Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:
No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.
If you are already a member then feel free to login now.
2016/02/02 14:59:45
Subject: 2000pts White Scars vs Necrons; Looking for Advice
This Saturday I hope to take my burgeoning White Scars force against my buddys necrons. So far, I haven't been able to crack his bunker. This will be (at least on my side) part of an ongoing narrative campaign, summarized below (assuming I use the commands correctly).
Spoiler:
The Imperium has settled a necron tomb world, and the necrons are waking up as the orks invade. It can be surmised that the necron lord, having his forces waking in sequence, determined to use the orks to soften the Imperial forces. In a reconnaisance-in-force, a Crimson Fist and Mechanicus force engaged necron and ork forces that saw the Imperial and ork forces mauled. A follow-up strike against the necrons by White Scars and Blood Angels forces was hammered and roughly handled.
The orks and necrons then "united" (or the necrons lured the orks and followed them in) to assault an Imperial city. In a massive battle [17,000pts a side], the combined xenos forces smashed the Imperial defenders, though the White Scars and Astra Militarum were able to permit a fighting withdrawal [in reality, at the end of the second/final day, the Imperial forces had a 2VP lead, but it was clear if we could have gone on even one more turn we would be losing badly, so while, RAW, the Imperium won the Apocalypse game, in reality we recognized our imminent loss].
The Imperium launched a lightning raid against an ork Stompa factory, and though much damage was done, nonetheless the orks held on. Meanwhile, the orks and necrons had a falling out, though it didn't matter much as the necrons beat the orks handily. Now, the White Scars are going to try and delay the pursuing necrons forces.
I have available a 2000pt list looking like this:
Scarblade
Stormlance (Core)
Bike Chapter Master (Artificier, Glaive)
Bike Command Squad (Apothecary, 2x grav, 2x storm shield, 2x power weapon, Standard of the Eagle)
5x Tactical (Rhino, grav cannon)
5x Tactical (Rhino, grav cannon)
5x Tactical (Rhino, melta, combi-melta)
3x Bikes
5x Devastator (Rhino, 3x missile launcher)
Stormbringer (Aux)
2x Land Speeder (multi melta each)
5x Scouts (ccw)
Land Speeder Storm (Assault Cannon)
"Hey, Grantius, why isn't this in Lists?!"
Because these are the models I have and want to learn how to use.
Likely going up against:
Decurion
Reclamation Legion
Overlord (Voidreaper, Veil, Tachyon Arrow, Res Orb, Phase Shifter, possibly Phylactery?)
10x Lychguard (Hyperphase Sword)
10x Immortals (Gauss Blaster)
10x Warriors
10x Warriors
3x Tomb Blades (Gauss Blaster, may take Nebuloscope but never certain)
3x Monoliths
Deathbringer Flight
2x Doom Scythes
This is his common load out, but he may also bring Destroyers. He deploys in a bunker - he places his objectives as far in his deployment zone and as close together as he legally can, places his monoliths more or less on top of them, and bubble wraps. He really likes Maelstrom (as do I), but he doesn't break formation - at best, the Tomb Blades will boost out, or the Lord and Lychguard will Veil out, but he won't march forward.
We (our group) have been highly critical of his playing style, but it's hard to make a good case when he frankly just doesn't lose. Part of it is Maelstrom - he just draws the right cards - and part of it is luck, like how last game I lost Kor'sarro and the Command Squad mostly to fire from the Warriors and Immortals.
I think I need to hang back, spread out, hide behind cover, turbo-boost to objectives, but with half the objectives likely locked away from me even this seems risky. Short of scrapping the army, maybe taking my Mechanicus, is there any hope?
OT Board Exiles, never forgotten
2016/02/02 15:34:36
Subject: Re:2000pts White Scars vs Necrons; Looking for Advice
I'm not familiar with the Scarblade formation benefits, so I'm not going to comment on that.
However, your Necron player is certainly bringing a very unconventional list. I'm surprised to hear that a 'hunker down' approach is working out in Maelstrom, because in most games you *should* have the mobility advantage for scoring objectives. There's not much you can do if your opponent is just 'drawing the right cards', though I would grow suspicious if this was happening on a regular basis. Is he offering to let you cut his Maelstrom deck? You might be seeing signs of TFG behavior.
You really don't have any reliable way of dealing with his Deathbringer flight, and if he's smart he's going to use it to kill your mobility (Rhinos) so he can bring his Warriors and Immortals to bear on you. You might think about trying to find the points for Flakk missiles or investing in fliers of your own.
With the Monoliths, your best bet is to focus them down one at a time. A Monolith with 1 HP scores just as well as one that hasn't been touched. Move up one flank with your meltas and try to isolate them. Don't spread damage around, deal with one unit at a time - but don't try to wipe out units, either. Necrons are too durable, you're just wasting firepower trying to finish them off. A one or two man Immortal squad isn't a big threat.
Most of all though, play to the objectives. VP's are what will win you the game, and if your intention is to table Necrons, you're setting yourself up for failure.
DT:80+S++G++M--B--IPw40k11+D+A+++/cWD-R+++T(D)DM+ 8000, mostly painted
14000, all over the place
2016/02/02 15:45:31
Subject: Re:2000pts White Scars vs Necrons; Looking for Advice
Scarblade's alright, the main reason I'm using it is because I'm a fluffy guy. ... No? Nothing? I like the White Scars on bikes but in planning an expansion I thought I would add guys in Rhinos.
You're absolutely right about the unorthodox tactics. We have witnessed the shuffle, and we have no reason to believe he's deliberately stacking the deck (but we have been friends for a quarter century so maybe we're giving too much credit....)
I'm tempted to make use of Khan to outflank and try to get the Monoliths with melta, losing those units but hopefully killing something. I somehow missed the multi-melta losing blast in this edition, now that I know I can jink if needs be.
8000, mostly painted
14000, all over the place