Strange Synergies Episode 2
Posted By possiblyarobot on December 12, 2012
I’m specifically avoiding looking at in-faction synergies simply because those depths have been plunged time and time again. Rarely is a new model released that isn’t instantly dissected and all possible faction combinations applied by the end of the day; which is why last time I spoke on Mercs. Far fewer people play the faction. There’s still math do be done!
This time I’ll focus on Minions. I won’t bother with Gatormen simply because Gatormen are good on their own, without any sort of buffing or model pairing. Anything you do to Gatormen makes them that much better. Instead, we’ll focus on their slimier cousins the Bog Trogs.
On their own, their stats aren’t all that bad: average SPD of 5 and Reach, decent DEF of 12/16/18 with Camo and with an ARM of 14 they have good odds of surviving most blast rolls. They’re MAT 6 or 8 on a charge. For damage output they aren’t too terrible at POW 11 and they can scale this up with Combined Melee to deal with higher ARM targets.
One of their neater abilities, which also works against them, is Ambush. They can pop out late-game to go for an objective. Unfortunately, most Hordes factions have very little in the way of spell Arcing so a warlock will have to be near the edge they come into play from.
So, who to take them with? pDoomshapers, Calandra, pGrissel, pLyleth, pThagrosh, Rhyas, Saeryn, Absylonia, Kallus, Bethayne, Grayle, Cassius pKreuger, and Mohsar can keep them alive longer or increase their damage output. Skorne adores minions. Of all the Hordes factions they are the most minion friendly. In fact, they have a solo devoted to minions. pMakeda, p/eHexeris, Xerxis, Zaal, Mordikaar, Rasheth and Naaresh all play well with Minions (more on this in episode 3).
There is, however, a set of interactions that provide synergy, and are quite strange indeed. pBaldur has a spell called rapid growth which creates a 4″ forest in his control area. If one was trying to control an objective, a forest can be placed next to the objective to provide what the Bog-Trogs need to trigger Camo. If one also took Lanyssa Ryssyl, she can stand in the forest (gaining stealth from Prowl) cast hunters mark on a target, and Trogs (no longer needing line of sight) can charge 10″ through the forest at the marked target.
One could combine eMadrak’s Blood Fury with Pendrake’s Beastlore for a unit with Reach, CMA, Pathfinder, MAT 8 + 3D6 to hit warbeasts and 4D6 +POW 11+ x on a 7″ charge.
You could do a similar combo with Kriel warriors, but you need a Fellcaller for Pathfinder which adds on 3 pts making them more expensive than the Trogs. Fennblades have a bigger threat range and slightly more survivability with Tough but you still need the Fellcaller and they’re MAT 6 with no CMA. However, Borka’s feat does give friendly faction models +2″ movement and with Lanyssa that’s a SPD + 7″ charge.
And I just know Circle players will be all “But I could just take Wolves of Orboros. They have the same abilities and a UA. Myeah.”
Oh yeah? Well do they have fins?
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