geistwald

rules manual, page 73: Players may choose one of their chosen Faction's Faction Specific Schemes per leader in their crew.

Don't you think an extra activation or two would have helped in this matchup? In other words, didn't you find the golem and Kang to be a bit too much SS in 2 models? Side note: you can't choose both faction specific schemes if you have only one leader in your crew.

That's my problem too. Their spectacular defense mechanic is surprisingly easy to get around if your opponent wants to kill the thing, while he takes no risks trying. Lure is somewhat better and more reliable than Siren Call, but that's about all... Tranquil Dance fails to impress, and I gladly pay an extra SS for a similar model that brings another mannequin to the table. Yeah, that's why I started this topic, it would be a shame if Colette was the only master who doesn't profit from a showgirl model

This one is pretty similar, released years ago.

Say you want to move Colette without spending any AP. You activate the Mannequin and companion Colette. They are likely BtB, so you can attack Colette with the Mannequin. Hit her with the bash attack, and cheat for weak damage, also cheat to trigger A Blinding Flash. The Mannequin will receive Slow, that she already is, no problem. On the other hand, you can switch Colette with a friendly showgirl within 18 inches, and immediately activate.

Colette and Marcus are pretty fast, and they work with an almost exclusive model selection that supports their style well enough. (Well it's Marcus who's fast, Colette is just cheating and bouncing in space-time back and forth.) Mei Feng, while not slow, only guarantees the unexpected angles you're looking for, but her crew is nowhere near Colette or Marcus.

So your alternate roster would be like Colette/Performer+Mannekin/2×Oiran/Duet/2×Dove? How do you plan to play this list?

The Oiran is out for a good while, and being a showgirl it seems to be a good fit in Colette lists, preferably ones without the Coryphee. However, few posted specific examples of crew builds or in-game experience. Most of us regard them as interesting options and plan to go along the Oiran/living showgirl line, but I can't find actual reports except for the theory machine. Now I want to ask you all to share your observations of the Oiran, extra Performers, Angelica or handy mercenaries (if you have any). So, how did you win w/o the Coryphee?

And I also see your point, but I'm pretty sure pulses don't affect terrain, not if it isn't defined in their very description. I started a topic in the rules forum, because it's an interesting question, let's hear the official word. That said, I'd be glad if you were right, because I'm a gunsmith owner too

Does the gunsmith's spell Leadstorm (pulse with the gun symbol) affect Rasputina's Ice Pillars (breakable object)? I'd say no, but recent opinions of forum comrades just indicated the opposite... Thanks for the answer and hopefully the explanation!

It's more than interpretation, it's the rules. Pulses affect only models, which terrain pieces are not, and "attacks of any kind" doesn't stand as the pulse doesn't target. The gun symbol only indicates things like no casting in melee etc.

No-one mentioned Malifaux raptors and possibly the mercenary Killjoy, but raptors are really good with Marcus, and together with the jackalope they make the best Killjoy delivery setup in the game. You can proxy and try something like this: Marcus (7 Pool) - Jackalope Killjoy Silurid Silurid Silurid Malifaux Raptor Malifaux Raptor Then you can swap a silurid for a waldgeist if the table is full of forests, or swap a silurid and a raptor for Kaeris if you want to get really serious.

Breakable terrain rules don't, but Pulse rules do: "it simultaneously affects all models". Ice Pillars aren't models.

...then you have a pretty good chance to play to 2-2 draw according to the strategy, and try to achieve more points on schemes

Willie costs 6SS. I know it's a typo, just saying. Rathnard, you left out Iggy, so I guess you never tried him with Kaeris, but would you please give an opinion on him?

I feel a bit ignorant, but I don't get this last one. Can you please explain?

How about that: Kaeris ------ - Renegade Steamfitter Johan (6SS) - Union Miner (4SS) - Union Miner (4SS) - Union Miner (4SS) - Large Steampunk Arachnid (5SS) - Gunsmith (6SS) - Willie (6SS) ------ that's 35 stones, then you can go for 55 with: - Soulstone Miner (6SS) - Rail Golem (9SS) - Rail Worker or another LSA (5SS)

Another point: for the cost of the effigy, you can hire 2 doves. That gives you an extra activation over the effigy, and practically one more opportunity to cast magicians duel, with superior speed and two additional attack vectors. (Ca4 is obviously weaker, but you can burn SS anyways.)

Well they are already M&SU members... The problem is that they are Assets too Edit: ...which is not a problem if you want to wound them to heal Kaeris.

In my opinion SF rules are as restricting as any other rules that people don't object. It's restricting that Cassandra is U instead of FA3 etc. The SF ruling would only be flawed if it worked differently between factions, and while there is room for debate on this (hi Molly), Arcanists can't really complain in either case. That said, the allocation of the M&SU Member characteristic is a bit weird, which hurts the Arcanist special forces more than SF restrictions. Also I can't imagine why would the Essence of Power be an overkill for the stand-alone Kaeris. Last but not least, Johan should be errata'd to gain Smoldering Heart. He's the very definition of the ability, really

Kaeris encourages - or rather forces - you to spend more SS on minions, and the M&SU thing requires as many bodies as you can muster. PS: Ramos doesn't lead any revolution, he is Al Capone with an engineer's degree

Myranda can transform into a shikome, then cast Cross Examination with the same Ca and the built-in :crows. So first I'd add a shikome to my collection. However, you'd better invest in silurids and Kaeris to have a solid base...

The violet cloak is a bit too much for me, but that's a very nice miniature after all, I really like it!

Adran just gave you the best advice possible: go with masters/builds that you're familiar with. That said, you'd better forget resource-hungry combos and complex ideas when you set up your actual list, and go for a straightforward build that supports faster and fail-safe performance on your part. Simple builds are more forgiving about bad luck or bad decisions, especially if you maximize on their strengths and don't try to fix all their weak points. In our local meta-game, Marcus and Colette are the Arcanist masters that generally put up a good show in tournaments. They can handle most situations with 2-3 fairly similar lists, collecting a fistful of VP's in most strategies. Mei Feng had no real chance to impress for the time being, and for Ramos and Rasputina... well they are okay, but not the definite all-comers type.

Of course it is not. I thought of it as an active-passive thing, like they can do anything aColette could do, but they still are decoys on the receiving side. To be honest I never used or played against this avatar, but it's good to know if there is a consensus about this matter, thanks.