Dirty Mercs

It’s been a week or so since my last entry, I’ve not been terribly productive since then as I’m currently recovering from yet more surgery, though I have managed to paint up a few models during my recuperation time.

I mentioned a few entries back that I was planning on expanding my Severius lists to the 50 point mark so I had something ready for tournaments of this size.  Of note Vapnartak in York, early 2012, will have 50 point lists on day two.  Though my lists aren’t finalised I set myself the task of completing the following to help bolster the painted force so far:

·        Exemplar Errants min unit

·        Temple Flame Guard unit attachment

·        X2 Choir of Menoth acolytes

·        Vassal of Menoth

·        eEiryss Angel of Retribution

·        Lady Aiyanna and Master Holt

I have already uploaded photos of the extended Choir and Vassal; however below are photos of epic Eiryss and Lady Aiyanna + Master Holt.

eEiryss front

eEiryss rear

eEiryss side

These mercenary allies were painted as close to the ‘official’ colours seen in the Merc faction book.  I used a very earthy pallet for eEiryss given that she has a background in stealth, camouflage and tree huggin', like those hippy Circle folk.  The cloak was the main feature and was painted using Camo Green as a base.  I paid particular attention to the epic base she stands upon, trying to make it look like and aged stone relic of some kind. 

Lady Aiyanna & Master Holt

Lady Aiyanna  front

Lady Aiyanna  side

Lady Aiyanna  rear

Lady Aiyanna  side

Master Holt  front

Master Holt  side

Master Holt  rear

Master Holt  side

 I used a mixture of P3 and Citadel paints.  Of note Lady Aiyanna's cloak was a reddish brown created by mixing Scorched Brown and Blood Red; I’ve found these two colours mix really well and create a very smooth transition.  Holt’s blue jacket was painted using the P3 Cygnar blues and washed with GW’s Asumen Blue.

So what about gaming?

Gaming wise these mercs are very useful, eEiryss is great for anti-buffing enemy units as her very high RAT and long range crossbow can remove enemy upkeep spells and animi; it also disrupts warjacks.  These abilities are very powerful in ensuring the enemy is weakened.  Eiryss can also be used in a last ditch ‘bomb’, she can run very quickly and possibly be placed within 5” of multiple enemy warjacks preventing them from receiving focus the following turn.  She has numerous other uses of course, but the afore mentioned ones are why she is popular amongst many gamers.

Aiyanna and Holt are a unit, though they are essentially two solos.  Lady Aiyanna has three main in-game effects, whilst not being offensive she can give herself and Holt stealth, commonly used as the pair advance up field.  She can ‘Kiss of Lyliss’ a model/unit which then suffers +2 to all incoming damage rolls for a turn.  When you start combining that with Choir buffs and Eye of Menoth etc suddenly attacking models can cause far more damage than anticipated.  Her final ability is to grant a friendly unit ‘magical weapons’.  This is of course situational, however when facing incorporeal models, or something which can only be damaged by magical attacks this ability is invaluable.  Holt is a gunfighter with the virtuoso skill, so very handy up close as well as from afar.  He has a very high RAT and two pistols, thus adding a bit more ranged threat to my Menite force.  His special ability comes into effect when either he or Lady Aiyanna are shot at; he can immediately fire at the attacking model and if a hit is scored the attacking model automatically misses, useful to burn out unwary enemies attempting to gun this pair down.

Regarding more ranged support; man I wish I could have a unit of Gun Mages... ah well!!  ;-)