Avatars - a step too far?

[NeuroFire]

take 2 desperate mercs. Turn 1: inferno. knocks them down to 1 wound. turn 2: violation of magic on each -> 2 healing flips, plus 2 witchling stalkers.

Ahhhh, much obliged. (What's the 2 healing flips from?)

[Tograth]

the desperate merc has the ability A Last Noble Deed. when its killed it gives a model within 4" a healing flip. Really nice for healing your own guys, or screwing over Leviticus.

[nix]

Tograth got it.

I tend to do exactly as he mentioned, with my competitive aSonnia list containing Santiago and 2 desperate mercs and a guardian. The guardian typically shield bashes santiago for 1wd, then protects santiago. Santiago, Sonnia, and the 2 mercs all walk to a point no more than 6 inches outside the deployment zone and Sonnia burns the mercs and Santiago for 3 points with the first Inferno casting.

Starting Turn 2, I have a powered up Santiago with a guardian protecting him, and 2 Merc's who are ready to become stalkers. I find that I often have the opportunity to either burn a stone for Confiscated Lore then violate the merc's into witchlings, or to burn the stone, walk, and unleash fiery hell onto the enemy. In a perfect setting (usually against someone who has not played vs Sonnia), I draw 2-3 tomes between turns 1 and 2 and get off the Fireball plus the violates without needing to walk. this ends up typically burning 2-3 stones, but puts me ready to manifest on turn 3.

[NeuroFire]

the desperate merc has the ability A Last Noble Deed. when its killed it gives a model within 4" a healing flip.

Ooooo, I did not know that.

The thing about Santiago is a good idea, too, I'll definitely be trying that. Thank you

[DarcXON]

Also I'm pretty sure that most of the Avatars are trying to follow the Fluff to a point. Which is why Hoffman somehow becomes for susceptible to blasts (He is unconscious and cannot dampen) and Hamelin loses a lot of power (as he is recovering). If you try to compare the fluff to the models it is pretty close.

As for the power of the models, the only one that I auto include (not that there aren't others more powerful) is ASeamus, and that is because he is so much fun to have. Even if I only use him for 2 turns (usually wait to activate him late game).

[ReubenHappens]

I kind of feel bad for desperate mercs. So many strategies revolve around - "Take two desperate mercs, murder them, profit!"

[Adran]

I kind of feel bad for desperate mercs. So many strategies revolve around - "Take two desperate mercs, murder them, profit!"

Maybe thats something for an achievement league - Get a desperate Mercenary to survive until the end of the game.

[D_acolyte]

I do not play with them and have not seen avatars used well where I am, but I do not think they are a step too far. I have toyed long and hard with the idea of getting Pandora and Rasputina. I feel that Avatars where a good move for Wyrd's game play and fluff, arguably better then adding another master to the factions. None of the avatars look to be supper powered, they are just different and tend to come with their own sacrifices from the original master.

[dunce002917]

I kind of feel bad for desperate mercs. So many strategies revolve around - "Take two desperate mercs, murder them, profit!"

cuz it would cost you a soulstone to have the Desperate Merc to survive till the end of the end.
I use them as front line first blood minions... i care less if they die early.. that's why I hired them.

[ReubenHappens]

cuz it would cost you a soulstone to have the Desperate Merc to survive till the end of the end.
I use them as front line first blood minions... i care less if they die early.. that's why I hired them.

It's not so much the dying that bothers me, it's the fact that they seem to get purchased for the express purpose of being killed by your own crew! But that's not going to stop me using a desperate merc in my Kirai crew for exactly this end...