Synergy with warcasters

[the_trooper]

Ignore Goss. He just said the Avenger is terrible.

Quoted for truth.

The internet can be helpful but is often awful.  I suppose the diamond in the rough analogy is best applied to it and Warmachine tactica.  Luckily, you know me from face to face meeting in a game store.

There is a lot BS that surrounds Cygnar from the internet and other silliness from theory-machine. Your own experience will be the best teacher.

Trenchers are not, under any circumstances, like Winter Guard.  They are a reasonable speed bump but I haven't given them enough time past that.  Trencher Commandos are on the eventual list for me to pick up and seem like they have potential.

pStryker is not simple.  Calling pStryker simple and kinda crappy is the common refrain of inexperienced Warmachine players.  Blur, Arcane Shield, his feat, Snipe, Earthquake are all awesome spells that lead to a variety of play. pStryker is a nice balanced guy that can support his army better than his more jaded counterpart eStryker can.  eStryker does support his army just in a more offensive melee way.  eStryker brings an incredible offence (his Overcharge ability, his feat, Positive Charge) and tends to retard the offensive melee capabilities of enemy armies (Rebuke, Deflection).

With Cygnar, I don't think the better synergies are obvious.  The obvious with Cygnar is to make a gunline and die.  

Cygnar is about a combined arms approach.  A great melee component, a great ranged component and a great defense to cover our approach is how Cygnar shines.  Neglecting any of those three components will hurt you.

While it would be fun to debunk most of what Goss said, it may be best for you to look through and hammer out a few lists.  I can give you advice on them if you like.  If you want to try a few out with me and proxies, feel free.  Using your mercs and some of my models could work.

While I'm sure all factions say this (especially Cryx players) our faction is one that requires a lot of synergy and tricks to keep it together.  We have neither the armor of Khador or the defense of the Cryx but with have the precision and speed to get the job done.

tl;dr

Make some lists, figure out some proxies and hit me up for some practice games to see what you like.

[Ian Mulligan]

I play a great Devil's Advocate (just ask Rich) when list ideas are being tossed around or when we do a post-game analysis. I'd be more than happy to give you an opponent's perspective on what your lists look like and play against them.

[Grand Master Steve]

hahaha ok i cant beleive im saying this but thanks Goss. With whats left of my cygnar i now have a clear picture of what units and 'jacks I should 9 times out of 10 use.

[Ian Mulligan]

Wait. What?

[jfoodmaster]

Storm Strider = Synergy with everything. 2 Storm Striders = More Synergy!

[the_trooper]

Storm Strider = Synergy with everything. 2 Storm Striders = More Synergy!

This is my secret to beating your blasted trolls!

[Paul Calder]

I'm considering running a pHaley list sometime in the fall.  Probably taking a full unit of Trenchers and possibly the half painted Defender I have left over from my Darius list.  I'll probably end up taking a unit of Rangers over Gun Mages because I have to be different and then I'll probably round out the list with other bull shit Trencher UA's and Weapon Attachments.

[GossWeapon]

If you're on a budget and just want to buy one unit and not have to make a ton of choices. Buy 10 nyss hunters and Jonas Murdoch.  They do a little of everything cygnar units do, plus Jonas makes them faction models which really helps for the spells/buffs the casters you mentioned use.

Besides that, just what I said before... Grab a heavy box or two and magnetize them. Gives you lots of options and then with the above unit you can figure out exactly what you do and don't like and get more stuff tailored to your personal results.

See I smart trollz.

[Grand Master Steve]

Wait. What?

Looks like Rich's and your posts came in before I posted mine and i did not get the warning of "hey some one posted while you were posting"

[Grand Master Steve]

Ive been reviewing a lot of the cygnar stuff and have a few ideas for lists. One thing that really confuses me is how exactly storm units work with the whole arcing lightning. I keep reading it and it keeps confusing me. Im probably an idiot and its simpler then it seems.

[the_trooper]

Ive been reviewing a lot of the cygnar stuff and have a few ideas for lists. One thing that really confuses me is how exactly storm units work with the whole arcing lightning. I keep reading it and it keeps confusing me. Im probably an idiot and its simpler then it seems.

