FrostHunter

42 minutes ago, SerZaka said:

That sell their discoveries to the best bidder (or to the TT for McCabe) instead that put them in a Museum xD

Same thing in archaeology (look at Elgin's Marble, after all he sold them to museum, so if they are the best bidder why not in that case. That's quite sad truth, that most of museum's collections came from basicaly what we could name as robbery) - trust me, i'm archeologist.

3 hours ago, Jesy Blue said:

Wastrels are thieves,

Wastrels are archeologist without research grants, not thieves!

I hope that umbra will be partially Neverborn (cuz they rather can't be TT and be some weird friends with Huggy) as i have obsession with shadow/dark/umbra/void theme, but Tara is meh and dark Theme of Huggy is underused...

First cluster (if you can) almost everybody so by moving from actions (Lure/tendrils/etc) they will go through the Kitty.

You may start with Beckoners to shot one luring/pushing model forward and one slow model (healer/Tannen/Lynch), build in Reposition is brilliant - abuse it in first round (you may say that this give you 3 move action for the price of 2 actions).

You may start also with the Graves with lead the way to push 3 models for 4" (two targets (Beckoners/Kitty) and Graves).

If you don't expect fight in turn one you may use as first activation Huggy to obey Beckoners to give them a headstart (or give them trained ninja) to lure the rest of the crew.

Probably next activated model will be Kitty to use tendrils on two models and push herself thanks to her zero action (again 3 models goes forward unactivated).

Always remember to (ab)use Tannen's aura aka free +2" push each activation by moving/pushing everyone through Kitty (by failing duels thanks to the rig the deck) and in some moment from Lynch's charge to shake hands with somebody from the crew by using low mask to move himself a bit. Those 2" gives a lot for mv4 models like Lynch or Tannen.

10 hours ago, Cursed25 said:

In turn 1 I like to activate Lynch early and keep everyone within 6 so I can give lots of brilliance on my own models! after that I will often move forward and charge Kitty Dumont to give her more brilliance to fuel her Lingering Contamination.

Lynch can place Huggy from the back by shooting someone from the crew for weak damage and any tome card (damage will be mitigated by some ook healer, or Lynch or by shooting at Illuminated) so i usually prefer to activate him later to give Huggy additional movement so he can easy catch up with the rest after obeying the crew, or threaten somebody in first turn if anyone will be in range.

1 hour ago, Lechuzo_Loco said:

Anyways, what you are saying is, don't play Blessed of December in the December keyword, because he's overpriced for what he could do in the Beast keyword?

Sorry, i didn't wanted to sound like that, on paper for me Blessed look as quite nice mobile and needed in December scheme runner and killer of lone scheme runners. Great leap on 6+, deadly pursuit, cover from ice pillars (df7! against shooting unless ignoring cover) and healing from Silent Ones, but i have to admit i've never played in M3E against him. And i've played against First Mate (in Tricksy crew) and he is totally bonker.

56 minutes ago, ShinChan said:

Have you ever played against Kaeris? Burning +1 and Injured +1 from the Pyre markers, and those can't be destroyed by anyone.

Hmmmm i've tought that Molly or Lotus Eater can destroy them, also Mancha Roja, Wrastlers, Poltergeist. There was somewhere topic about all models that can remove any markers from the game if my mind doesn't trick me.

I've found it! Well, this is about removing destructible markers, but some like above can do it with any marker (sometimes with restrictions).

I've played once against Kaeris using Honeypot, those pyre markers are brutal, but the game was quite fun. Also bless the tanuki.

In that case whole Tricksy feel quite powerful, Rooster Riders are nightmare for me (played against them with Lynch and Youko), Big Brain Brian too. But it's my bad luck and my nemesis opponent.

Because you have to look for the synergies in the keyword and faction while building a crew- who and what can give to other models, Blessed December in very easy way in first turn in Marcus crew may gain armor +1 andHunker Down (if not moved shielded +2, place is not move? I don't remeber), Disguised and Stealth, or Flight with +1mv and butterfly jump. In that case i wouldn't bet on First Mate even cracked and empty soulstone.

35 minutes ago, Ogid said:

Exactly! And Rasputina with the Blessed can... can... well, nevermind.

But Marcus can (yes, he can), and in some very minor way Snow Storm can, Ice Golem can.

27 minutes ago, Lechuzo_Loco said:

Yesterday I came around to compare Blessed of December vs The First Mate. First mate is 9SS and Blessed is 8SS. For one stone more you get the following deal:

...

