FtW Bloggers Group

Monday 30 July 2012

6th edition independent characters and unit durability


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A little thought on 6th ed and CC. There are certainly ways in which CC was nerfed but I'd say CC still has it's advantages. However, the role of characters in CC changed quite drastically. With the new wound allocation system you can greatly increase the durability of a unit. The key is moving into base contact with the right initiative group, so that you can maximize the amount of wounds you get to take on the character.

Whereas before players would just try to bypass Gazzy's 2++ by attacking the squad, if you chuck him in a squad of meganobz and position him right, THSS termies will realize that they aren't the kings they used to be. Similarly, you can increase the durability of glasshammer units like incubi by throwing in a shadowfield or Urien Rakarth. Bikes will probably be pretty popular nowadays as that +1 toughness makes you survive power fists without ID. Necrons probably pull this trick off best:


HQ1: Necron Overlord (90), Warscythe (10), Sempiternal weave (15), Phase shifter (45), Mindshackle scarabs (15) = [175]
HQ2: Necron Overlord (90), Warscythe (10), Sempiternal weave (15), Phase shifter (45), Mindshackle scarabs (15) = [175]
HQ3: Royal Court = [40]
Cryptek (25), Harbinger of Eternity (0), Chronometron (15)
HQ4: Royal Court = [40]
Cryptek (25), Harbinger of Eternity (0), Chronometron (15)

Elite1: 10 Lychguards (10*40), Warscythes (0) = [400]

It's just freaking expensive. The biggest problem is when your opponent has multiple initiative groups. Generally you'll probably see a single fist and then i4 marines. I'd try to block out the i4 marines, but with 2 characters you can ofcourse block out both. You can also force a challenge or make him not strike at all. MSS are really good in challenges. Ofcourse, your opponent should be trying to add as many initiative steps into combats as possible, possibly with an i5 character, i4 marines and a fist. Characters are still a good counter to many popular units (like THSS and mass power weapon squads). I got so excited I decided to write a list.


HQ1: Necron Overlord (90), Warscythe (10), Sempiternal weave (15), Phase shifter (45), Mindshackle scarabs (15) = [175]
HQ2: Necron Overlord (90), Warscythe (10), Sempiternal weave (15), Phase shifter (45), Mindshackle scarabs (15) = [175]
HQ3: Royal Court = [90]
3 Crypteks (2*25), Harbinger of Eternity (0), Chronometron (15), 2 Harbingers of Storm (0)
HQ4: Royal Court = [90]
3 Crypteks (2*25), Harbinger of Eternity (0), Chronometron (15), 2 Harbingers of Storm (0)

Elite1: 10 Lychguards (10*40), Warscythes (0), transport 1 = [400]

Troops1: 5 Immortals (5*17) = [85]
Troops2: 5 Immortals (5*17) = [85]
Troops3: 5 Immortals (5*17) = [85]
Troops4: 5 Immortals (5*17) = [85] 
Troops5: 5 Warriors (5*13) = [65]

FA1: 5 Scarabs (5*15) [75]
FA2: 5 Scarabs (5*15) [75]
 
HS1: 3 Spyders (3*50), gloom prism (15) = [165]
HS2: Annihilation Barge (90) = [90] 
HS3: Annihilation Barge (90) = [90]  

Transport1: Night Scythe (100), Elite1 = [100]

Total = [1845] 

Thursday 26 July 2012

Fast n Slow marines for 1st 6th ed tournament


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Tomorrow is my first 6th ed tournament and I've decided to break out the Novamarines. It's 1500 points so many have opted not to take any allies, as have I. Psydefense is a problem, but I think this is an ok list. It's also simple enough that I can hopefully finish games on time, as I can focus on playing and remembering a little less new rules.

