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A few questions have came up after looking over the court of the Archon choices.

Has anyone ever used them in a game before? And if so are they more, just, or less effective then let's say a squad of Bloodbrides or Incubi to be the Archons bodyguard?

Whats a good way to run a court such as good court choices and configurations?

Are any of the choices op in your opinion or a choice you would never take?

What models have you used to portray your court?

What are good tactics for using the court?

And lastly do you think GW will ever make models for the court?

Personally, I think that the court is a pretty lame choice for your Archon. There's only one good character (I can't remember the name) that upgrades your weapons to poisoned 2+, but that's pretty useless itself because the Archon's only poisoned weapon isn't a power weapon. I'd stick your commander with Incubi or Bloodbrides. And about their release, I doubt it (at least not for a while) - GW have already done DE wave 2, and other races would then want their specials released like SM Honour Guard.

Sorry for an incredibly negative response

It's all good lol I was counting on it as personally I think its a bad choice compared to others. Just thought I'd see if someone had good luck with them

Well, they may be good, I don't know of anyone who's tried them out - perhaps you could search around? It's just that they look bad in the codex, but thinking about it perhaps they would be better designed to keep your Archon alive longer, and help him in combat, rather than being mini heroes themselves.

Commander Jimbob wrote:and other races would then want their specials released like SM Honour Guard.

Sorry for an incredibly negative response

Are we forgetting that Honor Guard have models? Two types of models (GW and FW)?

My girlfriend used them a couple of times. The only worthwile unit is the medusae with their flame template attacks. But, as stated, Incubi are much better a choice. Much tougher and pack a better punch.

One way I can see them being run is this

Archon

Urien

Court
- 1 of each member but with 3 ssylth.

This gives your unit a majority of T 5 and all around FnP. On the down side it's quite an expensive load out when you include your raider and probably won't pack as much punch in combat as say blood brides or incubi. On top of this, lossing a single sslyth to unlucky dice rolls (say you allocated to other models first but they saved) then you loss T 5 and go to majority T 3 (IIRC)

Overall though I'd say Incubi or Bloodbrides are more effective per point than the court. That said, if you already have three elite slots full of something else (like blasterborn) the court gives you a decent, if not as good, replacement for what you'd normally
use.

Just for the sake of it I'll try them out, using the Sslyth and the medusae cuz the lhamaen doesn't seem to do a hole lot

ph34r wrote:

Commander Jimbob wrote:and other races would then want their specials released like SM Honour Guard.

Sorry for an incredibly negative response

Are we forgetting that Honor Guard have models? Two types of models (GW and FW)?

The GW kit isn't too easy to customize if I remember correctly (although it may be easier if they're in Resin), but I didn't know FW did them

Well they got a few of the models in for the Court so i might pick them up thry look pretty cool

Riddick40k wrote:Well they got a few of the models in for the Court so i might pick them up thry look pretty cool

I don't know if this thread's still going, but I've also just seen the two new models in WD, from the Court of the Archon. Lets hope they don't leave the other two models for too long

The Sslyth are really the only good option. The Medusae is sort of like a liquifier, but not nearly as useful as a Haemy with one. Lhamaean is completely pointless, so is the Ur-ghul.
I'd take 5 Incubi any day. Hell, I don't even use an Archon.

Mr. Self Destruct wrote:I'd take 5 Incubi any day. Hell, I don't even use an Archon.

Yup, I agree with the Incubi bit, they are pretty powerful opponents (although they need invulnerable saves). And how can you not use an Archon? Unless you go with a special character...

Commander Jimbob wrote:

Mr. Self Destruct wrote:I'd take 5 Incubi any day. Hell, I don't even use an Archon.

Yup, I agree with the Incubi bit, they are pretty powerful opponents (although they need invulnerable saves). And how can you not use an Archon? Unless you go with a special character...

I run 1 Haemy for each CC unit as my HQ.

Will be nice to see the models for the other 2 choices

I always assumed the best use of the court was to confuse your opponent. Yeah incubi may be more efficient, but people commonly know what to do with them; A court, on the other hand, is always a wildcard, a bunch of units with unique abilities and all in the same place. Do you switch focus with your lascannons on their quirky miniboss squad, or do you shoot the few armored units on the table? May not be the most efficient, but they seem to have their own ways of dealing with most any situation, with the mix of high toughness units, flamer templates, poisoned weapons and the Archon, who's already a beast. Honestly, they remind me of the Inquisitor's retinue, a host of dudes who's meant to make the main guy shine more rather than actualy be useful. Just more expensive.
Oh, and don't Llamaeans affect Agonizers? That makes a power weapon that wounds on a 2+, on a WS 7 model. scaaary.

Mr. Self Destruct wrote:I run 1 Haemy for each CC unit as my HQ.

Ah, nice, I somehow forgot about the Haemonculi

Dracofactory wrote:I always assumed the best use of the court was to confuse your opponent. Yeah incubi may be more efficient, but people commonly know what to do with them; A court, on the other hand, is always a wildcard, a bunch of units with unique abilities and all in the same place. Do you switch focus with your lascannons on their quirky miniboss squad, or do you shoot the few armored units on the table? May not be the most efficient, but they seem to have their own ways of dealing with most any situation, with the mix of high toughness units, flamer templates, poisoned weapons and the Archon, who's already a beast. Honestly, they remind me of the Inquisitor's retinue, a host of dudes who's meant to make the main guy shine more rather than actualy be useful. Just more expensive.
Oh, and don't Llamaeans affect Agonizers? That makes a power weapon that wounds on a 2+, on a WS 7 model. scaaary.

Good point, this thread's starting to persuade me to buy some

Agonisers aren't poison weapons; they don't get affected by Lhameans.

Court has a couple viable uses, IMO. One, cheap flamer unit in a Venom. Two, max Ur-Ghuls for S5 assault (they have Furious Charge) to pummel light infantry. Otherwise... not really worth it unless you'd really rather have a unit of sslyth running around instead of grotesques.

Riddick40k wrote:A few questions have came up after looking over the court of the Archon choices.
Has anyone ever used them in a game before? And if so are they more, just, or less effective then let's say a squad of Bloodbrides or Incubi to be the Archons bodyguard?
Whats a good way to run a court such as good court choices and configurations?
Are any of the choices op in your opinion or a choice you would never take?
What models have you used to portray your court?
What are good tactics for using the court?
And lastly do you think GW will ever make models for the court?

No.


Personally, given point-cost and killing ability, I go with an Archon escorted by 4 Incubi mounted in a Venom, i find they are more economical and are more reliable. They all fly around and hunt HQs, MC, and ICs. I find that this unit is a lot more skilled at making things dead, fast (but not too fast), and the Soul-Trap (combined with pain tokens) gives my Archon all the strong vitamins a growing DE needs to be absolutely terrifying.

Another twist i've played with is an Archon with 4 Trueborn all with Blasters. While more expensive, i prefer to use this set-up in small games where i expect my oppenent to try to feild as much armor/MCs as possible.