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I played my first game of 40K in at least 8 years last night. It was a 3 way fight @ 1250 pts. So I was at a slight disadvantage since I had to cram 90+ models in a1 x2 deployment zone.

There was a SW player and Necron. The Necron wiped the floor with us. I lost 4 models to the Sw player when he plunked at me because he had no other targets. I ended the game with 2 models on the table.

Necron had 2 flyers, an ark and a model that looks like an ark but isn't. I been out of the hobby too long and don't know exactly what is what. A unit of immortals, 2 units of Necron warriors. The warriors were in the ark/barges. Immortals in one flyer.

Lightning lasted 5 turns. The SW lost 2 razorbacks and Bjorn on turn 2 to it. I lost half my army to the lightning over the 5 turns. By turn 4 the only damage to the necron was a hp on 1 flyer. He sat out of range in the arks while lightning did its damage. My only damage to him were the 6 Necron warriors that my mortars took out.

Now my army list was not ideal. I had 3 lascannons, 2 missle launchers, 2 autocannons, and the three mortars. No vehicles, just 1250 pts of bodies.

How to you handle a Necron force? I was expecting to lose since it was my first game back using a list that was based on what I own from many years ago. I wasn't expecting to get raped this badly. 1250 pts of Necron tabled me and took out all the SW except for a couple weakened units. You'd think he wouldn't have been able to dismantle 2500 points but he did.

Well, for starters a 3-way match is never going to be a level playing field.

Secondly, Imotekh excels in that kind of situation. His lighting does better, the more units that are on the table.

Flyers are pretty tough to take at at this point level, without flyers of your own.

Also, It sounds like he had Ghost Arks, and perhaps Annihilation Barges. Which is pretty rough.

Ghost Arks can revive fallen Warriors, and Abarges are cheap, with very effective firepower. Tesla also excels at blasting foot infantry, and between his flyers/barges he had a lot of Tesla Destructors.

IG have the tools to compete with Necrons, but it's a bit of an uphill battle for them. They have all the tools to deal with some of IG's best strengths.

One of the things you can do, is nab some Vendettas. They are the best FA choice in the game right now, and are insane for their points cost.

Posting your list, will help a well, so people can give you ideas and improvements.

I would also read your opponents dexes as well. Necrons can bring a lot of tricks to the table, and it will be of the utmost importance that you understand him, so you can counter him.

He had 1 Ghost Ark and 1 Annihilation Barge. Tesla killed me since I wasn't able to spread out enough and it arc between units.

The codexes are on my list to purchase.

My list
CCS - PF, 2xPG, 1xGL, 1 lasgun

Platoon 1 -
PCS - PP, 2x melta
Sq1- bolt pistol, fl
sq 2 - same as #1
sq 3 - melta, commisar


platoon 2 -
PCS - autocannon
sq1 - autocannon
sq 2- ML, GL
HW - 3xLC

platoon 3 -
PCS - autocannon
sq1 - autocannon
sq 2- ML, GL
HW - 3xmortar

4 ratlings
10 stormtroopers GL, FL
Marbo

The 'plan'... I blobbed the three squads in platoon #1. The PCS trailed them. They were to advance on an objective and try to get close. The other platoons provide fire support.

The list is based off the actual models i have. So I don't have the plasma/melta spam that is common. Ratlings were filler. I also had some krak grenades spread around to fill points.

One of my goals is to be contrarian. I see alot of armor and flyers ie the sexy stuff being played. When I started this guard force years ago, it was always foot heavy. I have a LRBT, the version with the demolisher as well, a hellhound, and chimera. I may have some sentinals that are not built yet. Pretty much most of what I have seems to be sub optimal, like the LRBT having the LC and HB sponsons etc.

bortass wrote:
He had 1 Ghost Ark and 1 Annihilation Barge. Tesla killed me since I wasn't able to spread out enough and it arc between units.

The codexes are on my list to purchase.

