The House Shyeel Magister, Retribution Battle Mage solo.

This guy, took a page right out of the book.

Magister

From Latin magister (“a master, chief, head, superior, director, teacher, etc.”), from magis (“more uor great”)

Welsh, maestr.

Master; sir: -- a title of the Middle Ages, given to a person in authority, or to one having a license from a university to teach philosophy and the liberal arts.


The possessor of a master's degree.

Magisters in the Retribution of Scyrah are:

1. Possessors of Masters Degrees in arcane law
2. Act as if their training in the liberal arts and philosophy make them better than everyone else. 
3. Deeply envy and answer directly to Artificers.

Masters of arcane law and philosophy

In order to become a Magister for house shyeel prospective trainees must acquire a master's degree in arcane law, which is the study of law in regards to transporting medieval live stock and Philosophy. 

Because of the amount of time this takes Magisters can never become Artificers and are consequently horrible dicks to everyone else who doesn't know as much as they do.

Because of this educational training coupled wih mastery of arcane forces and a suit of bad ass shyeel arco fist armor, Magisters act like and generally are a Boss.

Magister in the pose required for receiving his armor.

The delusion of being the boss has its benefits. It let's them do things like:

• Beat back.

Whenever a new up and comer or hard worker thinks they have done something to merit reward or recognition the Magister uses beat back to push him back in line.

• Whip snap.

Cracking the whip is an ancient way of making your slaves work harder, just because it's the modern era doesn't mean we need to dispense of this effective motivational tool. A well placed whip snap can send your hard workers to positions where they can fully apply their potential.

• Force bolt.

By glance the Magister can direct the force of his learned pontifications to ensnare and draw in would be by standers or push them away shunning them.

• Combo smite.

The Magister has perfected the art of back handing his intellectual lessers.  To such effect that it can slam them with great force and deadly effect. Don't always look for the linear application of this ability.

• Force Barrier

Don't shoot the messenger is taken very literally with this guy. 

The delusion of the Magisters self importance is deep set. The following dialog is taken from a Magister Symbyrg who was reprimanded for Whip Snapping a friendly into the path of an oncoming warjack.

Mr. Symbyrg, thanks for coming to your performance review.

No problem.

So you're in charge around here, is that fair to say?

Absolutely, I'm the boss.

Well, so take us through a day in the life of, "The Boss".

Well the first thing I do is--


Talk to Scyrah (like a boss) 

• Magisters derive their power through our goddess Scyrah.

Approve memos (like a boss)

• Magisters are entrusted with maintaining the flow of information.

Lead a workshop (like a boss)

• Magisters are also entrusted with motivating their colleagues.

Remember birthdays (like a boss)

• Magisters are the keepers of Retribution personnel files.

Direct work-flow (like a boss)

• Magisters will Force bolt, Beat back, whips snap and combo smite until fiscal goals are achieved.

My own bathroom (like a boss)

• The armor of magisters contain built in sanitry functions.

Micro-manage (like a boss)

• Using his skills and special attention to put one enemy in one place or one friendly in another to make the most out them is what he does.

Promote synergy (like a boss)

• The very presence of the Magister allows greater threat ranges, and his ability to back hand things to the ground has a myriad of uses for the rest of your army.

Your Magister and you.

Much like a boss a Magister usually has no idea what's going on.
I find the Magister will usually stand around and look important. This is not a bad thing, because they stand around and look important they may cop a lot of flack, and it's flack that the more important harder working members are not getting.

The Magister I believe can be used in 2 ways effectively.

1. If by closing 3" of distance between one thing and another wins you the game or gives you a serious advantage, do it. This could be Garyth getting close enough to kill, or parking your Phoenix in the zone cause you forgot to do it during its activation.
2. As a late game enabler.

I think the Magister shines mid to late game.
Ok he already brings survivability a magical attack and 2 magical fists to the party but the ability he has to move other models around becomes more and more influential when the lines have closed and there are fewer models on the table.
They could be hiding at just the right angle until a whipsnap gives you the slither of vision you need. Maybe they parked an un touched heavy jack right on the corner of the zone and you can't possibly kill it, just push it out.
Maybe there is something large or un kill able in melee, but knocking it to the ground will let you get around it or shoot over it.

Combo smite is your best ability, all of the Magisters abilities are good but a well delivered combo smite might knock it's target into the thing you really want to kill, knocking them both to the ground. Or simply used to disengage your gun line from something that spent it's turn running right at it.

A Magister is a cheap replacement for a Unit of Battle Mages. However I think you are better off for putting an Artificer and a Magister in your list before a unit of Mages,  simply for the versatility and support they bring.