I feel like a 1SS difference is just not enough here 🙂
 

If you could pick between those two, would you ever pick the Blessed to save that 1SS?

You have no way to choose between those two and that's all. And what about Archie? And what about Gwyneth Maddox? She doesn't have leap, great mobility etc. etc. and she is 9ss model, but she has her own great perks. Each faction has it's own weird and in some way even broken models with their own hmm hmm "destiny" and role to play, so we can compare in the same way two totems (they are free so why my Luna isn't so powerful as Lord Chompy or Huggy?) or any other models from different factions and argue which one is better or unfair by looking for the cost &perks comparison which in that case is unfair (). True - First Mate is power house, buw ook he is 10ss for Bayou and i would love to trade +3 leap stat or attack trigger to gains mask on leap so i would need in hand only 6+ card.

9 hours ago, Maniacal_cackle said:

FWIW, a Freikorps player said in the other forum that Half-Blood are the best (Neverborn) keyword against his crew. And given that they are versatile for all Neverborn, they at least have SOME uses.

Never thought of that, from few years of experience i've never played againt Hulh Hogan and Outcasts are not very popularin my region, thanks for pointing this out.

Buffs:

- Waldgeists - is some kind of scheme runner (for Fae, Zoraida has Silurids for this) thanks to its ability to drop two scheme markers in one activation mixed with some kind of tankiness, but still, i just overlap them for autumn knights (for 1ss almost all stats +1 and they have much more funny things - love mockery), maybe some kind of trigger to germinate like once per activation - place waldgeist b2b with/into created marker (buffing his scheme runner aspect, but it would place Bultungin in weird place) or once per activation - make free attack action if created marker is b2b with enemy model would help them and make them more fun/interesting? OR i couldn't resist - give them totally OP action/ability that allows them to convert underbrush markers into hazardous.

Or

- Bultungin - without pack mentality they die to easy, maybe something like - after friendly model with the same name ends its activation in 10" from this model you can discard a card to activate this model immediately? It could give them a few funny options to run close together and benefit from pack mentality.

- Half-Bloods - i don't know when and why i should hire them instead of other models from keyword or Serena, but i don't have slightest idea how to buff them.

Nerfs:

- there is thread on that unlucky model.

- Vasilisa and (in some degree Widow Weaver if nerfing Careful Assembly) - connected with nerf above and the first one have a little too much synergy with puppets for my personal taste, maybe remade Careful Assembly to attach summon upgrade rather than giving slow (plentiful 2 Summoned models gains some minor weaknes/not leaving scrap after dying)?

Or

-Voodoo Doll - doesn't leave scrap marker after dying from Served its Purpose? (My free Gator Snack!)

PS. if there would be some kind of embarassing mistakes in my grammar/vocabulary please point them to me, my motherlanguage's logic interfere too much with english in my mind.

McCabe and Wanyudo have a few ways to force you to take mv duel/resist test or take damage.

Also remember "A Por El" - it can buy a lot of additional action for Family (Mood Swing should help you against this to force opponent to activate first from low cost models so they will not be able to use this ability) ,

and Bravado requires only enemy in LoS so the push might be used to free from engagment and shot right in your face with focus (and with presence of Carver i would use gained focus asap as i gained it) or go scheming,

Well, in theory he might be nice backup for suicidal Wanyudo in McCabe crew - ride with me to speed him up (quite competitive place, beacuase of Samurai or Sidir who are also mv4 models) so after Mold of the other the new Wanyudo could charge the enemy right away and trample them, or go (also after ride with me, or just slowly double walking on some flank) into one flank or another going for right schemes or to counterscheme.

13 minutes ago, Ogid said:

 Talking about NPE lol.

And add to this stunned, distracted +1 and slow just from one action point for one ace of crow or injured +1 (coordinated attack from Mama Z) for ace of mask from Will'o'Wisp against voodoo doll transfering this to some unhappy, cursed model or maybe even two enemy models - if you are so lucky that previous target of Voodoo Curse still have the upgrade at the start of the next round.

Recipe for potion made from tears - First Will'o'Wisp spam conditions transfering them to previous target, activate later Voodooo Doll to copy some nasty thing from cursed model or attack with frantic flailing - Bokor is ideal target to give him fast and glowy token and kill yourself with zero action (free card, and scrap marker for McTavish - i miss the free shooting attack from 2nd edition, but might have funny consequences), then summon it again while Zoraida activation to spread the love of the same full plate of conditions! Meanwhile Bokor might heal or shield Doll so it wouldn't die from Frantic Failing's mask trigger.

