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Myself and a few of my friends are planning on starting to play WH40K. We've already chosen our armies and are in contact with the local importer in preparation for buying the first "wave" of models. We're planning on starting small and gradually expanding whenever there's a big sale going on (they sometimes do a 30% price drop for attaching orders to their restock shipments).

I'm playing Necrons, one is playing the Imperial Guard, another is playing Tau and the last of the bunch went for the Nids. We agreed on 600pts armies for the initial buy.

I've been toying with my army lists and have so far come up with the following (keep in mind that the initial army is little more than a basic battleforce, so not much options there)-


Initial Army:

Overlord + Phaeron + Resurrection Orb = 140pts
15 Warriors + Ghost Arc = 310pts
5 Warriors = 65pts
5 Tesla Immortals = 85pts

Total = 600pts

Overlord goes with the 15 warriors squad while the 5 warriors squad go embarked on the GA. mid-Lategame the Immortals break off to claim an objective while the Warriors keep on pounding.

Feels a bit risky since the GA has a fairly big "blast me" sign painted all over it and may end up glancing itself with an unlucky roll, but what can you do?



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Mid point 1000pts Army

1/2 HQ (235):
Overlord + Warscythe = 100pts
+ Catacomb Command Barge = 80
+ Harbinger of Destruction + Solar pulse = 55pts

2/6 Troops (330)
10 Warriors + Ghost Arc = 245pts
5 Tesla Immortals = 85pts

1/3 Fast Assault (250):
6 Canoptek Wraiths (3 Whipcoils, 2 particle caster) = 250pts

2/3 Heavy Support (180):
Annihilation Barge /w Tesla Cannons = 90pts
Annihilation Barge /w Tesla Cannons = 90pts

Total = 995pts

Lancetech goes with the Immortals and the rest is mostly self evident.

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2000pts Army:

2/2 HQ (790):
Imotekh the Stormlord = 225pts
+ Harbinger of Destruction + Solar pulse = 55pts
+ Harbinger of Destruction = 35pts
Nemesor Zahndrekh = 185pts
+ Necron Lord + Resurrection Orb = 65pts
+ Harbinger of Destruction + Solar pulse = 55pts
+ Harbinger of Destruction + Gaze of Flames = 45pts
+ Harbinger of Destruction = 35pts
+ Harbinger of Destruction = 35pts
+ Harbinger of Transmogrification + Harp of Dissonance = 55pts

3/6 Troops (470):
15 Warriors + Ghost Arc = 300pts
5 Tesla Immortals = 85pts
5 Tesla Immortals = 85pts

2/3 Fast Attack (340):
6 Canoptek Wraiths (3 Whipcoils, 2 Particle Casters) = 250pts
6 Canoptek Scarabs = 90pts

Heavy Support (400):
2 Annihilation Barges /w Tesla Cannons = 180pts
3 Canoptek Spyders (2 Twin-Linked Particle Beamers + 2 Fabricator Claw Array) = 220pts

Total 2000pts

This is where this army starts to pour out some serious firepower- a small scarab farm that shoots blast markers on the move and fixes vehicles, some death from above via Imotekh's lightning and the Stormlord himself with a Rezlord joining 15 warriors marching in front of a GA, 2 lancetechs each joined with a unit of 5 Immortals for some mobile wound soaking, 4 lancetechs + harptech + Nemesor for dedicated anti-armor/sniping duty shielded by Zahndrekh's 2+/3++ saves and rezorb, 2 Annihilation Barges doing their thing while staying close to the Spyders for repairs if needed and a 6 Wraith squad for hunting down targets of opportunity and generally panicking ranged armies.

Solar pulses can negate night fighting on own player turns or inflict them on enemy turns if and when Imotekh's storm subsides. Sniping searchlights with lances early on could seriously screw with a long ranged army on the long run, possibly crippling it until my force is within its 24" mostly range.


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2500pts Army:

2/2 HQ (1030):
Imotekh the Stormlord = 225pts
+ Harbinger of Destruction + Solar pulse = 55pts
+ Harbinger of Destruction = 35pts
Nemesor Zahndrekh = 185pts
+ Necron Lord + Resurrection Orb = 65pts
+ Harbinger of Destruction + Solar pulse = 55pts
+ Harbinger of Destruction + Gaze of Flames = 45pts
+ Harbinger of Destruction = 35pts
+ Harbinger of Destruction = 35pts
+ Harbinger of Transmogrification + Harp of Dissonance = 55pts
Vargard Obyron = 160pts
+ Catacomb Command Barge = 80pts

3/6 Troops (470):
15 Warriors + Ghost Arc = 300pts
5 Tesla Immortals = 85pts
5 Tesla Immortals = 85pts

3/3 Fast Attack (600):
6 Canoptek Wraiths (3 Whipcoils, 2 Particle Casters) = 250pts
6 Canoptek Wraiths (3 Whipcoils, 1 Particle Casters) = 245pts
7 Canoptek Scarabs = 105pts

Heavy Support (400):
Annihilation Barge /w Tesla Cannons = 90pts
Annihilation Barge /w Tesla Cannons = 90pts
3 Canoptek Spyders (2 Twin-Linked Particle Beamers + 2 Fabricator Claw Array) = 220pts

Total 2490pts

Same as its 2000pts variant plus a second unit of Wraiths and the Vargard on a CCB.

