In the last year, I feel like Trollblood tournament players have been effectively ignoring innovation and personal style in favor of the cookie cutter "play this and win" idea, and I'll be honest - I don't like it. When every single player is bringing the same (admittedly very powerful) lists, not only does the Trollblood player community effectively stagnate tactics-wise, it also downright ticks off other players.
I haven't been a very active player in the last year or so, and it's been at least that long since I was in a tournament, but I'm going to Adepticon this year, and I need to prepare. I've worked out a handful of lists, and I'll be testing them as much as possible in the coming weeks - I've already tried the Grim1 list vs pGrexy, and it needs some serious tweaking.
Lists after the break.
Doomy3 50pts
Hoarluk Doomshaper, Dire Prophet - WB: +3
- Scroll Bearer
- Mulg the Ancient - PC: 12
- Rok - PC: 11
- Earthborn Dire Troll - PC: 10
- Troll Axer - PC: 6
Troll Whelps - PC: 2
Lanyssa Ryssyl, Nyss Sorceress - PC: 2
Krielstone Bearer & Stone Scribes - Leader & 5 Grunts: 4
- Stone Scribe Elder - Elder 1
Dhunian Knot - Leader & 2 Grunts: 3
Farrow Bone Grinders - Leader & 3 Grunts: 2
This is the list that I'm most looking forward to trying more - it's nasty, it beat the tar out of most things it runs into, and it's fun! I'm considering dropping the EBDT to a Mauler to make it more effective against Hordes lists, and maybe taking Janissa for some protection on Doomy by dropping the KSB to a min unit.
Borka2 50pts
Borka, Vengeance of the Rimeshaws - WB: +6
- Trollkin Runebearer - PC: 2
- Troll Axer - PC: 6
- Pyre Troll - PC: 5
- Storm Troll - PC: 5
- Troll Bouncer - PC: 5
- Troll Axer - PC: 6
- Pyre Troll - PC: 5
- Storm Troll - PC: 5
- Troll Bouncer - PC: 5
Troll Whelps - PC: 2
Fell Caller Hero - PC: 3
Trollkin Sorcerer - PC: 1
Trollkin Champion Hero - PC: 3
Trollkin Champions - Leader & 4 Grunts: 10
- Skaldi Bonehammer - Skaldi 3
Krielstone Bearer & Stone Scribes - Leader & 3 Grunts: 3
- Stone Scribe Elder - Elder 1
Long Riders - Leader & 2 Grunts: 7
Full Champ boat, KSB, Long Riders for backup, and a squad of counter-charging lights with really useful animi. The Storm and the Champ Hero (or heck, any of the champs or Long Riders) are a good combo, and effectively spamming Counter Charging and feat-friendly models (with Borka's upkeep on the champs) is going to make a pretty nasty pile for the enemy to deal with. The Long Riders are there for backup and flankers, and I think they work just fine without Horthol, but they could easily be swapped out for something else.
Calandra 50pts
Calandra Truthsayer, Oracle of the Glimmerwood - WB: +5
- Trollkin Runebearer
- Earthborn Dire Troll - PC: 10
- Dire Troll Mauler - PC: 9
Fell Caller Hero - PC: 3
Stone Scribe Chronicler - PC: 2
Dhunian Knot - Leader & 2 Grunts: 3
Kriel Warriors - Leader & 9 Grunts: 6
- Kriel Warrior Standard & Piper - Standard & Piper 2
- 3 1 Thrower's: 3
Krielstone Bearer & Stone Scribes - Leader & 5 Grunts: 4
- Stone Scribe Elder - Elder 1
Pyg Bushwhackers - Leader & 9 Grunts: 8
- Pyg Bushwhacker Officer & Mortar - PC: 2
Sorta anti-Cryx, but mainly a good Calandra block with lots of options, a solid jamming unit, and ranged backup. I'm particularly looking forward to using the Dhunian Knot with her, since even more dice shenanigans is always fun.
Tested List:
Fell Caller Hero - PC: 3
Trollkin Sorcerer - PC: 1
Trollkin Champion Hero - PC: 3
Trollkin Champions - Leader & 4 Grunts: 10
- Skaldi Bonehammer - Skaldi 3
Krielstone Bearer & Stone Scribes - Leader & 3 Grunts: 3
- Stone Scribe Elder - Elder 1
Long Riders - Leader & 2 Grunts: 7
Full Champ boat, KSB, Long Riders for backup, and a squad of counter-charging lights with really useful animi. The Storm and the Champ Hero (or heck, any of the champs or Long Riders) are a good combo, and effectively spamming Counter Charging and feat-friendly models (with Borka's upkeep on the champs) is going to make a pretty nasty pile for the enemy to deal with. The Long Riders are there for backup and flankers, and I think they work just fine without Horthol, but they could easily be swapped out for something else.
