post stealer! I already did a summary, albeit without the pretty pictures

I think you are being too narrowly focused. Specific equipment can be good against specific strategies. I think its called your "toolbox"(things only in your book to counter popular strategies). Dwarf has almost twice as large of an equipment only toolbox(due to reforging).

examples of other counterplay equipment:
Mage Staff vs incorporeal/fliers
vet belt/armour, war hammer versus swarm
Dodge boots versus few big or attack spells mage
...

My examples may suck, but the idea behind it seems good.

I'd say no teleport cuz i'm never cool enough to bring one. there are only 2 in the core set dont you know . I guess it would be good for retreat or cancelling opponents retreat.

Important spells to add(that people might forget):
Unholy Resurgence(epic heal-all)
2 Reassemble(save mort!)
Idol of Pestilence since your guys are mostly immune
War Sledge
some regens
1 mana flower
a thorg
at least 2 fortified position

I'd only go barracks if you want level 1 Skeletal Minions, cuz you could go with few big

as for soldiers, i'd skip the archers, but im not that good a player
1 mort
2-4 knights
Skeletal Minions

I figure the general strategy is a big mass of guards, with bloodwave warlord keeping them "on guard"

Topic Hijack!
Good research ringkichard. I agree it isn't well defined. I guessed that an attack with the critical damage trait, converted all damage to critical during the "Damage and Effects" step, though I've never had a real rationale as to why. Its like, when you apply the damage in "Damage and Effects", treat it all as critical. The starburst "2" is changed into a regular "2" during the roll dice step for Vet Belt, but that doesnt matter.

I thought about doing a similar druid thing, but i'll try to make a beastmaster version. after trying to throw a book together, I gave up and would rather talk strategy.
you could hang back and make 2-3 spiders, a pit trap, then teleport him in.
using the spider webbing seems like a wasted opportunity at a tainted condition.
battlefury to get more chances at tainted
make you spiders flying if they get hurt
forcewave the guards away, then put up a wall between them. the mage will stay still due to unmoveable. too bad spiders dont climb.
force crush sounds better than force hold since its 2 damage at 1 more mana every turn
maybe mongoose agility to get around guards that you cant restrain or push out.

looks like i am 100% of the votes so far. I picked a mage that has some troubles so that you will have to be creative.

edit: I want to see a Johtari BM which makes good use of bows, fast, and can handle nonliving if needed.

I wonder:
If you rune up boots, then cast new boots so the old ones go into your spellbook, do you reacquire the rune to cast on something later? prolly dont reacquire it

Rune of Power: does "Spell action" include changing the spell on a mage wand? what other relevent spell actions are there now other than on wands, mohtari ring, and war helmet?

Rune of Precision: piercing +1 applies to all attacks or the first attack on an action? prolly each attack

I'm guessing if you nullify a dissolve, they dont have to pay that extra 2 mana from a rune being present.  combining runes with armor ward sounds like some fun.


I hope there will be a new way to add tough, so that he can get to -6 tough.