"Ring of fire(warriors)" tactic

[depthcharge12]

So I was building my list the other day and I came across a relatively new tactic (since 8th switched things up and drones can detach from units) utilizing a fireblade, some pathfinders, and a pulse accelerator drone. Here's the units I am taking for example:

 

• 2x8 man fire warrior squad with rifles

• 10 man pathfinder squad with grav and accelerator drones

• Cadre Fireblade w/markerlight/pulse rifle/photon nades

 

So this is how it works. First turn you set the units up around 6" of eachother but not so close that you'll be multicharged into oblivion - you could even set them up in two parallel lines for this to work. Set up the pathfinders and cadre behind them within 6". The drone gives all the pulse weapons +6" to their range, and the cadre gives all infantry units with pulse weapons the ability to fire an extra shot within half range of their weapons.

 

In honor of Shas'nel Cash, I name this the "Ring of Firewarriors" :P

 

You now have (using my units as an example) at 18" 51 pulse rifle shots (including fireblade) and 20 pulse carbine shots for a total of 71!!!! S5 shots! At 12" you have 81 S5 shots from the pathfinders getting the cadre bonus and pulse drone bonus as well :O

 

This comes in at a sweet sweet 260 points for all this dakka. Oh...and you still have all that overwatch too, and markerlights can be fired in conjunction WITH pulse carbines and at separate units this edition. Or you can toss some photon grenades to nerf your opponent's attacks as well to give them a blue middle finger :devil:

 

What do y'all think? Puretide would be happy?

[helterskelter]

Ahem *pew pew, pewpepew pewpewpew*

 

The one issue is you're also dangerously close to things that want you dead, so this tactic could wildly vary in its application. However 260 points leaves you a metric ton of points for supporting cast.

[depthcharge12]

Yeah it close as hell but thankfully there's that 5 point drone I took too that reduces charges by d3" :devil:

 

'Oh you just deployed all your bugs and dudes up 9.01" away for a 9" charge? That's cute. It just became 11". Didn't pass it? Here's another 81 pulse shots for your trouble in overwatch...and another 81 in my next shooting phase.'

 

Muwahahahahahaha

[depthcharge12]

Here was my full 1500 point list:

 

HQ

Commander - 143

+ advanced targeting system, plasma rifle, 2 missile pods

 

Cadre fireblade - 42

+ markerlight, pulse rifle, photon grenades

 

 

Elites

Ghostkeel battlesuit - 181

+ multi tracker, advanced targeting, cyclic ion raker, 2 fusion blasters

 

3 Crisis suits - 224

+ plasma rifle, fusion blaster, shas'vre w/velocity tracker

 

 

Troops

8 strike fire warriors - 64

+ 8 pulse rifles

 

8 strike fire warriors - 64

+ 8 pulse rifles

 

 

Dedicated Transports

2 devilfish - 274

+ burst cannons, gun drones, 4 seeker missiles

 

 

Fast Attack

2 tactical drones - 16 (1500)

+ 2 pulse carbines

 

10 pathfinders - 90

+ pulse carbines, markerlights, photon grenades, 2 drones: grav wave and pulse accelerator

 

 

Heavy Support

2 Broadside Battlesuits -405

+ heavy rail rifles, 4 plasma guns, 2 seeker missiles, drone controller, velocity tracker

(Tracker applies to whole unit, no individual basis ;) )

 

 

Plan is for the FWs and pathfinders to pick a spot and hold the everliving greater good out of it. Anyone within 18" or 12" gets 71/81 S5 shots to the face. Broadsides deploy in some cover in the other corner of possible to split the enemy up and give them hell. Battlesuit commander can hang out with the broadsides to give them that Kauyon reroll for a turn and act as a QRF, or can break off with the other suits to cause problems. Ghostkeel is there as a sponge and a high threat killer. XV8s jump around like the House of Pain and do exactly that - killing vehicles and other schlubs. I like velocity trackers on AT units as the proliferation of not only traditional flying units, but all the old jump/jet/skimmer vehicles have all gotten the keyword "fly" now and it affects them too.

[Filius]

Ouh man … that really sounds like fun to me. Have you tried adding a Tidewall to that or putting them in Transports to get them somewhere else on the Board?

[Lippy]

A great tactic! One that'll I'm looking forward to employing in.

 

I'm so stoked that firewarriors and 'others' may see a new lease of life (or at least some feasible use).

I'd suggest adding some sniper drones in too for taking our their key characters too.

(not that you need the extra range, but they'll benefit from the Fireblade like nothing else!)

 

Sorry if this is already answered elsewhere, I've forgotten the answer. How doe the pulse accelerator interact with rapid fire? Does it increase rapid fire range too? Thus making the RapidFire range of a LongShot Pulse Rifle 27" ? (I know its only 3" extra, but every little helps... that's what she said!)

 

 

Edit: missed out the words 'Longshot Pulse Rifle'

Edited June 20, 2017 by Lippy

[depthcharge12]

The drone increases the range of pulse weapons by 6" :) rifles go to 36" (18 for rapid fire) and 24" for carbines!

 

@Filius

What I've thought about doing is putting both FW squads in devilfish during deployment...that way they don't count toward your overall # of units during deployment to decide who goes first! You can hop them out first turn without any issues and still move the devilfish as normal. It should also keep them safe if you don't win T1.

 

Also Devilfish are great for tying up units in cc that want to charge your precious shooty units. It's great because they can disengage at any time and still fire due to Fly!