It's been so long since I even looked at my Warmachine stuff, but my local group is finally recovering from it's Christmas hiatus and we are playing this Wednesday and Sunday (I finally get to try out Scaverous). I also picked up some purple wash, which prompted me to attempt to paint some decaying flesh. Apart from resembling me after a heavy night of drinking, I think this Brute Thrall is the best figure I've painted so far:
I'm DEAD sexy...
I originally wanted to write about the Mechanithralls first but seeing as I'm on the topic of their big brothers let's talk about these one-point wonders.
If the muscular frame and massive steam-fists didn't give it away - these brutes pack one helluva' punch (or two decent punches if you don't want to combo). The look on my mate's face was priceless when I told him that one point of Brute Thrall could hit harder than even his 9 point Carnivean's bite - And that's exactly where these monstrosities belong: getting down and dirty in the thick of things giving anyone they can the old stink steamfist.
As well as sharing the rugged good looks of their smaller brethren, the Brutes also share two of their biggest weaknesses. Surviving into melee and actually hitting once they get there. They are on a medium base and will find no cover hiding in the middle of the Mechanithrall swarm they are attached to (however this means that they can block tramples from mowing through your whole unit). Their defence is the same and their armor is only marginally better than the little guys and they will often get shot up before they can close despite having 8 hit-points.
Although a point higher than a Mechthrall, their MAT still leaves a lot to be desired and they won't be having their way with any high DEF casters any-time soon. Unless they are debuffed, and what would you know - Cryx has access to most of the best debuffs in the game.
Mr Brute shows off his best ass-ets (I know - I'm terrible)
Their weaknesses and strengths lead me to believe that the Brutes fill two roles - bullet sponge and armor buster. Any decent player who knows what these guys are capable of will target them when they can. This takes focus of your other important pieces (Jacks, solos) allowing them to do their job in peace or get into an assassination position. This effect works best if you run them in pairs. If the brute survives it can hand out free prostate checks to those pesky high armor tanks. A P+S 19 combo-strike on the charge will hurt even Khador level armor.
At only a point each (and up to three attachable per Mechanithrall unit) it's very easy to fit these guys into an army. There may be contention for those spare points with Machine Wraiths but if you need some extra hitting power the Brutes are a great addition to any army.