Thoughts?

Well, first off, let me welcome you to the game by stopping you from making a rookie mistake:
If your Overlord has Phaeron AND a ResOrb, he's going to want as many guys with him to benefit from his bonuses as possible.
I'd say split it 15 on foot with the Overlord/5 in the Ark.

Also,

Galorian wrote:Feels a bit risky since the GA has a fairly big "blast me" sign painted all over it and may end up glancing itself with an unlucky roll, but what can you do?

don't worry about that, it's all worth it. The Ghost Ark's primary role is support, not damage. It's there to protect your guys and replenish your Warriors. That's it. Don't try to rely on it doing anything else.

Additionally, I don't know how much you've already read about the rest of the units we've got access to, but I'd say your first purchase (in addition to the the Battleforce box) should be a Command Barge or two.
They are far and away the best models in the codex (both the Command and Annihilation variations). It is not uncommon to see people fielding five of these things (hell, I'd use ten, if there was a way).
Possibly the best thing about them is the fact that they come with a free Overlord model. One Command Barge box and one Battleforce box will give you everything you will need to start playing with (2 Troop, 1 HQ).

Judging by the initial builds you've written up, though, you seem to be trying to go for a more "shooty" army.
That's fine. Not the most competitive of builds, but still able to do well enough.
I would recommend picking up those Stalkers later down the line, as they are invaluable to shooty armies (ESPECIALLY with Destroyers in the army).

good luck, fellow tin-man.

skoffs wrote:Well, first off, let me welcome you to the game by stopping you from making a rookie mistake:
If your Overlord has Phaeron AND a ResOrb, he's going to want as many guys with him to benefit from his bonuses as possible.
I'd say split it 15 on foot with the Overlord/5 in the Ark.

Also,

Galorian wrote:Feels a bit risky since the GA has a fairly big "blast me" sign painted all over it and may end up glancing itself with an unlucky roll, but what can you do?

don't worry about that, it's all worth it. The Ghost Ark's primary role is support, not damage. It's there to protect your guys and replenish your Warriors. That's it. Don't try to rely on it doing anything else.

Additionally, I don't know how much you've already read about the rest of the units we've got access to, but I'd say your first purchase (in addition to the the Battleforce box) should be a Command Barge or two.
They are far and away the best models in the codex (both the Command and Annihilation variations). It is not uncommon to see people fielding five of these things (hell, I'd use ten, if there was a way).
Possibly the best thing about them is the fact that they come with a free Overlord model. One Command Barge box and one Battleforce box will give you everything you will need to start playing with (2 Troop, 1 HQ).

Judging by the initial builds you've written up, though, you seem to be trying to go for a more "shooty" army.
That's fine. Not the most competitive of builds, but still able to do well enough.
I might recommend you look into picking up a couple Stalkers later down the line, as they will really help shooty armies.

good luck, fellow tin-man.

Thanks for the input.

They way I figured I'd deploy the Phaeron's unit in the initial build is to have the GA cruise 12" and disembark the unit if front of it, giving them a 14" movement phase with Relentless for shooting afterwards. Figured getting them up close in 2 shot range with the enemy before the first (non-long ranged) shot is fired might come in handy, not to mention the staff of light.

The other warrior squad plays catch up on turn 1 by running in their shooting phase and the Tesla Immortals walk up to inside their 24" range and open up. Later on the Immortals can inch their way towards an objective while maintaining fire while the 2nd warrior group either walks to 12" range in the second turn if they're close enough or run into it if not.

Might've overlooked something in the rules or tactically, but that's my thoughts on the matter.

I'm likely playing mostly against IG and Tau, so I figured closing in fast is kind of important.

How does my idea sound?

Well, against IG and Tau, you may be outmatched for shooting, and as soon as you meet anything with decent combat ('Nid), you're going to find your guys get swept REALLY easily.
Necrons really need to rely on clever tactics more than just advance-and-shoot (that was the way the old codex worked).

skoffs wrote:Well, against IG and Tau, you may be outmatched for shooting, and as soon as you meet anything with decent combat ('Nid), you're going to find your guys get swept REALLY easily.
Necrons really need to rely on clever tactics more than just advance-and-shoot (that was the way the old codex worked).

Point taken. I'll amend the army accordingly.

Thanks.

Maybe it'll be a good idea to scrap the 5 warrior squad for a 4 scarab squad?

Should draw away much firepower and be able to assault at least one enemy squad, tying them up so that the Phalanx would have an easier time dealing with the rest.

Would that work?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Made a few variations to the OP and improved the army list format to be easier on the eye.

Would appreciate any input and criticism you guys could give.