Skitarii and Mechanicum HARD DATA review

[BassWave]

I have a thought exercise for my fellow tech magi. We all know that skitarii and cult admech don't have a wide variety of long ranged weapons. Because of this, the first turn feels wasted a bit as we scramble towards the enemy. Against enemies with long ranged weapons, this hurts us quite a bit. So my question is this. How would you apply pressure on the first turn of the game? Do you take batteries of laser onagers supported by msu arquebus teams? Perhaps maybe the ironstrider formation in order to outflank deep into the enemy turn 1 to cause target priority issues? I'd like to hear your thoughts.

[CommodusXIII]

I let my opponent take the first turn, who usually walks into range.

[MoGuy]

6" Scout + 6" move is often enough to get even the Vanguards with their 18" weaponry into fire range. 

[BassWave]

So let me add another element. What would you do against a gun line?

[CommodusXIII]

Cover, Neutron Laser bombardment, objective snatching. Honestly, a static opponent is good fortune.

[SydonianDragoon404]

It really depends on the board. If cover is scarce, it is going to be an uphill battle even with War Convocation as you rely on cover saves. Thankfully the Skitarii have a few very fast units thanks to Dunestrider, those guys can get up the board extremely quickly. When moving on a Gunline, really you have to use what ranged weapons you have, try to make your opponent shoot at your units that have good cover, and hope the Omnissiah is with you when you roll those saves. 

[Tyriks]

Might be really irresponsible this week and instead of painting my outstanding pile of BA, build my Mechanik-itarii so I can use them in a small battle or something...

 

I want to feel that firepower man.

 

I have:

 

Techpriest

Rangers & Vanguard

6 Kataphron (3 Plas/ 3 Grav)

2 Bots w/Smith

 

+ a Castellax I can probably count as a bot too.

 

Probably make a decent list with that!

 

This is close to my collection, which was able to table Eldar in a 1500 point game. All you're missing is dragoons and dunecrawlers.

[Charlo]

 

Might be really irresponsible this week and instead of painting my outstanding pile of BA, build my Mechanik-itarii so I can use them in a small battle or something...

 

I want to feel that firepower man.

 

I have:

 

Techpriest

Rangers & Vanguard

6 Kataphron (3 Plas/ 3 Grav)

2 Bots w/Smith

 

+ a Castellax I can probably count as a bot too.

 

Probably make a decent list with that!

This is close to my collection, which was able to table Eldar in a 1500 point game. All you're missing is dragoons and dunecrawlers.

 

Yeah I can see that.

 

I can just about fit it into a 1k points game, which would be Brutal I feel. Though the Skitarii are deffo small in number.

 

Maybe i'll get something built and play a small game soon, it will be weird using a predominantly dakka based list without massed deep strike :P

[SydonianDragoon404]

Here's some modeling data-

 

I've finished my Secutarii Peltasts, built and painted. Started on my Hoplites tonight and there were some uncharacteristic mistakes from FW on this upgrade kit. Mold slips on the spears, and I'm going to need to buy a hair dryer as the spears are so badly bent. It's mainly those spears that are the biggest offender. Anyone else get this? Maybe I got a bad batch.

[klisof]

How bad are the mold slips? It might be better to just get in touch with FW customer service and get replacement spears. Bent pieces, flash and large gates are easy fixes but mold slips can be a bigger problem.

I had that happen with some thunder hammers, to trim down the ridges left by the slip would take ages and result in loss of detail as well as leaving the shaft thinker and weaker than it should be so it was better to get replacements. 

[SydonianDragoon404]

Here's some pictures. Let me know if you think it's worth contacting them about.

 

http://imgur.com/a/pdxyk

[CommodusXIII]

That doesn't look so bad. Nothing a little scraping wouldn't fix.

 

Just about every spear/staff/sword/etc. will have a slight bend from temperature changes during shipping. It's easy to correct:

 

1) Microwave a cup of water.

2) Dip the part in it.

3) While hot, pull the part straight.

4) While holding the part straight, blow until cool.

 

It takes a little practice, but it's a necessary skill for prepping resin models.

[klisof]

I'd agree with commodus, that's not too bad. It's in the irritating but fixable range. I've seen mild slip where the two sides are offset by 3 or 4mm, at that point you give up and call FW.

Give it a go following the advice above, but if it goes completely wrong I'd still give FW a call then.

[MoGuy]

I'm posting this here because I think that this way most people will see it:

 

So, yesterday I was at the "Spiel 2016" in Essen, the worlds biggest boardgame convention. Forgeworld and GW were there too and I talked to the Forgeworld guys about the rumour that the next Imperial Armour Book will contain rules for the 30K Mechanicum stuff. They told me that that's correct! Their plan is that the players will be able to play 30K models with 40K rules. 

 

Of course they couldn't tell me any details. So I don't know if every single entry from the Thagmata army list will be in that book or if just a few select models will get rules. 

