Balanced Kill Teams.

[aa.logan]

I’ve finally convinced my non-gaming partner to try a tabletop game. I’ve not really played since the tail end of 2nd edition, but have kept my hand in and modelled plenty.

 

After deliberation, we’ve opted to go for Kill Team, and on aesthetic grounds he’s selected Eldar. In response, I’ve opted for Tallarn Guard, since it’s a nice fluffy match up and I like the models. I’ve written lists for each guided as much as anything by a desire not to repeat any miniatures as wanting neither to be filthy.

 

So, are these reasonably balanced? I know they’re probably sub-optimal, but they are pretty

 

Eldar:

 

Starcannon

Ranger

6 defender guardians

1 storm guardian, chainsword

1 storm guardian, fusion gun-

1 storm guardian, sword

1 Dire Avenger Exarch, sword

99 points

 

Tallarn:

 

Special weapon Grenade launcher

Special weapon melta gun

Special weapon Plasma gun

Al Rahem (Tempestor) plasma pistol, power sword

8 guardsmen, 1 vox

Bolter lieutenant (counts as hotshot scion)

Auto pistol Sargent, chainsword

95 points

 

Cheers.

Edited August 28, 2020 by aa.logan

[Lysimachus]

Some Dire Avengers might be nice in the Eldar team, I think it would actually be worthwhile swapping 3 of the Guardian Defenders for 2 DA? That would be 1pt less in total so would bring your 2 teams closer in value as well? I assume you're just using the core manual, so no Elites, etc?

[Tyberos the Red Wake]

Give the DA Exarch double shuriken catapults and swap something out for a Heavy Weapons Platform if you can. The IG list looks a little stronger at the moment with four extra bodies and five special weapons (three long-ranged) versus the Eldar's two (one short-ranged, one melee).

[aa.logan]

Cheers, both.

 

As should have made clearer, I’m using models I already own- they’re all single-piece metal models; I’ve managed to lose my old Dire Avengers so can’t use the actual miniatures for them; maybe I could use some of the guardians as proxies though? Sadly,the Exarch is suck with the fancy sword option for the same reasons.

 

I’ve already included one heavy weapon platform; the starcannon. I was under the impression that a kill team could only take one?

 

Would upgrading some guardians to ‘Dire Avengers’ better balance them, or would dropping something from the IG do the trick? Or both?

[Tyberos the Red Wake]

Sorry, I skimmed through the list too fast. I thought "Starcannon" was a title like "Stormwind" or "Eldar" or something, like how you had "Tallarn" at the top of the IG. It does look a lot closer with a HWP and extra body on the Eldar's side, but I'd still say the IG have a small leg up if you're playing with proper terrain and a better player. If you've got the ole Striking Scorpions Exarch with claw, that's a great pick for a bruiser, it'll do well even in the hands of a novice so long as they don't let it get hit by plasma. Even if you don't have the metal claw mini, the one with the sword is still really good. As for your infantry question, I can't really say without more experience or actually seeing the lists play.

 

I want to point out it's going to be really hard to make the lists perfectly balanced against each other without some actual in-depth testing or someone who is a very skilled veteran of both factions. The points are supposed to balance them, but we all know that rarely works in practice. Hopefully some IG/CWE KT vets can give some better advice. It'll get even harder to fine-tune if you're limited by models as it limits your options.

 

When trying to welcome a complete non-gamer, it's better to err on the side of caution, similar to how fighting games will allow you to apply a scaling handicap to one of the players so that the newcomer doesn't get completely trounced by the veteran despite both players having an even playing field. That's why I think it's okay, or even preferable, to try to stack the deck in favor of the Eldar player. Ensuring a level playing field or presenting a challenge is fine for competitive-minded players or gamers, but for a non-gamer, you want to prioritize fun and ease of use over balance.

Edited August 27, 2020 by Tyberos the Red Wake

[aa.logan]

Thanks again. I’ve edited the post to make myself as clear as I should have been.

 

I’ve scorpion models coming out of my ears, but sadly not the elites book.

 

I’m going to drop the two scions counts-as for the first game or two but I fear my in-built tactical superiority won’t last long anyway- I am, or was at least, an awful tactical player, much preferring an almost role-playing approach.

 

Yes, mutual fun is absolutely the aim of these games. Bearing that in mind, I’ve a lot of proper terrain- loads of zone mortalis and a fair bit of sector mortalis- I’m assuming. That you’re advocating sparse terrain for the first few games, right?

[Dr_Ruminahui]

Well, sparse terrain will definitely punish which ever team is more melee focused and might limit which models can find cover - with quite large killteams on both side (the rules limit killteam rosters to 12 models prior to the 1st game, and then 20 afterwards - but there is no reason why that rule can't be waived), one or both sides may well find themselves unable to get all their models into cover.

 

Myself, I would use a "regular" amount of terrain (generally, the more the better) but not use all the rules at first - generally, I would introduce rules over the course of a few games as follows:

 

1.  Just the basic killteam rules of movement, shooting, charging, etc.

2.  CPs and the basic strategems for each force;

3.  Specialists, their strategems, XP, and permanent injuries;

4.  Scounting rules before the encounter; and finally

5.  The "zone" special rules depending on which battlezone you are fighting in (mechanicum, trenches, city, etc).

 

If your friend takes to it pretty quickly, you could lump some of those together, but be careful not to have too large of a rules dump at once.