Broken Units in 40K now…

Saw this (http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2013/07/40k-top-10-units-that-are-ruining-game.html) and it got me thinking that while I agree with a number of those on the list…  There are a number of questions I’d raise and of course, my opinion differs a bit…  Could very well be how things are played locally here, but here it goes.  Mr. Vela lists the following as the 10:

Space Wolf Rune Priest

Wave Serpent

Necron Nightscythe

Heldrake

Tau Commander

Nurgle Daemon Prince

Eldar Wraithknight

Necron Annihilation Barge

Tervigon

Codex Imperial Guard

The Necron things I kind of agree on, though there are a LOT of things in the Necron codex broken.  The Barge is pretty low on the list for me.  Tesla getting the 6’s count for 3 hits mean their AAA is pretty darn good given the number of Twin Linked Tesla things they have.  Cheap fliers that ignore a lot of the 6^th edition rules?  Yes, that is the biggest problem I have with them I think.  Cheaper and better than later actual fliers, and no disadvantages for the transported unit should you shoot it down?  This to me screams of a game design problem more than anything, and having seen too many good games die out as game design issues pile up and ruin the base game…

Tervigon?  Not sure I agree here…  But then I am surprised that so few players actually play Tyranids.  I honestly consider them to be among the more difficult ones to face overall, though they DO suffer from a fairly limited list of “these things are good” in their book.  Flying MC’s and the other big nasties though…  Guessing the general feeling from the online “competitive scene” constantly calling the Nids useless combined with the difficulty playing that army in a timed competitive environment mean it ranks pretty low.  For me, it was always a matter of target prioritization and I usually do fairly well against them.  But I tend to pick a target, shoot it off the board, then move on to the next target.  People shooting at a lot of targets will usually end up not killing enough to stop the rush and get overwhelmed.

Heldrake?  Yeah.  When it goes beyond an “auto include” to a “serious players are bringing at least 2” thing…  I made that last comment last night, mostly kidding, but the reality is that there is almost no down side to the thing, it IS a hard counter to almost any army in 3+ armor, or bike based forces and did more to kill off a lot of people’s interest in playing those armies locally than almost anything else.

Tau Commander?  Guess I haven’t played against enough of the Tau at this point…  Though there ARE something like 5 players now locally…  That in and of itself might be telling…

Wave Serpent.  Agreed, and covered here previously.  Probably too good.  Not un-killable, but darn good for the points.  At least it isn’t a damn flier like the Necron equivalent. 

Now some slight disagreement:

Nurgle Prince?  Eh, though perhaps the other Princes hitting the field have hidden this one from us.  Besides, with him hiding in ruins means he isn’t flying about killing things…

Wraith Knight?  Note, I WILL be buying one.  Not though that I feel it to be overpowered…  I could be fielding 6 Eldar DN’s (Wraith Lords) right now, and I find them to be darn powerful at the moment.  The Knight?  For the cost ($ AND points on the field), the limits of it being essentially the same as its smaller brother make it a slightly tougher to take down target that does not have the offensive punch to double that of the WL.  As a MC it can fire 2 weapons.  Neat, and the Str 10 uber guns look amazing.  But the lack of an invulnerable save or immunity to Instant Death mean that configuration is likely out in general.  I CAN add 2 more have weapons I cannot fire most turns.  The WL has this free and the 2 flamers are actually useful at times…  Just saying J… So, the most likely configuration is the Sun-cannon with the 5++ shield and one or two shoulder mounted weapons.

Rune Priest?  Eh.  The only thing in the codex not really killed instantly by the swarms of Heldrakes.  Wolf Scouts have been nerfed out of usefulness, Long Fangs just die to Drakes.  Grey Hunters are still good, but really have been overtaken by lots of the other 3+ save armies.  Blood Claws are still crap.  Frankly everything with “Claw” in the name is crappy in the current book…  So, the wizard in the army still has a holdover magic defense.  Neat I guess, but facing most current armies?  Really not a big deal.  Having said that, if you regularly face Daemons, Tyranid MC or other armies relying heavily on magic…  Might well be different.  Not the current case really locally.  My old codex Eldar nerfed the GK, but it was a serious uphill battle even without their psychics/magic…  Right now, the bulk of the successful armies are simply shooting their opponents off the table, not a lot of reliance on tricks or magic…

Edit:  You know, typed all that and I didn't really add anything I think...

