Post-release roundtable: what worked? what didnt

[Bulwyf]

After several games I am loving the Land Raider Crusader with two Razorbacks. If I face horde armies, slap AC on the RB. If I face elite/high toughness lists, which is far more common in my meta, slap LAC on the RB. Put some storm bolters on all three and you can just go to town on anything you face. I can keep my Wulfen safe in the LRC and deploy them as needed.

 

Along with Bjorn those vehicles are now auto includes in my lists. Razorbacks are insanely awesome for their price cost.

[Nharvey89]

I have been having great success with my LF, 2x lascannon 2x missile, the reroll of 1s means I'm usually chunking something worth while. They sit far enough back to be out of range of most and what had the range is generally high damage so my opponent has other targets he needs to worry about.

[Karhedron]

My Long Fangs have also been doing good work in this edition. My regular squad is 1 LC, 2 PC and 2 ML. The plasma cannons and missile launchers are pretty flexible being able to threaten both infantry and larger targets. The Lascannon helps to punch through armour a little more effectively. I am planning to build a second squad of all plasma cannons. My wolves have always been pretty Plasma-happy and 8th edition has reinforced that.

 

Bjorn and 2 TLAC Razorbacks are pretty much standard in any list from 1500 points up. In very small games I run a Wolf Lord in place of Bjorn to save points. The Razorbacks both have small Grey Hunter squads packing melta guns, and combi-melta wolf guard. These compensate for the low number of lascannons. My Wolves have not yet been defeated and have gone up against a variety of opponents including Tau, Eldar and Plague Marines. Finest moment so far was probably Bjorn ripping a Wraithknight in half in a single round of combat. How the mighty are fallen!

[hammer grimblood]

What's everyone's thoughts on 5 Wolf Guard bikers with Storm Bolters, a couple chainswords, a couple shields and the pack leader gets a Frost Sword? 20 shots at 24", 40 at 12", 13 attacks with 3 being ap-3.

[Deadnaughty]

What's everyone's thoughts on 5 Wolf Guard bikers with Storm Bolters, a couple chainswords, a couple shields and the pack leader gets a Frost Sword? 20 shots at 24", 40 at 12", 13 attacks with 3 being ap-3.

A very good unit that I like myself (tho I run 2 combi-meltas in there for versatility) 

Just be sure to account for the faq changes in how you can equip them.

[Gherrick]

Yeah, having a 14" + 12" range to deliver 8 S4/- shots per model is pretty nuts for the cost. Even at 24", 4 shots per models is gonna leave a mark. Give 2 models SS, 2 CS, and give the sergeant a TH, and that 5-man unit is scary. I'd make two of those units, and throw in some LC long fangs and blizzdreads just to see which threat the opponent picks first :)

[hammer grimblood]

Yeah, having a 14" + 12" range to deliver 8 S4/- shots per model is pretty nuts for the cost. Even at 24", 4 shots per models is gonna leave a mark. Give 2 models SS, 2 CS, and give the sergeant a TH, and that 5-man unit is scary. I'd make two of those units, and throw in some LC long fangs and blizzdreads just to see which threat the opponent picks first :)

Sounds good but I only have enough bikes for one such unit. A Heavy Bolter Att Bike and my Wulfen will have to suffice with my Blizzdreads

[Exark]

So some thoughts on our available stuff I've tested:

 

1)Xiphons. Seriously, worked just as well as I expected ( see my IA review)

2)Laser Vindicators, still good, they are fire magnets though and relic means only 1 per non-relic heavy, but the volley fire is DEADLY to multi wound models. Very flexible

3)Contemptor-MOrtis dreadnoughts. I love these things, I converted two with Kheres assault cannons last week and used them in a 2500 point game against a friends admech. They did some serious damage.

 

And to echo everyone else, ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY RAZORBACK. Seriously, TLACs are nice. Not very good at putting wounds on high save models in a single round I found, but the Raozrback is durable, and weight of fire will eventually take its toll.

[spacepup]

Twin assault cannon razorbacks are a staple in my list. Used them in 7th edition with my Iron Wolves. Now they are even better.

 

Oh and how I do love the axe and shield dread. I ran two of them in my last 2250 point tournament and they just left everything in ruins that they got into with. Thousand Sons, T'au, and Tyranids.

[hammer grimblood]

Stormwolf with the 2 twin multi meltas. Worth it? I'm building my Stormwolf and don't want to hassle with magnets. Twin multi meltas are pretty great but pricey as hell.

[Brother Hellion]

Stormwolf with the 2 twin multi meltas. Worth it? I'm building my Stormwolf and don't want to hassle with magnets. Twin multi meltas are pretty great but pricey as hell.

Yeah they are pricey with that but its four shots of "i'm gonna melt through your armor and slag your big monster/tank/lord of war thing of a ma jig. In one turn, I've often mortally crippled or destroyed the biggest threats to my army cause I was close enough to utilize the melta rules. 

[Gherrick]

Yeah, twin multi-meltas all the way.

[hammer grimblood]

Thanks guys, I was thinking skyhammer to take on flyers but I'll tweak my list to account for the meltas.