My list
CCS - PF, 2xPG, 1xGL, 1 lasgun

Platoon 1 -
PCS - PP, 2x melta
Sq1- bolt pistol, fl
sq 2 - same as #1
sq 3 - melta, commisar


platoon 2 -
PCS - autocannon
sq1 - autocannon
sq 2- ML, GL
HW - 3xLC

platoon 3 -
PCS - autocannon
sq1 - autocannon
sq 2- ML, GL
HW - 3xmortar

4 ratlings
10 stormtroopers GL, FL
Marbo

The 'plan'... I blobbed the three squads in platoon #1. The PCS trailed them. They were to advance on an objective and try to get close. The other platoons provide fire support.

The list is based off the actual models i have. So I don't have the plasma/melta spam that is common. Ratlings were filler. I also had some krak grenades spread around to fill points.

One of my goals is to be contrarian. I see alot of armor and flyers ie the sexy stuff being played. When I started this guard force years ago, it was always foot heavy. I have a LRBT, the version with the demolisher as well, a hellhound, and chimera. I may have some sentinals that are not built yet. Pretty much most of what I have seems to be sub optimal, like the LRBT having the LC and HB sponsons etc.

Rule 1. Don't mix special weapons in squads/blobs. Pick one and stick with it for the whole unit.
Rule 2. Don't buy ratlings.
Rule 3. Don't buy max-squad Stormtroopers
Rule 4. Don't bother with Grenade launchers, Bolt pistols, Mortars, Missile launchers, Heavy Flamers.
Rule 5. Commissars aren't good anymore. 1.33 Precision wounds will kill them. That's not hard to get.



Your army layout is fine. A CCS backing some Blobs is a decent enough look. Your blobs are too small though. Run 2 30 man blobs instead, give them Plasma or Melta (sorry, but they're the only good specials.) and Autocannons or Lascannons. Bigger blobs are more orders-efficient, and less easy to wipe out.

I'd consider a tank or two, also. Preferrably one of the longer-range ones. And an Aegis Defense line. It's optimal for IG.

So I would not have any hws then?

I will have to start the conversion process on the Sw. Luckily I have read the thread on how to turn the plastic flamers into other sw.

Against necron, there is literally no substitute for lascannons. They have AV13 vehicles, which most other weapons won't seriously damage, but lascannons have a decent chance of punching through the quantum shielding to reduce them to only AV11, and they're all open-topped, which meshes very well with that Ap2. Lascannons can also take down fliers as well. They're more difficult to hit, but when you do, it's S9 vs. AV11.

The only other thing I've found particularly successful against them is large squads of meltagun stormtroopers. The meltas are delivered into killing range, and the Ap3 small arm finishes off the warriors inside.

bortass wrote:
So I would not have any hws then?

Don't take HWS. They're just not as good as having those weapons in the infantry squads and PCSs that you're already taking.

My experience against necrons (although not really from a true foot guard perspective) is that you need ap2 and you need high strength. Artillery is also very useful as it can ignore the Lord who's used as a 2+ tank at the front of squads.

Focus firing, although rather obvious, is even more important with necrons. Don't let a unit survive crippled because that unit will be back in true Terminator style.
Fliers are a pain the ass, but so are IG fliers.

I've found necrons one of the tougher armies to play against. They can really burn through your units, and there's no point in investing in AV:14 when even the basic trooper can glance it to death. Try to substitute any LRs you have for an artillery version.

 Ailaros wrote:
Against necron, there is literally no substitute for lascannons. They have AV13 vehicles, which most other weapons won't seriously damage, but lascannons have a decent chance of punching through the quantum shielding to reduce them to only AV11, and they're all open-topped, which meshes very well with that Ap2. Lascannons can also take down fliers as well. They're more difficult to hit, but when you do, it's S9 vs. AV11.

The only other thing I've found particularly successful against them is large squads of meltagun stormtroopers. The meltas are delivered into killing range, and the Ap3 small arm finishes off the warriors inside.

I have enjoyed reading your battle reports. I used them to try to understand how foot guard played.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
So I would blob 3 squads with the 3 LC in there. I also have to start reading more about using orders. I don' t think orders existed the last time I played 40k... l miss second edition, lol.

thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it.

Manticores rip warrior squads apart better than almost anything in the game. Position the template right and you can wipe the whole squad even if they have an IC out front taking the hits. Also, S10 IDs the overlords making him hesitant to take the wounds on lords.