A couple of swaps. I've ditched the relic blade, going for a power axe instead on the captain. I decided to take a missile for the scouts instead of buying a fist for him. I've also taken meltabombs on the biker sergeants and captain, 'cause they are way better in 6th. Meltaguns got swapped for plasmaguns to better deal with 2+ saves. I think I still have enough melta for 1500 points (2 multimeltas and 3 meltabombs).


PLAYER NAME: Aleksi Lehtiö
ARMY DESCRIPTION: Codex Space Marines

HQ1: Captain (100), storm shield (15), power axe (15), artificer armour (15), meltabombs (5), bike (35) [185pts]

Elite1: Dreadnought (105), twin-linked autocannon (10), twin-linked autocannon (10) [125pts]
Elite2: Dreadnought (105), twin-linked autocannon (10), twin-linked autocannon (10) [125pts]
Elite3: Dreadnought (105), twin-linked autocannon (10), twin-linked autocannon (10) [125pts]

Troop1: Bike Squad (90), 5 additional bikers (5*25), 2 plasmaguns (2*15), attack bike (40), multimelta (10) meltabombs (5) [300pts]
Troop2: Bike Squad (90), 1 additional biker (25), 2 plasmaguns (2*15), attack bike (40), multimelta (10), meltabombs (5) [200pts]
Troop3: Scout Squad (75), missile launcher (10), camocloaks (5*3) [100pts]

HS1: Predator (60), lascannon sponsons (60) [120pts]
HS2: Predator (60), lascannon sponsons (60) [120pts]
HS3: Thunderfire Cannon (100) [100pts]

TOTAL: [1500pts]

Sunday 22 July 2012

Thoughts on other ETC 2012 Necron lists

                                         I love this image
             
Everybody's already talking about 6th ed but I've had one game of 6th and about a dozen of 5th after the release, so I'm still gonna talk about 5th. Surely somebody will be interested in ETC lists? I've been hard at work evaluating Necron lists from other countries for the benefit of our team. I'll just share a couple of general thoughts.

The lists seem to divide into scarab farms and wraithwing (with some pewpew like annihilation barges), about 50/50. What are the benefits of each? Well, scarab farms have to be very careful when they do get into combat, because most of their units are fearless, and scarabs can bleed out a lot of combat resolution. Wraithwing just chucks 18 wraiths at the enemy and doesn't quite have the same problem. Scarab farms have the benefit of more cc antitank, and they deal with land raiders a little better (although you'll realise that many wraithwing have command barges). IMO scarab farms are very robust at the task they are given (I'll leave it to you to decide which army we want to pair our scarab farm against). Wraithwing lists have more pewpew, and so are more balanced choices. Now you can't evaluate etc necron lists without having a look at the man who played necrons at the etc for years, alone, with the old necron codex. He plays for team Russia.

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PLAYER 6 : Mikhail "LLlyT" Ulitin
ARMY DESCRIPTION : Necrons

HQ1: Imotekh the Stormlord [225pts]
HQ2: Destroyer Lord (125) with Warscythe (0), Sempiternal Weave (15), Mindshackle Scarabs (20), Resurrection Orb (30) [190pts]
HQ3: Royal Court [100pts], include:
Cryptek (25) as Harbinger of Despair (5) with Veil of Darkness (30) [60pts]
Cryptek (25) as Harbinger of Eternity (0) with Chronometron (15) [40pts]
Troop1: 5 Necron Warriors [5*13=65pts]
Troop2: 10 Necron Immortals (10*17=170) with Gauss Blasters (0) [170pts]
Troop3: 5 Necron Immortals (5*17=85) with Tesla Carbines (0) [85pts]
FA1: 6 Canoptek Wraiths (6*35=210), 2 Particle Casters (2*5=10), 3 Whip Coils (3*10=30) [250pts]
FA2: 8 Canoptek Scarabs [8*15=120pts]
FA3: 8 Canoptek Scarabs [8*15=120pts]
HS1: 3 Canoptek Spyders (3*50=150), 1 with Fabricator Claw Array (10), 1 with Gloom Prism (15) [175pts]
HS2: 3 Canoptek Spyders (3*50=150), 1 with Fabricator Claw Array (10), 1 with Gloom Prism (15) [175pts]
HS3: 3 Canoptek Spyders (3*50=150), 1 with Fabricator Claw Array (10), 1 with Gloom Prism (15) [175pts]