[jerrys]

I think if you're spending all those points on the chassis, you may as well put as many multimeltas on there as you can! You can shoot them at separate targets, too.

[Gherrick]

Something I often forget between the stormfang and the stormwolf is the helfrost destructor when dispersed is D2 in addition of having an extra 1d3 attack(s) compared to the helfrost cannon. Something else to remember is that in 8e, most vehicles cannot harm the occupants when they explode, so it is kind of funny to leave your flyer adjacent to their vehicles, in the off chance they get shot down and the crash and burn will explode for bonus damage :)

[Nrthstar]

I played a tourney today at my local shop, it was a last minute prep run for people going to Nova, so some real nastiness. Smite spam all over wrapped by Tzeentch or Nurgle. In this kind of meta, GKs included, our Wulfen, Ven dreads and Bjorn are going to shine. Even if it is just a 5+ or 6+ save against smite, it's still world's better than having no defense. In one turn I took 26 mortal wounds. I had three psychers on the board too, but that barely slowed them. This came from Malefic Lords super bubble wrapped by Nurgle daemons.

[Karhedron]

Smite spam is becoming a big part of the meta. I am thinking that a Culexus is worth bringing just to keep it in check. Remember that a Culexus will also make your own Denies more effective as they reduce the target score you need by 2.

[wilkco]

I use Inquisitor Greyfax for 2 reasons very cheap plus can do 2 deny the witch tests plus a skill that allows to target psykers and daemons even if they are not the nearest visible unit.  helps both ways as you get a chance to defend plus also kill the other persons psykers

[Kassill]

I've played only a handful of games thus far, the last two against Necrons

The Good

-Grey Hunters - They still feel very solid and very efficient. I was worried at first about the new plasma rules but they are working out just fine. I've been a plasma addict since I started the army so praise to Russ! 

-Predator - Specifically the dakka pred. Previously this guy felt....very underwhelming, but now he can just hang back and dish out some pain. While he hasn't done stellar, he has definitely done better. I will keep trying him and see what happens. 

-Long Fangs - Like their Grey Hunter kin, still a rock solid unit. Fire Discipline is awesome, and Missile Launchers still send things to the grave quickly. 

-Bjorn - I picked up Bjorn sometime in 7th but never got to play him (or any 7th ed games really), so taking him for a spin last time was fantastic. This guy is just insane. I played him with the Helfrost Cannon. Focused beam was great, Dispersed....myeh. I will experiment with his weapons. 

The Bad

-Drop Pods - Auto dropping is great, but they are just a heavy points sink I feel like I short changed myself by taking them. 

-Vindicator - My poor boy....I think I rolled 1's and 2's on his shots (both the D3 and D6) the whole game. He maybe killed like 3 necrons total. I will valiantly try again, but this was not a promising result. 


Questions

Bjorn can take his 5+ and then also his warlord 6+, correct? (saw it mentioned a few times already, just clarifying). 

And can he benefit from his own Aura effect? 
 

Edited August 31, 2017 by Kassill

[Gherrick]

Questions

 

Bjorn can take his 5+ and then also his warlord 6+, correct? (saw it mentioned a few times already, just clarifying). 

 

And can he benefit from his own Aura effect? 

 

Yes, and yes. I am unaware of any character aura that doesn't include itself, except the few that allow other units to use the leadership score of that character (which is unnecessary, anyway).

[Bulwyf]

Bjorn can take both the warlord trait and his own natural FNP. I still can't believe he doesn't have an inv save. He's a 10k year old dreadnought, he should have an ins save. I'm hoping that gets added to his profile in our codex.

 

All characters that give rerolls or some other aura buff also benefit from that same effect.

[hammer grimblood]

So last night I finally got a game in with Wolf Guard bikers and my Stormwolf. The game was 2000 Ultras vs 1000 Wolves and 1000 Blood Angels. My Bikers were neat distractions and killed a squad of Terminators over a shooting phase and assault. The mvp though was the Stormwolf. It took out  2 Storm Talons and my opponent's Stormraven. When the Raven died it took Calgar and an Ironclad with it!  

[Gherrick]

Yeah, gotta keep in mind how close your other models are near the vehicles that can explode...at least the passengers are always safe...

[Valerian]

Yeah, gotta keep in mind how close your other models are near the vehicles that can explode...at least the passengers are always safe...

That's not true, Gherrick. When a vehicle explodes you disembark all the passengers, and roll a d6 for each model. Every roll of a 1 means a model is outright slain, with no saves or FNP rolls allowed. It's in the core rules for Transports (page 183 of the Rules).

[Kassill]

 

Yeah, gotta keep in mind how close your other models are near the vehicles that can explode...at least the passengers are always safe...

That's not true, Gherrick. When a vehicle explodes you disembark all the passengers, and roll a d6 for each model. Every roll of a 1 means a model is outright slain, with no saves or FNP rolls allowed. It's in the core rules for Transports (page 183 of the Rules).

 

I sense there may have been some sarcasm in the OP's regards to passengers Val. If not, you are still correct