Have Lynch, thinking on getting a second NB master

[Gabbi]

Almost finished painting my Dark Debts stuff, starting to looking around for something new. Truth is, as in my group there is already a NB player, so I was thinking to switch to Ressers, but I've read they're generally an attrition faction, a game style I do not love very much, plus, I'm really enjoying Jakob's crew, so maybe I'll stick here for some more time (anyway, I'll discuss Ressers in they're section, eventually). So here I am to ask a suggestion for a master to complement Jakob Lynch. I would like to get a master that could make use of what I already own (mostly old metal stuff). Namely: Dark Debts box, Mr Graves, Terror Tots, Stitched Together, Baby Kade, Teddy, Starter Set (Angel Eyes and friends), Coppelius, Sorrows. I'm mainly attracted by Dreamer and Collodi. Especially Collodi, has a theme I like a lot (plus, I've read that Dreamer needs a lot of purchases in addition to his box).

And yes, sure I'll get a Doppleganger before branching to a new Master ^^

[D_acolyte]

Doppelganger are nice, I rarly use one. Always other things I want so points do not work out.

Looks like you only might want the Widow Weaver if you are going Collodi. You have a good mix of minions for him and some good hitters so I think he will work well.

[D_acolyte]

Just because there is another guy that plays your faction does not mean you will have a lot of overlap as there are 7 masters and people are often drawn to a different set of masters in there factions. Them each master can go atleast 2 ways.

[Gabbi]

Thanks for replies.

@D_acolyte: sure, but being just three players as for now, I would like to have the more variety available.
This said, we sure can go wild picking whatever we want, as in Malifaux faction doesn't mean as much as in other games: list is very master-dependant wit some overlapping between them but anyway very limited. So, unless you're going to play tournaments (where after declaring a faction you have benefits in owning as much models as possible, for friendly play it's perfectly viable to pick the masters you like across all factions. In fact, I did back in 1.5 (Rasputina, Lynch) and so is doing the player in my group not playing NB (Marcus, Viks). Anyway I would like to add variety to our group's selection, thus thinking on picking another faction. Maybe McMourning, as I love very much his theme and also if fielded as Guild maybe he could make use of something from the starter...

[RobertSirc]

Mother of Monsters (Lilith) is my suggested. 

[Eclipse]

I would pick either Lilith or Collodi. Do keep in mind that they, as well as Lynch, are rather strong masters and suited for competitive play also. If you are playing just for the heck of it and to do fun stuff rather then dominate, You could also look at Zoraida and Lucius (though if you want to be thematic you will have to get more models for them). I myself also started with Lynch and then went the Lucius route as I wanted his delicious diplicity, more challenging playstyle, affinity with scheme markers (opposed to Lynch who has stronger roots in murder) as well as the option to have a very different Neverborn crew - a shooty one. Overall, the best choice is to pick someone you like thematically and hopefully, mechanically

[D_acolyte]

I was under the impression that there was only 1 other NB player in your group.

Theme is what you should go for, that and what make that little evil voice chuckle.

The real issue with going Dreamer is that a lot of the models you summon are still only in metal so they are not sold, that being said I love my Dreamer and plan on possibly rebuying models when they are in plastic. I need more madness.

Also if your going Collodi you might want the Black Friday dark carnival coryphée but only if you like there look for the theme you want with him. I dislike the dark carnival, it was a let down on there look but I am also aware I am in the minority on this.

[Gabbi]

Thanks for suggestions! I think I'll get Collodi, then, as I deeply love its puppets vibe. Also, I find Lilith a bit bland (demons with horns and wings? really? c'mon, Malifaux has plenty of wildly weirder stuff to offer) and it's one of the crew the other guy playing NB already owns and play.

 

Also:

(opposed to Lynch who has stronger roots in murder)

So, killing everything IS the way Lynch plays? I ask because re-thinking my plays after each game I find myself a bit too much tied on killing other dude's little mans and less focused on Schemes, a behaviour I think I acquired playing other stuff and that I'm trying to address because it doesn't always pay in Malifaux (I tied or even lost games where I murdered almost every opponent's model but didn't pay the right attention to S&S).
If you say so, I think I'll change my plans by some degree: I'll have to just focus the killing on scoring VP from S&S, not to try to totally hold back the killing, as it's how Jakob plays.

