Brigade: worth the price of admission?

[Prot]

Another thing I thought would be using a Brigade.

 

In my last 3-4 games this is what I've been using for the detachment... in part because it's nice to have an army that can actually do this now!

 

But as games go on I realize my list building is super static, meaning I have no wiggle room once I fill mandatory slots (with often the cheapest items I can) it leaves just enough points in a 2K game for stuff like Kastelans, and a flood of Vanguard/Rangers.

 

Do you guys think this is worth it for 12 CP's? Or do you think it's too restrictive in requirements to build the list you like to use?

[Vel'Cona]

I think for Mars/Cawl the 12 CPs to spam the unique Strategem would probably go far, but for nearly any other FW you won't need that many for general utility.  I feel that Stygies VIII or Lucius can get away with 6 or 7 CP in most cases, though I can't speak for other FW Dogmas since I haven't tried them yet.

 

The biggest issue for the Brigade from an AdMech perspective is the FA slots.  Troops are easy since Skitarii are cheap and useful (all brands); Elites and HS are simple to fill as well, especially the latter.  HQ is actually a significant challenge for AdMech though Cawl is an auto-include for Mars (obviously) so that takes care of some of it.  Yes, we do have Techpriest Enginseers to fill for the HQ, but my issue with them is they don't do much to support the list for their cost.  As for FA, the best filler is probably Ironstriders, but they're actually pretty expensive and are easy KP in solo units.

 

One big hangup I have with AdMech/Brigade is that it doesn't leave much room for other toys.  After filling out the HQ, FA and HS slots there won't be a lot of points left for a Knight, Fortifications, or much of anything else.  I mean, it's possible to go cheap on the "tax" slots but you're still soaking up 150-200 points in stuff you probably wouldn't take otherwise, and for me that's a huge bummer.

[Prot]

Right it's the toys.... it's hard to get those toys in.

 

Funny though you mention the fast slots, and while they aren't dirt cheap I have a strange attraction to the Ballastari and the Sydonian Dragoons. I don't know why but I really like both of these units. Perhaps the Dragoons a bit more. I find with Mars I want the Dragoons for fast moving, and hit and run tactics.

 

I also use Dragoons as 'dirty bombs'. When I know they may have barely lived through something, I throw them into impossible multi-assaults and use the 'auto explode' Strat. One game I did this against Orks with 3 IC's in the assault, and squad of boyz including a Warlord....wow that was money well spent. Anyway... I love the walkers, they just aren't cheap.

 

But yea, most games I'm hammering away with all these CP's but I'm wondering if I'm actually costing myself elsewhere because of the list restrictions. Not sure. Also since the codex has been out I've still not used Cawl, just because he's so expensive in a Brigade, and my lists have been more dynamic for Maelstrom (Cawl can actually move and serve a bigger fire base with his extended aura I suppose... haven't tried.)

[synthaside]

I've been running two Battalions at 2k myself, giving me 9 is still quite a lot more CP than most of my opponents have had, I just don't have the fast attack models to run Brigade, i have hq though  2 TPD ,1 seer and Cawl   12 CP 
 

While I've yet to run dragoons, I find my Ironstrider Bali doing almost nothing so he's been relegated I want him to be moving because of the need to take objectives.  He just doesn't seem to land any hits, perfectly survivable though,  I actually really like your dirty bomb idea , If we had other fast attack im looking at you Vorax battle automata, it might be attractive but right now being forced to take them along with 3 elites as well hurts.

You're also going to be making a lot of drops,  probably at least 18 .....  o.O 

I think Cawl for his points is an absolute no-brainer Vs a TPD, I Consider him a toy.  He is no slouch in combat especially when you can pick +1 strength or re-roll hits psalm  I played a game to try to win the relic knowing I'd need everything centrally to contest it as did my opponent. Cawl personally recycled 2 Razorbacks finished off a crippled land raider then finally in desperation on turn 6 Charged Dante who was the last model who could contest the relic, Promptly overkilling him by rolling double 6 for his 2 d6 attacks plus his regular ones.

I ran this 2k list no idea who i was facing at the time written but it had a bit of everything , This was before My rant " re the plasma destroyers those would now be a nice cheap unit and allow me more toy spending.

 

++ Battalion Detachment +3CP (Imperium - Adeptus Mechanicus) [39 PL, 792pts] ++

+ Uncategorised +

Forge World: Mars

+ HQ +

Tech-Priest Dominus [7 PL, 139pts]: Omnissian Axe, Phosphor Serpenta, Volkite Blaster

Tech-Priest Dominus [7 PL, 141pts]: Anzion's Pseudogenetor, Eradication Ray, Macrostubber, Omnissian Axe

+ Troops +

Skitarii Vanguards [4 PL, 79pts]
. 2x Skitarii Vanguard
. 2x Vanguard (Plasma caliver): 2x Plasma caliver
. Vanguard Alpha: Radium Carbine, Taser goad

Skitarii Vanguards [4 PL, 79pts]
. 2x Skitarii Vanguard
. 2x Vanguard (Plasma caliver): 2x Plasma caliver
. Vanguard Alpha: Radium Carbine, Taser goad

