Winning With Class: Rogues

Rogues are the one flavour of warlord that don't go in for the 'support role'. Whether from the front rank or hiding behind peons, they prefer to deal the killing blow themselves. They win through one elegant strike or shot putting paid to the enemy warlord as delicately as possible.

The sniper warlords that shoot the enemy are epitomised by Cathel Rowan, Laird Jon Hawthorne, De'zicrah and any Scout you could care to name. Hiding behind a wall of meat - much of it able to shoot itself - they rack up bows and enhancements for their bows (specialist arrows, Farglasses and so on) and then pray for their opponent to spend (or get spent forward by the actions of their army) and open themselves up to a Sniper Shot. Of course, with this most deadly of ranged attack cards going away come Epic, the wannabe-Oswald is going to have to compromise on effectiveness, but with Collapsing Bow, Farglass and Roc Fletching in the format there are still plenty of tools to play around with. And with Tracking returning to the scene, all those Scout warlords are going to find it even easier to ensure that they are in range of their target when the time comes.

The frontline stabby rogue used to be Rathe, but now he's outshone by newer contenders like Cairbre Netheryn and Trevaine Cartwright. Like their sniper brethren, they aim to have one clean stab to kill their opposite number, but they have to risk it on the front line to do so. Rather than bows, they tend to pack protection for themseles, ensuring that they live long enough to do the deed. Martyr's Hide, Too Fast To See, Armor of Blending, Gloves of Mischief, they all have their place. They're all vamoosing with Epic though, so the frontline rogue has a lot more changes to make to assure victory than the second rank shooter. But while there are replacements for the protective gear, that most fabled of weapons - the Black Steel Dagger - is gone, meaning that for a short while rogues will have to rely upon Backstab to deal big death until a more favourable weapon shows itself. Well, that or Misear Diplomacy the enemy to death. Oh, and always remember to pack the Cunning Shot for those warlords who are rude enough to not run to the front to be killed.

Epic will throw into the limelight another, long-neglected style of rogue combat. With the stealth rules getting an upgrade, sneaking into opposing ranks to off the warlord from up close is something that is sure to be attempted a lot with Trespass, although the Sewer Worm allows any rogue that feels up to it to try the same. Whether it will prove an effectie tactic remains to be seen...