FableWright

...Well, there's a lot of words on the matter already, and too much text for me to easily read through. I'm very late to the punch, but: Devs, Collodi is my main master, and Malifaux the first wargame that got me to buy models. Most of my collection is Coryphee, Effigies, Stitched Together, Bunraku, and a few generic good Neverborn models. (Lilith was my secondary master.) Hinamatsu being announced was the highlight of last October for me, and I was so hyped for buying her this month. With 3rd edition's all-in focus on themes, thematic Collodi should have managed to become the viable playstyle I've always wanted. Why should I even care about this game anymore? Dead Man's Hand masters are not going to be allowed at most tournaments. Why should the Neverborn get 10 masters while other factions get 8? Dead Man's Hand masters are probably never getting support anymore. Let's be real, Neverborn got extremely few puppets before; why would it get them specifically for a normally-tournament-illegal master? Why should I care about a game that seems to want me to put my first-ever-painted minis on a shelf and never use them? I want to be positive and excited about getting rid of vantage rules and streamlining play and stronger thematic crews. But why should I view this as anything other than a time to cut ties entirely and find a different hobby?

Collodi actually brings a lot to Lazarus. Or, more accurately, Coryphee do (as Lazarus can Assimilate Dance Partner), and Marionettes add a few extra pushes to get Lazarus out of engagement that keep him doing what he needs to do despite an enemy minion suicide running to engage him. And sometimes, especially in Interference, Lazarus just adds so much ranged threat to Collodi that he didn't have before. Lazarus 12.5" from one edge of the board, Collodi 10" from the other side of him makes for a roughly 35" line of threat range, which makes it very hard to slip past the crew. For me, though, it's usually Laz or the Mysterious Emissary (generic conflux), just because otherwise I don't have enough room for good, buffable minions, and Mysterious Emissary is often just a better model that brings more to the table. On topic, if you wanted to do Collodi on a budget, I would just grab a Stitched Together box and a Brutal Effigy and that would be a very solid starting point. Collodi (Fated, Strum, Wings of Darkness, 5 Cache) 4 Marionettes 12SS Vasilisa (Friend to Talk To) 11SS Brutal Effigy 4SS 3 Stitched Together 18SS Standard turn would be Vasilisa walks, brings a Stitched 6" up the table, 0 actions to walk another Stitched 4" up, then takes a second walk to deliver that upfield. Marionette runs up and drops a scheme marker to draw her back. Marionettes attack Collodi a few times to push him upfield, Collodi might spend 1 AP having Vasilisa walk up a third Stitched, focuses to give the all stitched Focus for one attack on their turn (either Gamble to minimize the risk of killing yourself, or Game of Chance so the Stitched can Gamble with the second AP and have the assurance of a high card to cheat in), and then has 2-3 AP to just have the Stitched Gamble at +flips or hamstring enemy beaters with Pull the Strings. From there, I'd find some good utility puppets (Coryphee, maybe Bunraku), then Lazarus after Coryphee, then Mysterious Emissary and Changelings, then various other wants (Grootslang, Performer/Marionette package, Illuminated/Beckoners, whatever).