orkdork Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 (edited) Unless my opponent has a lot of + attack flips built in, I've become pretty convinced that Smoke and Mirrors is a waste of a SS. Here's the basic reasoning why:If Cassandra doesn't have Southern Charm up, then it is very early in the turn, and we both have lots of cards. It's very rare at this point that I will win a Df duel AND know to have put in masks (via SS) or have that 13 mask to cheat. Unless my opponent attacks her with an attack 5 or less (which would be a strange early activation), I'm probably going to lose at least the first duel, and even the second. Smoke and Mirrors is definitely best used on the first duel, but am I really going to stone for masks on the assumption that my opponent doesn't have a 13 in hand? (Especially since without one, my opponent probably stoned for cards).If Cassandra does have Southern Charm up, then my opponent is probably going to completely ignore her. For the rare activations where a Southern Charm-buffed Cassandra is the correct target, my opponent will focus, which means that there is likely no second attack for her to avoid via Smoke and Mirrors, significantly reducing its value (and it is unlikely to trigger in the first place).As for why + attack flips built-in matters, that just means that my opponent is much more likely to attack her later in the turn without focusing, so there will more likely be a second attack to avoid AND the cheat hands will be low.And for the dubious anecdotal evidence, in my dozen+ Colette games thus far, it has NEVER triggered. Also, Cassandra has died only twice in that time, and only to Guild masters I'd not faced before. Edited October 20, 2015 by orkdork 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breng77 Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 Interesting I find I trigger it quite a lot. With DF 6 she is even or better than most models, so if you win the initial flip the fact that you might have any mask in hand means that your opponent will need to "over cheat" just in case. I usually trigger it off middling mask cards against weaker attackers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orkdork Posted October 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 I don't find I'm ever getting attacked by weaker attackers. My opponents are either trying to alpha her at the start of the turn (no southern charm up), or ignoring her as best they can to kill my heavier-hitters.Maybe it's about list context? I run 2 acolytes, so they're always getting basically all of the attention until they're dead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cryion Posted October 22, 2015 Report Share Posted October 22, 2015 Maybe it's about list context? I run 2 acolytes, so they're always getting basically all of the attention until they're dead.Do you do this by default? If you do it, do you usually take one of the 12ss models as well (Howard, Rider..) ?Love the idea of 2 Acolytes, but running those and a 12ss model and cassandra simply requires too many points and I feel either Howard or Rider are kind of a must in most Arcanist lists. Whats your take on this? About S&M: Totally agreed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sybarite Posted October 23, 2015 Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 Neither Howard nor the rider are a must 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sybarite Posted October 23, 2015 Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 Starting a campaign, scheme runners are very important. You have fewer models to put out those markers and interacts and spending too many scrip on killing in a small crew can be counter productive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orkdork Posted October 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 (edited) Maybe it's about list context? I run 2 acolytes, so they're always getting basically all of the attention until they're dead.Do you do this by default? If you do it, do you usually take one of the 12ss models as well (Howard, Rider..) ?Love the idea of 2 Acolytes, but running those and a 12ss model and cassandra simply requires too many points and I feel either Howard or Rider are kind of a must in most Arcanist lists. Whats your take on this? About S&M: Totally agreedI've been playing an inordinate amount of squatter's rights lately, so two acolytes for zone control has been very common.I actually don't know much about playing the other Arcanist crews. I'm 100% Colette since switching from Neverborn.I've made it work with just Johan, Cassandra and Acolytes for my offense, but I'm not convinced that it would be an "all-comers" build at all.As far as which beater, I think there are so many awesome options with great applications:Howard for a hyper-aggressive game, such as turn one Stage Presence to put Cassandra on their master, turn 2 or 3 stone the ram on prompt to reactivate Howard for charge + prompts + flurry for 5-9 attacks to alpha their master (depends on whether Colette needs to disappearing act herself, whether you fail some prompts, whether Howie needs re-positioning beyond just Nimble, and whether Cassandra can understudy prompt). If a dove can +Dmg...Joss vs. anything that hates Arc Axe.Captain for extreme utility and a relic hammer, whose 3" reach goes beautifully with the prompt push, and for constructs.Johan for a cheap relic hammer and Rebel Yell.Mech Rider for games where metal gamin will matter and where the action will mainly be turn 3+. 2/4/5 isn't really a beater, however. I'm personally still in the testing stage on these guys. Love them all.I never play without Cassandra, however. She is just the best So sticky, so slippery, and can really mess with projectile attack masters. Edited October 23, 2015 by orkdork Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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