Bjorn

[techmarine Azuris]

As the title says, from how many points is Bjorn viable? and what units would ppl recomend using along with him?

[red_starrise]

As the title says, from how many points is Bjorn viable? and what units would ppl recomend using along with him?

 

This is a subjective question. He is a very expensive but pretty good HQ. I'd only use him in 2K or above, usually 2500 at that. I'd run him w/ other dreads because dreads do tend to draw fire & he's the cost of almost 3 regular dreads or 1 venerable & 1 standard dread. Or run him w/ footslogging Wolf Guard terminators, at least that's how I'd do it since all the above can move & lay down some heavy firepower with him & assault alongside him equally as well.

 

OR

 

Depending on how many points you're dropping into HQ, Logan w/ a pack of Long Fangs w/ relentless would be a good accompaniment as well, maybe w/ some Blood Claws running w/ them, to which Logan could transfer over to them next turn to give them Preferred Enemy.

 

I'd also take the free plasma cannon everyday & twice on sunday unless you just have a specific love of the assault cannon because the plasma cannon on a vehicle is just plain awesome.

 

One of the downsides of our Special Characters is that for the most part, we don't have any real force multipliers that effect the whole army like some of the other MEQs out there. Plus, our Special Characters are very much, for the most part, close combat oriented 100% which is fine since if we can afford them we can get up to 4 of em :lol:

 

Bjorn does offer some force multiplier in there, but only before the game begins & after he dies. Other than that... not really.

[Simo429]

Chessiest and best Bjorn tactic is in boredraw show your opponent some rear armour and let him blow the **** out of him in your deployment zone. Now you have two objectives to defend rather than trying to take an objective.

[Iacton Qruze]

I actually have a 1000 point list I run him in.

 

the lower amount of heavy weaponry makes him that much tougher to kill.

[DV8]

From a purely competitive standpoint, Bjorn brings to the table the same problems that Njal does: they're both over-costed, and for the points have very little to offer that another unit cannot do, for cheaper (or more effectively/efficiently).

 

For almost the same cost, you can bring three Dreadnoughts. Nevermind the Blessing of the Primarch or the Venerable rule, presenting three armored targets is almost always better than forcing a reroll and hoping to pass a 5+ save. His higher WS and BS can be pretty awesome (but he IS only Initiative 3), but is it really worth the almost 300 points it costs to field him? Nevermind that without access to a Drop Pod, Bjorn has to foot-slog his way across the field taking fire, and he can only fire one weapon plus his Storm Bolter (with three Dreadnoughts can fire anywhere from three to six).

 

So from a competitive prespective, never is a good time to field Bjorn. Yea lets go with never.

 

From a casual/fluff perspective, consider the opponent and the narrative and go from there. If you want to have some fun and field Bjorn, take him, regardless of points limit. Just understand that he IS a handicap.

 

 

DV8

[Blacksad]

I'm working on a Bjorn list, with him as only HQ, an additional dread, and 2 iron priests on thunderwolf, each one following one of the dreads, + all troops in rhinos. The Iron Priests can help keep him alive long enough to do some damage, the additional dread, and all those Rhinos (and plazorbacks for the fangs, and land speeders) make sure there's enough armoured targets for your opponent to start eating his hat (in case people don't wear hats where you play, be kind, bring him one ^_^) but as stated earlier, due to his pointcost, he seems less viable in smallpoint games

[rodgambit]

If I ran Bjorn it would probably be with a heavy mech army.

 

2500

 

Bjorn

x2 rifleman dreads

WG x3 cm+pf

x3 grey hunter rhino units (wg attached)

x1 las/plas rb unit (objective camper)

x2 TLAC rb unit (run on the outside of the vindies to protect side armour)

x3 vindies

rune priest (storm caller/jaws)

wolf priest (stealth)

x3 speeders hf+mm

 

In an objective game I'd camp the las/plas rb with the rifleman dreads and push forward bjorn (plasma cannon or AC) with vindies, 2 ac razors, 3 rhinos full of troops behind that most AV13 wall.

