rrrrupp
Sneak
54 Posts
    
 | | 12/10/2007 8:51 AM |
| Hey everyone,
I'm another new player. I'm a DDM player and I couldn't passup the
chance of $20 cases so I picked up a case from all the sets except
Chrysotic Plague.
I understand the rules and strategy, the one thing I need help with is general tips on creating warbands.
From what I understand, typically around 2 locations is good and the
goal is to vary the point cost of the units so that you have a good
range. Besides those two things, what are some general rules for
warband creation? I know sticking to 2 factions is generally a good
rule as well.
Thanks in advance!
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Scud-O
Sneak
117 Posts
| | 12/11/2007 5:27 AM |
| The best advice I can give is to pick a piece or two that you like, then build the rest of your warband to help that piece (or pieces) do what they do.
For example, let's say you want to build around the UNSATED RAGEDRAKE (not a bad idea, actually).
1) He costs 13PP, so you will probably need some sort of "spawn acceleration" (HEARTSBLOOD TEMPLE, RAINFOREST SHAMAN, BLOODHAWK BARAG)
2) You want to move him around to make the most of both his incredible 10 Power and his Trample ability, so you probably want to pair up Passion and Valor (for CLAWCLAN SCOUT, SCARAB WARCHARM, KNIGHT OF STRIFE AND JOY, HAWK-EYED INSTIGATOR, etc.)
So, you are looking at a Passion/Valor warband with movement abilities and spawn acceleration. So you will want some low-cost Passion figures, some low-cost Valor figures, and you will want to focus on your "themes" of movement and high-power. A possible list would look like:
Clawclan Scout (Cheap Valor, Movement)
Clawclan Scout (Cheap Valor, Movement)
Bloodthirsty Redcap (Cheap Passion, Power)
Lady of the Manor (Cheap Passion, Aids Attacks)
Heartsblood Temple (Spawn Accel.)
Pearlthorn Castle (Movement)
Scarab Warcharm (Movement)
Scarab Warcharm (Movement)
Bast's Handmaiden (Movement)
Lunar Handmaiden (Movement)
Infernal Gothic (High Power, Movement of Enemy Pieces)
Bloodhawk Barag (High Power, Spawn Accel.)
Kendra Vale (High Power, AWESOME Ability)
Angel of Sunrise (Movement, High Power)
Noble Dragon (High Power)
Unsated Ragedrake (High Power)
You don't need ANY locations in your band, but it is a good guideline that, unless you are focusing on a particular localtion (UNWISHING WELL, for example) you don't want more than 2 locations in a band.
Good luck and, if you see me hanging around the online game here, stop in and we can play a couple of games!
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Thespian
Sergeant
442 Posts
Lethbridge, Alberta
| | 12/11/2007 6:48 AM |
| My $0.02. I have found (Just like Scud-o touched on), that including miniatures that can cause movement is HUGE in dreamblade as is gaining a reliable spawn advantage. About the first point, movement really is king in a game like this one where real-estate is what gains you the most points. In addition, moving your own creatures is more desirable than choosing pieces that move your opponents (although Expel+Ambush = world of pain!). Skirmish in particular is the one you want to be able to include due to the idea that it can allow you to strike with the same creature(s) in muliple cells in a single phase. This is why the Clawclan Scout and especially the Scarab Warcharm are such critical pieces.
Spawn advantage can be critical. If you get more spawn to use than your opponent, it gives you the ability to bring out bigger/more creatures. However, it is typically a long term strategy. However, nearly all top-tier warbands have some way to ensure that they are able to get/use more spawn that the opponent. For example, the Infernal Screamer allows the Hellbred team to bring out some very large pieces quickly, while a locations such as the Heartsblood temple allows for a great deal more spawn as long as it is a longer game. The Unwishing Well does the opposite. With its ability to kill pieces, it takes spawn that is spent and flushes it down the toilet so that your opponent has less invested spawn points on the board at any particular time.Â
Lastly, when you are designing your warband, try to build it around a total of 80ish total spawn points (without any extra spawn generation assumed) to start with.  This is REALLY a loose guidline, as I have designed some very fast weenie-rush bands with a far less spawn total. Try it a few times and adjust as necessary. As well, try to plan out your first TWO turns so that you don't waste ANY spawn early. It can be killer. That means you need to make a list of what you would spawn for all the results of 5-11 on the first two turns. If you have no holes, then you should be able to fill in the rest of your pieces.
