Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So I was wondering why in the DE Armybook (Thanks Kroothhawk) of 2001 the hydra cost 220 but the new codex the hydra costs 175 and now in SOM it costs 220 again...
I am playing a 750 point game and I am afraid that my opponent DE is going to destroy the table with his hydra. I just don't see how the hydra is fair? It seem really cheap in this codex...

Any insight?
RJH

What do you play?

Based on his prior posts I believe High Elf, in which case one Core can be given the flaming banner, so stick that on some Seaguard and between the flaming bow shots and when you get into combat with him strike first with 5 ranks rerolling misses all flaming attacks, T5 is OK for a monster not great, regen makes the hydra a beast but he can't stand up to that, that's 3 wounds just in combat not counting shooting before and stand and shoot.

Don't think that the flaming attack banner works on shooting though. Maybe Swordmasters with the flaming banner, lots of S. 5 ASF flaming attacks could drop the Hydra in one go. But it will hurt if you don't.

It has low I, so maybe lore of shadow would be nice. The Withering or Okkams mindrazor, should give the before-mentioned spearmen a decent chance, and pit of shades could beat it as well.

It does unless it's been FAQed see page 69 lat paragraph for Flaming Attacks. SM would work but I'm sure you want at a banner of sorcery so go this route if you have another unit that can pack that.

Thanks for the advice you guys had some great insight... But does anyone know why it is so much cheaper in this codex?

Any other advice would be great... I play Tomb Kings and High Elf...

RJH

It is so cheap in the Dark Elves Armybook because at the time of the armybook release, there was also a War Hydra model released (better rules = more sales). Games Workshop is a company that sells models first and foremost. They don't really care about game balance, they just want to sell as many models as possible.

Airmaniac wrote:They don't really care about game balance, they just want to sell as many models as possible.

See also Tyranid codex release. Those six Carnifex you had for your 4th ed book? I hope you magnetized them because we made popular combinations illegal or wickedly overpriced. Know what you should get instead? These awesome new Trygon models! Ok great, so people are done buying Trygons? Well these Grey Knights need something big and expensive too... how about a Dreadknight that costs just a wee bit more and will stomp entire armies into the ground? Perfect!

At the time of release the hydra couldn't use its breath weapon in close combat, or get a thunder stomp. Now its wickedly powerful and I love my 4.

1.) DE codex is Dark Eldar Codex, in Fantasy there are only army books.
2.) The costs in the SoM book are for all armies, not only Dark Elves, and have nothing to do with the costs in each army book which stay the same. So Dark Elves could take 2 Hydras for 170 plus in their SoM budget 2 Hydras for 220 points.
3.) Why the Hydra got a cost reduction? Well, as said, to make it worth taking and buying the new model.

Its just seems weird that its different in SoM from the ARMYBOOK when other things like the eagle is the same...

All input is appreciated,
RJH

The SoM Hydra doesn't get a pair of Beastmasters to go with it, does it?

Blah. Never mind, I didn't quite understand exactly what the OP was saying.

If I had to hazard a wild guess--it is exactly as said. The Hydra got a points bump in SoM because everyone can use it and it's actually balanced in terms of Fantasy as it is now.

It does seem more balanced in SoM... The DE ARMYBOOK has it priced cheap enough to take it in a 750 point game...

RJH

I wouldn't dwell too much on it. As others stated it maybe a buying issue. It maybe because that army lacks a monster and so it was entitled to a cheap monster, maybe tehy have some fluff showing their affinity to the Hydra. If you think it's cheap nothing is stopping you from going DE.

rangerjayhawk wrote:It does seem more balanced in SoM... The DE ARMYBOOK has it priced cheap enough to take it in a 750 point game...

RJH

That's a big "so what?" in my opinion.

Dark Elves are famed for their monsters. Karond Kar, home of the Beastmasters, is famous for their War Hydras and other nasty beasties that they breed there.

It would be, in my opinion, like if High Elves got to take a massive White Lion for cheaper than the Storm of Magic equivalent(which is the exact same).
It's a signature unit of the army, by and large, so the army should actually have it cheaper.

It costs 220 in SoM because the current DE Hydra is so painfully underpriced that there's really no reason not to take 2 as soon as points allow other than "that's lame." It has nothing to do with balancing it for other armies or the Dark Elves being renowned monster tamers. It's a 100% guarantee that the DE version will get a similar points rise as soon as the new book is out.

the color purple wrote:It costs 220 in SoM because the current DE Hydra is so painfully underpriced that there's really no reason not to take 2 as soon as points allow other than "that's lame." It has nothing to do with balancing it for other armies or the Dark Elves being renowned monster tamers. It's a 100% guarantee that the DE version will get a similar points rise as soon as the new book is out.

Yeah, not looking forward to a new DE book. I just know investing in 4 of them will be a pitfall.

Fortunately, we are a loooooong way off from a new DE book.

Brets, WE, and Dwarves are the last 6E books left. After them HE, Empire, VC, WoC, and DoC are all due before ours.