Tactical Overview

[Follow]

Tactical Overview

 

This document will provide an overview of tactical information and possibly be slightly less controversial than the rest published. It

[Stephan Swain]

A tactic which I've found useful since 4th Edition is what I call the 'Trojan Horse' tactic.

 

Basically, your IC advances with a Grey Hunter pack. Once the Grey Hunters are in rapid fire range of an enemy unit, the IC moves off on his own during the movement phase but take care to place him so that he's still not the closest target (so that he can't be targeted in the enemy shooting phase), yet still within assault distance of the enemy.

 

In the Shooting Phase, your GH pack (preferably aided by another pack nearby) will rapid fire into the enemy squad, whittling down it's numbers. If these do not fail their morale check, your IC will mop off the survivors in assault and then consolidate back into cover/out of sight so that he can't be targeted in the enemy's next round.

 

The reason for doing this instead of assaulting straight away with your Grey Hunters are many. First off, rapid firing your bolters will earn you 2 attacks per model (same as if you would have assaulted), but you will be hitting on 3's rather than 4's (I'm assuming you're facing a Marine Tactical squad or equivalent in this example).

 

Another advantage is that while you're dishing out damage in this way, the enemy can't hit you back (as would be the case in assault). True we will be forfeiting the pack's powerfist attacks, but this is counterbalanced by the fact that we will surely not be suffering casualties during this round (which would be a risk in any assault phase against a unit that hasn't been whittled down by fire already). The loss of powerfist attacks can be countered with plasma pistols/meltaguns in your packs. I personally use a meltagun and power fist (just in case I get assaulted by something tough)

 

The IC, with his higher initiative will have no such worries about being hit back and with 6 Attacks on the charge he should deal with any remnants the shooting phase leaves there (assuming he's armed with a frostblade/pistol or lightning claws).

 

Another benefit of this tactic is that it will allow your Grey Hunters to remain safely in cover without the risk of being left exposed in the open to enemy shooting and/or counter charge next round.

 

This tactic works well against most marine units which don't have a veteran sarge with power fist in the squad, else you will be risking losing your IC if he doesn't wip out the enemy squad by himself. It has also proved useful against units such as Terminators who are all armed with powerfists. If sufficiently whittled down beforehand, your IC should have no trouble disposing of 3 Termies in one go, and it's safer than risking your Hunters in such an assault.

 

I've tried it out in my recent games and it has worked quiet well for me, so long as I choose my targets carefully for it. :P

[Krave]

Fear is another good tactic. When I say fear, I mean vinidicator. The last time I played, my tryranid opponent said almost every single shot he had at my obscured vindicator, and never managed anything better than stun. In return, my ven dread and much more vulnerable landspeeder whittled down his fire support by killing the zonathropes and then snipping the tyrant to death. This could be slightly more effective with the hidden set up rules because if your opponent knows you have a vindicator, he won't know where it is (although he can guess) and if he dosen't know you have one, it's apperance can potentialy cause him to rethink his plan(this might work vs orks, but eldar won't care; bright lances toast tanks). Other fear causing units are dreadnoughts(in dense terrain), terminators and in the case of other armies, wraithlords, talos, LR demolisher, incubi/nob retinues, eversor assassin, solitair, anything that can cause a lot of death and has the reputation for doing so. We've all heard about them and so we can be intimidated by them. This gives the opponent with said unit to have an advantage, b/c a nervous opponent is more likely to make a mistake. Also, you can use this fear factor by using such a unit to attract fire/assault units away from a more decisive combat.

[Follow]

That's a great tactic, I wanted to do something similar to spice up a Thousand Sons army. Only mine turned out to be illegal and had to be dropped, such is life.

 

The "Trojan Horse" as you describe it is one of those awesome surprises you can spring on someone in the middle of a fight. I like it! :P

 

 

 

Follow :)

[spyrer2000]

I concur with Follow. That's a nifty tactic, there Stephen. I may have to give that one a try in my army (using a Grey Slayer squad for the bolters and my Wolf Lord for the IC). Seems like one thing you'd have to watch out for is the smart opponent - i.e., somebody quick enough on the uptake to take his shooting casualties from the front and leaving your IC out of charge range.

 

This drawback could be somewhat mitigated with some extra mobility on the IC, like a Wolf Lord on a bike.

[Gorbash]

What's refused flank? And IC?

 

I know questions are stupid, but i just started playing 40k...

[Follow]

Fear is another good tactic. When I say fear, I mean vinidicator.

 

HAHAHA! Classic line, I love the Vindicator! Though I've never built an army with them that I've been serious about, the str. 10 template/insta-kill is too useful to pass up.

 

This sort of thing was brought up a bit in the Diversionary Tactics essay too.

 

 

 

Follow :P

[Follow]

What's refused flank?

Great explanation of it, here.

 

 

 

And IC?

 

IC is Independant Character (Wolf Lord, Rune Priest, etc.)

 

 

 

 

Follow :P

[Denkal]

Also, in the case of the Space Wolves, you can hit the IC up with some Fenrisian Wolves, or as I like to call them, 8 more I4 attacks/4 wolfy shields. That should spice up your Trojan Horse.

[mad727]

Follow I really enjoyed and agree with what you said above. You have to read and adjust in the field or perish.

 

Trojan horse is brilliant. I like Denkals suggestion. I never do less then 2 wolves with IC's that can take them Even with the Iron Priest I take 2 thralls. I also add a Runic Charm. That makes 3 full hits before I even have to worry about my IC having to make a save that leads to a wound.

 

My predator tends to produce that fear factor and draw a lot of return heavy fire. With the new rules /5th edition, it should instill even more fear.

 

 

One tactic that is so important is "Concentration of fire power". So many of the young guys do not mass multiple squads of thier army against ONE of the opponents squad to destroy it. It doesn't take long before I have deystroyed the bulk of their units.

 

 

One enemy unit I am working on figuring out the best way to eliminate or neutralize our the chaos Obliterators. They can be tough especially behind cover.

 

I have decided to try next battle infiltrating a 5 man scout squad (includes WGL w/PF) , armed with melta and 2 sniper rifles, while charging the Ob's with a 3 man biker pack, 2 PW's and a melta. This should at least keep them busy for awhile and allow my assault troops to reach the opposite flank or them if that's the flank I prefer..

Any thoughts on this or suggestions?

[DarKHaZZ13]

Fear is another good tactic. When I say fear, I mean vinidicator.

 

 

permission to sig?

[Sigismund Himself]

Fear is another good tactic. When I say fear, I mean vinidicator.

 

 

permission to sig?

The quote is from 2005...