I hope this adds just a little more insight! And like Scud-o mentioned, I would love to play online with you anytime. | |
A wand of silence means never having to say you're sorry.
CHAMPION OF THE ANNIS HAG!!! | |
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rrrrupp
Sneak
54 Posts
| | 12/13/2007 7:25 AM |
| Well I got my shipment of mini's yesterday. For the most part, really good stuff.
Negative - I didn't get a noble dragon.
Positives -
*ragedrake
*unwishing well
*Heartsblood Temple
*Angel of Sunrise
*Bast's Handmaiden
*scarab warcharm
*Pearlthorn Castle x 2
I'm always up for a game if I see you guys on :) | | | |
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Thespian
Sergeant
442 Posts
Lethbridge, Alberta
| | 12/13/2007 10:56 AM |
| | Looks like you have a nice start to a nice Valor/Passion band. Basts Handmaid is really nice when you have a ragedrake. Kind of doubles as a warcharm. I wouldn't sweat the Noble Dragon as much (although it would be nice) because that Angel of Sunrise (with a very powerful gambit ability) is a nice stand in. In the right band, it might even be better!
No fear or Madness goodness??? (besides the wells?) | |
A wand of silence means never having to say you're sorry.
CHAMPION OF THE ANNIS HAG!!! | |
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rrrrupp
Sneak
54 Posts
| | 12/13/2007 1:43 PM |
| I'm sure I got a few good ones but I'm not really sure which fear/madness creatures are good :), most fear/madness figures aren't as talked about. I didn't get most of the units you used in your match against me though. No voodoo manipulator and no boogieman.
Just a few that I remember pulling...
*Book of Nothing
*Cyclopean Sprite
*Marian, Bound to Pain
*Chain Master
*Dragonship Golem
* Kendra Vale
*Bliss
*chronosphere
*Faceless Desperado
*Nevret Flamer
*Bloodtusk Throne
*Deathwind Priest
*Dreamscape Prophet
*Warmonger
*Mr. Friend
*Fleshworm Broodsire
*Fleshless reaper
*Darkheart Cottage
*Jack in the box x2
*The sweeper | | | |
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Thespian
Sergeant
442 Posts
Lethbridge, Alberta
| | 12/13/2007 2:21 PM |
| | Not going to go wrong with THE Ms. Kendra Vale!!! She is a powerhouse!
*Cyclopean Sprite - A really excellent piece, but you need to build carefully around it.
*Dragonship Golem- Don't have one myself, but I hear it is a beast!
*chronosphere - A miniature that controls who gets init at a critical time. It can be really big in an Unwishing Well warband.
*Nevret Flamer - Awesome Piece, no doubt about it!
*Fleshless reaper
*Darkheart Cottage- These two were used in the early days to set up a seriously good ambush band. Not always super reliable, but it can be really nasty if you set it up right...
*The sweeper - A personal favorite of mine! Nothing like handing out damage like candy!
Other than that, the others are real niche pieces that can be effective, but not consistently. I should be on later tonight if you are up for a game... | |
A wand of silence means never having to say you're sorry.
CHAMPION OF THE ANNIS HAG!!! | |
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rrrrupp
Sneak
54 Posts
| | 12/13/2007 2:50 PM |
| Awesome, thanks for the rundown. I've used the Nevret Flamer once so far and he pretty awesome indeed. I may try the sweeper tonight, his defense ability sounds really neat late game. Of course, him being a dreamlord is kinda crappy, I don't wanna lose victory points.
I probably won't be on tonight but hopefully I can play sometime this weekend. | | | |
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bshugg
Underboss
1833 Posts
| | 12/13/2007 4:28 PM |
| I played a Nevret flamer in a Valor/Madness weenie band today and it was really solid. Using his ability in multiple cells thanks to skirmish really helps win turns.
Basic tips for competitive bands:
You want to have a few VERY cheap figures for each of your factions. For example if your big hitters cost 2 passion + 10 you want 2 cheap passion weenie figs to set up for them. The cheap figs come out early, can keep you from losing early turns, enable your aspect costs, and die giving you 2 extra spawn to power your bigger figs.
