Chainmail - Model Tactics - Chainmail Set 3: Human Shadow Priest

Model Tactics
Chainmail Set 3: Human Shadow Priest
By Bruce R. Cordell and Rob Heinsoo

Why It Rocks: The Human Shadow Priest is a cleric of Nerull, the Reaper of Flesh. The Human Shadow Priest can turn troops invisible, cause fear, or blast the brains of his enemies with dreadful noise. Moreover, he is a supreme commander with more points of command than anyone but the Paladin of Stratis. Finally, he can stand toe to toe with many other tough models in combat. When it’s time to "kill the leader", the Human Shadow Priest merely smiles, showing his needle-filed teeth.

Tricks and Tactics: Along with your Human Shadow Priest, bring to the table a Battered Skeletal Troll or a Slaughterpit Zombie Gnoll. Don’t forget your Halfling Sneak. When combat begins (or if you win scouting), start "buffing" your troops with spells. Give your front rank melee troop of choice a magic weapon spell and a shield of faith spell. If you have the time, you absolutely must do this. If you don’t have the time, move your to-be-buffed troop forward first, then move your Human Shadow Priest up to cast its buffing spell.

Now, depending on the situation, you must decide who gets your Human Shadow Priest’s invisibility spell. The Halfling Sneak is a good general choice -- on his first attack from invisibility, he will get his sneak attack in. However, in the Kill The Leader scenario, you may be better served by making one of your potent, buffed models invisible. You’ve got command points to burn -- send your invisible "assassin" past the enemy models (they can’t get attacks of opportunity on it) and directly engage the enemy commander when least expected. If you pull it off (and it’s not too hard to do), you’ve just won the scenario.

Enemies Who Hate to See It: The Human Shadow Priest can cast cause fear. Enemies with strong models of 5th level or less prove especially vulnerable to this spell, since it can render their strength meaningless, should they roll a poor score on a saving throw to resist.