So, what do I feel is broken right now?  Well, there are a number of troubling things in the Tau codex for me.  Getting to fire overwatch at better BS, firing with multiple units, etc.?  No cover save, better BS...  So essentially there are a LOT of things that break the basic rules of the game built into the book.  I find that trend troubling.  Thankfully, other than the Wave Serpent the Eldar codex is pretty well balanced I think....

:-)  Of course, just my opinion on these things per usual...

Are the Eldar TOO good again?

The more I play the new Codex and understand better how to use the Units in the book, the more I think that perhaps the Eldar are back to being overpowered...  The 2 big things that worry me about this are: Marines are next, and if this is a power spiral, then that bodes ill for the game itself.  And the LAST time the Eldar were what I thought of as overpowered, they spent more than 2 full editions in "penance mode" with a severely crippled and craptastic codex.  I hope that neither of these happens again, but not holding my breath.

Don't get me wrong, the Eldar do not come off the shelf with the plug and play answer to every situation out there, but I do believe they have access to the tools that will make them able to stand against ANY other army out there currently and easily take apart a good number of them.  Most of them in fact.  There are only a few that I would hesitate to take my standard "All Comers" list against and be confident that at the least I will have a fighting chance against.  SO much (almost) Rending, D Weapons, re-rolls/twin linking and Ignore Cover firepower in everything that it just feels like I have a FAR better force than my old standards of Wolves or Fleshtearers.  GK and IG are I think likewise out shot and more importantly outmaneuvered by the MUCH faster Eldar forces.

Even my ancient Scorpions are getting back onto the field.  They are actually REALLY good these days, though require a lot more finesse than say, the Death Company :-)...  My Swooping Hawks are also quite good.  Not 2nd Ed good, but using them as Light Cavalry to harass a flank, assassinate something specific hiding in the rear, or even Score on some missions...  For 106 points?  NOT bad at all.  Mind, not like the FT's Vanguard Vets, but I think overall more useful.

Looking forward to testing out a Crimson Hunter.  I think that upgrading to the Exarch will be a good thing for the called shots, re-roll on AP against fliers, etc...  Not sure if the 5+ to call the shots will be useful in the short term, longer term as the massed Flier armies fade, I do think it will be.  Being able to call shots against say, the Apothecary in the Draigo Wing's Paladin Squads might well be something to consider...

Overall, I think that the Eldar Codex is a VERY powerful one in the right hands, just hoping it is not TOO powerful for TOO many people.

Getting the Apocalypse book read now.  Sad to see how many damn formations I CAN field without proxies all at once.  No clue the actual number of points I can field, but it is going to be a LOT over the 6+ full armies I own.  Only one Titan and one Super Heavy Tank (Eldar Tempest Class, no longer exists of course...), but still...  When the lads gather and march, might be needing a cargo vehicle to haul them all...  Looks like fun, but the potential for forever games seems there...

Eldar so far... Wave Serpents for the win...

OK, so far I have found that the Wave Serpent is in and of itself a game winner against certain armies.  Specifically, gun lines that are depending on cover or massed Infantry trying to rush across the field.  So, unfortunately for my Ork opponent last evening...  His exact army.  I had 3 of the Wave Serpents in the list, and I have to say, they DID do a big portion of the killing for my army.  The twin linked Scatter Lasers making the Shield shots also twin linked is powerful.  I would argue it is almost borderline TOO powerful, certainly for the points and lack of a slot in the ToE for it...  Yes, the WS can be killed, and it is not too terribly difficult for some things to do so, but really for the 135 or so points?  On the other hand, the ability to move out from cover or onto the table and get those 4+ (d6+1) shots, most likely all twin linked against everything but Fliers?  Heck, even Fliers should worry about this as lots of dice rolled with re-rolls will usually mean a few 6's come up...

So, while the WS is HUGE, and if rumor is correct being pulled off the bloody market...  Mkay, slight rant here, NOT sure this is happening, but the rumor is that it is going direct only going forward?  Wow, that does seem to put the independent retailers in a difficult position as the new codex comes out with a brokenly powerful unit that will only or mostly be available through GW itself?  Seems an "interesting" choice for a company to make...  Unless this is simply the interrim step as the kit is redone/repackaged?  Maybe.  But given their history, I am less hopeful.  Besides, this is NOT the oldest kit they have in that line...  Though making the old Falcon kit more efficiently would seem logical...  I guess we'll see.  I actually have a few Falcon hulls around and will likely be recasting some of the ancient Epicast/Armorcast ones I have...  They are just THAT different that they fit in with my ancient figures a bit better I think.

What else worked?