You're not and it is.

The "arching" depends on the model.  Electroleap is a Cygnar special rule that is the same for all models that have the rule.  
It works like this: Stormguard1 swings at enemy1.  Stormguard1 hits the enemy1.  Electroleap is triggered.  The closest model to the hit enemy1 model within 4 inches that is not the swinging Stormguard1 is hit with the electroleap damage.  It autohits regardless of defense but is pow 10 unboostable electric damage.

This can hit other models Stormguard in the unit if they happen to be the closest to the enemy model.  

Chain lightning is similar but it keeps going d6 times including the initial target.

EDIT:
Nyss + Jonas are not an auto include. A fast run and gun unit is not what Cygnar is missing.  The internet seems to love them but I don't actually know anyone that runs them.

[jonm]

I really like the Nyss in certain builds with select casters. Someone like Sloan gets a lot of mileage from a unit that shoots well but is also capable of making some noise in melee. Assault + SPD 7 + Deadeye is a brutal combination.

That said, I would in no way label them a staple unit.

Rich was right on earlier in recommending a combined arms approach. Even melee oriented casters like eStryker prefer bringing some shooters with them. Cygnar has a lot of accurate utility-based shooting at it's disposal that's hard to say no to.

As far as what you want to play goes, anything is fair game. There are only a few models in this army that are garbage (IMHO the Firefly and Finn are the main offenders). Unfortunately with Cygnar there are a lot of expensive options that are best reserved for certain casters/list builds (Long Gunners, Trenchers, Triumph and the Thunderhead are good examples).

I would say that the things you can't really go all that wrong with would be:

- Black 13th: Dirt cheap character unit that brings tons of utility and ranged hitting power.
- Gun Mages: You'll want the UA, but he makes them so good. Great anti-infantry and denial. UA is also an amazing 'jack marshal - I'd recommend giving him a Hunter if you can afford it.
- Stormblades: Hard-hitting melee unit that has decent ranged attacks. They get exponentially better with UA and WA's.
- Rangers: Cheap, great stats, fast, good guns, and they can buff your other ranged units.

- Ol' Rowdy: Arguably the best jack in the faction. Hits hard, accurate, focus efficient. He's great with almost every caster.
- Defender: One of the best ranged warjacks in the game. Many Cygnar casters like having one on hand.
- Lancer: He's good and tough, but gets the nod here because he's our only arcnode option.
- Ironclad: Dirt cheap, accurate and has some good KD abilities. Not as good as the character version, Rowdy, but he's still a great jack to have on hand.
- Hunter: High points, but his gun is capable of great damage output. If you play Kraye you'll want two of these guys. He's also great for marshaling.

- Squire: Just buy it.
- Strangewayes: He keeps your jacks running, has a decent spray attack, and can help give out focus. 

Those are just suggestions based on what's typically agreed as being 'elite' or a 'staple' in this faction. Don't let it dissuade you from using whatever you think is cool.

[Grand Master Steve]

Looks like the casters I will be focusing on (no pun intended) Will be P. Haley, P. Stryker E. Stryker and P Nemo maybe Darius

So far here is what I have salavaged from my previous collection:

Casters: P. Haley. P stryker, E Stryker, P Nemo, Darius

'Jacks: Ol' Rowdy, 2 Defenders, Iron Clad, 2 Lancers

Units: Storm Blades No addons, Trenchers with command addon

solos: Journyman Warcaster, Maxwell finn

I really dont want to buy to much. I got rid of most my old Cygnar because it was taking up room and i was never using it. Ill definitely pick up a squire and the B 13 Gun mages. I was also thinking of Getting thorn. should I get storm blade unit additions? any other recomendations of what I should pick up based on what I have at my disposal?

[GossWeapon]

By command add on, do you mean the officer and sharpshooter?  Also, stormblades want their officer and standard bearer. The list looks good, but if you can manage to squeeze it in, that's a good idea.

[Grand Master Steve]

this isnt a game list just a list of what i have to work with based on what ive salvaged and what I definitely plan  on adding on.