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2013/12/14 22:19:57
Subject: 1750 ESCALATION Battle - Necrons w/C'tan vs Tau w/Tiger Shark AX-1-0 (Completed)
I issued a challenge to my LGS. If anyone can beat my Necrons in a game of Escalation, then I'd give them a prize. Either bring a 1750 list with a titan or they can bring a 2000 single-FOC list without. Rob and his Tau stepped up to the plate to accept the Necralation challenge.
The Tau are going to have it rough. It's ironic how powerful the Tau are in regular 40K but how much weaker they've become once you start introducing Escalation into the equation. Rather yet, once you start introducing Destroyer weaponry into the equation. Unfortunately for the Tau, the Tiger Shark AX-1-0 is about the best they can do in Escalation, and that doesn't bode well for them.
The AX-1-0 is basically their cheapest titan/super-heavy that carries strength D weaponry (which I shall hereonafter refer to only as the 'D'). It's good that it is a flyer and thus, practically invulnerable to the D weapons of most titans. However, as with all flyers, it has its exploitable weaknesses. Firstly, it has to start off in reserves so you already lose 1 turn of shooting. Next, there is a chance that it might not come in until the later turns, meaning there is a chance you lose some more shooting. Then, as with all flyers, a savvy general can take advantage of its predictable mobility. After it comes in, you can anticipate where it will be going next and maneuver into its "blind spot", assuming you have the maneuvarbility. Either that or you can hide from it if you know where its going next. Finally, if you've got decent AA, super-heavy flyers aren't really that hard to kill. The Tiger Sharks are actually easier to kill than 2 stormravens. Why? Because they cannot evade. And my necrons have arguably the best anti-air firepower of most of the Escalation armies.
To be fair, my opponent's list really isn't optimized. I'm also not sure how much experience he has using his flyer. And although this will be the 1st time I am actually using my C'tan, I know my necrons are damn tough. My opponent will only have 1 chance to take out my C'tan - on the turn his Tiger Shark comes in. If he can do that, then he's got a chance. If he can't, then this will probably be another dominating win for my necrons.
Barges move 12". C'tan hauls a$$ with his 18" movement.
Zahndrehk gives the righ-most barge Stealth. He then moves out of LOS of the railhead.
Then all of my barges move flat-out.
My opponent under-estimates the reach of the C'tans attack.
Fortunately for him, I only roll a on the Destroyer damage charts. I then proceed to immobilize his ionhead.
Tau 1
Spoiler:
Tau movement. Iontide fails his nova attempt.
Railhead moves slightly. It then fires at my barge but I make my 3+ cover save.
Riptide then over-charges his gun and manages to glance one of my barges.
Kroots run but only move 2". Riptide jumps but only jumps 2" as well. Ok, so they're not getting away this turn.
Necron 2
Spoiler:
2 scythes go after the railhead.
The scythe with the immortals go and pick up their bossman.
His riptide tries to Intercept but does nothing.
Barges go after the immobilized ionhead.
There is no hiding from my C'tan. That small guy is one scary dude.
Even the combined firepower of the 3 cannot take down the mighty, mighty railhead. Instead, I reduce it to just 1 HP left.
However, my 2 barges take out the ionhead for First Blood.
VP's - Necrons: 1, Tau: 0
C'tan then shoots his flamer attack. Again, I roll a to wound his riptide and 2 kroots. He does lose 5 kroots but they then pass morale.
So far, bad rolling on my part is allowing my opponent to stay in the game.
Tau 2
Spoiler:
Commander and friends come in but scatter from my barge's rear arc to its side arc.
More importantly, his big guy comes in.
The Tau advance. His iontide nova-charges for the 4D6" assault movement.
Railhead blows up my AB.
VP's - Necrons: 1, Tau: 1
Suits then take off 1 HO from my night scythe. I don't jink.
The riptide decides not to waste his firepower on the C'tan and goes after the scarabs instead with SMS. He takes 1 out.
