The Second Caster Dilemma, pt 1 - pKrueger

Since I've got my pBaldur list pretty much finished (barring minor tinkering), I need to take the next step in expanding my army and choose a second caster.  I want a caster who can use most/all of the models that I already have, as that cuts down on painting dramatically and lets me fit everything onto the same display board for taking it to tournaments.

Based on the pBaldur list, and taking into account the other models that I currently own or plan on purchasing, I've narrowed it down to 3 warlocks -- eBaldur, pKrueger or Mohsar.  

I'm tossing out eBaldur off the bat - I quite like him and he works with virtually the same models, but he's a bit too similar to pBaldur in his playstyle.  If anything, I'd take him instead of pBaldur, not with.

This leaves me with pKrueger and Mohsar.  The best way to narrow this down is to make lists for each of them, and compare it from there.  First up, pKrueger.

Pros:
- Fury 7
- Arguably the best Geomancy spell (Chain Lightning)
- Clears infantry like no one's business
- Decent control feat; good, but not great.
- Great ranged defenses for army (Deflection)
- All around good spell list

Cons:
- Not that great against high ARM
- Nothing to support beasts
- Vulnerable, as he plays pretty far forward
- Enemies with immune: electricity = problem
- Lots of mid-high cost spells, and only 1 upkeep-able



pKrueger seems like a very mixed bag to me - on the one hand, he's got an amazing spell list, plenty of tricks with his attacks (including sustained attack on the spear! whoo!), and he is absolute death to infantry armies all by himself. The downside to this is that he needs to play pretty far forward for his spells to work (not the greatest, if you consider that he's not the hardiest warlock), he's got nothing to help against high armor, and he gives absolutely nothing to warbeasts besides some great spells for Woldwardens to Geomancy.

Still, for the sheer terror of his infantry killing goodness, that's not a bad trade off at all. The one thing that is abundantly clear is that he's going to need one of Circle's few dedicated high-ARM killers -- a Warpwolf.  After a bit of research, I think a Warpwolf Stalker is going to be a better fit - it has pathfinder, I really like the option of either Prowl of Berserk over the Feral's speed or armor bonuses, and that sword just looks awesome. (for a certain person reading this - yes, after all my whining and complaining about Warpwolves, I'm getting one. I justify this by saying that the new plastic models looks too amazing not to get one).

No Krueger list seems complete without at least one Woldwarden, and there's really no reason not to bump him up to Megalith for those extra 2 pts. I'm also going to add in a Woldwatcher over a Woldwyrd to give a bit more protection to pKrueger. Lets toss in the Druids + overseer, the Shifting Stones + Stone Keeper, and Blackclad, since the combination of those 3 units/solos are really the core of my army in most lists, and I like the way they work.

Krueger 35pts
Krueger the Stormwrath (*5pts)
* Woldwatcher (5pts)
* Megalith (11pts)
* Warpwolf Stalker (10pts)
Druids of Orboros (Leader and 5 Grunts) (7pts)
* Druid of Orboros Overseer (2pts)
Shifting Stones (2pts)
* Stone keeper (1pts)
Blackclad Wayfarer (2pts)

I'm kinda liking this list; it's got bit more punch than the Baldur list, and between Krueger, geomancy, the Druids, and the Stalker it can really lay the hurt on infantry armies. At this point, the only thing I might change would be switching the woldwatcher for a woldwyrd, but we'll see how this works first -- hopefully in a rematch later today against my old nemesis, Tyrant Grexeris!

In the meantime, lets theorize as to what this might look like at the 50pt level.  I'd keep the 35pt list as a good core; to add to it, I think I want to include the following:
1. a unit of bullet catchers, fodder, meat shields, hardy infantry (there we go...) to help claim objectives and provide some screening
2. another beast, and...
3.a Druid Wilder to help deal with fury.

Since I've already got the models, I'm going to take a unit of Wolves of Orboros + UA for the screening unit - this works especially well with Krueger, since he can give them lightning tendrils to deal more damage to enemy infantry and protect themselves from his lightning bolts, and their ranked attacks ability allows them to screen him effectively without diminishing his effectiveness.

This leaves me with 7pts left - that's a bit problematic, as I'd still like to fit in a heavy and the Druid Wilder. I've got a few options here, but the one I think I'll go with is to drop the woldwatcher; grab a Gnarlhorn satyr (mainly for guard duty, it's awesome animus, and some great slam potential); and take both a Wilder and another 2pt solo - I was thinking of just getting another black clad, however Lanyssa Ryssyll does much the same thing, but with a more interesting (and Baldur's-feat-like) ability.

Here's the list:

pKrueger 50pts
Krueger the Stormwrath (*5pts)
* Gnarlhorn Satyr (8pts)
* Megalith (11pts)
* Warpwolf Stalker (10pts)
Druids of Orboros (Leader and 5 Grunts) (7pts)
* Druid of Orboros Overseer (2pts)
Shifting Stones (2pts)
* Stone keeper (1pts)
Wolves of Orboros (Leader and 9 Grunts) (6pts)
* Wolf of Orboros Officer & Standard (2pts)
Blackclad Wayfarer (2pts)
Druid Wilder (2pts)
Lanyssa Ryssyll, Nyss Sorceress (2pts)

I'm really liking this list as well; I feel less wary about taking  the Gnarlhorn since I have both Megalith and the Stalker to deal with high ARM, and his animus is just fantastic combined with the Wilder. The ludicrous amount of movement tricks I can give a warbeast (in ideal situations, of course) is just mind boggling. This is going to take some getting used to.... We'll see if I can get a few games in this weekend.

Stay tuned for battle reports!!