Two parter:
1. Can Wildling also be used for wounds and attacks like the other class characteristic increases?
2. Should the Greater (Level 2) Class also have access to wildling? It seems to be present in all other class levels, wondered if it was an oversight.
1. Yes they can use Wounds and attacks for Wildling.
2. No for the Level 2's on having it. It was intentional. Level 1 and 2s in Biests are rather similar when first building them, with level 2's having greater room to grow. Essentially better natural weapons, (due to a higher maximum properties and more possible class traits).
Level 3 Classes for the Biests really stand out on the tabletop. One of the stronger Level 3s of the domains (although the point costs will equate that).
There was a debate on Level 3's and 5's having it as they had a greater upgrade version of Wildling during playtesting. It was overpowered and toned down to just wildling. We were fine tuning gameplay, so I do see your point though on the overall Consistency looking at the classes.
I think you will find that the Biests are quite literally the Masters in straight stats.
both the Alpha and Beta Wolf abilities and point cost of the trait are applied to only a to a single model in the class. So you can field your squads how you want. You can double check each ability, its the last sentence for each ability. So only one model of the class would take on the point cost for the Alpha Wolf Trait. The others would be a cheaper. You could also take them solo where possible.
But yes, one of our in-house playtesters was dedicated to his wolf faction (with some monstrous cats, like his Manticores) I believe his faction is currently very close to the 2nd Age during normal gaming evenings. The way he created the faction is actually in the 1st Age Faction pack.
Just remember that in this game, there are often hard counters available for gameplay. Going very high in Strength and Toughness for instance can be the death of a high point monster to Necromancers using Blackbolt or even weapons that target Willpower. High target numbers can get hit by magic that automatically hits and so on.
This is rather a fun part of how metas within gaming groups develop. Someone has something really cool, and his opponents make certain they have something they can use to deal with it. Out of all of the ways this game develops among the gamers in a club, store, or group of friends, this is one of the most fascinating parts of the game for me. Seeing factions develop and change over time.
Sometimes its Monster vs Monster, mob vs monster, magic vs monster, or just better equipment and trained soldiers.
One fun example I like is our local Reptilia player developing a crazy melee multi-limbed Naga that was just shredding in combat. It was amazing that Pikes suddenly started appearing and methods to outdistance (using big threat ranges) against the Naga on the charge. It didn't take long for the Naga to pick up some magic and use it to teleport into the Pikemen past their large threat ranges where once again she was shredding. Her point cost was getting high...... which suddenly had people showing up with cheap mobs to throw at the Nagas to overwhelm them.
So much fun.
Awesome thank you. After messing around with a wolf kingdom with beta wolf and alpha wolf I certainly saw the crazy numbers.....and point costs.....
Thanks again and if I may with a follow up. Beta and Alpha wolf mention they only apply to 1 model in the class....are you required to take more? or can you just take the Beta/Alpha model as a solo? or is that the purpose of the loner trait?
I get that it could be a good way to use classes sparingly so it certainly could be helpful.....but at the point costs of a level 2-3 bringing a retinue of them with the beta/alpha would only be in very large games i imagine.