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I was talking with a buddy of mine about getting BFG restarted in my area. I have a Necron fleet and was going back over the rules while we were talking. I had completely forgotten about a weapon called the Star Pulse Generator. It provides a lance shot at every enemy with 20cm of a ship. I got all excited until I read about not being on special orders to be able to use it. So my question is, when or in what situations, would I use it? Was I playing Necrons incorrectly by using special orders?

It's most useful to the Tombship, as it's armor is 6+ and it's save is 4+, meaning it doesn't have to BFI very often. AAF around your opponent's lines and take the normal potshots while waiting for the opportunity to come up. Sooner or later you'll have a Scythe or Tombship uninhibited and in a good spot. Also, it's great for clearing ordnance off the table; ordnance is one of the Crons' worst weaknesses.

With Necrons its all about the special orders, using them correctly and at the right time., for the opponent its all about forcing you to use them when you ought not to notably brace and movement special orders.

Its very hard to 'defeat' a Necron fleet, instead you fight them to a standstill and that battle is best won psychologically.

To use the Star Pulse Generator you need to naturally be within range after your move, 20cm is not a lot of space. a canny opponent will get close in behind you overshooting if necessary to force you to drift out of range or cancel the generators to manoeuver.

Always remember though that Star Pulse isnt likely to hit many targets. How many times do you have four or more enemy in 20cm, not often. So at best its a 20cm lance 4 weapon, and only something more in extreme conditions. Its the necrons primary anti-nid weapon, but a gimic against other fleets.

As supermobility is perhaps the Necrons strongest asset Star Pulse is perhaps there only as backup. Necron playeras should look at their weapons as opportunistic, accept that most of the time you will be on half firepower either from being forced to brace, or by constantly outmanoeuvering the enemy. The former is surrendering the initiative to the opponent, the latter is seizing the initiative.

My advice is to forget Star Pulse, get behind the opponent shoot away at half firepower slowing whittleing them down for no losses, ALWAYS KEEP THE INITIATIVE, towards the end you might be facing slowed criplle opponent that you can get behind on normal movement. Then Star Pulse away.