93 replies to this topic

[Qwyksilver]

The rumors of war in Taltos are true. And where there is war, there is profit to be made. Commanders, gather your warriors and meet me at Port Gangrel. I've a meeting arranged with a prospective employer. Standard rates with a bonus upon completion, of course.

For historical reference, feel free to view past Faction discussion threads:
Mercenaries 2008
Mercenaries 2007
Port Gangrel 1.2
Just pay me what you owe me

[merlonc]

I was using a mercenary army before but with the changes to Mercs and available models now I have no desire to play them anymore. The merc's need a caster warlord. My mercenary army was themed after an old DnD wizard character and his minions. I used to proxy for the witch queen using change of heart but that is no longer possible, and you really need change of heart to get enough variety in soldiers in my opinion. For me the whole faction istoo limiting to do wha I want anymore.

I will just stick to elves.

[Stubbdog]

Sorry you feel that way. I know of at least 2 other players that actually feel the exact opposite.

Currently, even though they dont have a rank Warlord caster, they are in the top 4 in terms of the total number of casters with 9 casters. And they have access to the most different tomes among those as well.

But, you are correct, due to the high number of elite casters that they have, they dont have as many soldiers as other factions. But, then again, that is the beauty of Change of Heart. You get to pick and choose any soldier from any faction to fill the hole exactly as you want it to be filled.

But, I guess to each their own. We tried, but are not gonna be able to please everyone.

[vejlin]

I definitely think my mercs are viable now, when they weren't before.

[merlonc]

Sorry you feel that way. I know of at least 2 other players that actually feel the exact opposite.

Currently, even though they dont have a rank Warlord caster, they are in the top 4 in terms of the total number of casters with 9 casters. And they have access to the most different tomes among those as well.

But, you are correct, due to the high number of elite casters that they have, they dont have as many soldiers as other factions. But, then again, that is the beauty of Change of Heart. You get to pick and choose any soldier from any faction to fill the hole exactly as you want it to be filled.

But, I guess to each their own. We tried, but are not gonna be able to please everyone.

The only hole in the list for my theme is no caster warlord. Otherwise its better suited. I only play concept armies with my own story, otherwise I get bored. The elves do well as a competitive army but I haven't developed a good story for them yet so I keep looking around. I really liked the theme on my Merc army and keep trying to recreate it with warlord 2 but none of the faction options really fit the story background now.

[BKBass]

I am loving the Merc's in WL2!

Every time I've played with them Ive used the Scoundrel's Luck doctrine. With 5 re-rolls and the ability to change natural 1's to 10's it can really change the game for you.

My question is looking at the Change of Heart doctrine what single data card and non unique piece of equipment is worth more than 5 re-rolls?

It seems like it would have to be something that would fill in some existing hole in the Merc's force or something that complemented existing modeles.....

[vejlin]

I've considered using it to get Crimson Knights.

[BKBass]

I've considered using it to get Crimson Knights.

Why? What do they bring to the table for 65 points that is a must to complement the mercs? Is a troop of 10 CK worth more than 5 re-rolls, 10 Minotaurs, and 90 points left over to spend?

[vejlin]

Because Crimson Knights are cool. I'm finding minotaurs quickly becoming a favorite too though. I have no good reason, other than I think it could be fun to bring Crimson Knights. Personally re-rolls don't do much for me since I always forget to use them. I know that's more a problem for me than a problem with the concept of re-rolls but it goes a long way towards explaining why I don't have too much of a problem giving up the re-rolls.

Generally for Change of Heart to be really worthwile though, you probably need to go for a synergy effect with merc models that you can't achieve without Change of Heart. Mageguard Golem might be a good card to pick with CoH if you go with a caster heavy merc army.

[Qwyksilver]

Some sort of Cavalry or Flyer in the event of Scenario play to get to objectives quickly.

[Warwick]

While I can't live without my rerolls, I think the key to Change of Heart is bringing something your opponent doesn't expect. I play Vampires, so I thought about bringing in Crimson Knights, too. Mercs lack really solos. With CoH I can have anything I want. I'm sure I'll bring in my old CoH favs: Avatar of Sokar, Griffon, Grave Horror, Incarnation of Flame, or a set of those Hospitalier healers. Five rerolls are great and if my life was on the line I would use them. Luckily, I don't play many games where I might die if I lose, so I'll use CoH just to mix things up now and then.

[psyberwolfe1]

While I can't live without my rerolls, I think the key to Change of Heart is bringing something your opponent doesn't expect. I play Vampires, so I thought about bringing in Crimson Knights, too. Mercs lack really solos. With CoH I can have anything I want. I'm sure I'll bring in my old CoH favs: Avatar of Sokar, Griffon, Grave Horror, Incarnation of Flame, or a set of those Hospitalier healers. Five rerolls are great and if my life was on the line I would use them. Luckily, I don't play many games where I might die if I lose, so I'll use CoH just to mix things up now and then.

You apparently haven't used Raseri the Barbarian yet. Yikes! Mercs are a bit poor in monster choices, but the monster they do get is non unique so you can take him a time or three. I'm starting to eye the non-unique elites. I think they have some of the same potential as the solos at a smaller cost. With no more coherency that means they can run around on their own like a solo, but they lack the seperate activation.

[Stubbdog]

both have valid reasons for being on the field. Solos gain you an initiative card and usually a little better datacard (yes the Mercs personality is such that they do not have a huge model, but still as you have pointed out, I love Raseri!). While the elites dont get the extra draw card, they get the benefit of getting support and moving with the troop around them.

[merlonc]

Has anyone thought about a pike and musket style force using mercenaries. Something like:

Troop 1
Boris Mingla
Mercenary Axeman x 4
Blackreef Pirate x 5
Mercenary Spearman x 6
Tallis, Cleric of Ishnar

Troop 2
Mack Hardwick
Mercenary Spearman x 5
Mercenary Axeman x 3
Blackreef Pirate x 5
Olivia, Priestess of Shadarzaddi
Book of Tactics

Troop 3
Rod Blackreef
Mercenary Spearman x 4
Mercenary Axeman x 2
Blackreef Pirate x 2

I thought about doing it using plastics from warlord games english civil war set. I thought it made an interestng theme. I would like to do a pirate army but haven't found good mini's for the bulk of the crew weilding cutlas and/or boarding pike. Reaper has great officers and pistol toting models.

[Lionheart]

I've considered using it to get Crimson Knights.

If I wanted to play Crimson Knights, I would rather just play a Necropolis list.

I don't really see any advantage to expending a faction doctrine to add one datacard, when I could just play that other faction, get the data card that I want (and all of the other specialist troops in that faction, too, which the Mercenaries lack), and also have the other faction's doctrines to choose from.

Change of Heart just looks like a trap for novice players.

Lionheart