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This is the ruleset for a custom flier idea I had. It's intended for use mainly in apoc, but what I'm wondering is the points cost vrs what it does about right?

For the model, I used a FW void dragon Phoenix, and just trimmed off the elder weapons and replaced them with dark elder stuff from the warrior/ravager kits.

Fluff wise, I don't have much, except that its intended to be an air supperiority fighter that can also help target larger enemy armor. The name is not set in stone but fir now I'm calling it a "dragon claw heavy fighter"

Cost: 500 pts plus upgrades
- armor 10 on all sides
- BS 4
- has chasing shadows (4+ save) and impossible maneuvers (min move 18" not 36")
- counts as super hev for purpose of firing weapons
WEAPONS
- 2 nose AA mounted darklances
- 2 fuselage center line void cannons ( fire together as a puslar with 36" range)
- 2 wing AA mounted void rockets (fires together, rng 24", str:7, AP:3 assault 6)
Can purchase up to 4 void missiles for +20 pts each (str 9 ap:2 rng 48" small blast 1 shot)
Can purchase night fields for +10 pts

Initial feedback from a few friends is that 500 points is alot for a single hit point, but considering the rather powerful weapons I felt best to cost it higher rather then lower.
The standard void dragon Phoenix comes in at 350 I believe, so this is hopefully on par. Questions or comments?

Took some pics of the model...will upload and attach later today

Having both a Pulsar and Assault 6 AA weapons is a bit overkill. I would recommend combining them into one weapon that can choose two different firing modes. Remove the option of Night Fields, as an 18" range reduction will make this thing massively overpowered, even for 500 Points.

Valkyrie wrote:Remove the option of Night Fields, as an 18" range reduction will make this thing massively overpowered, even for 500 Points.

Yeah, because you have to remember, you shoot at flyers with half range in the first place.

This is ridiculously easy to take down. ALL your opponents anti tank fire will come upon it turn one and it will not make it to turn 2. It will actually probably only take a small fraction of your opponents firing. If you're putting 500 points into a single model then you should hope to make it difficult to destroy at least. Just for reference, compare this thing to a baneblade for the same cost.

At first glance, I would agree, but with it being a flyer (as others pointed out 1/2 range on shooting) plus the 4++, its not as easy to kill as I first thought.
That being said, it is still pretty flimsy for that huge point cost. I would suggest making it slightly more survivable (AV 12 around maybe?) or, probably more reasonably, dropping the weapon load substantially and dropping the price.

My suggestion, keep the Void Rockets and make the nose Dark Lances to Void Lances, then give it 2 Void Missiles standard, but cost extras at 25 points each (up to 6 total). After that, drop the price down to 400. It still has a huge payload of anti-flyer and can have a pretty brutal alphastrike payload to wipe out tanks/heavy infantry on turn one, front ending your damage.

grayspark wrote:

Valkyrie wrote:Remove the option of Night Fields, as an 18" range reduction will make this thing massively overpowered, even for 500 Points.

Yeah, because you have to remember, you shoot at flyers with half range in the first place.

Acutally no, it's always a 12" reduction, not 1/2 range.

The primary weapon I wanted was the short range pulsar. Everything else was just added as additional options. The front dark lances I figured would be standard since most other DE vehicles come with one. Perhaps downgrade it to a single twin linked lance. The rockets were also an afterthought, simply because the model comes with the weapon sculpted on. I initially had the rockets as air to air only, but figured the rules were too wordy all ready. What about downgrading the rockets to assault 4? I had also thought of making the flier have 2 structure points.

The other question I had, is if the thing stays as is, what's a fair points cost?

As it is, I don't really know if there IS a fair cost. It deals out ridiculous amounts of damage, but is very easy to kill. Make it cheaper and the amount of firepower it brings is too much, make it more expensive and its too fragile for its cost. It's the kind of miniature that would require extensive playtesting to make "right" imo. You are better off changing the rules around imo, either making it slightly more durable, or making it less killy.

I think I'll add a structure point effectively making it a super heavy flier, (so I can eliminate the spec rule and feasibly mount all the weapons). The rockets will drop to assault 4, and the night shield cost up to +20 pts. Leaving the base cost at 500 seems fair, and with its weapons (except missiles) working at 36" or less IMHO balances the power of said weapons.