I'm corrupted by playing to much in MtG using blue/white or blue/black control/locker decks.

6 hours ago, Maniacal_cackle said:

What makes you pick the Emissary?

Well, i just love playing with some hazardous terrain with obeys and lures and i love to have him if there is some kind of big(ger) severe terrain near centerline especially if i can connect it somehow with some schemes. Of course he is not the best alternative in our arsenal, but he gives me a lot of fun and that is the main reason i'm using him (also love the model).

And one more thing that could lead to some misreading, because of one "or"- Doppleganger is in duet only with McTavish. ME has nothing to their affairs.

8 hours ago, Sol_Sorrowsong said:

GG Zero: Can no longer obey model to drop explosive marker on their side of table; If obeying model to take push a corrupted idol, Zoraida takes the damage.

Oooh, after your post i looked after some kind of errata etc, but couldn't find it on the forum because of lack of time (few free minutes befere going to work). Thank you very much!

Hmmm well it was OP and could ruin some fun - i agree with it, but still, i don't feel hard nerfed if this could stop people asking - how should i play Corrupted Idols against Zoriada?! So later Zoraida would be nerfed in more ways, and we have Bokors in keyword that can heal Mama Z.

About what nerf are you speaking?

Usually i pick two henchmens from Swampfiends (17-18 ss), Doppleganger if i've picked McTavish or Mysterious Emissary and mixed group of minions for circa 14-16ss (Bokor, one or two Will'o'Wisps, Silurid if i didn't pick Swamp Mother, but it is not some kind of rule), sometimes i'm exchanging Emissary for Effigy to cut the costs (Doppleganger).

6 minutes ago, Cursed25 said:

... your bubble of hate!  (Tannen, Lynch, Beckoner/Gwyneth)

I love that bubble.

Beckoners don't stack with Gwyneth with brilliance giving aura, so you can move Gwyn or Beckoner to another Idol - Beckoner's A Pleasant Distraction might be very funny if idols are within her 6" aura and you spread brilliance over enemy.

In Lynch also Kitty and Gwyneth have their ways to move enemy models that are already activated so Huggy can obey them to move the Idol. And as Lynch you have some sort of summoning and there is always ook Sun Quiang for four 1/2/3 healings per his activation + healing aura and he also has placement enemy model within 6" on tome trigger with his  stat7 attack. Basically the whole crew have quite a lot of some ways to heal themselfs and to move opponent where they want them to be (and the lures from beckoners might speed the chances for your summoning  - with two lures the opponent will gain 2-4 brilliance). In beta forum there was the whole topic which master for which strategy, but unfortunately there is no access to it.

I will say from perpsective of my masters within their keyword with one versatile/ook model (Lynch, Youko, McCabe) looking only at the strategy without any schemes:

Corrupted Idols - things nice to have - healing, summoning, mobility (your models are fast, unimpeded, incorporeal), enemy/board control (lures, obeys, shooting, destoying markers), movement restriction (ice pillars, pianos, staggered, slow).

- Lynch has healing (but it is nice to have some additional healing), mobility, board control and quasi summoning - probably preffered.

- McCabe has freaking great mobility, nice board control and movement restriction, need tanuki or other source of healing.

- Youko - well i don't see her here, too soft to sacrifice their health to move idols and take hits from opponent and too slow even if with quite nice enemy/board control and murdering capabilities. On the other hand her minions are perfect for our defensive upgrades even if they are getting quite pricely.

Reckoning

All three crews have all aspects and ways to murder fast your enemy and survive the counterattack. Youko might struggle against heavy gunline, Lynch gonna suffer from shockwave spam.

Turf War

McCabe with Desper, Sidir, Hucksters and Samurais (because of mechanic of artifacts i treat them as in keyword rather than versatile) is clear winner, but

Lynch is not so far behind him with two great incorporeal models and the same thing that i' ve mentioned in Corrupted Idols.

Youko well... will struggle with mobility for getting 4 points from the strategy and lacking shooting might hurt her a little, even with very nice lures, but if you manage to get quick pass tokens for leverage than maybe.

Plant Explosives

McCabe and Lynch are both great, maybe Lynch is prefferd because of obey (drop the bomb!), but Youko should be also capable to drop all the bombs, defend them and or murder the opponent.

As for Ancient Pact discarding black joker is just nice bonus, the +1 to initiative flips is much better, the real deal is with nefarious pact allowing for free draw, but... for the whole thing this upgrade is just too pricely and as Zoraida player this upgrade is useless for me (but Fae doesn't have any card draw which is quite sad comparing to the rest of my crews, hehe).