Edited October 29, 2015 by Gabbi

[zeeblee]

You could also always expand into Lynch's other faction, Ten Thunders, if you want more variety. A lot of his themed stuff is also dual-faction, and he can still hire the ones who aren't.

[Eclipse]

Well, Lynch is simply very effective in killing and so with him I often find it easy to just kill stuff and live long enough to score everything. Not that you can't run schemes with Beckoners or Illuminated - they work just fine for this too (though dedicated scheme runners outshine them there). Let's take a look at the thematic crew.
  The best scheme runner for the crew is (surprisingly?) Hungering Darkness - the amazing Wk 6 Incorporeal really gets Huggy where it wants. Remember that you definitely can not Heed My Voice the enemy models to discard their own markers or interact for you. He also has a rather obvious damage potential, lots of healing and can somewhat tank against non-Ca attacks. Remember that you can still make them attack their buddies and apply nasty conditions, attack your other Terrifying models and choose to relent the Horror duel (yes, Paralyze them!).
 Lynch is the slowest of the bunch and focuses mainly on carrying Huggy's limited upgrade and preparing a very strong hand for your next turn. With a Brilliance-heavy setup he will also disperse a lot of Brilliance around - most often with Play for Blood, or even with his gun. He can be a mid-field artillery piece if required, though - remember his big damage potential. With upgrades this becomes even more true, as he can basically delete a model (or two, if lucky) per turn. He won't run any schemes for you, though - except maybe Protect Territory. Careful placement and staying behind his crew are his best defences, as he is squishy for a Master. My favourite combo with him in Neverborn is most probably with Sorrows - 2 damage from Play for Blood and Brilliance, and in addition 3x1 instances of damage, all at Ca 8. Positively nasty
 Illuminated are tanky and have solid damage. Against models with Brilliance though they become almost absurd - and they can potentially cheat with medium cards for sky-high damage! Their mobility is great, but more suited for attacking with Charge of 8 (while the Walk is a standard 5). They prefer being near the enemy and either killing them dead or surviving there. The Armor+1 and regeneration helps. Apart from killing stuff, they are good for things like Distract and Cursed Object. If they flank the field, usually enemy scheme runners they meet along the flanks are dead meat, and then they can break through to lay markers. Oh, and they could be great Personal Puppets for Collodi.
 Mr. Graves is reasonably tough, hits quite hard! and most importantly, has movement shenanigans. Him showing a model out of the disco translates into a push a friendly model once per Turn (how you move Lynch up ahead in Neverborn), how you free your models that don't want to be tied up, how you put the enemy models out of position... to smack them in the head with a heavy plank Expect him to die at some point, however. Since he is also a Nephilim, you can take Grow on him and push a weakened enemy between your Terror Tots to Grow them into Young N. He could combine well with your Neplihim from the Started - haven't tried any of them (Lilith could make a thematic list with these models)
 Stitched Together are slow and have weak defenses, but don't care about defense either way (apart from the occasional soft cover). You want to attack for damage with them once per turn, the other action could be cards gamble, a walk, even a Hooks attack. Not good scheme runners either, but once again strong attacking models. They have this nasty combo with the Dreamer (which I haven't faced yet, thankfully): They get to 1 Wd, reactivate and heal from his Dreams in Waking (or whatever) healing aura. Boom! More Gambling with Your Life.
 This is for the thematic Darkened models you have - and the others (Depleted and Beckoners) are hardly great scheme runners (the former can't even Interact). This is why I find scheme running with Huggy and Terror Tots best (and with the others only if you have a good opportunity). The Dreamer might be a little lacking if you want to stick to the theme, though he does have Teddy (+Cade), Coppelius and Stitched Together. If you take Collodi, you will inevitably want to try out some of the Effigies, maybe Coryphee, Mannequins. Oh, and in any can, please DO get a Doppelganger. She is our Neverborn Swiss Knife of Answer for Everything

[Eclipse]

You could also always expand into Lynch's other faction, Ten Thunders, if you want more variety. A lot of his themed stuff is also dual-faction, and he can still hire the ones who aren't.