 

Another thing:

 

30K Mechanicum will get their Drone (the uncorrupted version of the Nurgle Blight Drone). Release will be in the next 2-3 weeks. You could already buy the Drone at the Forgeworld booth and it's pretty big. Costs are about 90€.

[Mechanicus Tech-Support]

I'm posting this here because I think that this way most people will see it:

 

So, yesterday I was at the "Spiel 2016" in Essen, the worlds biggest boardgame convention. Forgeworld and GW were there too and I talked to the Forgeworld guys about the rumour that the next Imperial Armour Book will contain rules for the 30K Mechanicum stuff. They told me that that's correct! Their plan is that the players will be able to play 30K models with 40K rules. 

 

Of course they couldn't tell me any details. So I don't know if every single entry from the Thagmata army list will be in that book or if just a few select models will get rules. 

 

Another thing:

 

30K Mechanicum will get their Drone (the uncorrupted version of the Nurgle Blight Drone). Release will be in the next 2-3 weeks. You could already buy the Drone at the Forgeworld booth and it's pretty big. Costs are about 90€.

 

Not so much a rumor, you need to find the thread somewhere on B@C or Natfka but we've seen art pics already from one of the Open days, iirc not all 30k mech units will make into 40k. But from what we "know" a bunch of robots have been mothballed on the planet the next IA is supposed to take place on. being stored for 10k years makes them a little bit...off, we "know" volkite won't make it or at least not in numbers previously seen, and pictures of the triaios and macro carried explorator were seen as well. 

 

Either way I can't wait!

[Castellan Cato]

 

I'm posting this here because I think that this way most people will see it:

 

So, yesterday I was at the "Spiel 2016" in Essen, the worlds biggest boardgame convention. Forgeworld and GW were there too and I talked to the Forgeworld guys about the rumour that the next Imperial Armour Book will contain rules for the 30K Mechanicum stuff. They told me that that's correct! Their plan is that the players will be able to play 30K models with 40K rules. 

 

Of course they couldn't tell me any details. So I don't know if every single entry from the Thagmata army list will be in that book or if just a few select models will get rules. 

 

Another thing:

 

30K Mechanicum will get their Drone (the uncorrupted version of the Nurgle Blight Drone). Release will be in the next 2-3 weeks. You could already buy the Drone at the Forgeworld booth and it's pretty big. Costs are about 90€.

 

Not so much a rumor, you need to find the thread somewhere on B@C or Natfka but we've seen art pics already from one of the Open days, iirc not all 30k mech units will make into 40k. But from what we "know" a bunch of robots have been mothballed on the planet the next IA is supposed to take place on. being stored for 10k years makes them a little bit...off, we "know" volkite won't make it or at least not in numbers previously seen, and pictures of the triaios and macro carried explorator were seen as well. 

 

Either way I can't wait!

 

 

Hmm I haven't heard of the trarios and explorator being in, but that's nice.  I do remember pictures with castellax and the thanatar though, so those two are in.

 

My mechanicum force is pretty much on hold until we hear whats available because I really want to run a more close combat focused force than what is available from the main GW line.

[Mechanicus Tech-Support]

I tossed in the triarios and the explorator because I'm pretty sure when the IA pics were shown at the open day they also showed art of Triaios and the explorator but that could just be a "hey here's a preview of the new mechanicus models" instead of "totally in the new book".

[Charlo]

We've already had it confrimed that Thanatar & Castellax will get 40k rules.

 

I assume that the Myrmidons will too (most likely sans Volkite) and maybe Tech Thralls.

[Castellan Cato]

I have my fingers crossed for thallax. I don't really see any reason why they couldn't be in, and I feel like the mechanicus could really use some mobile objective takers. That's something everyone here has complained about a lack of.

[Charlo]

Thrallax are a weird one, I genuinely think I have read somewhere that they were all but wiped out during the Heresy as both sides used them as expendable shock troops etc.

 

If they did make it to 40k they'd probably lose 90% of the weapon options and the specialization rules etc

[Grand Master Laertes]

Thrallax are a weird one, I genuinely think I have read somewhere that they were all but wiped out during the Heresy as both sides used them as expendable shock troops etc.

 

If they did make it to 40k they'd probably lose 90% of the weapon options and the specialization rules etc

 

 

IIRC, in a White Dwarf around the time when the Skitarii or the Cult Mechanicus were released, they said, in a side-box, that the Tallaxii are still part of the Mechanicus armies in 40k. It is WD, though, so it is not assured to be canon. The Studio might have changed ideas in the meantime.

[Charlo]

 

Thrallax are a weird one, I genuinely think I have read somewhere that they were all but wiped out during the Heresy as both sides used them as expendable shock troops etc.

 

If they did make it to 40k they'd probably lose 90% of the weapon options and the specialization rules etc

 

 

IIRC, in a White Dwarf around the time when the Skitarii or the Cult Mechanicus were released, they said, in a side-box, that the Tallaxii are still part of the Mechanicus armies in 40k. It is WD, though, so it is not assured to be canon. The Studio might have changed ideas in the meantime.