Skitarii Vanguards [4 PL, 79pts]
. 2x Skitarii Vanguard
. 2x Vanguard (Plasma caliver): 2x Plasma caliver
. Vanguard Alpha: Radium Carbine, Taser goad

+ Elites +

Sicarian Infiltrators [6 PL, 130pts]
. Infiltrator Princeps
. . Flechette blaster & Taser goad: Flechette Blaster, Taser goad
. Sicarian Infiltrator
. . Flechette blaster & Taser goad: Flechette Blaster, Taser goad
. Sicarian Infiltrator
. . Flechette blaster & Taser goad: Flechette Blaster, Taser goad
. Sicarian Infiltrator
. . Flechette blaster & Taser goad: Flechette Blaster, Taser goad
. Sicarian Infiltrator
. . Flechette blaster & Taser goad: Flechette Blaster, Taser goad

+ Heavy Support +

Onager Dunecrawler [7 PL, 145pts]: Broad Spectrum Data-tether, Cognis heavy stubber
. Neutron laser & cognis heavy Stubber: Cognis heavy stubber, Neutron Laser

++ Battalion Detachment +3CP (Imperium - Adeptus Mechanicus) [60 PL, 1206pts] ++

+ Uncategorised +

Forge World: Mars

+ HQ +

Belisarius Cawl [13 PL, 250pts]
. Warlord: Static Psalm-Code

Tech-Priest Enginseer [3 PL, 52pts]: Omnissian Axe, Servo-arm

+ Troops +

Kataphron Destroyers [10 PL, 210pts]
. Kataphron Destroyer: Phosphor blaster, Plasma Culverin
. Kataphron Destroyer: Phosphor blaster, Plasma Culverin
. Kataphron Destroyer: Phosphor blaster, Plasma Culverin

Skitarii Rangers [4 PL, 97pts]: Omnispex
. 2x Ranger (Transuranic Arquebus): 2x Transuranic arquebus
. Ranger Alpha: Galvanic rifle
. 2x Skitarii Ranger

Skitarii Rangers [4 PL, 97pts]: Omnispex
. 2x Ranger (Transuranic Arquebus): 2x Transuranic arquebus
. Ranger Alpha: Galvanic rifle
. 2x Skitarii Ranger

+ Heavy Support +

Kastelan Robots [12 PL, 220pts]
. Kastelan Robot: Heavy Phosphor blaster
. . Heavy phosphor blasters: 2x Heavy Phosphor blaster
. Kastelan Robot: Heavy Phosphor blaster
. . Heavy phosphor blasters: 2x Heavy Phosphor blaster

Onager Dunecrawler [7 PL, 135pts]: Broad Spectrum Data-tether, Cognis heavy stubber, Icarus Array

Onager Dunecrawler [7 PL, 145pts]: Broad Spectrum Data-tether, Cognis heavy stubber
. Neutron laser & cognis heavy Stubber: Cognis heavy stubber, Neutron Laser

++ Total: [99 PL, 1998pts] ++

Created with BattleScribe

Edited October 27, 2017 by synthaside

[Prot]

Your list is extremely close to my Battalion. I am not using Cawl right now, but I use 3 Dunecrawlers.

 

I only use my Destroyers for fun, and I actually love Jazz Hands priests but otherwise our lists are very similar. Just the absence of Cawl allows me Dragoons which I really like with Mars.

[Xisor]

What I've been looking at in my list building excersises is an 'almost' effort; e.g. 3+3+1+1.

 

This usually comes from

Cheapo Skitarii Battalion

Cheapo Outriders (TPE+3 Dunestriders)

Meaty Vanguard/Spearhead

 

This falls into the same territory of taxes (four HQ & troops!), but leaves a lot more for the serious stuff.

 

Six troops for Mechanicus feels a touch horde (cf: horde thread; I'm sure some forgeworld brigades could put hordes to horrendous use, but even then it'd be for 20-strong congregations of our Motive adepts, not for Ranger-spam), and with few useful mid-range HQs to put to use...

 

I'm inclined to agree.

 

----

 

In homebrew/speculating realms, I was thinking:

1- A 'Mechalazarus' Warlord trait that has the TPD/TPE auras work on non-vehicles like an apothecary does.

 

2- I *really* think the Adeptus Mechanicus should also have had an <Adeptus> trait too; e.g. for aura units. Deployed alongside Adeptus Astartes/Custodes/Sororitas/Terra/Astra Telepathica... you get the idea. This is where TPE & TPD get to assist allies in a sensible way. But also the caveat that if you go 'pure Mechanicus' that's where you get to support Knights/Titans etc too, maybe a wee bonus to rolls or something?

 

2ii - EDIT It would also encapsulate Carl's special rule: his Adeptus is effectively <all of them, and then some>

 

3- All Tech Priest Dominus have a Warlord Trait, corresponding to their specialism. But only one's the warlord.

 

Gives a bit more flexibility, but might be a points/PL modifier too.

Edited October 28, 2017 by Xisor