Single Psyker as main strategy?

[Frater Cornelius]

I have been thinking and re-thinking this issue until my neighbour cried out in pain and went on a vacation.

Do you think it is worth making a psyker part of your main strategy, even though you can not muster more than 3+D6 charges?

An example. Both Tigurius and Sevrin Loth can get Invisibility high reliability (Tiggy has re-rolls and Loth chooses it). This would cry out for a TWC star.

However, apart from GK, an Imperial faction will never manage to accumulate enough warp charges to roll enough 4+ for it to become impossible to stop. Especially when facing Daemons, Draigo Cent Star and Eldar.

So, do you still think it is worth including Tiggy or Loth as the sole psyker in an army and make him part of the main battle plan? Or do you think it is too risky given how many charges some of the high end lists can gather to stop it (compared to yours)?

Keep in mind, we are talking bleeding edge competitiveness, so the opponents will mainly be Eldar, Tau and Daemons.

Cheers for any feedback

[Frater Cornelius]

Anyone? Hm, I guess not.

[wulfgar hammerfist]

A single psyker doesn't rate very high for me. Most psyker heavy armies invest in that phase and will simply shut down a single dude. I also dislike models that have a chance of hurting themselves on the tabletop. I grudgingly use plasma because of it.

[JamesI]

I don't mind taking a single psyker, but not as something I am counting on.  If my strategy depends on getting a specific power to pass, I want a lot of warp dice to make sure.

[rgr_maddog]

When I use psykers, I like to take a few, and normally as cheap HQ's to fill slots to open other things I want. This offers multiple potentially leathal and/or buffy characters to bennifit the core, but are not essential to it. This way I'm always getting what I want before I roll for powers, and any good ones are gravy. Also gives you more threats to eat up dispell dice. I don't know if it's a top table strategy, but they are normally fun, competitive, and give you options.

[Daddywarcrimes]

I'm strongly opposed to fielding single psykers, or even fielding just two of them.  If you aren't getting close to 10+d6 dice per turn, you're going to have a very hard time making use of your powers.

 

Two psychic Inquisitors and 3 henchmen squads composed of 2 acolytes and a psyker will give you 5 more dice fairly cheaply, along with 3 units you can hide deep in your own backfield to hold objectives.

 

I know, I know.  Vith Legion and the Inquisition don't get along anymore after Logan decided that he was going to turn his back on Russ's legacy of unflinching and unparalleled loyalty by going to way with the Ordo Malleus.

[Donkalleone]

Depending on a single psyker is not save and Eldar/Demon will laugh. but if i have 60-85 points and need a HQ i will take a RP over any WGBL setup for that point cost.

[MeatGrinder]

If Im running Wolves unleashed, I take two Runepriests, but otherwise I don't think I will anymore. You either invest in the psychic phase or you dont. A single level 2 is weak, and hes a decent few points, points that might be better spent elsewhere.

[Frater Cornelius]

Well, if we are talking single psykers, we are talking Sevrin Loth or Tigurius. Sevrin chooses his powers, so no randomness there. Tiggy has 3 powers and re-rolls, so while there is randomness, he gets his stuff most of the time. Tiggy also has re-rolls to cast and both are ML3.

 

Casting the powers is not an issue. It is more the issue of not having enough warp charges to reliably cast it against psyker-heavy armies like Draigo Cent Star, Eldar or Daemons.

[NightHowler]

In my humble opinion, if you're talking about bleeding edge competitiveness, no.  One psycher will not stand up to a bleeding edge, tournament worthy, beardy list.  Eldar, Tau, and Demons will all stop you from casting anything.  Grey Knights (while not especially competitive) will shut your lone psycher down.  One Cluexus assassin will shut your psycher down.  My grandmother, armed only with a frying pan, will shut your lone psycher down, and then she would cook him a delicious breakfast of gravy and biscuits while badgering him about when he's going to get married and start having babies so she can be a great grandmother before she dies.

 

Your points are better spent buying things you can depend on, so either get enough warp charges that your psychic phase becomes dependable, or abandon it for something worthwhile.

[Nadir]

Single psyker? Why not. But only woth blesings. And still its better to have one that none especially with hood. +additional dice to negate opponent spells could be handy.

Bu building the whole strategy on one model? Bad idea...

[Frater Cornelius]

In my humble opinion, if you're talking about bleeding edge competitiveness, no. One psycher will not stand up to a bleeding edge, tournament worthy, beardy list. Eldar, Tau, and Demons will all stop you from casting anything. Grey Knights (while not especially competitive) will shut your lone psycher down. One Cluexus assassin will shut your psycher down. My grandmother, armed only with a frying pan, will shut your lone psycher down, and then she would cook him a delicious breakfast of gravy and biscuits while badgering him about when he's going to get married and start having babies so she can be a great grandmother before she dies.

 

Your points are better spent buying things you can depend on, so either get enough warp charges that your psychic phase becomes dependable, or abandon it for something worthwhile.

Can I get said Grandmother on the table top? :D