Arcanist on a budget

[ttsgosadow]

I am going to start Arcanists, and am looking to this list as a guide. Was wondering why you'd skip the Ramos box. It includes spiders that you use a lot, and the Steamborg which looks pretty neat. Is the box bad value?

[decker_cky]

In general, all you need is 2 steampunk arachnid swarms/6 steampunk arachnids if you can magnetize them to be usable as both. Avatar of ramos comes with a pack of alternate steampunk arachnids, so you only need one more. As to the steamborg, some like it, but some of the newer heavy hitters are a little better value. For some, being able to start with alternate ramos is another big advantage.

However, if you like the original Ramos and you like the look of the steamborg, by all means pick up the boxset as it is good value.

[Boshea]

decker pretty much covered anything I would add. Alt Ramos was picked from a combination of budgeting (goal is best selection for 150 or less), and dgraz preferring the model more. The box isn't a bad buy, and I personally prefer electric fire Ramos over tentacle Ramos. The Steamborg may not be the most impressive model these days compared to other things in its price range, but its still an extremely nasty melee model. The Steamborg is far simpler to play and requires less support than similarly priced models. Owning three swarms also isn't a bad thing if you pick up the box and his avatar, since nothing sucks more than wanting to summon models that you don't own more of.

[decker_cky]

I must say though...I was looking at the Steamborg executioner recently, and I think it'd work as a secondary beatstick for Mei better than it works for Ramos. Seismic punch for a little extra speed to get him where he needs, ideally in position for flurry + melee master. Those paired Cb 7 attacks with weak damage 4 are nothing to sniff at and compare well with anything out there. Even masters have to be wary of ending activations within 5" of a steamborg that can be punched into range.

It also opens the option for either a second hard hitter along with a rail golem, or to take 2 other M&SU assets (2 LSPA or or 1 and a gunsmith seem like good options).

[Sybarite]

I must say though...I was looking at the Steamborg executioner recently, and I think it'd work as a secondary beatstick for Mei better than it works for Ramos. Seismic punch for a little extra speed to get him where he needs, ideally in position for flurry + melee master. Those paired Cb 7 attacks with weak damage 4 are nothing to sniff at and compare well with anything out there. Even masters have to be wary of ending activations within 5" of a steamborg that can be punched into range.

It also opens the option for either a second hard hitter along with a rail golem, or to take 2 other M&SU assets (2 LSPA or or 1 and a gunsmith seem like good options).

Interesting thought Maybe it could work. With Mei and the Emberling you can also try and protect it a bit vent steam.

[dgraz]

he has an obscuring aura too....not as big, but it is there. and that nifty decapitate trigger.

[edonil]

Triggers like decapitate are a lot of fun if you can burn someone's hand first.

[Odin1981]

It is good even if you don't. The ability to attack an opponent on more than 2 fronts is great. It is a preverbial 2 for 1. You attack a model (for activation advantage or just cause that specific model is something you don't want to deal with) and you attack the opponents hand (which is wonderful in its own right due to if you can make someone discard 2-4 cards in their hand outside of a god hand it severley hampers the flow of a persons turn when they can't change what they naturally flip).

[ttsgosadow]

My order just came in. I started out with the Arcanists on a budget suggested start, but decided to go for the Ramos box instead. Mostly because I love the Steamborg, and like the Ramos sculpt (but I love the alt as well ).

I ended up getting all models at least half viable with Kaeris, Ramos and Mei Feng. So everything but Rasputina ice stuff and beasts. <3

BTW, I noticed that the spider swarms that come with the avatar and the Ramos box come with one 40mm base, and do not include 3 30mm bases for the spiderlings. Good thing I ordered some bases with them to make scrap counters, but it's worth noting that you need 9 extra 30mm bases to build spiderlings out of three swarms!