Game Experiences with Bjorn

[BDS]

Now that the dex' has been out a while, how has Bjorn been doing for those who have been taking him consistently as HQ? Has anyone lost a game due to losing D3 KP's or won a game because he gave you an extra objectve? Or is he turning out to be a high priced dred that is only moderately more difficult to knock down? Anyone had any tournament stories using him?

 

Thanks in advance,

BDS

[Oldenhaller]

To get the most of him you need to play him like the gratouitous ironclad tht he is. Storm him towards your enemy and let Russ pick up the pieces

 

I've not lost him yet in any of the games I've played - he tends to be my second wave of assault after my Land Raider, Vindis and Grey Hunter packs in Rhinos...leaves my oponent with too much to concentrate on to worry about one dread. The last chap to get close Imobilised him on turn one...for such temerity i then tabled him.

 

~O

[Grey Mage]

Ive had him rip apart two tactical squads and a devastator squad as he marched inexorably accross the table and finally reach CC, his two escorting dreads immobilized and providing close fire support nearby.

 

I also had him once kill four marines before getting hit from behind by some outflanking stealth suits in a 3 player all on all game *spreads hands* where he died horribly Im sad to say.

 

I think from my experiances he does well with AV escorts, and almost as well with about 20 PA escorts lead by some TDA. But he needs support, like any main battle tank.

[Ven.Dread Greatclaw]

I tried out Bjorn this weekend. At first I was sceptical... Would he really be worth 270pts (Free plasma).

 

Game one against witch hunters he started taking 2 combined attacks from the way to good Excorcist tanks at took 4+ hits in round one immobilising him. From then on he ate at least 3+ missiles in average each round until the end of round 5 when the last exorcist was destroyed.

 

During all that time i realized what survival capabilities he has... 13 AV in the front and 5+ Inv save and Smoke for those times you cant shoot due to crew shaken. Björn IS worth the points. With BS6 and Plasma cannon he tends to hit what he aims for and even if you roll poorly the scatter usually ends up 1-2 inches of target wich usually still means 1-2 models.

 

Second game against white scars we were faced with 5 objectives to claim. marching bjorn up in the middle to contest the center objective he then remained there preventing anyone from even thinking about getting close. And the position gave him the opportunity to play with his plasmacannon with all objects within reach. This game he was hit with one lascannon and 4 autocannons before the opponent gave up and refused to shoot at him.

 

From now on Bjorn will be a part of all my 1750+ games. Next game I must try to have him tag teaming another dread on a walking path of destruction taking turns to cover eachother with smoke if necessary, or just using Björn as a shield wall for the dread behind :ph34r:

[Oldenhaller]

I've been using him with two other dreads in 2500 point games - one las/missile and one venerable with assault cannon and heavy flamer power claw. They're very effective and it really worrys an opponent with that many walkers heading toward them

 

~O

[Iron-Daemon Forge]

I use Bjorn in 18 games now. I really like him in the games I fought.

 

I notice a lot of my oppent have had a hard time destroy him due to the 5+ save or venrable rule. I think he been destroyed four time out of the 18 games, he been immobile twice, weapon destroyed once & the rest is usely can't shot or move/shot.

 

He general rip apart any unit I send him into.

Yesterday he went head to head with a Hivemind only getting imobile & weapon destroyed, while he rip it apart.

He slaughter a Tzeentch Daemon Prince with no scratch to himself

Went against a unit of Thunder Hammer terminators, one of there number left & he flee

Took on Elrad

Took on Lysander.

 

I would say the only weakness I encounter is my abilty to roll his Difficult terrain rolls. I think two is the highest I rolled, he usely when in terrain spend the game getting from one bit to the other of one base/area of terrain. But his Plasma Cannon make up for this & the BS6 is such a great thing for this. Like wise the Heavy Flamer when going against unit hold objects.

 

There are down side of course, well more risk like if destroyed become a object or a d3 kill point. But same time, like the mission with one object each it usely end in a draw anyway so he offer you another object if someone destroyed him/not know his rules that well. Also making your army fearless is alway good.

 

But so far I enjoy useing him in games & play to take Bjorn to a few tournaments. In ever game so far he done a lot & cause the most headace to my oppents.

 

IP

[Spacefrisian]

I have used him and he stayed alive, even though i wanted the enemy to destroy him so i would have an easy time winning objective based games. Seems to help as he has gone through every battle without a scratch.