Swooping Hawks:  Well the Swooping Hawks were INSANE.  Though a lot of that had to do with him bunching up Lootas and Grechin behind cover.  The large blast template ignoring cover and what armor they had meant that between that and the Las Blaster shots after, there were no survivors.  I think I caught something like 26 Grots in the blast and killed 24 with majority T of 2...  NOT game winning in and of itself, but that was their second appearance.  They also cleared the Emperor's Will objective, were themselves scoring for line breaker and  holding that objective...  Of course, the fact they also more or less erased a full Loota squad on Turn 2 meant they had already more than paid for themselves...  More testing I think, but a six man squad seems to be an excellent thing to have.

War Walkers:  The loadout of Bright Lance/Scatter Laser seems to be an excellent "all comers" one, and with 3 of them hitting 195 points?  Flanking with the move/shoot/move potential?  5++ save, though a really light Vehicle with 2 Hull Points...  Oddly, mine never took fire at all as they appeared then used a building to shoot and duck for the game.  Again, not a list that included a lot of AT firepower or fliers, so further testing I think...

And...  Well, that was about it really.  The Spirit Seer DID use his Destructor power, then charge a few Orks killing them...  With the residual flames (Soul Blaze) unfortunately for the last one so he could not move after combat...  Left him in the open to get shot off the field.  Dark Reapers came out, killed a few things (Warlord power was Split Fire) but then they got destroyed by the BFG on the looted wagons...

So, basically, it was my TRANSPORTS that killed off the bulk of the other army...

So, Eldar at 1850...

So...  Looking at the new book, and a combination of what I have and what I can play well I think...  Here is the first draft...

Spirit Seer... Leading out the army I think.  Not a bad wizard, and frankly opening the Wraiths as Troops is worth a lot to me.  Still learning the spells and frankly how to use them at all...  But, I think this is a good start... Bit less than 100 points...

At least two Wraithguard units... One with flamers, one the normal d-guns... In Wave Serpents for the mobility and the added threat from that vehicle.  Not sure how best to use them against the big uber MC's  like the Tau, GK, Demons, etc. get...  Suicide unit just rolling up and hitting hoping for 6's seems a waste but if it works... Also, building a Bastion for my elves, these seem to be a good unit to hold it... So, ~600 points here...

Other troops?  My Dire Avengers will likely be hitting the field.  They are decent against Infantry but helpless against armor...  Their Wave Serpent will have the Bright Lances and they are likely my backfield security/objective campers... ~200-250 points here?

I think my Rangers will continue to make an appearance, but with so many things ignoring cover saves, I am not hugely confident they will survive.  They ARE cheap, and have some potential in objective based games but... CHEAP, so 60 points here...


So, a lot of points on Troops, but the way 6th edition plays now I think this will form the base of my 1850 force...

Continuing to learn the Eldar Codex... Kind of a rolling review...

So, mostly looking closer at the things I plan on fielding...

My Army will likely be led out by a Spiritseer as I am REALLY liking the Wraiths for Troops.  Yes, they are a bit slower and their weapons may well be short ranged overkill.  I am looking at the Fearless and extremely high Toughness.  I will be fielding one as the D-Scythe unit and one as the "normal" ones, both at 5 strong in Wave Serpents.  Not sure if I will be sending my Seer with one squad or not.  But Distort weapons are looking like a terrifying answer to the big nasty things out there...  Tau uber suits, Demons, etc...  Whatever, I roll a 6 to wound and ID it at AP 2, so only the 5++ for a lot of things.  I do not think that the army, if I based it COMPLETELY on Wraiths would work given the small numbers on my side and the inability to stand up to a real torrent of fire...  Kind of like my DA force...  But as the "anchor" or "anvil" for the rest of the Army I think this will work well.

Swooping Hawks...  I am REALLY liking them.  I think they will be the thing that actually wins me a few games.  Large Blast, no deviation on the Deep Strike and then a torrent of shooting...  I think they will be assassinating things like IG Command Squads, Marine Scouts, etc...  Line Breaker if they live I guess...  But have to be a LOT more careful with these lads than a standard Marine Assault element.  They have bad armor, but are very mobile...  Decent shooting, though only Str 3 for the most part, so I'll be hoping to roll well on the cause wounds and hoping they roll poorly for armor saves.  The Exarch's weapons have changed a bit with this edition, have to say I am kind of liking it, but have only gotten a few games in with them, so not 100% convinced which to use.

