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.

I'm new to Warhammer 40k, and have gotten a lot of help from these forums, so thanks for that.

Anyway, I'm participating in a beginner tournament that my local games store is holding next month. Nothing too serious, just an introduction to the game at a more competitive level.

What I own:
Start Collecting! Necrons
Necrons Codex (obviously)
Tomb Blades (built w/ twin-linked gauss)

The tournament will be only 500 points, so the question is this: Retribution Phalanx, CAD, some kind of bare-bones Reclamation Legion, or unbound? This is what I came up with for the Retribution Phalanx that would take advantage of the 'From The Sands, We Rise' rule:

Overlord - Warscythe, Phase Shifter, Nightmare Shroud, Phylactery (175)
Warriors - (130)
Triarch Stalker - Particle Shredder (130)
Canoptek Scarabs - (60)

495 points. This doesn't incorporate the Tomb Blades in any way though. Which would be nice.

All suggestions are very much appreciated. The goal is to win (obviously), but still make sure everyone has fun!

EDIT: I should probably mention, as the end goal is a decurion detachment, I will happily buy immortals as a second troop choice in a CAD.

~Deimos

Sounds like you've got a winner list to me. Just keep your overlord safe. Pretty sure you can charge when the new units come on too but don't quote me. You'll probably get looks of disdain with 5+ invulnerable a av13 and units that never die, but I'd put my money on your list against whatever you face.

The only other way I could see you playing the phalanx is giving the warriors a ghost ark and dropping all of your overlords goodies.

Thanks for the feedback, though if I can avoid the disdain I'd rather take that option!
A question regarding the retribution phalanx: Often I have heard that when firing at a unit, wounds are allocated to the closest to your model first. Does this mean my opponent could still cherry pick my overlord from behind a wall of scarabs and warriors, so long as they are in range and can see? If so, can/should I put the overlord in the same unit with the scarabs or warriors to prevent something like this? Unfortunately I don't own the rules, because I figured I could save money by just borrowing my friends' whenever we play together.
Thanks!

~Deimos

Deimos27 wrote:
I have heard that when firing at a unit, wounds are allocated to the closest to your model first. Does this mean my opponent could still cherry pick my overlord from behind a wall of scarabs and warriors, so long as they are in range and can see? If so, can/should I put the overlord in the same unit with the scarabs or warriors to prevent something like this?

Essentially, this is how it works: Your opponent shoots at one of your units and resolves "to wound" against majority toughness. Wounds are allocated to the closest model first. Once that model is dead, (meaning after you've failed your armour save and Reanimation Protocols), the remaining wounds move on to the next closest model until its dead and so on. If your Overlord is the closest model, you can attempt what's called a "Look Out Sir!" test. Because the Overlord is an independent character, on a 2+ you can allocate wounds he would have normally taken to another model in his unit instead. So, yes, it's beneficial for your Overlord to join the Warriors or Scarabs (I would go Warriors) for the extra wounds.

Thanks, I'll definitely do that!

~Deimos

I'd say warriors too. The Overlord will just hamper the scarabs moving ability.

Yes, that's what I thought. Is there a certain distance between the troops and the warlord to perform a "Lookout, Sir!"? It seems kind of strange that a warrior still in the same unit, but like 8" away could somehow make it back there in order to 'take the bullet' so to speak.
What if unit cohesion is broken because of lookout, sir? So the Overlord is split up from the main unit of warriors by over 2"?

Look Out Sir has a 6" range. If you lose coherency for any reason throughout the game you must attempt to get it back as soon as possible. If that means you need to run then you must run. If it takes two turns then it takes two turns.

Alright, thanks!

~Deimos