If you are like me then you bought two core sets. They next logical step was to get the infantry command and the Hawthorne hero exp. This list uses all of those components to hopefully the best of their ability. It is designed with taking on the Waiqar in mind but could do well against Latari. However, the latari have great ways to kill figure upgrades which would hurt this list.
List
Spearmen x9 [59]
--Champion: Kari Wraithstalker [18]
--Equipment: Shield Wall [5]
--Heavy: Front Line Rune Golem [7]
--Heraldry: Eagle-Banner Bearer [4]
--Music: Rallying Cornicen [4]
----------Total Unit Cost: 97
Lord Hawthorne x1 [34]
--Artifact: Fortunas Dice [6]
--Unique: Might of Daqan [4]
----------Total Unit Cost: 44
Oathsworn Cavalry x4 [34]
--Equipment: Tempered Steel [3]
--Training: Rank Discipline [4]
----------Total Unit Cost: 41
Rune Golems x1 [17]
----------Total Unit Cost: 17
This list is pretty cool as it focuses around inspiration tokens. As you know inspiration tokens can be used to clear banes or refresh upgrade cards.
Spearmen : (These guys can get an inspiration token if they roll 2 surges)
- Embedded Kari adds a blue dice and the surge ability to use surges to shoot other enemies at range 1-5 (good for killing those blasted archers that keep blighting!). With 1 red and 2 blue dice the spearmen should have a decent few surges to spend.
- Shield Wall should be used every round when taking damage to prolong your spearmen units life.
- Front line Rune golem is a must have for that extra threat
- Eagle-banner bearer can be subbed for another upgrade. However, as I think you will start the battle with several inspiration tokens having the ability to cash them in to instantly kill a figure (like a hero) may come in handy.
- Rallying cornicen is nice because if your spearmen are attacking at initiative 3 with their yellow attack, they don't have anything to pair it with. Having a skill means you can attack and give your other troops inspiration tokens or refresh their upgrades, of which your units have one each.
Lord Hawthorne :
- I think the battle should start with hawthorn being deployed as far up as possible and using his skill once or twice to give all his troops 1-2 inspiration tokens.
- Hawthrone has great movement so he can catch up, also you don't want him to be first in.
- Hawthrone has fortunas dice so he can benefit from the spearman's Cornicens ability to refresh upgrade cards
- Might of Daqan is cool for an extra armour. If he shields with his dial he will have 5 armour!
Oathsworn
- These boys will be 4 wide.
- They have tempered steel which they can exhaust and therefore benefit from the cornicens ability
- Rank discipline allows for a re-roll of dice to prevent any all blank rolls.
Rune Golem
- Just because you can haha
- He can go out front and soak up some damage or screen any flanks.
If on turn one you rally with spearmen, Skill and rally with Hawthorne, Rally with oathsworn you will receive 2 inspiration tokens on your whole army! While your spearmen advance you can just skill with hawthorne to continue to give them tokens.
Of particular note is how to use the Rallying Cornicen. If you can (easier said than done) you want to use hawthorne's and the oathsworn's upgrade cards before you act and skill with your spearmen. If not you just loose a turn of using the abilities.