Finally, the moment of truth. The Tiger Shark vs the C'tan. The flyer hits with its Heavy Railguns (strength D)....and then he rolls a 1 to wound. Looks like neither of our D's are working properly. It also fires all of its seeker missiles and do 2W to my C'tan.
Riptide then jumps towards the scarabs and away from my C'tan.
Suits jump in the Assault phase as well.
Necron 3
Spoiler:
Night scythe drops off its troops before moving.
I then go after the Tiger Shark with 2 night scythes and 2 barges.
C'tan moves through the riptide, causing him to take a D-hit. Wanna guess what I rolled to wound? Yup.
Warriors haywire the railhead to death.
VP's - Necrons: 2, Tau: 1
This time, my shooting does not fail me as I take out his riptide with the D.
VP's - Necrons: 2, Tau: 1
Last but not least, it takes a combined effort, but I manage to make his flyer go:
The game was somewhat lopsided, and we both rolled somewhat poorly to wound, but I think Tau could have put up a better fight had my opponent altered his tactics somewhat. Now I know he probably isn't very experienced in Escalation and that it is too tempting not to go after my C'tan, but I think my opponent would have been better off going after my 2 night scythes with his Tiger Shark. He could've probably blew both of them off the table easily, thus giving him 2 easy VP's as well as eliminating 2 dangerous threats to his flyer. So while my C'tan presented a big Kill-Me target, I think patience would have been the better move in this game. Go after the flyers, then perhaps fly off the table and back in next turn to go after my C'tan.
In any case, it was a learning experience for the both of us. Due to me rolling 3 1's on the damage charts for my C'tan, I don't think he showed his true worth in this game. But that guy, he can dominate by controlling the board. Once you get him up the center, no one's going to want to get close to there at all (unless they're flying). And he is small enough to hide behind most BLOS terrain.
The next test for my crons will be how well my C'tan can survive against the awesome might of the Eldar Revenant titan.
This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 2013/12/15 19:46:28
This game was played before I had the Stronghold supplement.
You're going to see another Escalation game against Reece and his Revenant where we both use Stronghold units. As if the Revenant isn't cheesy enough, imagine the Revenant protected by 9 Void Shields!!!
BTW, I have a sweet-looking Cobra if you want to use it.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/12/14 22:35:48
ansacs wrote: Think of a C'Tan that is tough, fast, and has an army of firepower. That is a transcendent C'Tan. It is good but has some trouble surviving D weapons.
Who doesn't?
D weapons perplex me to be honest. GW went through all that trouble to phase out weapons that could ignore invuls, then they go and put it back in.
What I have
~4100
~1660
Westwood lives in death!
Peace through power!
A longbeard when it comes to Necrons and WHFB. Grumble Grumble
2013/12/15 02:05:52
Subject: 1750 ESCALATION Battle - Necrons w/C'tan vs Tau w/Tiger Shark AX-1-0
I doubt the C'tan will have much trouble with the Destroyer weapons. With the 18" move and assaulting, it'll be quite easy to stay out of the AX-10's fire arcs.
2013/12/15 02:58:07
Subject: 1750 ESCALATION Battle - Necrons w/C'tan vs Tau w/Tiger Shark AX-1-0
I think jy2 will win with a dominating victory. He has the airpower to take town the ax-10, and as long as the ax-10 doesn't get to shoot at the c'tan the Tau player has literally NOTHING to counter it. t9 with an invuln and FNP...
13000
12000
:daemon 14000
:darkeldar 5000
2013/12/15 05:20:04
Subject: Re:1750 ESCALATION Battle - Necrons w/C'tan vs Tau w/Tiger Shark AX-1-0
The Tau are going to have it rough. It's ironic how powerful the Tau are in regular 40K but how much weaker they've become once you start introducing Escalation into the equation. Rather yet, once you start introducing Destroyer weaponry into the equation. Unfortunately for the Tau, the Tiger Shark AX-1-0 is about the best they can do in Escalation, and that doesn't bode well for them.
