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Hey, I'm writing some stuff about IG fighting Necrons and I'd like to ask the members of DakkaDakka for some ideas on some stuff that isn't really explained in any of the books I've skimmed or the main wiki's (Lexicanum and Wh40kWiki).
How do Necron's see/sense their surroundings, is it some advanced HUD with motion sensors and Infrared options and stuff?
Also, do Necrons just travel in an unstoppable line from horizon to horizon crushing everything or do they focus on the main pockets of resistance?
The main ideas are an ambush scene on the Necrons and then another one where the Necrons lay siege to a city.
Thanks!

It's never said really how Necrons "see", the whole HUD thing seems likely and fine though.

Their combat style is based around phalanxes of troops backed up by extremely heavy firepower/airpower

The Fall of Damnos is a good book to tell you how necrons assault a city. They start by moving up and using large guns to try and bring down the walls. Later they use something like the monliths Eternity Gate to teleport troops inside the city.

The warriors and imortals will do what ever the overlord/lord tells them to, so it depends on their tactics.

The first question is something I have never heard described, will be interesting to see what everyone else thinks. Personally, I think it would make sense for them to use motion sensers you suggested. Mainly because the basic guys don't have a consciousness that can deal with very much info.

Thanks, for the Damnos info, I was asking about the HUD thing for the ambush mainly, because if they can see in infrared and such, it'd be extremely hard to ambush them, right?
Another question that rose up right now, are the Necrons controlled 'Phantom Menace style', like do they need a nearby power source, like their overlord or a Monolith carries it?

As far as I know, an individual Necron is internally powered. On the other hand, they diminish in effectiveness if they're not being actively commanded by one of the more intelligent Necrons (Lychguard, Praetorians, Lords, Crypteks, etc). In the Fall of Damnos (and I believe in the Necron codex as well) it describes how Necron warriors revert to standard combat protocols when they're not being actively commanded. I think Immortals are sentient enough to act on their own though.

 Arcani wrote:
Thanks, for the Damnos info, I was asking about the HUD thing for the ambush mainly, because if they can see in infrared and such, it'd be extremely hard to ambush them, right?
Another question that rose up right now, are the Necrons controlled 'Phantom Menace style', like do they need a nearby power source, like their overlord or a Monolith carries it?

Depends on the source. Necrons do need to be "powered" so they prioritize the capture of things like power plants to help keep them going. They use these juices to help power up the more advance weapons of war they have. The individual soldier I do not think needs power but the bigger the Necron force the more important.

Sources :
Dead Man Walking
DoW Soulstorm


The way Necrons make bases in DoW should be taken with a grain of salt also, there is some truth to it but dont over emphasis it. (Power to upgrade monoliths, Necron Warriors need little/no power)

I don't think they get infra-red 'cause they do get ambushed, sort of by some Ultramarines. They use darkness/fog to attack and the necrons reacted very slowly.

smUrfsrUs wrote:
I don't think they get infra-red 'cause they do get ambushed, sort of by some Ultramarines. They use darkness/fog to attack and the necrons reacted very slowly.

Yeah, that was my idea, the sanctioned psykers stir up a storm at night and the Guard charge them, taking out the Monoliths with HW/tanks first and then focusing on the infantry.

Necrons, have more freedom as far as what you can have their abilities be.

The can range from simply lining up a bunch of warriors and walking at the target to tactically fighting Dante (The Blood Angel's chapter master) to a stand still. Or anywhere inbetween.

That being said it would be bad form for guardsmen to be able to just call a storm at night and surprise a bunch of Necron that have activated monoliths. While bringing up enough heavy weapons and armor support to take out said monoliths.

Remeber you are talking about a race that destroyed the Old Ones and C'Tan while fighting the Eldar and other weapon races. Who use dimentions the other races don't even know exist, with technology that is effectively magic.

They are not going to be limited to daylight opperations for example.

Monoliths would likely be able to recognize enemies and guide nearby troops to combat the enemy. Ambush tactics would be better, however, you would need something that could last long enough, because, in Fall of Damnos, the resistance were annihilated, while the Marines could use their Power Armour to last through the Gauss fire. Melta bombs would destroy Monoliths.... a diversion could work...... I don't really know Imperial Guard that much, but I'm pretty sure they could afford to make a substantial diversion to plant the bombs.

I always thought they saw stuff like Arny does in Terminator! lol

Thanks for all the replies, in response to the Monolith thin:
The whole reason why the IG will eventually win is because, over the millennia the Tomb City was damaged and the Necron materials are still malfunctioning, also they have no very powerful overlord, just a few lords that are targeted first by the IG. So the IG are winning mainly because of Necron's bad luck than the power of the Emperor
So the Monoliths aren't really working properly so they won't see the IG before it's too late, and therefore the sudden attack and the destruction of their lord makes them go to their basic programming so they get overwhelmed.

Seems fair enough, maybe make a last ditched attempt by the Necron forces lead by the last Lord, defeated by the brilliance of your commander maybe - because Necrons, unless led by arrogant lords, should have a last ditched effort..Sounds great though

My thinking would be, that, like computers and machines now a days, there sensors are only but so powerful. I haven't read the book you're talking about the fog and whatnot, but it makes sense. Especially for your regular Warrior, they're not going to have the best sensors the Necrons have. So it seems entirely possible for sensory overload from too much atmospheric stuff going on. It's not entirely out of the question to think that's possible.

Read the fall of Damnos for necron tactics (Also it's a pretty good read)

As for necron sight? It's never really stated how they see, but I believe they don't have a hud or anything like that.