To Isamu or not to Isamu

[Revdyer]

The Arkansas NHSD tournament has set a 550 point army size.

(I do not fear spilling my beans here!)

I will be bringing an army of 3 x Sentinels of Jandar (330 points) and 3 x 4th Massachusetts (210 points) for a total of 540 points. The question is, do I then include Isamu (10 points) or Otinoshi (10 points), running them out to be killed rather quickly; or do I forego them in order to have an all Valiant army from the very beginning?

My inclination is to use Isamu and just make him a great bother until he dies. But if my opponent has Zelrig, that means my 4th Mass have no defense rolls at all, but if I don't have Isamu, then I can, at least, roll against a one skull attack from Zelrig.

What do you all think?

[southwest ninja]

With my name being what it is I can have only one answer and thats keep the ninjas. I mean they are ninjas! now let the helpful people follow with comments!

[Jexik]

I generally dislike Isamu in Valiant armies, because I can't think of a situation in which I'd want to activate him instead of the 4th Mass. He'd be more of a distraction to you than your opponent. The only circumstance that I might use him would be to shuffle to a glyph, but that's what your Sentinels are for anyway.

In short, I say no.

[Jim]

Ask Papa Scape. He does well with this sort of question.

Jim

[NecroBlade]

I'm with the guy in the Jaxet. Don't use either ninja. The Valiant Army Defense Bonus is much more important than, what, grabbing a glyph? If you really need a glyph, a Sentinel can sit on it, and sit on it at least as well as either 10-pointer. Take the extra 12 defense dice from turn 1.

Originally Posted by Jim

Ask Papa Scape. He does well with this sort of question.

Jim

[Revdyer]

Originally Posted by Jim

Ask Papa Scape. He does well with this sort of question.

Jim

Papa-'Scape doesn't know diddley.

[Agent Minivann]

That's a dilemma. I'd have to say that it would all come down to the maps if I were making the decision. Will Zelrig be able to close the distance before Isamu can be killed. Given how long Isamu can stick around, and the fact that Zelrig would probably risk a disengage or two (or three or four) to get a few free shots at 4th Mass squadies, I imagine the maps aren't big enough to give you comfortable breathing room. I would say more than likely it is a bad idea. If the maps have plenty of room then it just might work.

If you do bring either along, the alternative would be to use a bunch of order markers to space them out so you're only losing one at a time, but that is far from ideal just to fill out 10 points.

[KCU Master 2007]

I would stay far, far away from anything non-valiant when fielding a 4th Mass army if you're just going to use them then kill and die quickly. I would do this even more so now that Zelrig is part of the game. I would eat the 10 points (that's what you're doing essentially if your just going to throw him out to get him killed anyway) and use those first few crucial turns to establish map control.

That's my 2 cents, do with it as you wish. Good luck.

[ollie]

I'm with the no voters.

If you're going to win the event then you'll need to win all your games (probably). The slight advantage Isamu brings in most match-ups is not enough compensation for the reasonably likely possibility of him being a serious (maybe even game-losing) handicap in a single game in my opinion.

[robbdaman]

Structurally neither ninja fits within the army requirements so really if there are any situations that would pose a 10 point piece being a liability no matter how slim I wouldn't bother putting in a ninja. I guess the question you need to ask yourself is whether or not you think you'll run into any such situation?

Personally I don't have enough 4th Mass to concern myself with this at the moment but if I did want to run that build I wouldn't use either.

R~

[Rÿchean]

Nah! The ninja screws your valiancy and also your markers. Wasting markers in early game on a one attack unit is not good.

[Xn F M]

I would avoid taking either ninja. While they may be able to do some damage and annoy your opponent, if you're playing an oponent with decent ranged attackers they may just ignore your ninja and go straight for all the juicy squaddies bunched up in/near your start zone while they have less defence.

Basically Isamu (and Otonashi) stand a very good chance of only being a bother to you.