 

Bjorn would also go well with a heavy LF, RB spam list for the chance to go 1st and pick table edge and alpha strike. However, I really hate that he cost as much as he does with no extra armour and I3.

[commander alexander]

I definitely like taking Bjorn at the 2k-2.5k range. I load him out with a plasma cannon, and he's on guard duty with the tanks or long fangs. He's a nasty beast when infantry try and get close to my heavy support.

[Dexo]

It also an importet thing to remenber that Bjorn is a Dread there don't take op a Elite slot.

 

So it is posibel to field Scouts, Wolfguard and a Lone Wolf and still have a Dread in the army.

[Karack Blackstone]

As the title says, from how many points is Bjorn viable? and what units would ppl recomend using along with him?

 

Viable is basically when he'd do the most good? Or is all you're interested in the fact that at (specify) points range he excels...?

 

I have a finalized very points heavy list with four dreads, all venerable, but that's not likely what you would be playing at, in terms of points ranges. I tend to consider Bjorn great from around 1500 to 2500, and slightly weaker overall as the points go up.

What would concern me is getting the most use out of him. I think this has been debated before, but the best weapons to give Bjorn are either the PC, or AsC. PC, you subtract six; no small feat, if you're hunting nasty things. AsC you get four shots, with reroll hits on... fives, I think? Both are nice for what they do, but have to be considered for the army you're up against.

 

Pros:

- PC/AsC choices

- 5+ Invul Save

- WTT for Psy powers (in addition to 5++)

- HQ Choice Dread, can have four Dreads on the field.

- FA 13

 

Cons:

- Hefty points cost

- No EA

- No Pod (mentioned already, but worth reiterating)

- Flamer instead of SB

 

All in all, if you think he will work for you, consider proxy or the real deal and see what happens. After about three games, you'll start to find out if you find him fun, or if he's going to drag you down. Whether or not he works, if you're not finding him fun to have included in your force, consider that as well. Bjorn is like any other part of the SW Codex: an asset in some situations, and not the best in others. The game really depends on how you use him, and what happens to him.

[techmarine Azuris]

Whats so bad about the Heavy Flamer? But yes i thought he was pricey for I3 and no pod.

[Karack Blackstone]

The Heavy Flamer is a close-in weapon, on a unit that gets the enemy 1d3 KP, or an additional objective, according to the game type.

 

It's not exactly ideal to send such an expensive unit into CC when he costs as much as Bjorn does, seeing as he effectively has just one wound. It's doable, but don't forget like any unit, he can be dropped. It's just a bit worse off since things like an Ork Warboss with Boss pole and a full unit of Meganobz will count as troops in that situation, and getting them off their brand new objective may prove difficult. Bjorn is often great at longer range, yet he's no slouch in CC. It's other Dreads with DCCW arm(s) that would also prove a large weak spot, despite the 5++ save. It's not impossible to make all of them, but it's not always easy. If you and your dice are on good terms, good luck.

 

I suppose the best advice I can give is at least plot out a few situations where you consider using Bjorn, and then roll some dice up if you're feeling like it. Full on games against loyal forces (training missions, to me) and considered training missions, may prove the most educational in his uses.

[techmarine Azuris]

Thanks everyone some good points there. I think the big problems are I3, why not 4 or 5? and no drop pod :/ shame rlly otherwise wouldve had potential imo, if DP was included in price.

[Karack Blackstone]

To add, here's some additional food for thought:

 

When running Bjorn, keep a unit of GH's nearby, either in a transport or on foot.

There's really no way to go wrong with other units, in terms of support.

If you need Dual TLAC Dreads in addition to Bjorn, then take them.

If you need any other kind of Dreads, take those instead or as well, depending on things.

Land Speeders can also be strong AT, depending on loadout and needs.

LF's should have what you need for the game.

 

Bjorn in my mind can, and let me repeat that, can be worthwhile. What settles it is if you think he's not going to prove to be an asset to your battle lines. Don't force yourself to try this unless you're willing to give him a fair consideration of battlefield effectiveness. Otherwise, test away.

 

The choice is yours, but good of you to ask for advice in this case.