The AX-1-0 is basically their cheapest titan/super-heavy that carries strength D weaponry (which I shall hereonafter refer to only as the 'D'). It's good that it is a flyer and thus, practically invulnerable to the D weapons of most titans. However, as with all flyers, it has its exploitable weaknesses. Firstly, it has to start off in reserves so you already lose 1 turn of shooting. Next, there is a chance that it might not come in until the later turns, meaning there is a chance you lose some more shooting. Then, as with all flyers, a savvy general can take advantage of its predictable mobility. After it comes in, you can anticipate where it will be going next and maneuver into its "blind spot", assuming you have the maneuvarbility. Either that or you can hide from it if you know where its going next. Finally, if you've got decent AA, super-heavy flyers aren't really that hard to kill. The Tiger Sharks are actually easier to kill than 2 stormravens. Why? Because they cannot evade. And my necrons have arguably the best anti-air firepower of most of the Escalation armies.
To be fair, my opponent's list really isn't optimized. I'm also not sure how much experience he has using his flyer. And although this will be the 1st time I am actually using my C'tan, I know my necrons are damn tough. My opponent will only have 1 chance to take out my C'tan - on the turn his Tiger Shark comes in. If he can do that, then he's got a chance. If he can't, then this will probably be another dominating win for my necrons.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
MoonlightSonata wrote: Your C'tan is missing a power in his list. Seismic Assault I imagine?
MoonlightSonata wrote: Your C'tan is missing a power in his list. Seismic Assault I imagine?
Yeah, he has to take 1 of a certain type of power, and 2 others. He only has 1 and 1. Give him meteor
I'd probably go for something cheap like Cosmic Fire. Then I'd downgrade Zahndrehk to just a regular Overlord with some wargear. If I had to, I'd downgrade my immortals to warriors as well. At 1750, I don't want to make my C'tan too expensive. The more expensive he is, the more unbalanced the army becomes. Here I am going for a balanced TAC necron army with titan.
jathomas2013 wrote: thatll cost quite a few points...pretty much means that jim needs to lose a night scythe or an annihilation barge. probly will choose the anny barge
At higher points, I might go for Seismic Assault but at 1750, I'm going to go cheap. At least I don't have to sacrifice too much to bring in Cosmic Fire.
Dozer Blades wrote: What does the Transcendent C'Tan bring to the table? Is it on par with the Night Lord and the Deceiver?
He is much, much nastier and the way I have him equipped, he's got 2 D attacks. One is his move. He moves in an 18" straight line and can move over all terrain and models. Models that he moves over takes a strength D hit. He then has a humongous Apoc template attack (called the Hellstorm template) which is also strength D.
ansacs wrote: Think of a C'Tan that is tough, fast, and has an army of firepower. That is a transcendent C'Tan. It is good but has some trouble surviving D weapons.
Yeah, with only 6W, it will get owned by other D weapons pretty easily.
That's why in my future Nescralation army, I will be taking a Void Shield Generator as well.
ansacs wrote: Well a revenant, warhound, all the flyers, etc.
non flying GMC honestly have troubles taking D hits
Yeah, if you take a GMC, then either take a flying one, or you need to take a Void Shield Generator. Heck, take the VSG anyways, whether you take a FGMC or not.
Valkyrie wrote: I doubt the C'tan will have much trouble with the Destroyer weapons. With the 18" move and assaulting, it'll be quite easy to stay out of the AX-10's fire arcs.
Agreed. Unless the AX-1-0 can take it out with 1 shot, otherwise, I am not all that concerned about it.
SkaredCast wrote: sweet, nice to see some awesome pics and some good escalating D. Yummy. I loves me some D all over.
You want some? Come git sum! I promise I will D-lite you.
guardpiper wrote: While I am sure this will be an interesting game, I have one prediction, Pain. That and it will get messy quickly.
