Taskmaster Play test

[charger3604bbl]

I was able to only play two games using the experimental SA Taskmaster.

My first game was with a warband limited to only one model with Taskmaster. My roster was:

Ekyyon Wayfarer: Points: 70 Q 3 C 3 Leader
Savage Ogre: Points: 36 Q 5 C 4 Long Move, Fearless, Big
Raging Tusker Slaver- Points: 38 Q 3 C 3 Taskmaster
Boneclan Hunter(x2)- Points: 30 Q 3 C 3
Bloodthirsty Redcap(x4)- Points: 23 Q 4 C 3 Short Move, Savage

Due to some poor dice rolls I didn't get to do a whole lot this game to test out Taskmaster. I faced a test list with a ton of rats fielded by Brian, who played in our SDG campaign last year.

In my first two turns I activated three units (who would've thought that rolling 2 dice on Q 3 could be so risky?) allowing the rats to quickly close. I attempted to use the Taskmaster to flank his formation with the Ogre, but an untimely gruesome kill caused cascading morale tests that removed every figure from play.

It was hard to tell how useful the Taskmaster was as the game only went a few rounds, though it did allow me to maneuver the Ogre to a point to worry Brian's flank.

Chris

[charger3604bbl]

For the Taskmaster test with no limit on the Taskmaster SA I played against Todd, another veteran of SBH/ SDG at Village Games.

This time my warband was as follows:

Raging Tusker Slaver(x3)- Points: 38 Q 3 C 3 Taskmaster
Savage Ogre: Points: 36 Q 5 C 4 Long Move, Fearless, Big
Boneclan Hunter- Points: 30 Q 3 C 3
Bloodthirsty Redcap(x5)- Points: 23 Q 4 C 3 Short Move, Savage

Todd took a warband with only 5 models, all of good Quality and Combat, especially the Q 3 C 5 Giant!

I used two of the taskmasters to advance the bulk of my army toward the ruins where Todd has set up camp. I used the last to try to flank again with the Ogre, much like I tried against Brian. The dice were much more sane this game, which helped.
The Taskmasters slowly but surely moved the Redcaps up the field, and the Ogre and other Taskmaster bogged down on my right side.

Not contented with waiting any longer, Todd's warband burst forth from the ruins and began the attack. He crashed headlong into my battle line, and melee ensued. The taskmasters really began to shine here as they boosted the Redcaps. I would take two dice activations with them, moving into base contact with enemies if possible, then give a Q bonus to the redcaps to make attacks.

The game ended with a win for me.

[charger3604bbl]

After the two play test games it seems that Taskmaster is more effective when used in numbers versus a single model.

They are very helpful in warbands without leaders, and allow more versatility for warbands. A warband could take other personalities, like wizards, and still have command ability.

The fact that they cannot issue group orders and must use one of their own actions keeps them from becoming a cheap substitute for leaders, but still makes them a useful addition to warbands.

I would suggest that there be no limit to the number of Taskmasters in a warband, but would also suggest that it be written that taskmasters cannot affect other Taskmasters to avoid warbands full of taskmasters that simply boost each other. This would keep them as a "helper" in a warband and not being the central focus of the warband.

Of course two games is not 100% conclusive and it would be nice to have more testing done; especially to see if the ability can be abused and broken.

Chris

[andrea sfiligoi]

I played some games too. I think I am limiting it to one per 300 points. Because in your example warband, it simply makes little sense from a "realism" point of view that a warband as almost as many "leaders" than it has soldiers.
I also stated that they cannot give a bonus to a leader or to another taskmasters, and that the bonus from the two is not cumulative.

[gregx999]

Perhaps make it so a Taskmaster can only affect figures with a worse Q score than itself. So a Q3 Taskmaster can only affect figures with Q4, 5 or 6.

[popedale]

When I was reading about this on the DL list, I envisioned that the Taskmaster attribute was assigned to a particular model or type of models. For exmaple, Taskmaster: or Taskmaster: Rat Ogre. Perhaps a type of model if the type has a lower cost than the taskmaster or a single model if it is of a higher value.

Having more than 1 taskmaster SA would make it a personality (like multiple Lethal SAs).