So. Yesterday I played in the Swedish nationals in Umeå. I could only play for the first day, since I'm sitting at work now as we write while the second day is playing out. I'm personally rooting for the other Arcanist player to win, he's in the top four doing a round robin for the final placement.
Anyway, I decided to take inspiration from your crew for games one and two, Idols and Explosives. The only difference was that I ran the mecharachnid instead of the Soulstone Miner game one, and a second Showgirl game two. I simply don't own the Soulstone Miner, and I'm not sure if I want to.
Game one went 4-6, I was against Professor von Schtook. It was down to the wire with the last two points scored last turn. Some poor flips and a really bad Idols placement, I flipped Red Joker for inititative so I couldn't affect where the last idol went snubbed me for my last point. I did manage to threaten breakthrough and Power ritual, on standard deployment no less. He thought he'd stopped both but in a final act of showmanship Colette performed a trick and moved all the way down to the other corner of the map and planted a scheme which secured me second point for Power Ritual (the Valedictorian took a potshot after delivering a message, to it's own detriment) I ended up getting 3 for scheme and 1 for strat, while my opponent got three for strat, one for deliver and two for dig. First time against von Schtook, scary dude.
Second game went 5-8 against Shenlong. I did a few misplays, I could've denied at least one point, possibly two, last turn. He did manage to deny my second point for outflank by cleaning up all the scheme markers even close to the other corner and by murdering all my low cost models in relevant positions. I did some misplays other than the final points denial, like overexetending with Cassandra and forgetting about Take the hit, so she died turn two. Still, getting five points (and almost going 5-6) against the best player in my region who won the nationals last year feels good. I put up a good fight and that's all I can ask for.
Coryphees with Diesel Engine will be a staple in my lists for sure, and boy did I underestimate the Mannequins. That's great new for me since I love the dolls. Hell I might even get a third. Hoping they release a Coryphee and Mannequin box in the future so I can acquire a Duet (I don't like magnetising) while also grabbing more Mannequins. Colette is as great as ever, I find that I really click with her and honestly no action on her card feels superfluous.
Sorry this is turning to a full on battle report. I just wanted to highlight this since it was @Flippin' Wyrd Matt who inspired me. I was too dazzled by the duet to realise that the Coryphee dance just as well apart, as they do together.