Trimming the fat from Colette?

[Borzag]

Hey all,

So, after playing Ressers for most of my Malifaux Enjoyment Period(TM), I've decided to switch over to Arcanists for a bit. Mostly because I've been improving my painting to the point where I feel I wouldn't embarrass myself by painting that Showgirls box I've had sitting there for over a year and a half by now.

Anyway. While getting the cards together yesterday to organise, I came to an odd realisation. Colette + Showgirls box + Coryphee Duet = 35SS. On the button. Now, Colette's a stone-heavy caster, and even if she's stingy I can't see the 4 stones from that crew (3 cache + freebie) lasting beyond turn 3, if that. It also means that I'm struggling on what to do with Angelica (my test model for the minis) and the Gunsmiths, not to mention a few other ideas I had.

So, what do experienced Colette players run, and where do you find the points for all your other kit? I'm just going to assume that all Mecha-Pigeons are summoned, so those are easy, but what about the rest, and her cache?

No rush to let me know, as this is the only crew I'd be loath to run without a lick of paint, but advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers!

Borzag

[Mike3838]

I'm not a Colette player but from my experience the crew you have their is a pretty standard cookie-cutter build.

I don't think you need to worry too much about Ss's, as your free one each turn and ability to create more from cards keeps the cache topped up nicely.

Mike

[zero]

Colette! Awesome... Well

CoLette needs stones as does the whole crew, most can use them due to use soulstone (particularly the duet)


Colette
cassandra 9
Performer/mannequin 5
Coryphee x2 (duet) 14
2 doves 4

7 stones cache

Other bits
probably a desperate merc or 2 and summon birds
or drop performer/mannequin for 5ss Johan for range and punch probably recommended when starting out.

[13th Warrior]

You're absolutely right that the box set plus the Duet doesn't leave anything like enough Soulstones. The way I've run her pretty much since she came out is:

Colette
Mechanical Dove (2ss)
Cassandra (9ss)
2 x Coryphee (14ss)
Performer & Mannequin (6ss)

That comes in at 31ss, leaving 4 plus Colette's cache of 3 for a starting total of 7, which is much better.

You'll generally find, too, that for the first couple of turns you can afford to either burn 4 cards (2 in each activation) for an extra 2ss per turn, or burn 2 cards and create a Dove, leaving you with 11ss and a Dove or 9ss and 3 Doves.

Turns 3 and 4 often become pretty hectic and soulstone heavy, so you'll use a lot between the various models that have Use Soulstone, but if things go well, then in the last 2-3 turns you can start Magician's Duelling models to death and gaining soulstones that way.

I usually find that if things have gone well I have a healthy supply of soulstones left at the end of the game. Your problems start when you run out of soulstones by turn 4 or 5 - that's when the crew starts to fall apart.

The key with Colette (for my money) is to only commit soulstones when you know it'll be most effective (killing a model with Magician's Duel, going for the Mannequin Replacement trigger on Disappearing Act against a big gribbly, etc).

The other thing about Colette is to make sure you've always got a way out - don't let them get too far apart so you can swap places. They're not a crew that can go toe-to-toe with big hitters; I find they work superbly if you can hit and run with them rather than getting locked into melee.

Cheers

Rob

@Zero - the Performer is 6ss not 5, and the crew you've listed there comes to 33ss, leaving a starting cache of 5

[RebeccaJo]

I take:

Colette
Cassandra
Angelica
2 Coryphee

I don't have a book on me to have the cost of Angelica. I ususally have a cache of 7 and add doves if I need them.

[Ozz]

Angelica is 5, leaving you at 28 so with a Dove you are at 30 and 8 stones for a 35ss Game. But basically from your list (Box + Coryphee) Drop 1 Performer, add a Dove (as previously said ) Then you have also got a Mannequin free for Disappearing act if you get your triggers :D

[zero]

13th warrior - cheers I won't edit so it flows, but was doing it off the top of my head, basically trying to get the gist of what to take.

I put 5 cause that's what it should cost ;)

Does Angelica have a role to play? I have looked into her but seems like she led the crew on a different direction? Interested to hear thoughts



Anyhow borzag, youll have heaps of fun with her crew' Cassandra breath fire has been fun

[Calmdown]

13th Warriors list is really the only Collette list, thats exactly how i run her too. There is literally nothing you can change to make it better.

Angelica doesnt really do a lot worth doing at the moment, at least no in 35ss games.

[Toonook]

Only problem I see if you take out the performer + mannequin is that you lose the mannequin's companion ability. Is Angelica or a gunsmith worth that trade off? Wouldn't mind hearing thoughts from anyone who has run Kaeris with Colette too.

[CrazyCarl]

Angelica doesn't do much without a mannequin. If I'm correct Angelica gives you the ability to comPanion Colette, Angelica and a mannequin, then you can activate Colette them reactivate, then use Angelica to have Colette activate again. Or you can have two comPanion groups 18 inches away from each other.