Scorpions:  Standard HtH, flanking to hit the enemy in the vulnerable areas, hopefully...  Still annoyed they cannot Assault out of Reserve, but...  Keeping the squad cheapish, the Exarch is an absolute beast in Challenges or just HtH in general with Chain Sabers...  Kind of an "eh" option overall I think.  I feel like I NEED something to deal with HtH threats, and I can have flankers come in on my own edge to be mobile reserves, or more likely attack the enemy strong point and go for Line Breaker and disruption of their firing line...

Heavy Support:  It is CROWDED there.  Honestly I am thinking I will continue to play the things I have for the last few editions with one exception...

The Dark Reapers finally get to come back from their shelf exile.  No jink cover saves mean I think that Eldar and Tau are going to be really hating seeing these lads on the field.  It kind of goes without having to say it, I will be using the AT missile upgrades for all of them.  So, either 2 shots at Str 5 AP 3 or one at Str 8 AP3...  I guess pinning might come into effect some times, but I have not seen it happen often :-)...  Exarch's weapon, the Tempest Launcher I have might be the thing to keep playing, though without Split Fire, it may be wasted some times...  But Night Vision, Fast Shot and people playing for the Night Fighting hoping that I cannot see them to shoot at them?  Might be getting First Blood a LOT with this unit on the field...

War Walkers:  The more I use them, the more I like them.  Still unhappy that the AAA option for the EML is even more expensive, I think that EVERY missile launcher should just have the damn Flak option built in at the base cost of the ML, but I'm just an Engineer, not a game designer, what do I know...  The 5++, move shoot move option and the weight of fire these lads can put down range is really quite impressive.  The standard weapon mix has shifted, but better balanced I think.  No longer really going dual Scatter Lasers for everyone, the SL/Bright Lance option they came with in the most ancient times seems to be the one I have the best luck with.

Wraith Lords:  Still lacking the ++ save and still vulnerable to massed poison or AT shooting, but these guys are still insanely powerful for Armies not prepared to deal with the T8 Monster hitting their lines...  And now I can get 2 Heavy Weapons without the stupid "twin linked if you buy 2 of the same"...  Wow, that was stupid.  But is also past edition.  Now, they are pretty darn powerful.  I tend to keep mine in a "free safety" position as a mobile reserve should anyone try to crash my lines...  Yes, I played American Football for a while in the ancient times because my HS did not have a Hockey team at the time, I was a Free Safety and I played like Gary Fencik or Doug Plank...  NOT nearly so well, but I had no particular problem playing the game a "bit rougher" or fighting if it came to that.  The Linebacker and I would arrainge it to have one of us get to the player (receiver or QB) and hold him.  NOT tackle, just set him up to be hit really hard by the next guy.  Technically legal as the player was NOT down, but a bit dirty...  Getting myself tossed out of the game as long as I took their QB with me was a net win for my team :-)...  But keeping the WL back to guard objectives and snipe with heavy weapons makes for a rough choice on the other side of the table...  Ignore it, give up the objectives being held and just take the 2-3 Heavy Weapon shots/turn or crash in and hope for the best.  Oh, the WL is a Character too :-)  So, precision shots, challenges, etc...

Fire Prism/Night Spinner:  YES...  I am liking the various fire options for both of those tanks.  I HAVE and have played the Fire Prism several times.  The 3 choices are awesome, and with Holo Fields, it is an annoyingly survivable light Tank.  NOT something I can just drive up the middle of the field daring them to shoot me like a Land Raider with the 4++, but...  Overall I think a better tank.  The Spinner is one I am looking forward to trying.  My initial thoughts are that it depends too much on good rolls to be useful overall. Yes, it can Pin, Rend, etc., and it has the Torrent template option which would murder the enemy bikers of doom that hit the field here...  But with just average rolls?  I think the Prism is still the better one at least for me...

Vaul's Wrath:  Support Weapons?  The D-Cannon looks amazing, and if I can put it up in a Bastion or behind an Aegis line?  Maybe.  But the 24" range kind of kills it for me.  If only they did not have so many other Heavy options I just feel are better...  So, a gimmick option for me...  I HAVE 2 old D-Cannons, so I can legally field them, but honestly I do not see this happening often.

Wraith Knight:  Eh...  Yes, he would be better than the WL...  But a monstrously huge target.  I will probably get one eventually, and I do think I could easily make it work with my army...  Just do not think I NEED it now, and with real life expenses being what they are...  Mind, should someone want to pick up some ancient firearms or an old motorcycle :-)...  But, something for "later" I think.

