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So i'm thinking about entering my first tournament but i have never played in one before. So the advice i'm after is what sort of thing do i need to consider when setting up my army list for a tournament. I'm not after someone writing me a list - otherwise i'd post in the Army list forum! just some opinions on what variations i need to consider and the general tournament experience.

I play Necrons and i'm open to buying some more models in addition to what i have already, i'll list them below.

Zahndrekh
Obyron
Overlord
Lord
Destroyer Lord
Crypteks x 2
Lychguard x 5
Deathmarks x 5
Wraiths x 3
Destroyers x 4
Warriors x 30
Monolith x 1
Ghost/Doomsday Ark x 1
Annihilation Barge x 1
Nightscythe/Doomscythe x 1

My advice is to be you. Just because it is a tournament doesn't mean you need to change how you play (unless you use lots of house rules). Go to the event, play some games, meet new friends. From there you can evaluate how competitive you want to be and make changes for the future. The one important thing is to know the rules.

Also, you should look up Dashofpepper's tournament prep article. It is good.

I'll check that article out - thanks very much!

I give advice on having faced 'crons all spring and the last battle I fought too.

VonGrimm wrote:Zahndrekh
Obyron
Overlord
Lord
Destroyer Lord

Each can be very effective. MindShackleScarab is good as you're likely to have WarLord on War lord action with Challenges. I detest Oby, so bring him if you bring his boss. Generic Lords ought to have Warscythes & Res Orbs.

VonGrimm wrote:Crypteks x 2

Chrono-tek and a STR8 AP1 tek are useful. Veil, of course. Buy at least two more.

VonGrimm wrote:Lychguard x 5
Deathmarks x 5

YMMV with these, although you need more for a better deathstar, Overload (WS & ResOrb).

VonGrimm wrote:Wraiths x 3

Buy more (as pricey as they are)

VonGrimm wrote:Destroyers x 4
Warriors x 30
Monolith x 1
Ghost/Doomsday Ark x 1

Several 'crons lists were at yesterday's rtt, but no monos. Eh. Destroyers having Preferred Enemy is a good thing. Bring 'em.

VonGrimm wrote:Annihilation Barge x 1
Nightscythe/Doomscythe x 1

They're better in trios and pairs, but take these two for sure. Can you convert the Anni-Barge to Cmd. Barge? Chariot Rules for Combat are wicked.

So if you're looking to burn money-
1. Jury is still out on NightS/DoomS - although none of the necron flying circuses did *well*, I'd state the mediocre performances were on lack of player experience.
2. Cmd Barges (side by side Lords)
3. More Annih-Barges - telsa shooting is just shooty nuts, and considering that any s rolled when Snap Shooting enemy Fliers will compound!

Brothererekose wrote:I give advice on having faced 'crons all spring and the last battle I fought too.

VonGrimm wrote:Zahndrekh
Obyron
Overlord
Lord
Destroyer Lord

Each can be very effective. MindShackleScarab is good as you're likely to have WarLord on War lord action with Challenges. I detest Oby, so bring him if you bring his boss. Generic Lords ought to have Warscythes & Res Orbs.

VonGrimm wrote:Crypteks x 2

Chrono-tek and a STR8 AP1 tek are useful. Veil, of course. Buy at least two more.

VonGrimm wrote:Lychguard x 5
Deathmarks x 5

YMMV with these, although you need more for a better deathstar, Overload (WS & ResOrb).

VonGrimm wrote:Wraiths x 3

Buy more (as pricey as they are)

VonGrimm wrote:Destroyers x 4
Warriors x 30
Monolith x 1
Ghost/Doomsday Ark x 1

Several 'crons lists were at yesterday's rtt, but no monos. Eh. Destroyers having Preferred Enemy is a good thing. Bring 'em.

VonGrimm wrote:Annihilation Barge x 1
Nightscythe/Doomscythe x 1

They're better in trios and pairs, but take these two for sure. Can you convert the Anni-Barge to Cmd. Barge? Chariot Rules for Combat are wicked.

So if you're looking to burn money-
1. Jury is still out on NightS/DoomS - although none of the necron flying circuses did *well*, I'd state the mediocre performances were on lack of player experience.
2. Cmd Barges (side by side Lords)
3. More Annih-Barges - telsa shooting is just shooty nuts, and considering that any s rolled when Snap Shooting enemy Fliers will compound!

Casey I finished second overall and top 10 in Battle Points with my Scythewing army and that was with losing my first game to Blackmoor! I dominated my other 2 games with the scythewing and I lost to Draigowing round 1 because 10 Paladins is a bad match up with only 1 doomscythe (although honestly I don't know any competitive build that Draigo wing isn't a bad match up for, which is why I play it... )!

I would say if you want a really shooty list you'll want to go with Annihilation Barge (buy one more if you can they are the business) Doomscythe (if you're looking to buy a little more than pick up two Nightscythes and take 10 warriors with each), and take the Destroyers too. A more balanced list would include most of the above with a unit of wraiths, maybe lychguard in a scythe (?), as counter attack. Tesla is, as Casey pointed out, just plain nuts. If you ever face off against a list like the one I used yesterday, or play a 5 scythe list yourself, you'll realize just how crazy Tesla weapons are. The exception to this is Immortals, I would not buy 10-20 Immortals and then go crazy with the Tesla, Gauss is better on troops which is why I run Warriors instead of Immortals. Check out this link for a bit more on the subject. http://www.captureandcontrol.com/2012/08/40k-6th-edition-tournament-report.html

OverwatchCNC wrote:1. Jury is still out on NightS/DoomS - although none of the necron flying circuses did *well*, I'd state the mediocre performances were on lack of player experience.
2. Cmd Barges (side by side Lords)
3. More Annih-Barges - telsa shooting is just shooty nuts, and considering that any s rolled when Snap Shooting enemy Fliers will compound!

OverwatchCNC wrote: Casey I finished second overall and top 10 in Battle Points with my Scythewing army and that was with losing my first game to Blackmoor! I dominated my other 2 games with the scythewing and I lost to Draigowing round 1 because 10 Paladins is a bad match up with only 1 doomscythe (although honestly I don't know any competitive build that Draigo wing isn't a bad match up for, which is why I play it... )!

"Oops", on my part. I missed your name near the top of the score sheet.

So, to amend my statement, Scythewing fully blows , but a player like OverwatchCNC can win with anything, even tau, ... if he wanted to.

OverwatchCNC wrote: Tesla is, as Casey pointed out, just plain nuts.

Macadamia, pistachio, walnut. Pretty much the whole Planters line.

You should just take a standard army and just have fun at your first tournament. You will learn a lot about your army and about tournaments.

As a general rule with army building for tournaments there are 2 schools of thought:

#1. Do one thing and do it so well that you have your opponent reacting to you and you get to dictate the game. A necron build of this type of army is a ton of flyers, a lot of Wraiths, of a lot of scarabs. This type of army is good, but they are subject to rock-paper-scissors counter where you will either dominate, or get dominated.

#2. Is a well rounded list.
You need to take an army that can deal with tanks, hordes, MEQs and flyers. Necrons can take well rounded armies to deal with just about anything.

Like everyone said play a list you are used to playing. Know how each unit works in conjunction with the other units in you army. I would like to see what your normal list is that you play with. I think people will tell you to buy more fliers and more wraiths. I have been playing necrons since the new book dropped and I love the versatility of the army. They do have their downfalls like all armies. If you want to know what I run just message me and I will share but i'm not going to post here. Blackmoor has the best point about making a list.