Eldritch Magic - quite nice upgrade to have in arsenal which allows to not have Serena (i don't like her), so she is not a must have option in any roster struggling with condition spam from enemy. Counterspell is nice addition (there is also some but, because fae and savage have easy access to bultungins, but but dispel magic is a little more easy way - it needs 6+ not 7+ card and has range option). I would see this upgrade rather on some kind of nasty support/irritating model (waldgeist in my case, maybe even Silurid used to distraction spam).

Inhuman Reflex - the real  and probably the only winner for me -  add this to minion beater (in my case Rougarou) and it's very infuriating for any bubble crew.

But to tell you the truth i don't use them (max one per crew, usually 0), i don't think they are as good as in the other factions (i'm looking at you - Guild, TT, Ressers, Arcanist).

23 hours ago, SebastianResser said:

Taking all of you have been saying The Explorers Society can be 

composed of dual faction masters: 

Lara Croft - Tomb Raider   ==>> Dual Faction with  Ten Thunders (chinese leaders that

send Lara to steal precious things of the past)

There is already Indiana Jones aka McCabe as TT/Explorers, so i wouldn't expect second dual master from this faction.

23 hours ago, SebastianResser said:

Loki/Joker ==>> dual faction Neverborn (a master that tries to discover the secrets of humanity to eliminate it for good)

I would still prefer that humanity are new lab rats/fresh audience for him.

8 hours ago, Ogid said:

Ok, now I want a Nightmare edition McCabbe where he is a drug dealer and his "artifacts" are a "Dusty Mirror", "Timeworn syringe" and "Fantastic Bag"; plus the "Take this!" ability will be changed to "I want it back!"... but that would step too much on Lynch toes XDD

Naaaaah it's just one big family! Aaand Lynch would be grateful for free ride with me with his mv4.

I'm wondering - does anybody tested McCabe with Wanyudo in crew? I'm quite allured to vision of two high mobile, trampling models especially against some sort of bubble crew.

Loki/Joker - because why the Neverborn wouldn't explore humanity because they bring themselves into Malifaux so there is new turf for tricks, scams, lies and jokes?

Deployment :

Flank

Strategy : 

Plant Explosives

Schemes : 

Dig their Graves
Outflank
Deliver a Message
Claim Jump
Vendetta

Opponent's declared leader : Kaeris

My Leader & crew :

Lynch with Trained Ninja

Huggy

Gwyneth

Kitty

Tannen with Trained Ninja

Beckoner

Beckoner

Tanuki

Score / MVP / Thoughts:

5-5 after 5 rounds. It was very possible for me to win this with 7 points

Huggy or Gwyneth or Kitty

Rig the deck rocks! Also Gwyneth's Hit the jackpot rocks too!

I would love to see who would be better as a crew's supporter - Tanuki or Sun Quiang, Tanuki cleared a lot of burning, but Sun Quiang has Quick Cure, so it would be possible to clear a lot of burning too, also he is better healer and he has much more survivability (Tanuki died in third turn). Also he would help with schemes with his abilities and zero action. But i don't own him and we could proxy only non existing models. Triple aura - Lynch, Gwyneth/Beckoner/Tannen is true nightmare for opponent. But shockwave mechanic is true horror for Honeypot - Damn you Fire golem.

definitelyDeployment :

Standard
 

Strategy : 

Reckoning

Schemes : 

Breakthrough
Harness the Leyline
Hold up Their Forces
Take Prisoner
Deliver a Message

Opponent's declared leader : Mah Tucket

My Leader & crew :

Youko

Chiyo

Hinamatsu

Bill Almgren

Kabuki Warrior

Charm Warder

Kunoichi

Tanuki

Score / MVP / Thoughts:

6-2 after 5 rounds for Gremlins

Big Brain Brin is a... broken piece of grass (and he was definetly the MVP). I would love to use Sun Quiang instead of Tanuki (but i don't own him), he would be much better healer than Tanuki, Qi an Gong doesn't need so many focus. Also i've lost Charm Warder at the start of the second turn (3 roosters), cover from Bill doesn't help so much in mass shooting so i didn't have discard ability almost from the start of the game (Sun Qiuang also would help here). Two Trained Ninja - probably for Kabuki and Charm are must. If enemy doesn't have any way to ignore armor Hinamatsu is totally beast. Bill is weird model, still i would see the stoic nod as zero action - after the game i definitely prefer to split his cost between upgrading Tanuki to sun Quiang and giving defensive upgrades to soft minions.