Falcon:  The only one in the section I do not see myself using.  Ever.  It costs the same as the Fire Prism, and the Pulse Laser is not as good as the Prism's main gun.  Yes, it has transport capability, but 6 models?  And it is NOT a dedicated transport option...  If it were, I could see using them all the time, but giving up one of my 3 HS slots for a substandard tank/transport option?  No thanks...

So, for my armies the choices are: War Walkers, Wraith Lord, Fire Prism and Dark Reapers...  All of which are ~ equal for me, depending a bit on the makeup of the rest of my force...  But I tend to play a VERY mobile Eldar style, even with Wraiths...

So, next Eldar army for me...

Well, broke down and got my second "Finecast" figure...  The Eldar Spiritseer.  I have not opened the clamshell yet, but it looks pretty good.  I have a bit more confidence in this as it is a new sculpt rather than a retread from the metals.  So, yes, I am continuing my Wraith based armies I think...  Testing the "flamer armed" Wraithguard next, I think they have the potential to be excellent shock troops against a LOT of the local armies.  Will be using my ancient Ghost Warriors as them:

So, a bit on the smaller side and on the old 25mm bases rather than the new 40mm ones, but...  It IS WYSIWYG and armed correctly with a flamer...  OK, some do have the Shuriken Catapults, but...  Ironically I ended up with 3 of these and 2 of the Shuriken armed ones...  Close enough :-)...  In any case, T6 Fearless Troops armed with AP 2 flamers?  And they no longer have the 1/6 chance of stupidity?  Down side being their cost of 45 points each...  Still, roll them out of a Wave Serpent and watch a lot of armies just cry...

WRT the rest of the force, I will be fielding my Scorpions as flankers most likely, some Dire Avengers as general utility Troops, the Dark Reapers as "We Kill Marines, even on bikes" heavy support...  I am REALLY liking the War Walkers AND the Wraith Lords...  Can't see spending $120+ on the Wraith Knight yet, but I am guessing that will be an eventual purchase to go next to my ancient Warhound class Titan and Eldar Tempest heavy tank...  Neat, and while I am NOT on the extremely negative side like some folks, I just do not see it doing all that much for the armies that I actually play.  Or at least not that much more than a new Wraithlord, of which I have "a few"...

A bit torn on the potential use of say, a Wraith Seer from IA 11...  Clearly something written for 5th edition, and I traded to get one of the old Confrontation Elves constructs for the stand in figure...  Might be insanely powerful in combination with a Spirit Seer as the other HQ (we only play single FOC games here) giving the Wraiths FnP, etc...  And he DOES have a 5++ save and access to a d-cannon for a heavy weapon...  Neat, but really what would that do that I cannot already do?  Honestly, the old Fighter flier is more tempting just because it is a cheaper version of the new Crimson Hunter...  OK, TOO cheap, so I'd not field it, but...  I do need to think of some way to deal with fliers for my army, none of the options are looking too good other than take CH's and deal with them in the sky fighter to fighter, hoping I go second...

Otherwise I am looking at constructing a Bastion for my Eldar...  Need something NOT Imperial, but with the same dimensions I think...

Next League, 1850 points and more Eldar

Looks like I will be running the next league...  I'll be running it at 1850 and looking like a fair number of the folks want to use the missions from the Adepticon this year (http://www.adepticon.org/?page_id=3783) since a bunch of us are looking at heading up there next year...

I'm a bit torn on the 1850 level...  Seems like it is a bit on the higher end where you no longer have to make as many of the hard choices WRT your army...  But we'll see :-)  And any games I get in will be with the new Eldar...

Picked up some more paint hopefully this one will actually be a good match for the stuff I used 20 years ago when I originally painted my Eldar...  I am using the Executioner and Assassin class Ghost Warriors as the new Flamer armed Wraithguard...  With a Spiritseer HQ, they become Troops, so I can have them and normal Wraithguard both loaded up in Wave Serpents as some pretty darn tough Troops.  Another thought is to build an Eldar Bastion equivalent and "staff" it with WG and maybe the Seer?  Something of a small project and I'd need to make it "Eldar" enough to be a good strong point for my lads to hold...

Other than the Wraithguard I am liking a lot of the things I used in the past, the Spiders, Dire Avengers, War Walkers and Scorpions...  The Dark Reapers have made it back to the "YES" list with the inclusion of SnP and the revival of their ancient missiles...  Minus side, I have only the one ancient Armorcast Falcon that I'm going to use as a Wave Serpent...  Guess I do the mold and either dental plaster or resin or something to that effect to make more...