[TiguriusX]

Has anyone tried Bjorn + Iron Priest + 3 servitors to repair weapons?

 

Knowing you can easily replace a weapon the following turn with 3+ means a lot more control over damage results with Bjorn (or venerable dreads in general)

[Prophecy]

I've used Bjorn in a few games now. In the most epic, he single-handedly stood up to a khorned daemon prince and a full unit of khorne beserkers. Once the dust had settled, Bjorn stood alone, shaken, but otherwise unharmed, atop a pile of heretical bodies. He then went on to cleave his way through two rhinos and a full unit of T5 Nurgle marines before finally planting his hulking iron foot squarely on the objective and daring any and all who would to try the might of Russ' stalwart son.

 

My opponent wisely decided to try for other objectives. I won.

 

I like Bjorn.

[BDS]

Awesome replies, thank you brothers. I especially appreciated Insane Psychopath's reply with the number of games to number of times destroyed.

 

To summarize your responses:

 

1. Bjorn two largest strengths are survivability and BS6 plasma cannon.

 

2. Bjorn, like all things, should be supported. This can be accomplished with 15-20 PA SW's, other armor, or 1-2 dreds.

 

3. 4 times to 1 (estimate) Bjorn will become immobilized versus destroyed

 

4. Bjorn does his best work mid field or closer

 

5. So far, no one reported winning or losing a game due to his special rules regarding KP/objectives....but his surviviability rules certainly did affect the outcome in most cases.

 

 

Thank you for the replies and will continue to plan my army to include him.

 

One thing that jumps out to me from the responses....... Including an Iron Wolf may not be a bad idea. Especially if I can determine an alternate supporting roll for him to fill when not needed.

 

Bjorn being immobilized looks to be the most annoying aspect of taking the 270pts beast.

 

@VenDredGreatClaw:

I too see him planting on an objective myself. He will either hold it for nearby troops or die and make the nearby troops fearless and giving me two objectives for my one.

 

In KP games I see some opponents waste an inordinate amount of fire power on him to the detriment of their target selection, giving me more latitude to do what I want with the rest of my army.

 

I have used him in one game versus 2000pts of walking Plague Marines. He was very effective...killing7-9 pm's on the march, 4-5 in hth, and finishing off a DP. He took two las cannons and 2 melta guns to the face and was unscathed. I actually did not have to use his 5+ or venerable, as he made his cover or armor was not popped.

 

One thing I am very surprised to not have included for his points is Extra Armor. I am unsure if this would have made him too good and having EA would defintiely fit his fluff.

 

Thanks for the input so far, looking forward to more.

 

BDS

[BDS]

Here is my WIP for Bjorn:

 

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b358/40KFightClub/Beatdemskulls/BDS%20WIPs/WIPBjornFace.jpg

 

I am thinking I may add some techno to the eye sockets. Maybe a spot light in one and targetting array in the other. I would then remove the spot light from the top right carapace. I will more than likely add a wolf pelt to the waist and paint on some SW iconography.

 

BDS

[Skirax]

Looks nice, but I think the head could be changed.

[Archnomad]

Not so big on the skull. Personally I'm going to use the new SW Vendread from FW. As my Puppies aren't actually "SWs" (a lost company) I can't use the big grandaddy.

 

As to tactics, he's mostly in my list for 4 things.

 

Fire Magnet

BS6 Plasma cannon for my Mystic Retinue to enjoy

Reroll on first turn, and Emperor's Tarot = Space Wolves WILL get first turn (usually >.<)

Nice objective in 2/3 missions. KP games I just try table people instead of playing conservatively.

 

 

:D

[BDS]

Thanks for the input. The skull is not so imposing when not in extreme close up. It is staying however. I have had that model for years...albeit unpainted...and I have grown attached to it. I will add some SW stuff..but I am sold on the head. sorry.

 

After reviewing the comments I am eager to get him out on the table asap.

 

Thanks, and keep you game experiences and stragtegies coming.

 

BDS

[SpaceWolf13C]

i use him in combination with njal to hopefully insure 1st turn for njals abilities. 2000 pts. ive played 2 games with him and he didn't die either time. neither character has done much in either game but they have both caused a lot of sweating on my opponents side of the table. so much that i'm gonna play those two has tag team partners for awhile longer.