My prediction is pain for the Tau.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/12/15 05:36:56
@Valkyrie
Honestly it is a cat and mouse match where one side has to ignore the other which the other side has free reign. The saving grace is that Jy2 is a very good player and has plenty of AA from his nightscythes. This game is doing to come down to who can protect their soft squishy bits from the D...wow that sounds wrong.
2013/12/15 10:39:11
Subject: Re:1750 ESCALATION Battle - Necrons w/C'tan vs Tau w/Tiger Shark AX-1-0
The Usual Necron Suspects. Can you guess which one is the Kaiser Gargantuan?
It's totally the scarab.
I'm surprised how puny the stock TC'tan is compared to the night bringer. I think I will do what I was planning to do and use the reaper as the Transcendent.
What I have
~4100
~1660
Westwood lives in death!
Peace through power!
A longbeard when it comes to Necrons and WHFB. Grumble Grumble
2013/12/15 14:51:30
Subject: 1750 ESCALATION Battle - Necrons w/C'tan vs Tau w/Tiger Shark AX-1-0
Going to test the Trancendant in APO next week, see what he does.
BTW use the Nightbringer, the rest is blasphemy!!
You have ruled this galaxy for ten thousand years
Yet have little of account to show for your efforts
Order. Unity. Obedience.
We taught the galaxy these things
And we shall do so again.
4500 pts
2013/12/15 19:30:13
Subject: 1750 ESCALATION Battle - Necrons w/C'tan vs Tau w/Tiger Shark AX-1-0
What you expected if you let that c'tan go beserk in your lines its over...
And 1 flyer is a bad gamble against necron flyers and tesla...
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/12/15 21:29:42
You have ruled this galaxy for ten thousand years
Yet have little of account to show for your efforts
Order. Unity. Obedience.
We taught the galaxy these things
And we shall do so again.
4500 pts
2013/12/15 21:32:29
Subject: 1750 ESCALATION Battle - Necrons w/C'tan vs Tau w/Tiger Shark AX-1-0 (Completed)
SkaredCast wrote: sweet, nice to see some awesome pics and some good escalating D. Yummy. I loves me some D all over.
We all know that Skari loves the D
I'm looking forward to seeing how the C'tan does, not seen many Necrons lists running them.
Iranna.
Escalation is still new. I've actually had him (and the accompanying Necron apoc stuff) before Escalation, but people will start running him eventually.
MoonlightSonata wrote: Wait, so in this battle you only used 2 of the required 3 powers for the T.C'tan?
Damn, it won't be an entirely accurate account of what it can do. It'll still be interesting though.
It'll be close. I forget about my 3rd power, but taking it won't take much from my list.
MoonlightSonata wrote: Wait, so in this battle you only used 2 of the required 3 powers for the T.C'tan?
Damn, it won't be an entirely accurate account of what it can do. It'll still be interesting though.
No, he made an error when writing the list. Further up he says that it's meant to have seismic assault as well.
Actually, I'd take Cosmic Fire instead, unless we're talking about 2K+ games. With Cosmic Fire, I don't lose any of my firepower at 1750.
djn wrote: Jy2, how are you finding escalation? You appear to be enjoying it, how would you compare it to vanilla (pre-D) 40k?
I enjoy it as I've been a long-time Apoc player. However, I don't enjoy taking a titan against an unsuspecting opponent. I'm in the camp of "ask first for permission" for games of Escalation. Otherwise, I wouldn't bring a titan in a normal game unless I gave my opponent a handicap like in my challenge - bring either a 1750 Escalation army with titan or a 2K single-FOC army without against my 1750 Escalation army.
Compared to vanilla 40K, Escalation games go a lot faster, especially with D-weapons. You can almost play 2 games where you would normally only be able to play 1 game of regular 40K depending on your titan.
on the Destroyer damage charts. I then proceed to immobilize his ionhead.
.....Bay Area Open GT 2013 - Best Tyranids 
.....LVO GT 2014 Team Tournament - Best Generals
~1660
13000
12000
