Affiliation is an amazing game mechanic in ASOIAF. It encourages a certain list building where specific units get to shine rather than sitting on the side lines. However, recently it feels like this mechanic has almost vanished, even though there are still new Commanders being released with the Affiliation trait. This is the Fifth in a series of articles where I want to focus on some of the Affiliation armies and bring them into the spotlight. In this one we talk about the Night’s Watch and their order of the builders and the rangers.
Builders
The order of builders is one of the three orders that comprise the Night’s Watch, alongside the rangers and the stewards. The builders’ main duty is to tend to and maintain the Wall and the castles of the Night’s Watch. A senior member, known as the First Builder, leads the order. During the span of the ASOIAF books, Othell Yarwyck was the First Builder.
Builders have not taken much of a forefront in the books and show however they are incredibly important. Maintenance of the wall is essential for the Sworn Brothers to defend it. Othell plays the role of an experienced member and long-time face of the Night’s Watch, which gave him courage to put his name forth to become the next Lord Commander. He is crucial to Stannis Baratheon as he is repairing the Nightfort for him as his seat in the North. He refuses help from the Free Folk when it could be extremely useful, this indicates he has more pride than sense.
The builders are portrayed in the game as the more defensive side of the Night’s Watch, using siege weapons atop the wall and wielding crossbows most used in the books for defending Castle Black. Let’s take a look at a builder themed list.
List
Expand for Army List
Faction: Nights Watch
Commander: Othell Yarwyck – First Builder
Points: 40 / 40
Activations: 7
Combat Units
• Conscripts ( 5 )
Othell Yarwyck – First Builder ( 0 )
• Builder Scorpion Crew ( 5 )
Scorpion Modifications – Builder ( 1 )
• Builder Crossbowmen ( 7 )
Senior Builder ( 1 )
• Builder Stone Thrower (8)
• Coldhands – Mysterious Ally ( 4 )
Non Combat Units
• Aemon ( 4 )
• Samwell Tarley ( 5 )
• Gilly ( 0 )
Othell used to rule the roost for a while with a flurry of Crossbowmen. With his rework he does not dominate as much as he used to, however he should not be disregarded completely as the builders are still a strong force for the crows. Builders have quite a good amount of representation for the faction, Scorpion Crews, Stone Throwers, Crossbowmen, Senior Builders, and Othell Yarwyck.
Othell only has two cards that gain additional bonuses if they are played on a builder unit. Honed Enhancement gives a unit +1 to hit for an Attack, builders gain an additional Attack Die for this Attack. Serrated Enhancement gives a unit Vicious for its Attack, builders gain an additional effect which causes the enemy unit they are Attacking to become Weakened if they fail the Panic Test from the Attack. Othell also makes the unit he is in a builder unit; he also brings Hardened and Spotter which allows War Machines to re-roll their Attack Dice when attacking an enemy within Long Range of Othell Yarwyck.
This list works to improve the ranged capabilities of the War Machines. Honed Enhancement for either War Machine depending on the situation but more for the Scorpion crew. With the Scorpion already having Vicious, Serrated Enhancement would be used on the Stone Thrower or the Crossbowmen. Rapid Construction and Stake Building will be used to defend against charges, Samwell will help draw these cards. Aemon and Supply Aid from the Conscripts will be used to keep the units alive, with the Conscripts themselves being very survivable with Hardened, however Coldhands is on hand to help any unit with his Raven Flock order.
The aim is to unleash hell with ranged attacks, shoot what you can kill, and roadblock with the infantry and Coldhands.
Rangers
The order of rangers is one of the three orders that comprise the Night’s Watch. Their main duty is to defend and protect the Wall and the castles of the Night’s Watch. Theirs can be considered the more dangerous tasks compared to those of the builders or stewards, as rangers are more likely to encounter wildlings and other threats north of the Wall. A senior officer, known as the First Ranger, leads the order. During the span of the ASOIAF books there were a few First Rangers. Benjen Stark held the title at the beginning of the series; however Jaremy Rykker then commanded the rangers in his absence. Thoren Smallwood declared himself as the First Ranger for a short while before being shot down by Jeor Mormont, however he would command them but without the title. When Thoren was slain Ronnel Harclay took the mantle, and then in the most recent book Black Jack Bulwer serves as First Ranger until he is killed by the Weeper.
As it goes, it is a bad omen to be named First Ranger due to how quickly they have come and gone in the books. Nevertheless, we only have one Commander for the Rangers in the game, and no doubt some of the others will be joining him in the future, especially Thoren Smallwood. Rangers are generally lightly armoured and extremely manoeuvrable, using every method they can to take down the opposition. Let us have a look at a Ranger themed list.
List
Expand for Army List
Faction: Nights Watch
Commander: Benjen Stark – First Ranger
Points: 40 / 40
Activations: 7
Combat Units
• Builder Crossbowmen ( 7 )
Benjen Stark – First Ranger ( 0 )
• Ranger Trackers ( 6 )
• Ranger Hunters ( 7 )
• Ranger Hunters ( 7 )
Hardened Ranger ( 1 )
• Watch Marshal ( 4 )
Non Combat Units
• Aemon ( 4 )
• Bowen Marsh ( 4 )
Rangers are currently at the top of their game but only thanks to the Ranger Hunters without needing Benjen or the two Cavalry units to help. Like the builders, the rangers are supported very well. Ranger Hunters, Ranger Trackers, Ranger Vanguard, Hardened Ranger, and Benjen Stark Commander.
Just like Othell, Benjen brings cards that assist Ranger units. Hit and Run allows a unit to perform a Retreat Action after a friendly unit has completed a Melee Attack, if the unit is a ranger unit any enemies it disengages from becomes Weakened. Lying in Wait allows an unactivated ranger unit within Long Range and line of sight to perform a Ranged Attack on the enemy unit when it activates. Hunter’s Insight gives a ranger unit one of three effects when it is within Long Range of an enemy unit at the start of a friendly turn, these are a 3” shift, re-roll Charge Dice and Attack Dice, or prevent that enemy from using Orders or being the target of Tactics cards for the turn. Benjen also gives the unit he is attached to the ranger Affiliation.
I felt it was obvious to give Benjen the Crossbowmen as free ranged attacks when in long range may not be activated as much when the two units that can utilise the effect that are rangers are short range. Between the two cavalry the cards seem to not favour the Vanguard and thus I grabbed the Trackers not just for their ranged attack but for the ability to throw out a Vulnerable token to help with some of these attacks. Ranger Hunters would be a staple here and with a point left over it was ideal for a Hardened Ranger to fit in handing out some tokens. Aemon to keep units alive, Bowen to get Benjens cards, and a Watch Marshal to give the 3” shifts to position my ranged units better.
The aim of the army is to set a trap and then pounce on the enemy, fleeing afterwards to attempt to avoid harm. With multiple ways to position the army or force the opponent into moving to you with the ranged attacks, you are baiting the trap for the rest of the army to pounce.
The builders and rangers bring a unique playstyle to the Night’s Watch when paired with their respective Commander. Whether it is defending the wall with siege weapons or ranging North of the Wall to lay a trap for the Free Folk, these two armies nail the theme. I would like to see whether they could make the stewards into an army, likely with a Bowen Commander, however I am unsure how that would be pulled off.
The Night’s Watch is not done for Affiliation. Whilst not explicitly listed as having the Affiliation ability, I do want to discuss my views on Denys Mallister and his Shadow Tower forces, Cotter Pyke and the forces from Eastwatch, Benjen Stark mounted with the cavalry focused force. This will be in a future article coming soon.
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