Thanks for the advice, guys. I like the Waterspout idea a lot, but I don't have Archer's Aim. I'll just put in Guardian's Eye (the only two page spell I own) in instead.

I was thinking, and the only really dangerout illusion that comes to mind is Mechanoid. In most serious Mechanoid builds, the army has as least two Mechanoids in it, so one Disbelieve won't save me. I'd rather just play spells which I know will help me.

If you are worried about illusions, Word of Refusal is a great alternative to Disbelieve. It's especially good carried in ToTW since it'll be only 6 pages. If you can keep your opponent from casting Mechanoid at all, it doesn't matter how many copies they have. Word of Refusal is also the best counterspell available, since it still works while in base contact and if the caster has tokens.

psycic reflection could help or wolf's kin to rerrify c/mc.

Here are a few more armies. Kem has been a little disapointing, so I'll stick with Pike, who I know is good:

Judge Blacklock-80
MSB-10
PoD-6

Nepheara Pike-41
EF Stag-47

**Delphana Master-38
Tome of Brass-33
^Auraheal-12
^Implant Channel-4
^Cobra's Bite-4
^Disbelieve-4

*Golem Familiar-18
*Golem Familiar-18
Marauder Gishki a-8

Now I have two "Bounders", but I don't have something as specialized as Rava (Implant Channel works even in Storm Gale, and the spellcaster can heal as well as fight). Neph can base Rava or a Sky Dragon before they get a shot off. The Familiars are there to harass and Implant Channel, and Gishki is a filler.

I like this one very much.

I think that Neph without a relic is infrior to the tough river charger or the scaleworn honorguard. Something that I really like is to throw a cloak of shadows because the stag has pathfinder and ghostform. This way she is really protected unitl the right time.

The reason I chose Pike over the other two is because she can pick up or start the game with either of the Judge's itmes. I considered dropping Gishki for a CoS, but I needed a harasser I wouldn't mind losing (I can't throw the Golems away; I need them for Implant Channel). Also, her defense is better than the River Charger, who will get ripped apart by any ranged attack, and only has 3 clicks of toughness; not enough to work against a C/MC (Pike has 5ish clicks, so even the 4 from a *Honorguard will leave her with a click to help her against the Dragon's attack) and she is much more resilient than the ***Honorguard, which I find has a horrible glass jaw. If I can work it in, I may try out the River Charger though, because his damage is consistently higher than Pike's.

Overall yur army looks solid Solonovirule, though I do think it prudent to have atleast one figure that can get through stacked invuln, but not requiring a critical hit to do so.

One Blacklock centered Combined Arms army I've been toying with is

Judge Blacklock w/ Venthia's mask - 104
** Rivvenguard Archer - 52
* Tempest Priest w/ Teachings of the True Way - 65
-Auraheal
-Call Familiar
-Waterspout
Khan Podo - 29
2 x * Zombie Centaur - 48
total: 298

The ZC are there for harrasement and secondary threats, though the 50 points they fill (48 then 2 spare) can be adjusted to fit various other harrasement pieces. The main key here is the increased defense on Blacklock by way of the mask, which also increases his attack and speed. The increased mobility works wonders for him and an 11 attack is far better then a 10 since on average the defense value is about 18 on many played figures and the 11 hits it over 50% of the time. The domains though are still under consideration, but Smoke and Fog does come to mind as a good one to use against large bounders such as Rava, Laurell, Alment Lan, and Vith.

- Saber

I really like the *rivvengaurds. They are one of the best pieces from omens. You've got pierce on the rivvengaurd and Blacklock picks up CB later in his dial. Overall it's a nice army. The def will definately help Blacklock more than anything. However, I'd say that the average big threat has a def of 19-20 and not 18. As such I'd suggest dropping 1 of the ZC's for a PoD and find something else to fill the rest of the points; maybe 2 *gremlins? But I am an offensive minded player and I want to hit first and hit hard.

I like the army, saberslash, but like Hero_guy said, I think you need to be able to break some of the nastier defenses out there.

I switched Pike for a ***Honorguard (CB) and Gishki for a *Orc Marauder. It worked really well; I really needed the PoD to crack some defenses w/Horsemanship.

I just aquired a Galeshi Sunsword today. Do you guys think it's worth it, or should I just run Blackock w/out a relic, and just use items?

If you were to give blacklock any relic I'd go with one that gives a general + to attack, so that he can use it at range and in close.

- Saber

you should play the exact same army he fields every time just to mess with his head... then mimick his first couple of moves, bet no one has every dealt with that before...:D

Nasty... ;)

Here's another one:

Judge Blacklock-80
GSS-40

***Honorguard-38
**EF Stag-47

**Tempest Priest-34
TotTW-36
^Dragonflame
^Auraheal
^Disbelieve

*Orc Marauder-12
*Orc Marauder-12

I find that it was really difficult coordinating an Implant Channel with a strike from Blacklock, so I decided to go back to the safer, more supporting Elemental caster. I chose the GSS because it provides my best defense against BoL and Big Bound.

I feel that Blakclock is not well-suited to being a melee threat. His low damage in his early clicks makes him a minor threat. He needs someone else to deal the big damage before he goes in, hence the "additional" melee threat in my armies.

Well, Blacklocks first couple of clicks isn't meant for him to melee. He is designed to soften up targets with range using Bound and then after that he can move in for the kill. If want a straight melee threat, there are many other figures that are more suitable. The thing that makes blacklock so good in a combined arms situation is that he is a melee figure that doubles as a ranged threat. GSS is a good relic, but, a 40pt relic, for me, is way too much to spend in a 300pt game; but I suppose GSS would be the only exception to that. For about the same price, though, you can get Torengrims Helm and PoD. This will add +2 def and give you an one shot +3 attack. The helm also grants the :mi: type so it will protect as well as anything vs BoL. Big bound isn't that much of a problem.

As for the Honorgaurd, I'd switch it out for any of the other two versions. The ***one just doesn't cut it as a melee threat. He is more of a support piece/secondary melee threat. With only 5 figures in your army, you will not need command most of the time and that 1 round out of 10 where it might come in useful really doesn't justify the cost. Add that to the fact that it only does 1 dmg (+2 impale, but all cavalry can use that) and it's probably the last choice. And for support, the marauders are adequate, but if you downgrade the honorgaurd, you can replace one marauder with a raider which, imo, are better.

Point by point:

I agree, Blacklock is designed to soften them up at range first. That's why I think another melee threat is necessary. What would a CA army with Balcklock and say, Rava do against a Varatrix? This is a bit extreme, but my point is armies that rely too much on range are doomed from the start. I find the GSS a better choice than the Helm because I don't have the Helm ;). Also, I'd prefer the permanent +2 of the Galeshi Sunsword, even if it only is in melee. The MI granted by the shield won't save me from Kennaz, the all around best weilder.

I like the ***Honorguard on the Stag because as a cav. unit it's really hard to hit from range. The Stag has GF, and the rider has a 20 against range. Even the mighty Rava will miss over half the time.