Part 3
Introduction
So far, I’ve covered Impalers, Gunnbjorn 2 in both week 1 and week 3, and some of the problems I have with the Barrage Team nerfs. I’m going to look at Calandra in the Week 2 CID in Storm of the North. I love playing Calandra. She is very versatile in the sense that she supports most type of list builds. I tend to want to play into Star-Crossed, selecting high DEF models, and using her feat and Fate-Blessed to pull off a strong offensive turn. I know in Mk2, there was an elemental angle, but I didn’t own her back then, and so never experienced it.
Two Lists (Pre-CID and Post-CID)
| Pre CID Calandra in SOTN | Post CID Calandra in SOTN |
| Calandra 1 +27 Trollkin Runebearer (5 – free) -Winter Troll (8) -Troll Basher (7) -Earthborn Dire Troll (14) Valka Curseborn (6 – free) Trollkin Champion Hero (5) Krielstone Bearer & Stone Scribes (9) -Northkin Elder (3) Trollkin Champions (16) Trollkin Champions (16) -Skaldi Bonehammer (5 – Free) Northkin Fire Eaters (7) Northkin Fire Eaters (7) Northkin Bear Handler & Battle Bears (10) | Calandra 1 +27 Trollkin Runebearer (5 – free) -Winter Troll (8) -Troll Basher (7) -Earthborn Dire Troll (14) Valka Curseborn (6 – free) Trollkin Champion Hero (5) Bumbles (6) Boomhowler 3 (8) Krielstone Bearer & Stone Scribes (7) -Northkin Elder (3) Trollkin Champions (16) Trollkin Champions (16) -Skaldi Bonehammer (5 – Free) Northkin Bear Handler & Battle Bears (10) Whelp x2 (2) |
Both Storm of the North lists focus on melee. The far-reaching Star-Crossed keep high defense items alive. Fire eaters start at DEF 13, and an Earthborn with Bullet Dodger (DEF 14 now) menaces the center of the board. Champions rock a DEF 14 in melee as well. The struggle here is to decide where to squeeze in the new models.
No changes to Battlegroup
The adjustments from the CID free up 2 points. That isn’t a whole lot. I could add 2 whelps, which might help the Earthborn Dire Troll last a little longer. I could change the Earthborn out for a Dire Troll Brawler, but if terrain permits, the Earthborn lasts longer, which is the point of the model. Earthborn stays in.
Should I add a Pyre Troll? It would make Fire Eaters a little more efficient, but I like the Winter’s Spray, and feel like I don’t need a damage buff with this list due to the weapon master double champions.
Bumbles
Adding Bumbles gives me a second model with Countercharge. I don’t often get to live the dream of Befuddling something into a Countercharge, but it pops up now and then. More often than not, the lure of Befuddling something into a Countercharge is a trap, luring out my solo, Calandra, or the Runebearer. Still, it would be neat. So a unit of Fire Eaters comes out, and Bumbles goes in, leaving 1 point. He doesn’t quite replace the Fire Eaters, since I lose 3 sprays, but the possibility of throwing a model makes for an interesting game, so I consider this a net win.
Boomhowler 2 or 3?
I’m apt to play Boomhowler 2, because of reposition. The Runeshaper or Calandra would like to bounce back a few inches after throwing out a spell. My problem is that I really like the idea of countercharging in a list outside of Borka 2. I’m not just falling into the Countercharge Trap, I’m jumping in with both feet. Because of Thresher and Thrasher, giving up the second Fire Eater unit to squeeze in the new Boomhowler.
Conclusion
My Calandra SotN list doesn’t change much with the new models. Fire eaters leave, Bumbles and Boomhowler 3 enter. The addition of two whelps after the Krielstone point dropped allows some wiggle room. If I desire a more hard-hitting Dire Troll, the Brawler could swap out with the Earthborn, or the Basher or Winter troll could be swapped out.
Calandra plays an excellent offensive and defensive game, opening unexpected and surprising attack vectors, and offering a player multiple win scenarios. She remains one of my favorite warlocks, and plays well in all the Trollblood themes. Next week, I’ll look at Calandra in Power of Dhunia pre and post CID.