 

 

I actually totally remember that!

[Tiger9gamer]

 

 

Thrallax are a weird one, I genuinely think I have read somewhere that they were all but wiped out during the Heresy as both sides used them as expendable shock troops etc.

 

If they did make it to 40k they'd probably lose 90% of the weapon options and the specialization rules etc

 

 

IIRC, in a White Dwarf around the time when the Skitarii or the Cult Mechanicus were released, they said, in a side-box, that the Tallaxii are still part of the Mechanicus armies in 40k. It is WD, though, so it is not assured to be canon. The Studio might have changed ideas in the meantime.

 

 

I actually totally remember that!

 

it also makes sense, since this was something made almost exclusively by the ordo reductor as a foot soldier, and as we see in cult and skitarii's hierarchy the ordo reductor is still very much a thing alongside the myrmadons. one doesn't lose one of the best footsoldiers of their armies so easily, even in 40k. at least I hope so because hot darn I wanna use jet pack troopers.

 

also, is there no more battle reports to be had?

[DeStinyFiSh]

also, is there no more battle reports to be had?

I'll have a game against traitors hate CSM in about an hour

I wanna field the Killclade, since nobody ever made a statement about that formation I wanna give it a try.

Plus an Elemination maniple (Data Smith will be my Warlord).

Wish me luck (or good calculations or whatever Tech Priests wish each other before a fight)

[Castellan Cato]

 

also, is there no more battle reports to be had?

 

 

I've been meaning to do a write up for a while, so now must be the time.  This is less of a battle report, and more of a commentary on the units that I've taken throughout 5-6 games now.  I run primarily skitarri, and am adding in cult mech as I get models.

 

Dominus Maniple: This is a never-leave-home-without for me and deserves its own entry.  Mine is usually a dominus with beamer and conversion field, 10 vanguard with 3 plasmas and an AA dunecrawler.  Serious talk.  This formation is awesome.  The dominus attached to the plasmas squad will delete a unit.  In the last game the unit got charged by a unit of CSM bikers with sorceror.  The dominus threw vanguard in the way for a few wounds and then completely wrecked the biker squad.  My regular opponent is left shaking his head how to kill this unit as they're tough to shooting with a 2+/4++ in front and surprisingly killy in melee.

 

Dominus: DO NOT FORGET THE HAYWIRE ATTACKS.  You can trade all of your attacks in to use the haywire weapon at initiative.  He's taken down a knight in two combat rounds before (with some ablative vanguard for wounds).  1D4chan says that he is one of the best base HQs, and they are totally right.

 

Vanguard, with 3 plasma:  As mentioned above, this squad is amazing.  They delete units wholesale.  And with re-rolls (either from twin-linked from the formation or Preferred Enemy) they don't have to fear Gets Hot!  In all the games I've played, I've only lost 3 to gets hot, and two of those were in over-watch were you don't get the re-roll.  However, I don't think I would run them without re-rolls.  The risk is too high for my taste.

 

Vanguard, with 2 Arc rifles:  This is my basic troop slot.  10 men, 8 of which are proficient at killing models with a T value and 2 that can lay the smack down on vehicles.  Highlights so far: 1 squad haywired down a Brass Scorpion before it could engage them (it took a pit stop to blow up a knight and gave me an extra turn shooting at it).  These guys die very quickly, but they pull that firepower away from other units.

 

Onager, with laser beam of doom:  These are scary.  Your opponent keeping 48" bubble away from them scary.  I need some more. 

 

Infiltrators: Pretty underrated by the mass gaming community it seems.  First game I used 5 of them, my opponent ignored them until the ripped apart 8 storm shielded Dark Angels vets AND Asmodai before they could strike back.  And in that fight my alpha didn't even fight because we we're holding dice for the challenge.  The taser goads are a scary amount of dice.  I usually give my alpha the omniscient mask to make sure at least some get to combat.  If I had one request for a new formation, it would be one that showcases these instead of the one we have where they are just a support unit.

 

Kastellan robots:  Just brutal.  impossible to kill.  I've never run the fists, and don't expect to need to.  They're a fine counter charge unit the way they are kitted with full phosphor blasters.  My games usually end with these guys still alive and sitting on the points I need to win.  I'm working on getting some kataphrons so I can take an elimination maniple and not play unbound to get them.

 

Cohort Cybernetica:  I only ran this once.  In my opinion its just WAY too many points in one unit to be practical.  Half your army can be tarpitted by a bunch of cultists.  Sure they SUPER won't die, but I did not enjoy it.

 

Anyway that's my rant on the models so far.  As Isaid above, I'm looking forward to the next IA because I enjoy the weird CC aspects of the mechanicum and I have a rough army cooked up in my head that's based around infiltrators, dragoons, arlatax running downfield with ranger and thallax as objective grabbers.

 

Pictures of my army can be found on my Facebook, and the link is below. Cheers!