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So...the Brass Orb states that, once the shot has been properly scattered, "models touched by the template must take an Initiative test or be destroyed, with no saves allowed".

p.108 of the BRB says that war machines automatically fail any characteristic tests, except Toughness and Leadership.

Finally:

1- A Runelord becomes part of crew of the Anvil of Doom
2- A Steam Tank automatically fails Initiative tests.

So...can a Brass Orb instantly take out a Runelord and his Anvil, and/or a Steam Tank? It'd be a bit of a gambit...but...65 points...

Thanks everyone.

Yes it can.
And so can several spells.

Well, can those spells get rid of the Tank, or is the "immune to all spells without Xd6 Strength Y Hits" still there?

It was FAQ-ed away.

The Orb is even more cheese if you manage to get off a skitterleap and pop up 1" away from the tank and then use the orb. Even if you misfire, the template should still cover part of the target.

I don't consider any legal tactic used to kill steam tanks and anvils of doom, "Cheesy".

-Matt

How many points is an engineer with a Brass Orb?

65.

Oh, well, I'm glad about the FAQ (mainly because, with the old rules, the Tank would be immune to the new Lore of Metal stuff).

And Hamsterwheel, while that is true, the orb can still float away with the scatter. Against a target like a Tank or Anvil, the odds are more against you than not that you'll just miss completely.
But still, at 65 points.

Of course, it doesn't compare to the Engineer+Doom Rocket; there is rarely a game where he does't make up his 45 points. Then again, you could have both...

Reasons why I never take a steam tank. The only real advantage to it is that it's impossible to kill. But now it isn't any more.

Well...10d3 S6 impact hits is nothing to laugh at. But at least it's not a "must-have" any more.

Warpsolution wrote:Oh, well, I'm glad about the FAQ (mainly because, with the old rules, the Tank would be immune to the new Lore of Metal stuff).

And Hamsterwheel, while that is true, the orb can still float away with the scatter. Against a target like a Tank or Anvil, the odds are more against you than not that you'll just miss completely.
But still, at 65 points.

Of course, it doesn't compare to the Engineer+Doom Rocket; there is rarely a game where he does't make up his 45 points. Then again, you could have both...

Outside of the orb, skaven don't typically take much that has a chance against a steam tank. Brass Orb, cracks call, Dwellers below, Penumbral Pendulum, Pit of Shades, Purple Sun.

5 spells, spread across 4 lores of magic, and 1 one use item that instant kill it.
I'm not crying for any empire players. It's still a very durable choice.
I'd take it just so the enemy slaan is dropping dwellers on a steam tank instead of my wizard lord and company.

Don't under estimate the D6 S6 impact hits is causes to units that impact it. A single steam tank can just Wreck a beast chariot horde.

-Matt

What kind of moron uses dwellers on a S6 single model?

Yeah, Matt, I don't think anyone is saying that Steam Tanks aren't good or anything. They are worth every one of those 300 points, and most people will say they're worth a fair number more. I mean, a Doom Wheel could fair well in shooting against it, and the Abomination could potentially squish one, but it all seems 50-50 at best.

...actually, I guess I just don't understand why you started with a quote from me. Steam Tanks are still sick unit-grinding monsters. No one can argue that point.

HawaiiMatt wrote:Brass Orb, cracks call, Dwellers below, Penumbral Pendulum, Pit of Shades, Purple Sun.

Wait, how do skaven get BRB magic? (Other than Wizard's Hat)

Jeep wrote:

HawaiiMatt wrote:Brass Orb, cracks call, Dwellers below, Penumbral Pendulum, Pit of Shades, Purple Sun.

Wait, how do skaven get BRB magic? (Other than Wizard's Hat)

That's all the spells that instant kill a steam tank.
You cast Dwellers on the Steam Tank, because being a warmachine it auto fails ALL characteristic tests except for toughness. It doesn't matter that it's S6, it doesn't get to roll.
As for people saying steam tanks aren't worth taking, I see that a lot in peoples reviews of empire armies.

-Matt

Matt it's a chariot, see the BRB and Empire FAQ-es. Deals with dwellers just fine.

HoverBoy wrote:Matt it's a chariot, see the BRB and Empire FAQ-es. Deals with dwellers just fine.

Ah you are correct. I thought the FAQ said war machine.
Hey, since the steam tank is now a chariot, can it stand and fire with the cannon? IIRC, the reference to steam points is shooting the cannon in the shooting phase.
Not that I would recommend this, as it's pretty clear that is not what is intended.

-Matt

It could stand and shoot, if it had any steam points in the enemy phase....

HoverBoy wrote:What kind of moron uses dwellers on a S6 single model?

first turn magic phase only had keeper of secrets in range thought what the heck might as well try got dwellers cast opponent failed to dispel rolled a SIX.
we were playing blood and glory he only had two banners and general. game won. 'moron' i think not.

I doubdt there's a way for me to say " dumb luck" without sounding rude...

A 1/6 chance to fail vs a, assuming 4 dice, more than 1/6 chance to miscast seems like bad odds to me

nosferatu1001 wrote:A 1/6 chance to fail vs a, assuming 4 dice, more than 1/6 chance to miscast seems like bad odds to me

But the miscast won't lose you the game, where as a success = win.
The stupid decision was the daemon player who showed up with only a general and 2 banners.

-Matt

Depends if the Empire guy only had 2 banner and general, wizard as general and miscast - death

THEN you could both simultaneously lose!

Jeep wrote:

HawaiiMatt wrote:Brass Orb, cracks call, Dwellers below, Penumbral Pendulum, Pit of Shades, Purple Sun.

Wait, how do skaven get BRB magic? (Other than Wizard's Hat)

Passing a Sphynx's Initiative Test gives you Loremaster (Death).

I know it's situational, but you asked.