My choice of AT is still my favorite: Medua emplacement with bastion breacher shells. S10 AP1 2d6 pen. All those open topped necron vehicles die in 1 shot almost every time. Small blast on bs3 is more accurate than BS3, especially on those huge arks. The emplacement is cheaper than the chimera chassis, can get nets, and sits behind an ADL with a 48" range.

VS fliers i run 2x2 Sabre platforms with TL lascannons. Expensive, yes, (50pts a model), but very survivable. S9 AP2, forcing re-roll of cover saves on fliers is deadly.

That used to be true in the old necron codex, but it isn't anymore.

Certainly there are vehicles that will work fine. The only thing you've got to really be worried about is gauss weapons. With foot guard, though, you should be able to throw some bubble wrap around them.

As for blobbing, I'm not quite convinced in this situation. One the one hand, you get more efficient orders and fewer chances for arcing. On the other, you lose scoring units, the ability to speedbump, and if your opponent brings a barge lord or some wraiths, blobbing will be a serious liability.

I've found against Necrons in the boots war, only to have one blobbed unit. Have them tie up warriors. Everything else needs to be shooting. I've also found lascannons and autocannons very good weapons against 6th ed 'crons. The autocannon now defeats the necron armor so if you lack a good vehicle target, they still have a use at picking of necrons at a distance.

The manticore now devestates necron warriors but that's not much good to a foot guard player.

I also found not to be too worried about charging warriors. They're not good in combat but they are survivable. With a few power weapons, you can cut plenty down.

The last tip is to focus your power. They can't enact re-animation protocols if the unit is destroyed. It can be worth using weapons that have better targets elsewhere on a low model count unit if it has a good chance of wiping it out.

 Deceiver wrote:
I've found against Necrons in the boots war, only to have one blobbed unit. Have them tie up warriors. Everything else needs to be shooting. I've also found lascannons and autocannons very good weapons against 6th ed 'crons. The autocannon now defeats the necron armor so if you lack a good vehicle target, they still have a use at picking of necrons at a distance.

The manticore now devestates necron warriors but that's not much good to a foot guard player.

I also found not to be too worried about charging warriors. They're not good in combat but they are survivable. With a few power weapons, you can cut plenty down.

The last tip is to focus your power. They can't enact re-animation protocols if the unit is destroyed. It can be worth using weapons that have better targets elsewhere on a low model count unit if it has a good chance of wiping it out.

A few things, Autocannons only defeat Warrior and Cryptek saves (And Flayed Ones, but no one takes those). Everything else has a 3+ save or better.

As for the Focus power, Ever-living rolls can still be made if a unit is destroyed, so keep that in mind as well.

I picked up the codex today and started to skim it. a few things look wrong. I don' t see why he got to reroll for the lightning storm to continue if the roll failed. my guess is a cryptek with the refill warfare.

he disembarked a unit from a flyer into difficult terrain, I thought there was a penalty for that so I need to review the rulebook. I need to make sure I understand those rules better.

I am not sure he used the deathray correctly.

So I can question things semi intelligently now, lol.

I also picked up the adl to deal with the flyer spam that is rampant with some players.

Lascannons and autocannons help. Necrons are just as shooty as we are, their weakness however is their stuff tends to lack the range our stuff does. Thats why they love forcing night fighting, so you'll enter their range. Hammer on him from range, and focus on penning those void shield things they have so your autocannons can kill that exposed av 11 easier.

Also, vehicles aren't instantly dead when facing necrons. You need to be more careful, but smart play will keep your tanks around for most of the game. With foot guard, I would look towards a russ variant or two. Their AV14 will shrug off most long range AT fire, so as long as you bubblewrap and keep those doom scythes away you'll be ok. Using bring it down on units with lascannons will let you twin link against his fliers, upping your hit chance. A quadgun with your aegis wouldn't hurt either, and have a PCS commander man it with his bs 4.

 MrMoustaffa wrote:
AV14 will shrug off most long range AT fire

Word of caution: beware of suicide squads.
'Crons have got a couple methods to suddenly plant a Storm-tek in your back field, enabling him to smoke your tank before you even have a chance to move/use it (one method even allows this on turn one).
It's not the most common tactic, but when employed, there is precious little you can do about it.
Recommend liberal bubble wrapping to avoid.