AnvilForge Toolbox

[Zaunpfahl]

My first play of Mage Wars was last week.  I know what I'll be doing over the winter break!

[spellbook]
[spellbookheader]
[spellbookname]AnvilForge Toolbox[/spellbookname]
[mage]Anvil Throne Warlord[/mage]
[/spellbookheader]
[spells]
[spellclass]Attack[/spellclass]
[mwcard=DNA01]3 x  Acid Ball[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWA04]2 x  Hurl Boulder[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Conjuration[/spellclass]
[mwcard=FWJ07]2 x  Quicksand[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFJ01]1 x  Harshforge Monolith[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j08]1 x  Hand of Bim-Shalla[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j04]1 x  Battle Forge[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Creature[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKC01]2 x  Bridge Troll[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNC07]1 x  Mort[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFC07]1 x  Gurmash, Orc Seargeant[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Enchantment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKE01]1 x  Armor Ward[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE04]3 x  Brace Yourself[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWE09]1 x  Standard Bearer[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Equipment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKQ06]1 x  Eagleclaw Boots[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q08]2 x  Elemental Wand[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q11]1 x  Gauntlets of Strength[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFQ05]2 x  Harshforge Plate[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWQ05]1 x  Helm of Command[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q16]1 x  Leather Gloves[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNQ07]1 x  Veteran's Belt[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFQ03]1 x  Eisenach's Forge Hammer[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNQ10]1 x  Meditation Amulet[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWQ08]1 x  Ring of Command[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q15]1 x  Leather Boots[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q18]1 x  Mage Staff[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWQ01]2 x  Dancing Scimitar[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q23]1 x  Regrowth Belt[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNQ09]1 x  Wand of Healing[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Incantation[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1i23]2 x  Rouse the Beast[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i19]2 x  Piercing Strike[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKI02]1 x  Akiro's Battle Cry[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i04]1 x  Charge[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i28]1 x  Teleport[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i06]1 x  Dispel[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i07]1 x  Dissolve[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFI03]1 x  Disarm[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i12]1 x  Force Push[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWI10]1 x  Whirling Strike[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFI06]1 x  Defend[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i10]2 x  Evade[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i18]2 x  Perfect Strike[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i02]2 x  Battle Fury[/mwcard]
[/spells]
[cost]Total cost: 120 pts[/cost]
[/spellbook]

Strategy:
Battleforge allows you to equip yourself while applying pressure to the other mage in the form of Bridge Troll or Mort. As the opponent tries to deal with your Big Men, you can react with appropriate equipment, or play an economic game with Meditation Amulet.

Turn 1 (19): Double Move to the Near Center.  Quick Cast Battle Forge. (11).
Turn 2 (20 + 1): Deploy Eisenach's Forge Hammer (13). Cast Bridge Troll (0).
Turn 3 (9 + 1): Deploy Meditation Amulet (.  Meditate (11). Quick Cast Battle Order: Fast. (10).  Troll advances to lay beatings.
Turn 4 (19 + 1): Cast Troll (6 + 1).  Rouse the Beast.  Send Troll # 2 in.

or
Turn 1 (19): Double Move to the Near Center.  Quick Cast Battle Forge. (11).
Turn 2 (20 + 1): Deploy Eisenach's Forge Hammer (13). Cast Gurmash, Orc Seargeant (2).
Turn 3 (11 +1 + 1): Deploy Meditation Amulet (9 + 1). Meditate (12 + 1).
Turn 4 (21 + 1 + 2):  Cast Bridge Troll (8 + 1 + 2).  Quick Cast Rouse the Beast on Bridge Troll (5 + 1 + 2). Gourmash casts Battle Orders: Fast. (5 + 1 + 2).

[Knabbmaster]

Your build seem too be weak against high economy, creature heavy builds with either wizard, necromancer or priestess since you don't really have any good way too exploit their big investments. And if you can't do that you will be in trouble. Include some more powerful attack spells or a better spawn point is my recommendation.

Edit: more, powerful not "more powerful"

[sdougla2]

Don't use Meditation Amulet if you're going to rush forward, especially without a creature spawnpoint.

Don't play Forge Hammer and then start using Meditation Amulet.

You have too much equipment, and you don't really cover all of your bases with your current selection. You don't have a defense, so you can't use all of your runes.

Mort seems like an odd choice, as his ability works better the more skeletons you have. I would use Skeletal Knight instead.

Your command incantation options are questionable. Akiro's Battle Cry is the worst, as it's overpriced and you don't run nearly enough creatures to even think about justifying it. I'm not a big fan of many of the other command incantations due to the low efficiency and high action cost, but at least you're trying to punish over reliance on enchantments with Harshforge Monolith.

Gurmash works better with Defend, Brace Yourself, and Fortified Position than with the incantation commands that give a creature a temporary bonus. Overall I'm not sure how well he'll work in this build.

Hurl Rock is an option you should keep in mind.

[Zaunpfahl]

Thank you, both, for the advice!

Some forum browsing, and some thought later...

I like Bridge Trolls and Gurmash.  Very cool interactions.

Basic Opening Considerations:
Turn 1: Gurmash.
Turn 2: Bridge Troll.
Turn 3: Bridge Troll.

Going into turn 4, we can Fast move our Squad into position. With Force Wave, it's possible to move 3. If the enemy is within 2 moves, we can Fast Move Battle Orders, Battle Fury, and cast Standard Bearer.

Against Fliers, we can substitute in Tarok for a Troll, or use Eagle Wings.
Against Fire, we substitute in Skeleton Knights.
 

[spellbook]
[spellbookheader]
[spellbookname]Anvilforge Tools[/spellbookname]
[mage]Anvil Throne Warlord[/mage]
[/spellbookheader]
[spells]
[spellclass]Attack[/spellclass]
[mwcard=DNA01]3 x  Acid Ball[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWA04]2 x  Hurl Boulder[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Conjuration[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1w04]1 x  Wall of Thorns[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFW01]2 x  Wall of Earth[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFJ04]1 x  Armory[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFJ01]1 x  Harshforge Monolith[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j08]1 x  Hand of Bim-Shalla[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Creature[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFC07]1 x  Gurmash, Orc Seargeant[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFC06]2 x  Goblin Alchemist[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNC14]2 x  Skeletal Knight[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1c36]1 x  Tarok, the Skyhunter[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKC01]2 x  Bridge Troll[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Enchantment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1e33]2 x  Retaliate[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e31]1 x  Poisoned Blood[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWE06]1 x  Fortified Position[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e12]1 x  Divine Protection[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWE09]1 x  Standard Bearer[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE02]2 x  Akiro's Favor[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE04]2 x  Brace Yourself[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e13]1 x  Eagle Wings[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Equipment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFQ05]2 x  Harshforge Plate[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFQ06]1 x  Morning Star[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKQ04]1 x  Reflex Boots[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q23]1 x  Regrowth Belt[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q11]1 x  Gauntlets of Strength[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNQ09]1 x  Wand of Healing[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWQ01]1 x  Dancing Scimitar[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Incantation[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1i12]1 x  Force Push[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i07]1 x  Dissolve[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFI03]3 x  Disarm[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFI06]2 x  Defend[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFI02]1 x  Conquer[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i23]2 x  Rouse the Beast[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWI04]1 x  Force Wave[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i06]2 x  Dispel[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i02]3 x  Battle Fury[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWI10]1 x  Whirling Strike[/mwcard]
[/spells]
[cost]Total cost: 120 pts[/cost]
[/spellbook]

I'll look into some more ideas.  Losing Battle Forge makes me sad.