TOTAL : [1850pts]

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Pretty similar to Finland's list :P. The veiltek is nice, I considered that myself. Especially in cleanse missions it can be awesome. I personally don't like his troops slot. I feel that very many players wanted to make use of Imothek's phaeron special rule, but that ended up weakening their lists. Gauss Blasters need to be at 12" to really be better then tesla. Sure, gauss means you can glance any tank, but too unreliable (now that we have a new book, we can spoil ourselves with better antitank :D). You don't want to be at 12" and to me tesla immortals are the best. I also feel that the wound allocation on the wraiths is a little silly, but he probably added the pistol with left over points. I suppose the res orb on the destroyer lord is for the option to leave the wraiths and join a troops choice towards the end of the game. If it's just for the 4+ everliving on the D-lord, it's pretty expensive.

There is one scarab farm list I want to mention. I've played a couple of games with this list and I really like it. The Swedish necron list.

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PLAYER 5: Daniel Hesselberg (Captain)
ARMY DESCRIPTION : Necrons
HQ 1: Imotekh the Stormlord [225pts]
HQ 2: Nemesor Zandrek [185pts]

Royal court 1: 2 Cryptek (50),
* Harbringer of destruction (0), elderich Lance (10), solar pulse (20)
* Harbringer of eternity (0), eaonstave (0), chronometron (15) [95pts]

Royal court 2: 1 Necron lord (35), war scythe (10), mindshackle (15) [60pts]

Troop 1: 10 Necron immortals (170), Gaussblasters (0) [170pts]
Troop 2: 5 Necron immortals (85), Tesla carbine (0) [85pts]
Troop 3: 5 Necron immortals (85), Tesla carbine (0) [85pts]
Troop 4: 5 Necron warriors (65), Gauss flayer (0) [65pts]

Fast 1: 5 Canoptek wraiths (175), 1 Whip coil (10) [185pts]
Fast 2: 10 Canoptek scarabs [150pts]
Fast 3: 3 Canoptek scarabs [45pts]

Heavy 1. 3 Canoptek Spyders (150), 1 Gloom Prism (15) [165pts]
Heavy 2. 3 Canoptek Spyders (150), 1 Gloom Prism (15) [165pts]
Heavy 3. 3 Canoptek Spyders (150), 1 Gloom Prism (15) [165pts]

Total: [1845pts]

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Once again, the gaussblaster immortals are debatable, but with zandrek giving them tank hunter, you do gain an ap value and are not just looking to surppress. Anyway, zandrek is pretty awesome. Giving your wraiths counter attack or scarabs tank hunters is really sweet. He's also got a mss lord, albeit only one (and not say also a destroyer lord). I feel the solar pulse is really not necessary, but I guess it's nice insurance. All this goodness costs and the spyders are missing full allocation. IMO, that is really the only clearly bad thing in this list. The scarab squads should be noted aswell. The big 10-man group is really nice to either look for a t1 charge (with 19 bases) or to string out, giving you an immense threat range straight from the start. Overall, this list is a lot more fun to play then a basic scarab farm list, and it isn't necessarily worse. Very nice list.

Finally, I'll look at a wraithwing list, this is from team Germany.