[Howling]

Last weekend I used Bjorn for the first time since I wanted a little change in my 1500 Pts game...

 

He ended up fighting against Abaddon + 4 Terminators with 1 Powerfist and 1 Chainfist as well as 4 remaining Khorne Berserkers....

I instantly lost my cybot close combat weapon in the first turn, thus rendering Bjorns attacks nearly ineffective against the terminators and Abaddon.....

But in the end Bjorn survived Abaddon until Turn 6 (thus surviving 5 Rounds of Close Combat O.o) and he killed all Berserkers and a Terminator...

 

Basically he saved my ass in this game as I really didn't expect my enemy to field Abaddon in such a small game and he would have kicked my ass of my objective if Bjorn hadn't stopped him and his bodyguard....

 

It was quite fun to see my opponents face as my 5+ wardsave stopped 3 glancing hits and 2 penetration hits one round...just ridiculously lucky there!

 

Anyways, not sure if I'll use him again, but it was fun! Hail to Bjorn and his Fellhand...although it fell off right in first turn...

[Spacefrisian]

Has anyone tried Bjorn + Iron Priest + 3 servitors to repair weapons?

 

Knowing you can easily replace a weapon the following turn with 3+ means a lot more control over damage results with Bjorn (or venerable dreads in general)

 

The Iron priest isn't an option for me anymore 1 wound and no Stormshield option. (never again will he slam through 3 Predators and survive all punishment dished out against him)

[BDS]

Any new game experiences with Bjorn....

 

Thanks,

BDS

[SeanyPrawny]

I fielded him against my friends thousand sons army and he was destroyed instantly in the first turn by a charging DP. It wasn't very good times. He got 2 penetrating hits i rolled a 1 and a 2 for my saves he then rolled a 5 and a 6 and after re-rolls got a 1 and a 5 :P still i managed to beat the rest of the army down with the rest of mine without taking any further losses.

 

A second game I played against a blood angel player saw him slogging around the table for 4 turns doing nothing (stupidity on my part) then got charged by 5 assault marines with melta bombs and both his arms blown off haha. He still beat them down but I wasn't happy.

 

Think I'll leave him alone for a while.

[Baluc]

I fielded him against my friends thousand sons army and he was destroyed instantly in the first turn by a charging DP. It wasn't very good times. He got 2 penetrating hits i rolled a 1 and a 2 for my saves he then rolled a 5 and a 6 and after re-rolls got a 1 and a 5 :) still i managed to beat the rest of the army down with the rest of mine without taking any further losses.

 

A second game I played against a blood angel player saw him slogging around the table for 4 turns doing nothing (stupidity on my part) then got charged by 5 assault marines with melta bombs and both his arms blown off haha. He still beat them down but I wasn't happy.

 

Think I'll leave him alone for a while.

 

I was under the impression that grenades went last... maybe I'm wrong...

[TiguriusX]

Has anyone tried Bjorn + Iron Priest + 3 servitors to repair weapons?

 

Knowing you can easily replace a weapon the following turn with 3+ means a lot more control over damage results with Bjorn (or venerable dreads in general)

 

The Iron priest isn't an option for me anymore 1 wound and no Stormshield option. (never again will he slam through 3 Predators and survive all punishment dished out against him)

 

 

What kind of predators are you hunting?

 

Runic armor for HB and AC and allocate LC to your servitors

[The_Betrayed_Spacewolf]

bjorn is best used when considered to get the alpha strike. max out the long fangs and any other quantities of heavy weapons and use his ancient tactician to get the first turn and shut down your opponent big time.

 

ie get rid of some of those pesky seer council before they power up, knock out as many vehicles as possible with rokkit launchers (aka missile launchers) living lightning.

 

if your opponent is already missing his much needed 6 chimeras or vendettas then he has lost a good point of mobility and defense.

[Loki73]

I like him but I find id rather have NJAL or Logan. I found he was best with and all foot troop army.

 

Here is mine:

 

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz249/Loki4U/DSCN1288.jpg

 

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz249/Loki4U/DSCN1291.jpg

 

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz249/Loki4U/DSCN1290.jpg

[The_Betrayed_Spacewolf]

i like the claws how did you manage those?

[BDS]

Nicely done.

 

What is the best and worst day ever using him?

 

BDS