Archduke Alain Runewood, Lord of Fharin

Template:Cygbox This model is playable only in an Unlimited format.

Among Cygnar’s greatest living battlefield generals, Archduke Alain Runewood has given up the comfort and safety of his estates in aid of his country and his king. Wherever his command fights, Runewood leads from the heart of battle. His tactical acumen is finely honed, and his inspiring presence pushes his sword knights to fight fearlessly in the face of even the most dangerous foe.

Basic Info

Abilities

• Template:Jack Marshal
• Template:Drive Reposition 5
• Template:Battle Plan
  • Template:March
  • Template:Path to Victory
  • Template:Reveille
• Template:Veteran Leader

Weapons

• Hand Cannon - 12" range, POW 12 gun.
• Vindicator - 1" reach, P+S 12 melee weapon.
  • Template:Weapon Master
  • Template:Magical Damage

Theme Forces

• Cygnar
  • Template:Heavy Metal. He gains Reposition [3] in this theme.

• Other Factions
  • Infernal players can use this unit in the Template:Hearts of Darkness theme, but only if Sloan is leading the army.

Thoughts on Archduke Alain Runewood, Lord of Fharin

Archduke Alain Runewood, Lord of Fharin in a nutshell

Runewood is a support piece for melee-centric Warcasters and units. You primarily want to use him for his Battle Plans, most notably Pathfinder, and the occasional hand cannon shot. He's capable in Melee, but only as a last resort to defend other models behind your front line.

Combos & Synergies

Cygnar has scant few melee units in the Heavy Metal theme, but who is there, they all love Path to Victory to make their charge attacks truly stellar. Beneficiaries include:

• Sword Knights start to go from fairly average to more elite warriors when near Runewood. When combined with Flank: Faction Warjack, their MAT is effectively among the best in the game.
• Precursor Knights also love their charge attack to connect during the minifeat.
• Lord Commander Stryker likes to have his charge attack hit, particularly when using Overload. By using Path to Victory, he doesn't have to rely on Positive Charge to take on high DEF casters. March can also be used to circumvent any difficult terrain between Stryker and his target.
  • If you don't want to choose between March and Path to Victory, bringing along Rhupert or Throne to give you a second source of March.
• If you want to make use of his drive there are a small handful of jacks where being marshaled is actively superior to being run by a warlock/warcaster.
  • The Sentinel is a cheap shield guard with multiple attacks - and with Reposition it can move out, shoot, then move back to a shield guard spot.
  • The Cyclone is never going to have the focus to boost all its shots. But can get a flat to hit or damage bonus on both.
  • The Hammersmith likes the way it can get up the table faster with Reposition - and Strike True gives it a better chance of getting its chain attack to work than focus would.
  • On paper the Stormclad works well if you can use its Accumulator and Captain Arlan Strangewayes' Empower alongside the Crush! order for 4 P+S 21 attacks - but for that you have to bring Maddox, as she's the only Storm Knight model available in this theme, or bring Nemo4 and have him summon a Stormblade Captain.

Drawbacks & Downsides

• His defensive stats are fairly average, he doesn't want to be near the front line.
• While his Drive is useful, he doesn't do anything fantastic for any of the Warjacks he can control. For controlling a Stormclad, the Stormblade Captain can offer the same Drive as well as the source for Accumulator without needing a 3rd model or unit.

Tricks & Tips

• Battle plans aren't an action. This means you can use them before running, after completing a successful charge or in addition to making ranged or melee attacks.
• His Drive with the Hurry command can yield a surprisingly mobility for SPD4 jacks. Trample forward 4+3", then reposition another 5; that's 4" more than you would get with running.

Other

Trivia

• Released in the Warmachine: Wrath expansion (2011)