Warmachine-Hordes: 31 Flavors, pt. 2

It's been a long while since I've posted any updates. Since then, I've play tested a bunch of great armies, all at 50pts, and have begun a slightly different approach (yet again). Instead of ranking each warcaster with a yea or nay, I've paired them off in a single-elimination tournament format. The 'casters are listed just in alphabetical order, so there's no other logic to the pairings, but the decision-making process is MUCH easier this way. Here's a slick little graphic displaying where I am to date.

As you can see, Constance Blaize, Captain Caine, and Captain Haley have eliminated the competition. I'll continue winnowing these down until I get my Final Four for this faction. Each 'caster in the win column has its own unique flavor and I'm having a ton of fun. They are, from my opponents' assessments and feedback, MUCH more competitive than lists I'd been playing before this experiement. Blaize is melee-centric sword-to-mouth excitement, Caine2 has introduced me to my new love - long-ranged assassination vectors - and Haley1 has been a breath of fresh air, supporting the hell out of her army, with answers to a wide variety of problems. The Stormwall has been stellar with Haley1 and Darius, but I just enjoy Haley1 more. My Arcane Tempest Gun Mages are intense! None of my games have been bad, and all are enjoyable 'casters, but there can only be so many 'casters in my go-to stable. For the record, there will be a wild-card slot in these quarter-final rounds - my favorite 'caster from the eliminated ones will join the elimination line-up for determining the semi-final winners.

Winning lists thus far, all at 50pts:

Constance Blaize - Knights of the Prophet, Tier 4

Constance Blaize, Knights of the Prophet (-6pts)
^ Centurion (9pts)
^ Gallant (9pts)
Precursor Knights (Leader and 9 Grunts) (8pts)
^ Precursor Knight Officer & Standard (0pts)
Precursor Knights (Leader and 9 Grunts) (8pts)
^ Precursor Knight Officer & Standard (2pts)
Sword Knights (Leader and 9 Grunts) (6pts)
Sword Knights (Leader and 9 Grunts) (6pts)
Archduke Alain Runewood (3pts)
Harlan Versh (2pts)
Journeyman Warcaster (3pts)

Captain Allister Caine - Non-Tier

Captain Allister Caine (-5pts)
^ Ol' Rowdy (9pts)
^ Squire (2pts)
Arcane Tempest Gun Mages (Leader and 5 Grunts) (6pts)
^ Arcane Tempest Gun Mage Officer (2pts)
Black 13th Gun Mage Strike Team (4pts)
Greygore Boomhowler & Co. (Boomhowler and 9 Grunts) (9pts)
^ Captain Jonas Murdoch (2pts)
Lady Aiyana & Master Holt (4pts)
Rangers (5pts)
Archduke Alain Runewood (3pts)
Eiryss, Angel of Retribution (3pts)
Madelyn Corbeau, Ordic Courtesan (2pts)
Reinholdt, Gobber Speculator (1pts)
Stormsmith Stormcaller (1pts)
Stormsmith Stormcaller (1pts)
Stormsmith Stormcaller (1pts)

Captain Victoria Haley - Non-Tier

Captain Victoria Haley (-5pts)
^ Stormwall (19pts)
^ Squire (2pts)
Arcane Tempest Gun Mages (Leader and 5 Grunts) (6pts)
^ Arcane Tempest Gun Mage Officer (2pts)
Field Mechaniks (Leader and 3 Grunts) (2pts)
Precursor Knights (Leader and 9 Grunts) (8pts)
^ Precursor Knight Officer & Standard (2pts)
Sword Knights (Leader and 9 Grunts) (6pts)
Journeyman Warcaster (3pts)
Rhupert Carvolo, Piper of Ord (2pts)
Stormsmith Stormcaller (1pts)
Stormsmith Stormcaller (1pts)
Stormsmith Stormcaller (1pts)

As you can probably recognize, I've come to identify some most-beloved and go-to units and solos. I had the Storm Strider in that Haley1 list, but forgot it was in the list and left it at home during my recent play-testing. So I swap in some other stuff and really liked the results. All these lists have been beasts for my opponents thus far.

Can't wait for more!