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So here's a list I've come up with, looking for general feedback. I want it to be competitve to the point were I can play top top tier lists and not just get flattened, but also want the list to be enjoyable to play against. At the moment I own the Destroyer Lord, 3 wraiths, 10 warriors, 2 scythes and a barge so everything else is open to change.

HQ

Nemesor Zahndrekh - 185

Royal Court - 80
-Despairtek and 2 Stormteks

Destroyer Lord -160
-SW, MSS

Troops

5 Necron Warriors in Night Scythe (Stormtek here) - 165

5 Necron Warriors in Night Scythe (Stormtek here) - 165

9 Necron Warriors in Ghost Ark (Zahndrekh here) - 232

Elites

5 Deathmarks in Night Scythe (Despairtek here) - 195

Fast Attack

6 Canoptek Wraiths - 230
-2 whip coils

9 Scarab Swarms - 135

Heavy Support

Annihilation Barge - 90

Annihilation Barge - 90

2 Canoptek Spyders - 120
-2 fabricator claw arrays

Total 1847

I'm really not sure about Zahndrekh, I want the royal court and a tooled up bargelord seems too expensive and a cheap overlord doesn't really add anything. Any suggestions or feedback would be awesome!!

It's a solid list, I have used a very similar one to great effect multiple times. Zhandrekh is great combined with scarabs because you can give the scarabs furious charge which is just great fun. The only issue I see is with the spyders do you plan on having them sit back and try and rebuild the barges/ark, or do you plan on moving them forward with the scarabs, if you do then I would recommend dropping the fabricator claws. If you plan on keeping them back and you know you will be facing psyker based armies, maybe drop a fabricator claw to get a gloom prism to help the deny

I would agree with dropping the fabricator claws, once necron vehicles are injured(I.e. Loosing their quantum shielding) they are forever weak. Zandrek is the best named character as far as accompanying troops, is buffs are very often useful and require no rolls like orders or psychic powers.

I like the addition of gloom prisims since you're already going to be advancing the wraiths and destroyer lord(fantastic unit by the way) you can shield your advancing force from physkers.

One thing to keep in mind - I don't think you can use Zahndrekh's counter tactics while he is in the ghost ark.

I would dump the fabricator claws and try to get a third spyder or possibly an aegis, which is great for hiding scarabs from that first turn alpha strike.

 RobPro wrote:
One thing to keep in mind - I don't think you can use Zahndrekh's counter tactics while he is in the ghost ark.

You can, he just requires line of sight (and in an open top vehicle, he has it).

 skoffs wrote:

 RobPro wrote:
One thing to keep in mind - I don't think you can use Zahndrekh's counter tactics while he is in the ghost ark.

You can, he just requires line of sight (and in an open top vehicle, he has it).

Only if he was shooting. Counter tactics isn't shooting and requires line of sight, you'd have to get out to do it.

I thought it was psychic powers that had that restriction.
Is there some precedent for non-psychic abilities to be bound by that same restriction?

Ok, so drop the fabricator claws for 1 gloom prism, having the spyders run up after the scarabs and daisy chaining a wraith within 3" if there are psychers. That leaves me 8 points for something....

I don't think i can find the points for a 3rd spyder or an aegis, though an aegis with comms could be useful with my 3 scythes (otherwise will just be rolling on strategic with Zahndrekh). Maybe drop some of the warriors in the ark. Would a destructek be worth it in the ark as well?

That is an interesting question whether Zahndrekh can do Counter Tactics from in the ark, definitely needs an FAQ (but GW probably won't give it one soon)

Cheers for all the advice

 skoffs wrote:
I thought it was psychic powers that had that restriction. Is there some precedent for non-psychic abilities to be bound by that same restriction?

This is sadly a thing. Permission is only given to shoot, and use Witchfires IIRC. 'Counter Tactics' is not a shooting attack but does require LoS, so he has to hop out.

unfassbarnathan wrote:
That is an interesting question whether Zahndrekh can do Counter Tactics from in the ark, definitely needs an FAQ (but GW probably won't give it one soon)

Well, time to write them another email!
(not that I'll get an answer, but the theory is, the more questions they get about something, the more likely it is we'll see it addressed in a future FAQ update)

If anyone else feels they'd like to take a minute to help, here's the email address:
gamefaqs@gwplc.com

Just a quick, "Hey, Necron question: if Zahndrekh is embarked on a Ghost Ark, can he use his Counter Tactics ability if he's got line of sight to his target?"
You'll get an automated "message received" response after you send it.

