The Book of Shades of Bleakewoode

[Fatespuppet]

I think the shades are some of the simplest yet coolest figures in the entire HS universe. Then again, I'm partial to cloaked spooky figures.

I love playing shades in multiplayer games. I love how much distraction and confusion they sow, especially once they drop into a swirling melee of multiple heroes. They aren't super powerful, but the scare factor is often enough to pull attention toward them and away from other units sneaking around the board to pick off ranged troops.

True, they are a bit pricey as cannon fodder, but there's more to having fun then dominating your opponent. My favorite is the one reaching forward as if to grab the opponent. It survived 2 full rounds of sustained attacks from 3 players with some truly amazing rolls. I couldn't help but go 'ooOOoOOooo' every time I rolled defense....maybe that helps.

[Hex_Enduction_Hour]

Originally Posted by Fatespuppet

I couldn't help but go 'ooOOoOOooo' every time I rolled defense....maybe that helps.

When I reveal an order marker on my Shades card, I speak a gravely, whispered, "Shades...."
I can't help it.

[Revdyer]

Originally Posted by Hex_Enduction_Hour

You probably weren't attacking the Troll either, huh?

You're right. Krug in the center, surrounded by five Shades, but with a couple of enemy gruts (or something, I don't remember what, exactly) sandwiched in and a few more around. I didn't want to "pump up" Krug and had to use the attacks against the gruts anyway. Not a great strategy, I'll quickly admit. Some say, "Live and learn." In HeroScape it is more often, "Die and Learn." <grin>

[Dredd Stev]

Originally Posted by Revdyer

I didn't want to "pump up" Krug and had to use the attacks against the gruts anyway. Not a great strategy, I'll quickly admit. Some say, "Live and learn." In HeroScape it is more often, "Die and Learn." <grin>

It would have been a BRILLANT strategy if you had just possessed that big Troll!

On a side note the very first time I ever used these guys I took over Syv! I never got to use him but just watching all those Ashra swarm and cut down there own elf hero was worth the 200 points of Shades!

[cephalodd]

I've used the shades many times with varying results, but they continue
to be one of my favorite units to draft. While they do tend to take up quite a bit of space in one's army, They usually more than make up for it.

[The Super Atheist]

I've captured Dund with them once. I've just recently captured nilfheim using two squads... and I only lost two shades.

[Shades fan]

The important thing to remember with the shades is that they do have stealth flying so one of the best ways to use them is on uneven terrain.So if a squad engages you you can escape pretty must unharmed. I also think one of the best ways to use them is to keep enemy heros in their place because their is always that fear of the soul devour working in your opponents mind.

[killercactus]

The Shades are a great place for the #3 order marker. They can fly in and engage a hero, then try and win initiative on the next round and hit Devour. They're also cool for the In the Heat of the Battle format if you can outcard your opponent and place the Shades last adjacent to all of their heroes.

[StLouisBear]

The Shades are one of my favorite squads just for the fun factor. The look on your opponent's face when you take his Major Q10 and his teammate's Deadeye Dan in only two sequential turns makes the game fun even if you eventually lose. That makes you even happier than the previous game when you stole his Iron Man. Devour the souls of his squad killers then move in your Shaolin Monks and watch even the Microcorp and Krav Maga Agents run in terror.

[killercactus]

In the last game I played, I Devoured Kaemon Awa and Cyprien very early, and I mindshackled Syvarris with NGS. On top of that, Kaemon Awa counterstruck Drake for 3 wounds, killing him.

Too bad it was a 3 on 1 game, since my opponents then collectively decided I had to die...

[OmniMoose]

Originally Posted by killercactus

In the last game I played, I Devoured Kaemon Awa and Cyprien very early, and I mindshackled Syvarris with NGS. On top of that, Kaemon Awa counterstruck Drake for 3 wounds, killing him.

Too bad it was a 3 on 1 game, since my opponents then collectively decided I had to die...

I've never Had that kind of luck!

The only things i've been able to Soul Devour were the Tagawa Samurai and Krug........

[Taeblewalker]

Originally Posted by DarkDino

I've never Had that kind of luck!

The only things i've been able to Soul Devour were the Tagawa Samurai and Krug........

I had Spartacus Soul-Devoured on me once.