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PLAYER 8: Fritz "LTT" Peters
ARMY DESCRIPTION: Necrons

HQ1: Imothek the Stormlord (225) = [225] in Transport 1
HQ1b Royal court: 2 Cryptek (50),
* Harbringer of destruction (0), elderich Lance (10), solar pulse (20)
* Harbringer of eternity (0), eaonstave (0), chronometron (15) [95pts]
HQ2: Vargard Obyron (160) = [160]

Troop 1: Immortals (5x17=85), Tesla Carbines = [85 pts]
Troop 2: Immortals (5x17=85), Tesla Carbines = [85 pts]
Troop 3: Immortals (5x17=85), Tesla Carbines = [85 pts]
Troop 4: Immortals (5x17=85), Tesla Carbines = [85 pts]

Fast Attack 1: Canoptek Wraiths (6x35=210), 2 Particle Caster (2x5=10), 2 Whip Coils (2x10)
= [240]
Fast Attack 2: Canoptek Wraiths (6x35=210), 2 Particle Caster (2x5=10), 2 Whip Coils (2x10)
= [240]
Fast Attack 3: Canoptek Wraiths (5x35=210),1 Particle Caster (1x5=5), 2 Whip Coils (2x10)
= [200]

Heavy Support 1: Annihilation Barge, Tesla Cannon (1x90=90) = [90 pts]
Heavy Support 2: Annihilation Barge, Tesla Cannon (1x90=90) = [90 pts]
Heavy Support 3: Annihilation Barge, Tesla Cannon (1x90=90) = [90 pts]

Transport 1: Catacomb Command Barge, Tesla Cannon (=1x80) = [80]

TOTAL [1850pts]

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I like his troops slot :). Obyron is a really nice touch. You get a decent overlord level character to go in the command barge and swing with a warscythe, and you get a veil. I like it when people come up with interesting choices. I just wonder why he's gone with the 2+2+2 even spread with wound allocation. Having one wound allocation group of a single model is great. First, you take small arms fire saves on him until he is at 1 wound, and then you can take ID wounds on him even though you already have taken some wounds. With 2+2+2 the worst case scenario is that you have to take a full wound model out even though you had wounded models in your allocation groups.

Wednesday 11 July 2012

Comission work: Greater Harlequin

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Another comissioned model. This guy was a real challenge, especially the diamond pattern on the guy's cloak!

Sunday 8 July 2012

My 1850 ETC Necron list


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Been kinda busy with life. Really excited about 6th edition, but at the moment we're still grinding 5th ed games for the ETC. Now that the lists have been published, I can post mine aswell. Basic scarab farm really.

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PLAYER: Aleksi Lehtiö
ARMY DESCRIPTION : Codex: Necrons

HQ1: Imotekh The Stormlord (225) [225pts]
HQ2: Royal Court, 2 crypteks (2*25) 1 harbinger of eternity (0) with chronometron (15), 1 harbinger of transmogrification (5), 1 necron lord (35) with warscythe (10) and mindshackle scarabs (15) [130pts]
HQ3: Destroyer Lord (125), warscythe (0), sempiternal weave (15), mindshackle scarabs (20) [160pts]
Troop1: 5 Necron Immortals (5*17), tesla carbines (0) [85pts]
Troop2: 5 Necron Immortals (5*17), tesla carbines (0) [85pts]
Troop3: 5 Necron Immortals (5*17), tesla carbines (0) [85pts]
Troop4: 5 Necron Immortals (5*17), tesla carbines (0) [85pts]
Troop5: 5 Necron Immortals (5*17), tesla carbines (0) [85pts]
FA1: 6 Canoptek Wraiths (6*35), 2 whip coils (2*10), particle caster (5) [235pts]
FA2: 5 Canoptek Scarabs (5*15) [75pts]
FA3: 5 Canoptek Scarabs (5*15) [75pts]
HS1: 3 Canoptek Spyders (3*50), gloom prism (15), fabricator claw (10) [175pts]
HS2: 3 Canoptek Spyders (3*50), gloom prism (15), fabricator claw (10) [175pts]
HS3: 3 Canoptek Spyders (3*50), gloom prism (15), fabricator claw (10) [175pts]

TOTAL [1850pts]
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