Aslo, yep, Destruct-teks are good to stick in Arks.

And if you've got less than 10 points left over, just spend 5 to give a Wraith a pistol.

You don't seem to have included the points for your Ghost Ark above?

It is not that permission is given to use witch fires, it's that permission is denied to cast other psychic powers. Line of sight exists as proven by the shooting. It is a permissive game system. If it doesn't deny that you can do it, you can do it.

Kholzerino wrote:
You don't seem to have included the points for your Ghost Ark above?

Just a typo sorry. The correct points was included in the total. Edited now.

Kholzerino wrote:
It is not that permission is given to use witch fires, it's that permission is denied to cast other psychic powers. Line of sight exists as proven by the shooting. It is a permissive game system. If it doesn't deny that you can do it, you can do it.

I'm going to ignore the 'If it doesn't Deny it, then you can do it' part since that's an old argument that doesn't need to be covered.

While I agree that he should be able to, there is no rule to cover how. I don't remember if it was here that I read the debate or on some other forum, but the question came up about Farseers being able to use Blessings/Maledictions now that they can embark on Dark Eldar Raiders. This is a debate that Eldar players are more familiar with since it's been raging for a few editions now. Since it applies to them, it would also apply to Zahndrekh, and I believe the debate has come up about 'Mind in the Machine' (Anrakyr) as well.

Here's my dumbed down version of the debate. (Sorry, I couldn't find the one that I read to link it...)

Permission is given to measure Range/LoS from the Hull when shooting. If it's not a shooting attack, then you still have to draw LoS from the model, which you can't do from a Transport regardless of whether it's open-topped or not. When measuring Range/LoS from the Hull, we only have permission to do so if it's a shooting attack (incl. witchfires). The REASON players think they can, is because that's how Open-topped is supposed to function, so without looking at the rule it's a natural conclusion. Open-Topped doesn't cover every situation that might use it.

So for friendly games, sure go ahead do it, or ask for opponents permission, etc. If you're going to jump into the Tournament scene, then just plan on it not being allowed.

Farseers are explicitly not allowed to cast blessings while embarked on vehicles. It's in the rules. If you're bringing Zandrekh to a tournament ask your TO. But it is not a psychic power and there for not covered by psychic power rules (some of which can - and some of which cannot - be cast in vehicles). The permissions for using it are quite simply given - must have line of sight. Which you do from an open topped vehicle. It's not a psychic power it's a tactic.

Thanks for all the feedback and advice. I'm wondering what armies this list would struggle against.

Here's a slightly ammended/improved list.

HQ

Nemesor Zahndrekh - 185

Royal Court - 115
-Despairtek, Destructtek and 2 Stormteks

Destroyer Lord -160
-SW, MSS

Troops

5 Necron Warriors in Night Scythe (Stormtek here) - 165

5 Necron Warriors in Night Scythe (Stormtek here) - 165

8 Necron Warriors in Ghost Ark (Zahndrekh and Destructtek here) - 219

Elites

5 Deathmarks in Night Scythe (Despairtek here) - 195

Fast Attack

6 Canoptek Wraiths (Destoyer Lord here)- 230
-2 whip coils

8 Scarab Swarms - 120

Heavy Support

Annihilation Barge - 90

Annihilation Barge - 90

2 Canoptek Spyders - 115
-1 gloom prism

Total 1849

Kholzerino wrote:
The permissions for using it are quite simply given - must have line of sight. Which you do from an open topped vehicle. It's not a psychic power it's a tactic.

Where are the rules for measuring LoS from a model inside a transport?

Page 80 "ranges and line of sight are measured from the Fire Point" and in reference to open topped vehicles, page 88 "measuring range and line of sight from any point on the hull of the vehicle". These rules are in reference to shooting, but they do define line of sight fairly well.

I think the list is looking really good. I'm never really sure about mini scarab farms, think this works best with more Spyders and multiple units of scarabs, you could afford another full unit of wraiths for this, or a doom scythe. Most good opponents will focus on a vehicle, taking it out in one clean turn rather than nipping hull points here and there so in not personally convinced by fabricator claws.

I am conflicted about this because Spyders sitting backfield on an objective growing (scoring, hull-stripping) scarabs as a nasty bubblewrap could be tasty in this edition if they don't provide enough threat for the opponent to deal with early on. Worth trying.