfort zone since common squads came out. I dislike AE and Drake, and for the most part, all modern and futuristic humans. I also don't like investing more than 150 points in a single figure/squad. With all that being said, here are a few lists I've been kicking around/playtesting (in no particular order):

2x Monks, 1x Ninja, 1x Izumi, Shotgun. Solid army, but I've found the monks to be somewhat lackluster as of late. Considering dropping 1x squad of of monks and Shotgun for 2x AArchers. I ran another version that was 2x monks, Shotgun, James, Guilty, and Izumi. It was fun, but there were too many cards and that lead to ordermarkers being thinned out too much for my tastes.

2x Minions, 2x AArchers, Theracus. I enjoy this army, and the Minions normally do fairly well for me. Theracus is basically just a toss in for me, and serves as a pretty potent fig when need be. I just have a hard time spending more than half of my army on 6 very expensive squad figures. Another version is Syv, 2x Minions, and Raelin. I've used that one, too, but I think 2x AArchers > Syv. But that's just me.

3x reavers, 2x 'nators, 1x stalkers. Getting ready to test this one out. Not sure how it will fair, but I think I've got all the angles covered. Plus, I think it will look really neat.

2x AArchers, Venoc Warlord, Theracus, Syv. Another one I really like. I don't really care for the Vipers, as 0 defense scares the bejesus out of me. Syv gets high quick with Theracus, and AArchers and Venoc wade in to continue the carnage.

2x Blasticons, 2x Glads, X17. I like this army ALOT. It fits my idea of ideal armies, 1 major hero, and an even amount of ranged and melee. It also requires less order marker placement strategy, which is always a plus. I tried another version of this that was 2x Glads, 1x Blasticons, Q-9. Q-9 is a house, but so much of an investment. The main drawback of this army for me is that I find the Glads somewhat weaker than their points portray, and also that it may be considered as some as "cheesy"

3x Romans, 2x 4th, Marcus. I know, I know, why no BBQ?! I just don't think he fits aesthetically. I really enjoy this army, and it's quite tough. Another version of this we play switches out 1x Romans for Deadeye. This is my most solid choice, but I also think it is the cheesiest.

3x Arrow Gruts, Mimring, Krug. Another powerhouse army, that requires little to no thought. Cheese factor strikes again.

2x Gruts, 2x Arrow Gruts, Grimnak, Krug. Another solid army, but cheese factor once again.

3x Drones, 2x Marden, Marro Warriors. I really like this army as well. I would like to play something a little more original, but this has done fairly solidly for me. I prefer MW to M-B-S, just a preference, though.

Things I don't own:
Swog Riders/Knights
MacDirks/MAs
Armocs/Greeks
Nerak/Hawthorne/EOV

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks!

[Pilgrim]

I'm getting ready for the MA tourny and an army that I SERIOUSLY almost went with is very simple and elegant -

Marden Hounds x 4
Guilty McCreech

This is a KILLER army, has proven itself in play testing, and is lethal against almost anything except soulbourgs. I commend it to you highly.

[Jormi_Boced]

Well if it is the same maps as the Gen Con tourney, I know an army that did pretty well on it.

1x Raelin
1x Krug
3x Swog Rider
3x Grut Archers

[UranusPChicago]

I really do not understand what people mean by a "cheesy" army. What is cheesy about them? Is it that some people don't like playing against them? And who are these "some people"?

The only person I heard throwing around the cheesy term was Jason. He basically disagreed with anything, so I hope you are not basing your army choices on his reasoning.

As far as which army should you go with... go with the one that you feel most comfortable with. Don't concern yourself with individuals who claim your army was cheap or cheesy. Is there more valor found in losing with a crappy army or winning with a better army?

Since all three of these units were mentioned in your original post, you might try...
Aubrien Archers X 2
Monks X 2
Warriors of Ashra X 2

Lots of flexibility and only three order markers are required to activate all your army cards. Running without a Hero might be risky, but it might be fun to give it a try.

[justjohn]

That's a really solid army, UPC.

I would probably run it, too, but the wife is taking our WoA in her army. That is a great army though, will keep that one in mind.

As far as the cheese goes, I guess it's more of playing with a full army of stuff people considered overpowered and/or undercosted. I have no problem with it, I just though some did. And for the record, no, never really read any of jason's stuff, so it didn't come from there. Must be from my years of MTG.

Thanks for that idea, though. Really tough looking army.

[spider_poison]

I'd just avoid playing an army that you're unfamiliar playing. Other than that, I'm sure any of your armies will give you a chance to win if you play them correctly and get lucky. I personally don't think that first configuration (monks, samurai, ninjas, etc.) would do all that well as it is very weak in range, but I guess I've never tried it before. The Roman/Mass army would definitely be solid if you used that, but I think you need a few Swogs to make the Orcs really get going. My favorite choice of yours is probably 2X Minions, Raelin, and Syvarris. If you're good at using Syvarris, I could see how he could draw in your opponents so your Minions can have some fun (and all probably still stay in Raelin's range). Hope this helps you a little. If it's no trouble, I'd be interested in knowing what you end up playing and how you did with it.

[RichardD]

I think Spider's just made a very important point (and who better to make it, eh?).

I'd *never* turn up to a tourney with something untested - even if the "groupthink" on here was that it was the best thing since sliced bread.

If I were you, I'd run with what felt most effective and comfortable from your recent testing, whether small-minded folk call it cheesy or not.

If you're happy running a big pile of 4th Mass, take 'em; if you'd rather use Krug and Gruts, take those instead.

By taking an unfamiliar army, you open up the real risk that your tournament games will turn into learning games - you won't enjoy them as much, and you won't play as well. For me the first of those two disadvantages is the biggy.

[justjohn]

Thanks for the insight, RicharD and Spider. I think I have selected a good one.

Now my wife is trying to decide between Carr or 2x WoA. She's leaning towards Carr, and I am trying to get her to stay with the WoA. Any insight there? She's been playing well with both.

[RichardD]

Personally I've never been impressed with Carr, and haven't got any WoA yet, so I'm *completely* unable to offer any better advice than "go with your instincts".

[feekonea]

I'd go with the WoA, those girls are flipping studs. anyways, your wife has an amazing army, I love that army if it would have the WoA, anyways, I would do something that matches your playing style, I not gunna help you, cuz you said you didnt like the vipers but I LOVE the vipers, so we probably have different playing styles, just try hittin up an army that can do @ least ALRIGHT on every map and try to realize what your weakness' in that army are and try to aviod that. good luck.

[monkeyfish]

Hey justjohn since Dragoncon is in Atlanta this year right? I live right outside Atlanta and maybe you could stop by and play a few games with me?

[justjohn]

I ended up playing the 'Atron Army. My wife ended up using the WoA. Here's the report I just posted if you wanna know how things went:
http://heroscapers.com/community/sho...?p=74899#83289