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I wonder if anybody out there ever had their beastmen monster choices, ever earn their own value in a fight? for my part it seems that when they reach a melee, they have been severely cribled by magic or warmachine fire.
it just seems that buying minotaurs for the same amount is a better plan, than having some targetpractice for warmachines.
any delicious, devious ideas how to field these horrors of the woods, would be appreciated. perhabs the next time the stampeding bovines hit the tabletop, it would be with a sexy new plan for destruction.
Gentlemen! I thank you for your undivided attention.

From my own experience I couldn't recommend a Ghorgon more. This guy once he hits combat wrecks nearly everything he fights and has a good chance of regenerating his wounds back up. Just getting him there alive can be the hard part. Though for what its worth with the amount of terrain on most tables these days he stands a better chance than he ever has before if you use it to cover his advance where possible.

Though I have only faced one once that stone throwing gaint might be useful in a army based around CC

I feel like these guys have a better chance of being of some use at higher points levels where the hit you take for their cost is spread out a little more.

I've built a few lists for Beasts, but have a hard time when I get to those rares. I always just imagine them getting taken off the first time they go in to something...

In my list now I am running a Ghorgan and a Giant. I think those two are the only viable options, with LD 10 and Mv 7 the Ghorgan can get into fights quick and with T 6 and 6 Wounds might be able to survive. The Giant and Ghorgan on one flank usually draws a ton of fire leaving my Bestigors and Gor blocks unscathed by the time fighting starts, also most units don't enjoy getting dual charged by two thunderstompers.

I'd agree that Ghorgon, followed by the giant are two of the best options. Though jabberslythe still has its uses. The cygor is just useless. Stone thrower that is likely more to hurt itself and die in close combat. "whoopee" .

Problem with the ghorgon is even though its T6, it has ZERO armor.

Ive had skinks kill the thing numerous times on the stand and shoot. It just keels over to war machines and shooting...

Yeah you need 6's to wound, but thats it.

Granted IF it makes it to combat it tends to chew things up.

Cygor + Jabberslythe work when combined with the Manbane standard.

-1 Leadership to, test or take wounds, test or spell fails = miscasts.

Double jabber with manbane is most likely better.


-Matt

ShivanAngel wrote:Problem with the ghorgon is even though its T6, it has ZERO armor.

Ive had skinks kill the thing numerous times on the stand and shoot. It just keels over to war machines and shooting...

Yeah you need 6's to wound, but thats it.

Granted IF it makes it to combat it tends to chew things up.

That can pretty much sum up the entirety of the beastman army. Lacking an armour save really makes them fragile. Especially against poison. But I do agree with you. When they work as intended they can really be devastating.

Ghorgon is the only one I've seen used in 8th ed, and they are always run up a flank, away from artillery (if there is any).

Vs chaos armies or VC they run straight up the centre.

I played Crab Clan in Clan War way back and they had an Oni no Yakamo that was similar to use as the large beasts in beastmen. I apply the same strategies I used then.

Rule #1 Never ever send them on their own they need support. i.e. Have the monsters flank a unit while another unit charges head on. Better option that I love to use is let a unit of your's get charged and then send the Ghorgon into the flank of the enemy unit on your turn.

Rule #2 Never leave them exposed. This should be obvious for anyone who uses giants. These guys will cave to any bow fire...any. I will always hide them in terrain or behind terrain (to avoid those nasty forests).

Now the options:

Option #1 Support- goes with rule #1. Combine them with another unit's charge. I combine the Ghorgon with my chariots. It causes a choice for the enemy, kill the monster or the chariots? Both are tempting and the loss of one allows me to use the other. In gameplay this causes a lot of generals to split their fire and squander their resources. Resulting in less damage for both the chariots and Ghorgon.

Also the monsters work well with ambush, once your ambushing units are on the board, the monsters are fast enough to get across the board to help the ambushing units. Those same units actually can help the monsters survive as well because they can distract the warmachines and other units that normally would focus their attention on the monster and vice versa.

Option #2 Hidden Monster- Keep them hidden or plan to cast the big beast spell later in the game. Position the rest of your army and come to grips with your opponent. Once he is committed he will have a lot less options to deal with the beasts of terror. This is when you unleash them, if you have left the monster in the back or on the edges use bestial surge from a lowly shaman that was hanging back as well to propel them forward to strike where you choose and at your opponents weak areas. This takes patience and critical timing but once you pull it off your opponent can only really watch the destruction. If you are magic heavy don't even bring the monster initially just make sure your shamans know either savage dominion or transformation. Your opponent won't be able to dispel it if you play the phase right and he will be completely shocked at the hulking beast standing before him. High elves use this ploy quite often so it will definitely work for beasts.

Option #3 The wave flank- With this I bring two jabberslythes and 10-20 harpies in various units and then 2-3 chariots. I will run them up the flank perferablly opposite the warmachines or where they are the most concentrated. Yes I said straight in front of their warmachines. What this does is since I have quite a bit a heavy things in front of the machines as well as them being fast and having a little support in the harpies. It overwhelms my opponent they will slaughter 1-2 things but once I get there the machines are so weak I wipe them out quickly with the harpies and then that frees the biggies up for the rest of the army. This is better used in at least 3000 or more point matches other wise the rest of my army is really nothing.