Couldn't agree more. Also, 10T are fun. This chose my orange badge for the event for me

[Gabbi]

Thanks for  the depth insight, Eclipse. Just didn't get the Grow thing with Graves. It is an ability from some other piece?
Also, thanks for pointing out Play for Blood, didn't noticed it. I don't know, it's not the first time happens: to discover after weeks I play a card, some ability or detail I didn't noticed before, as if it was written in invisible ink ^^

Also, getting coryphee for Collodi wouldn't be a problem, as I plan to get Colette sometime in the future

Edited October 29, 2015 by Gabbi

[Hunt.er]

Lucius would be my choise, cause he can use the Mimic models in Guild also, and models like the Guild Pathfinder could be hired into 10T with Lynch and into NvB with Lucius. The guardsmen acts well with Angel Eyes and Tuco, Kade, Teddy and Graves also. If you add Mr. Tannen, you get a great Tag Team for both masters.

[wurtz]

Collodi is fun. I have both him and dreamer.

Looking at your model list, you pretty much have everything you need for Dreamer (Stitched, the dreamer box comes with Alps for him and Coppelius).

As others have said: Good investments would be:

for Collodi and Lynch: Beckoners 

Collodi: Coryphee and Brutal Effigy (or all Effigies if you have the $, he can summon them and push their effects with his limited upgrades)

Dreamer: Insidious madness (not in plastic yet, maybe just buy some 30mm bases and run proxies if just local). Maybe Lelu/Lillitu but they seem like maybes for summons compared to bread and butter madness (scheme runners) and stitched for damage and card denial.

oh and Widow weaver as a generic for all as she offers anti armor and gives constructs +1 walk and can help covert corpse markers to wicked dolls/later scrap for Collodi to bring marionettes or for -1 WP web markers which helps Dreamer and his terror check crew

 

 

Edited October 30, 2015 by wurtz

[Adran]

Thanks for suggestions! I think I'll get Collodi, then, as I deeply love its puppets vibe. Also, I find Lilith a bit bland (demons with horns and wings? really? c'mon, Malifaux has plenty of wildly weirder stuff to offer) and it's one of the crew the other guy playing NB already owns and play.

 

Also:

(opposed to Lynch who has stronger roots in murder)

So, killing everything IS the way Lynch plays? I ask because re-thinking my plays after each game I find myself a bit too much tied on killing other dude's little mans and less focused on Schemes, a behaviour I think I acquired playing other stuff and that I'm trying to address because it doesn't always pay in Malifaux (I tied or even lost games where I murdered almost every opponent's model but didn't pay the right attention to S&S).
If you say so, I think I'll change my plans by some degree: I'll have to just focus the killing on scoring VP from S&S, not to try to totally hold back the killing, as it's how Jakob plays.

Lynch plays the way you play him. 

He can be used to murder things, or he can be used to support the rest of your crew, or your hand. 

Killing things doesn't automatically win you the game, but it is often hard for the opponent to score points if they don't have any models. (Not impossible though)

Killing  things that the opponent is planning on using to score points is a good thing. 

 

And whilst i understand you not wanting to duplicate another players collection to increase the variety, soemtimes it is good to see things from the other perspective. I'm pretty sure I would play Jacob very differently to how you play him, (I much prefer Casting expert than a recurring Huggy), so even if you do have some overlap in masters, you won't have overlap in play styles, and you might both learn things from how the otehr person uses them, and peopel playign both of you will learn different ways to face them. 

 

[Gabbi]

Thanks mates for further suggestions and insights. These are very appreciated

Also, on duplicate crews, would not be an issue if we were a larger group, but being just 3 players atm, I would at least try to have the most variety possible