Waldo's Weekly - A Doomed Duo

[Hobby Wyrd]

This week Waldo rediscovered a relic of media about a failed alien invader. Ever since he’s been singing a song of Doom. You likely know the one. While we’ve got that bouncing around in our heads, let’s take a look at a pair that put a neat twist on being doomed!

Today we’ll be looking at two new models for the Explorer’s Society from the upcoming Ashes of Malifaux book, the Alleyway Echo and Host Ducat. These two models personify the statement, ‘If you’re already doomed, why not have fun with it?’ And let's be honest, who understands a devil’s bargain better than Lucas McCabe and English Ivan?

The doomed nature of these models makes sense for the lore of their keywords, but Wastrel and Umbra/DUA are not very similar on the table. DUA/Umbra models tend to be slower and Shadow Marker focused, while Wastrel models are known for being faster and Scrap/Corpse Marker focused.

To help bridge the Keyword differences, these models were created with two goals. First, they were created with synergistic Triggers and Actions that make them an attractive duo. For example, the Host Ducat can use its Lingering Shadow Trigger to set up the Alleyway Echo’s Flickering Shadow Action. Secondly, they were created with ways to generate resources for their Keywords like the Host Ducat’s Useless Trinket Trigger.

Host Ducat

The Host Ducat is a study in ‘what’s bad for others is good for me’ as he’s the holder of multiple cursed objects. This is shown on the table via his ability to ignore Hazardous terrain and turn Black Jokers into Red Jokers. He’s also very good at generating Distracted on himself to fuel Ungentlemanly Affairs with the Fang-Edged Umbrella’s built in Distracted and Healing Energy’s Crazed Trigger.

In Wastrel

In Wastrel, the Host Ducat is a support model who’s surprisingly solid in a fight. Incorporeal combined with the Phantasmal Mask’s Life Leech Ability provides a deceptive amount of survivability. He can also provide some solid front line support thanks to positive flips and Siphon Life.

In DUA/Umbra

In DUA/Umbra, the Host Ducat is able to focus more on his support and scheming. Healing Energy’s built in Trigger to drop Shadow Markers can easily set up Gibson Dewalt’s Antiluminal Bridge. The Host Ducat is also amazing at getting extra Interact Actions out on the Table, which is especially important in Gaining Grounds 4. The Host Ducat’s Dark Bargain Action is particularly good in English Ivan, Double Agent, as his Stick to the Plan can be used on the Host Ducat to perform a second Dark Bargain each Round.

Alleyway Echo

The Alleyway Echo is an Umbra model that defies the Umbra stereotype of slow Mv, low Wp, and moderate damage. Starting with Mv 6 the Alleyway Echo is as fast as a Nocturne, but why Walk places when you can teleport with Terror of Widdershins Lane? Turning Fast into a pseudo-Leap lets the Alleyway Echo bound up the board. Once there, the Alleyway Echo’s flat damage track allows him to preserve resources in two card-hungry crews, since he receives so little benefit from Cheating damage flips. While the Alleyway Echo’s Df is a bit lower than other Umbra models, Combat Finesse makes up for it by stopping enemies from Cheating melee Attacks against it.

In Wastrel

In Wastrel, the Alleyway Echo dispenses Precise Min 3 swings, as many of them as possible. Placing a Timeworn Blade Upgrade on the Alleyway Echo lets it have its choice of a Charge and three Attacks, or a teleport, Charge and two Attacks. This gives the Alleyway Echo an enormous threat range. Combined with a very dependable damage track, things that you want to die can’t put up much of a fight.

In DUA/Umbra

In DUA/Umbra, the Alleyway Echo loses Precise, but makes up for it in mobility. Easily available Shadow Markers and Gibson’s Burn Out Trigger allow the Alleyway to gain Fast twice a Turn. This means the Alleyway Echo can teleport 12+ inches a Round. Rounding out the package in DUA/Umbra is a lot of sturdiness between easier access to the Reconstitute Trigger and healing from Gibson DeWalt. If there are any situations where charging in and punching isn’t the smartest play, Claustrophobia is there to apply Staggered which the rest of the Keyword can capitalize on.

We hope you like these two new offerings for Wastrel and DUA/Umbra players! For those with a keen eye, each model has at least one reference to something from Malifaux’s lore, can you find all of the references?

 

[SoylentRobot]

trading a shadow marker for a teleport or fast is pretty nuts

[Forgotmytea]

Oooh, references eh If I remember correctly, Widdershins Lane is where van Stoker went to find information about the Library Of All Things, though the name of the story eludes me. No spoilers though, as I do remember the plot of the story and it is excellent!

 

Edit - I was right! The Final Word in the 1.5 era book Storm of Shadows.

[SpannerRider]

Oooh Widdershins Lane, I had forgotten that was in the beloved van Stoker tale.