Calandra 50pts
Calandra Truthsayer, Oracle of the Glimmerwood - WB: +5
- Trollkin Runebearer
- Earthborn Dire Troll - PC: 10
- Dire Troll Mauler - PC: 9
Fell Caller Hero - PC: 3
Stone Scribe Chronicler - PC: 2
Dhunian Knot - Leader & 2 Grunts: 3
Kriel Warriors - Leader & 9 Grunts: 6
- Kriel Warrior Standard & Piper - Standard & Piper 2
- 3 1 Thrower's: 3
Krielstone Bearer & Stone Scribes - Leader & 5 Grunts: 4
- Stone Scribe Elder - Elder 1
Pyg Bushwhackers - Leader & 9 Grunts: 8
- Pyg Bushwhacker Officer & Mortar - PC: 2
Sorta anti-Cryx, but mainly a good Calandra block with lots of options, a solid jamming unit, and ranged backup. I'm particularly looking forward to using the Dhunian Knot with her, since even more dice shenanigans is always fun.
Tested List:
Grim1 50ptsGrim Angus - WB: +6
- Glacier King - PC: 18
- Troll Impaler - PC: 5
Troll Whelps - PC: 2
Fell Caller Hero - PC: 3
Stone Scribe Chronicler - PC: 2
Trollkin Sorcerer - PC: 1
Fennblade Kithkar - PC: 2
Trollkin Fennblades - Leader & 9 grunts: 8
- Fennblade Officer and Drummer - Officer & Drummer 2
Scattergunners - Leader & 9 Grunts: 8
- Scattergunner Officer & Standard - Officer & Standard 2
Dhunian Knot - Leader & 2 Grunts: 3
I gave this list a try vs pGrexy the other day, and it was absolutely demolished by a Zaal2 list. It simply doesn't have enough hard-hitting infantry to deal with armor skew, and bunches up too much to be effective. I made a few errors in deployment and usage, but it got to a point where I really didn't have any options at all, even with very few casualties.
The Glacier King/Impaler combo is really strong with Grim1, and the Knot proved extremely helpful when applied to the Glacier King, Impaler, and Grim when it came to getting crucial hits in (killing Hakaar early was a big boon). The infantry and solos need a big work-around, and I don't want to jump on the new "all Croaks, all the time" bandwagon (that is a lot of models to paint in less than 2 months, on top of everything else).
To be honest, I'm a little stumped, so I'm reaching out to the larger Trollblood Community on this one, and hoping some of you play Grim1 and like commenting. If we get enough answers, I'll post again with some completed list ideas!
What would you take with Grim1, an Impaler, a Glacier King and a Dhunian Knot?
- Troll Impaler - PC: 5
Troll Whelps - PC: 2
Fell Caller Hero - PC: 3
Stone Scribe Chronicler - PC: 2
Trollkin Sorcerer - PC: 1
Fennblade Kithkar - PC: 2
Trollkin Fennblades - Leader & 9 grunts: 8
- Fennblade Officer and Drummer - Officer & Drummer 2
Scattergunners - Leader & 9 Grunts: 8
- Scattergunner Officer & Standard - Officer & Standard 2
Dhunian Knot - Leader & 2 Grunts: 3
I gave this list a try vs pGrexy the other day, and it was absolutely demolished by a Zaal2 list. It simply doesn't have enough hard-hitting infantry to deal with armor skew, and bunches up too much to be effective. I made a few errors in deployment and usage, but it got to a point where I really didn't have any options at all, even with very few casualties.
The Glacier King/Impaler combo is really strong with Grim1, and the Knot proved extremely helpful when applied to the Glacier King, Impaler, and Grim when it came to getting crucial hits in (killing Hakaar early was a big boon). The infantry and solos need a big work-around, and I don't want to jump on the new "all Croaks, all the time" bandwagon (that is a lot of models to paint in less than 2 months, on top of everything else).
To be honest, I'm a little stumped, so I'm reaching out to the larger Trollblood Community on this one, and hoping some of you play Grim1 and like commenting. If we get enough answers, I'll post again with some completed list ideas!
What would you take with Grim1, an Impaler, a Glacier King and a Dhunian Knot?
After some lively discussions on the PP forums (Ninjastars has some very well thought out advice on what goes well with what I'd specified), here's what I'm going to try out soon:
ReplyDeleteGrim Angus - WB: +6
- Glacier King - PC: 18
- Troll Impaler - PC: 5
Horgle Ironstrike - PC: 3
- Slag Troll - PC: 5
Troll Whelps - PC: 2
Dhunian Knot - Leader & 2 Grunts: 3
Pyg Burrowers - Leader & 9 Grunts: 6
Sons of Bragg - Wrathar, Tor & Rhudd: 6
Trollkin Runeshapers - Leader & 2 Grunts: 4
Trollkin Runeshapers - Leader & 2 Grunts: 4
http://privateerpressforums.com/showthread.php?246016-Post-Erratalypse-Adepticon-Prep-Grim-question
Very interesting! I don't often see Runeshapers outside of Runes of War, but they do seem like a good fit for pGrim, and the Dhunian Knot lets you fish for crits with those Rock Hammers.
ReplyDeleteRock Hammers and Slug Guns will give you a pretty sweet armor-cracking setup, on top of the Glacier King. I'd say a good improvement! (plus pGrim is just cool)
I'd be keen for a rematch with Zaal 2, or I can try Mak 3 if you'd prefer. Or, since this is probably your WM/infantry drop, I could break out my Retribution for the first time in a long while.