Explosive autoscrews, Yodh~Mez

Explosive Autoscrews

The explosive autoscrews are the second ones to be released after the combat autoscrews unlocked during the 2015/2016 Kickstarter campaign. The autoscrews are very specialized. They only have one use and are extremely limited in their actions. Where the Aam-Mez autoscrews could only fight, with no possibility of accomplishing scenario objectives, Yodh-Mez explosive autoscrews can only… explode.

The Yodh-Mez follows the usual rules for autoscrews: they can not accomplish objectives, they do not count as part of the warband and they collect their AP from Naashtis with the "Autoscrew controller" ability. Concerning its actions, since it has no MIN or COM value, it can neither engage, nor fight, nor be the target of alchemical formulas. They can only move or disengage but also bury themselves. That is the whole point of this profile. For 1AP, it buries and immune itself against any game effect (nevertheless the miniature is left on the table). From there, the autoscrew can explode at any time, at the choice of the controlling player. The blasting is automatic, and affects either enemy fighters in a radius of 2 inches. The number of damages is determined by a roll on the DOM table of the autoscrews (3 or 4 damages) and then the autoscrew is removed from the game.

Explosive autoscrews can do a lot of damage if you’re not careful, as the explosion can occur at any time. The ideal is to wait for at least two opponent miniatures at range (and especially none of yours) to maximize the effects. Strategically, the choice of the target doesn’t matter: injuring miniatures or losing their last HP, this will be allways useful, especially since the blasting does not take into account the DEF of the targets, or the Tough skill.

The real tactical choice with explosive autoscrews comes from their placement. It’s possible to align three of them on the same card, meaning that they will all activate at the same time. They are perfect for locking a path to protect a weaker miniature or a fixed objective. Imagine three autoscrews buried around a Jin Post or a Chest, no one will be able to approach the objective without being removed from the table. If you place them badly, the opponent can avoid them or limit their effects, or even turn them against you, so be vigilant on placement (because it’s not possible to unearth an explosive autoscrew). Otherwise you’ll have lost between 8 and 24 points for nothing.
With 6 HP and a DEF of 9, you can nevertheless be sure that the opponent will do everything to destroy them before they bury, so you have to move them astutely, exploiting the scenery to hide them from shots .

List 1: Autoscrews fair.
_ Ssa~Kar's, bodybuilder companion
_ 2 Sentinels of Mem-Eth
_ 3 explosive autoscrews Yodh-Mez
_ 4 fighting autoscrews Aam-Mez
_ 1 Naa trooper of Al~Eph
_ 1 Swordman-Naa of Zay~Hin

This list is more a fun list than a very competitive list. It can nevertheless be a surprise. Its main weakness comes from its slowness: 1 miniature only with 3 AP and other miniatures with 2 AP and the fragility of the controllers that you will need to hide and to play carefully since only them can complete the scenario requirements. Nevertheless, if you survive, you can literally drown under the number the opponent’s miniatures. The list actually contains 12 miniaturess including 7 autoscrews. These will have to occupy the opposing miniatures to let the others accomplish the scenario.

List 2:
_ Suul-Koorz
_ 2 Sentinels of Mem-Eth
_ 3 explosive autoscrews Yodh-Mez
_ 1 Naa trooper of Al~Eph
_ 1 Swordman-Naa of Zay~Hin
_ 1 Waw-Ouros

Although slow (no 3 AP miniatures), this list plays on the combination of the autoscrews with the shooter, each able to finish the wounded miniatures. The two sentinels offer a very appreciable stock of AP and can be used for scenario or combat as soon as the autoscrews are buried. The other miniatures will have to protect them until it’s done and then will be able to take care of the scenario quietly.