You generally don't want more than 2 guys costing 10+ in your band unless you have ways of generating extra spawn.
the average spawn roll is 8, and a large portion end up being 7-9. A lot of powerful figs cost between 7 and 9 but odds are you won't be spawning more than 1 a turn. Try to avoid playing more than 2 of each of those costs.
A decent amount of 2-6
] cost guys lets you mix and match for any spawn costs between 4 and 12. Unless you are playing a specific strategy with your band most of your guys should be in this range.
In general you will find that the vanilla guys (ones with no abilities) are never better than the ones with blade abilities, and very few of the guys with drawbacks are worth it. | |
Looking for someone to cosponser a midwest DDM event. let me know if your interested!
Check out my brand new blog:
http://bshugg.blogspot.com | |
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rrrrupp
Sneak
54 Posts
| | 12/13/2007 8:20 PM |
| | Wow, I just had a really fun game here tonight. I was up 5-0 and then my sweeper died making it 4-0 and he had a ragedrake out. Things were not looking good. Luckly... I was pretty sure I'd lose the sweeper soon so I had summoned Baxxar a few turns before. I respawned The sweeper in Baxxar's cell when it was 4-4. I lost the next round but got to summon a Knight of Autumn gate and sacrifice a crappy 2 point creature I had out. Those 3 killed 4 creatures the next round. I had 7 creatures in the graveyard and rolled 2 swords! The sweeper is so awesome, baxxar as well! | | | |
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Thespian
Sergeant
442 Posts
Lethbridge, Alberta
| | 12/14/2007 9:59 AM |
| | So it sounds like you have found a fun and effective warband! Now all you have to do is try and tighten the screws a bit and try and make it as efficient as possible. Playing as many games as possible with it and making some obvious changes. I would love to play against you and see what you have made! | |
A wand of silence means never having to say you're sorry.
CHAMPION OF THE ANNIS HAG!!! | |
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rrrrupp
Sneak
54 Posts
| | 12/14/2007 10:45 AM |
| I'm not sure how effective it will be on average. The sweeper and
Baxxar kinda contradict each other. I have some ideas for a neat valor
band though... brighthammer will be my focus.
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Scud-O
Sneak
117 Posts
| | 12/14/2007 10:50 AM |
| Well, Baxar and The Sweeper don't HAVE to contradict each other. Just put a Butcher in your warband and toss The Sweeper into the Graveyard when you spawn him. Then, use Baxar to call him into the action when you need him and limit your risk of losing him.
Just an idea... | | | |
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rrrrupp
Sneak
54 Posts
| | 12/14/2007 11:54 AM |
| True... and a neat idea, but in that case if you lose Baxxar you effectively lost The Sweeper as well because you can't bring him in. Of course, you can always have other units to bring back dead allies.
I dunno though, it's nice having baxxar and the sweeper out at the same time because spawning units right into the sweepers square makes it sort of like a death star. It also creates a secondary threat because even if they kill the sweeper you can bring him back in the same space the next turn. I might mess with it some more.
I guess the more I think about it, you aren't really hurting overall damage if you bring someone back from the graveyard... assuming it has a lot of power. Rolling more dice and therefore getting more blades will give you more damage to make up for the 1 damage you lose from the lessened gravecrit. | | | |
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Thespian
Sergeant
442 Posts
Lethbridge, Alberta
| | 12/14/2007 12:59 PM |
| | And, if you happen to have a blademiller, it will cost you three less to spawn! But of course, that would take a LOT to set up...
Butcher+Baxar+Blademiller....24 spawn...that is a fair chunk... | |
A wand of silence means never having to say you're sorry.
CHAMPION OF THE ANNIS HAG!!! | |
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Freedom
Skirmisher
1 Posts
| | 12/19/2007 6:00 PM |
| Where did you get a case for $20??
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rrrrupp
Sneak
54 Posts
| | 12/19/2007 6:41 PM |
| | Just keep your eyes open on ebay. Search for Dreamblade case and there will always be some for $25, sometimes $20 if you're lucky. Shipping is about $15 but I found a guy that only charged $14 for first order and $5 for each additional case... that was the best I could find. | | | |
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