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Thinking about a new low model count army (slow painter) for use in semi competitive play, here's what I'm currently eyeing up:

Cult Mechanicus Formations:

Cohort Cybernetica
135 - Tech-Priest Dominus - IWND relic, warlord
290 - Kastelan Robot Maniple - 1*Datasmith, 2*Kastelan Robots (powerfists and incendine combustors)
290 - Kastelan Robot Maniple - 1*Datasmith, 2*Kastelan Robots (powerfists and incendine combustors)

Elimination Maniple
320 - Kastelan Robot Maniple - 1*Datasmith, 2*Kastelan Robots (heavy phosphor blasters and TL heavy phosphor blasters)
165 - Kataphron Destroyers - 3*Kataphron Destroyers (heavy grav cannons and phosphor blasters)
165 - Kataphron Destroyers - 3*Kataphron Destroyers (heavy grav cannons and phosphor blasters)

Space Marine Formations:

Librarius Conclave
165 - Chief Librarian Tigurius
125 - Librarian - mastery level 2, terminator armour, storm shield, force sword
125 - Librarian - mastery level 2, terminator armour, storm shield, force sword
65 - Librarian

Total 1845 points (will probably add melta bombs to a librarian to balance up)

The basic plan is that the elimination maniple is a self contained force - the robots fire their luminagen weapons and dish out ignores cover/+1 BS to the servitors, who in turn basically have the equivalent of a pair of long range relentless grav guns each. The conclave and cohort work together - the librarians are fishing for all the movement powers possible (Tigurius on fulmination for both electrodiscplacement and magnetokinesis, other guys would probably go for levitation over gate) and then using Tigurius 3 casts as follows:

1. use up to 2 casts to jump/teleport/magnet the conclave to point blank range of the juiciest target
2. electrodisplace the conclave with the cohort
3. profit

For added fun I might have the level 1 librarian grab a summoning power as an emergency meatshield for the conclave.

Strengths of the list are the durability of the cohort and speed with which I can throw them around the board (potential t1 charge), target denial in no vehicles at all and my ability to contain my forces to a small area of operations but still threaten most of the board. I am concerned I'm going too far on the low model count and over-reliant on the mechanicus unit's durability to actually be strong though, so would welcome any list critique and/or suggestions on the lists tactics.

My only issue is that as your so reliant on getting the movement powers then your going to have either none or very little defensive powers meaning any lists with heavy firepower will blow you off the table when your not in combat

This might do well in Kill Points missions, but I can't imagine your librarians surviving until the end of the game when you'll have four (or more likely two) units remaining to secure objectives.

Unfortunately, you can't join anyone to the cohort since you can't join ICs to monstrous creatures.

axisofentropy wrote:This might do well in Kill Points missions, but I can't imagine your librarians surviving until the end of the game when you'll have four (or more likely two) units remaining to secure objectives.

Sqauwky wrote:My only issue is that as your so reliant on getting the movement powers then your going to have either none or very little defensive powers meaning any lists with heavy firepower will blow you off the table when your not in combat

Thanks for the responses, plenty to think about there. I might rethink the elimination maniple in favour of either some cheap mobile obsec allies or a secondary source of defensive powers (maybe some red scorpians) - just don't want the model count to get out of hand given how little painting time I have!

buddha wrote:Unfortunately, you can't join anyone to the cohort since you can't join ICs to monstrous creatures.

Apologies - my explanation wasn't that clear. The librarius conclave will be supporting the cohort cybernetica, but won't actually be attached to it; instead they will cast movement powers on themselves to cross the board and will then electrodisplace with the monstrous creatures - hopefully leaving the librarians in a safer spot on my side of the board and the cohort in charge range (walk 6", electrodisplace one model 24" then set up rest of unit within 6" to give a 36"-ish move before charge roll).

Given the big base sizes of the robots and the precision moves I could pull off if I luck out with getting both magnetokinesis and levitation, setting up multicharges shouldn't be that hard - and if I prioritise targets that can readily hurt the librarians I could potentially repeat this tactic each turn (risky though as from turn 2 this would leave the librarians in enemy territory and possibly locked in combat with any survivors from last turn).

Competitive players value reliability in their rosters. This one relies upon generating several psychic powers, keeping the Librarians alive, and then successfully casting several powers in sequence. There's a lot that can go wrong.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Cohort Cybernetica IS really good, and pairing it with psykers and objective grabbers IS a solid concept you can still work with. Give all the robots all phosphor blasters - the ability to fire at four targets is great and melts Eldar jetbikes. Power fists aren't that much of an upgrade for such a slow unit, but one model with fists helps if your friends love Imperial Knights. Librarians can buff with Divination and Invisibility.

I play Cohort with Ravenwing http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/689792.page#8649602

White Scars bikers would probably be even better. Bikes have the mobility the Cohort lacks and they're great units for Librarians.

Skyhammer and other drop pod detachments would probably also do well. And there's lots of other Imperial options. Sisters of Silence are a good new option especially if you can provide rhinos or chimeras.

Elimination Maniple is not as good, but you could use it instead of the Cohort. Unfortunately the Mechanicus codex really needs allies to be effective.