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Okay, I just got phased twice in two games by Khornate Marines because I keep gettibf caught in assaults. I can blame this on lots of things: our playting area is a little small so I can't maneuver very well (3'x4 1/2'), I've been on painkillers during those games, crappy dice, but I really have to shoulder the blame because I keep letting the dang berzerkers get then into close combat. (Oh, I also chose not to teleport units out with the Monolith... ) So, my question is, is there any hope for the Necron in close combat? I've tried scarabs and tomb spyders with no luck and have had limited success with wraiths and flayed ones. Still haven't tried pariahs, but they're next. Help!

No hope until they're fearless (Necrons, that is).
Also, unfortunately, Pariahs aren't worth it. They have one attack.
Which makes them good vs. everything that has less that two attacks.
Which aren't units your normally worried about in close combat.
(I really wish pariahs were good for the points)

firstly, play on a proper sized table. upgrading from 3'x4' to 4'x6' means that we wont get to you nearly as fast. it will give you some time to shoot him to peices. necrons currently arent very good in combat. there are bits and pieces that help. C'Tan eat berzerkers for breakfast. if you decide to get one then i would go for a deciever. just as good in combat, but with much better abilities and for less points. being able to pin even a fearless unit while you shoot at it is invaluble. tombspiders are passable but will get dragged down in protracted combats. wraits arent worth the points for a single wound model. scarab swarms make exellent tar-pits. with their speed you can fly them into a sqaud of berzerkers to tie them up for a couple of turns while your army concentrates its fire on other things.

so no, necrons arent good in combat, but there are alternatives to fighting.

Play on a bigger table.

Shrinking table dimensions by a foot of width means they're in your lunch a turn earlier.

sourclams wrote:Shrinking table dimensions by a foot of width means they're in your lunch a turn earlier.

No, it means you're part of their lunch.

Necrons should avoid cc if possible. Standard tables of size 4'x6' help and also teleportation via VoD and Monolith, and fast units like Destroyers or Wraiths.

Until the new codex gives them the Stubborn USR, then yes.

If you don't have access to larger tables, ask your opponent to play more missions with spear head deployment. This should allow you to take a little extra space (and if they have been winning a lot it shouldn't be a big deal to them). Also, there is generally meant to be 18" - 24" between the two armies. Reduce deployment zones in other missions so that you have that kind of space between you and even on a smaller table the game will play out a little more fairly.

The 12" deployment zones and spear head both set up 24" of dead space between sides, dawn of war sets up a minimum of 18" of dead space.

That shoudl help a little, and look at regwons suggestions above. They are spot on. Use large scarab squads to tie things up while you deal with more immediate threats.

Meph

Thanks for all the advice. I guess I'm off to Home Depot next payday for a big piece of foamboard.

We've also been trying 1500 point armies, which cramps the space even more. I think he next game we play (probably today, since I don't feel like watching the Detroit Lions get mauled) we'll do 1000. The smaller armies worked a lot better on the smaller play area.

We're getting Stubborn now? How many USR's are they gonna give us? I've heard FNP, Slow and Purposeful...I'm curious to see which of these comes to pass. My money's on FNP.