Sunday 29 January 2012

2K Necrons? Oh where art my Night Scythes!!

2k 'Crons.
How does it work? Well, I've been very happy with my 1850 Crons.. I could just add a few bits and be done.
I really want to get in some Night Scythes and I can comfortably fit them at 2k.
I'm not often (read: almost never) going to get to play at 2k, and other than silly doubles things, maybe once..have I even played a 2k game..but frankly, its the same as 1850...A singular added unit is not going to make a difference to time, however I am aware that it opens up a huge number of alternate builds from other armies and codices.
For the Necrons, I think it makes Storm Lord builds very strong, but I can't be fucked to play with just 50-60 Scarabs.
Boring!
Plus, there are a good number of hard counters to that, that are quite likely to appear at 2k..

Missions don't inform too much here..it's NOVA style with three objectives and VPs to ensure no draws.. Plenty of troops and mobility as standard..pretty much the go to check list for competitive 40K.

So what is this ideal 2K list for me then?

Night, Night Scythes:
Overlord - Comm barge, warscythe
Overlord - Comm barge, warscythe
Royal Court x 2 - Veil, pulse
Royal Court x 2 - Veil, pulse
10 Immortals - Gauss
10 Immortals - Gauss
5 Warriors
5 Warriors - Night Scythe
5 Warriors - Night Scythe
9 Scarabs
9 Scarabs
9 Scarabs
Annihilation Barge
Annihilation Barge
Annihilation Barge

BUT, they are not out..at earliest they are out at the end of February! 2 weeks too late! At best.. so it looks like if I want to take Crons I have to think of what I want and what I can do..

Storm Lord can be done but I think is boring. Effective, but boring.

Keep it simple, stupid?
Triarch Stalkers and Wraiths are pretty much the only other 2 effective options I want to play with right now.

Stalkers I think are quite expensive to play with and whilst they can fit quite nicely into a list, they are not quite what I am looking for..I could be wrong, but I do not have the time to playtest!
Could be something like:
2 x Overlord - Scythes, Shackles, Barge

Veil Dude & Pulse Lance
Veil Dude & Pulse Lance
2 x 10 Immortals
3 x 5 Warriors
2 x Triarch Stalkers
2 x 9 Scarabs
3 x Annihilation Barge


Wraiths are simple enough in their application..in addition, almost every Necron army I saw at the tournament had them in! This does not make them good, but in my case, it probably makes them overlooked..I have only ever tried them with a D-Lord and loved them.. but without him are they as good? That is a tough question and one that I do not have the time to really play test either.

So other contxtual factors then? Cost and time? Good points both. I have a cool idea for building Wraiths for free...god I love having a massive collection of toy soldiers!.. and it'll be quick (technically speaking, IRL I've already built them as I write this.. funny how a day's delay in posting something changes how you write...) and easy.

So how do we fit them in? I want all the critical elements from my previous 1850 army in, plus the Wraiths.
I want a maxed out Wraith unit with some Coils and at least one particle caster for lol wound allocation.
3 Coils should suffice.
That unit clocks in at 245 points.
Need to find 100 points from my previous lists.
Lose the gazes of flame, lose the Shroud of Darkness, lose Anrakyr, lose one scarab base, lose the extra HoDestruction and just run 2 Courts at their most minimal and effective....that'll do it.

Still keeps all the crucial shit, the biggest changes are:
- Loss of Anrakyr
- 3 Scarabs unit of 7, into 2 of 10. Loss of one base and one less target.. but the Wraiths will be on board too and will abosrb some, if not the majority, of the Scarab incoming fire.

So Anrakyr. I love the guy. But FAQ that you can't shoot out of fire points with anything other than a weapon for LOS totally sucks. I need to have a quick reread of the rules, but I thought open topped didn't have fire points, it was just open.. but I need to check.. the internet says this has totally gimped Annie.. and this would very much be the case.. with a lack of invulnerable save, Anrakyr wants to stay in his vehicle for most of the game, there are a few occasions when he can sweep something, disembark, mind in the machine, tacyon arrow and charge a third unit.. but this is situational and the vast majority of the time..only 2/3 are viable. Let's run without the big dog.. he can't fight the War on Life all by himself after all..

So, sans night scythes, the 2K Crons I have submitted for Jolly Toys Outing looks like this:

2 x Overlord - Scythes, Shackles, Weave, Barge - Gauss Cannon
Veil Dude & Pulse Lance
Veil Dude & Pulse Lance
2 x 10 Immortals
3 x 5 Warriors
6 x Wraiths, 2 Plain, 3 Coils, 1 Particle Caster
2 x 10 Scarabs
3 x Annihilation Barge - Dual Tesla set up.. always.

Now to build my Wraiths..paint them and actually play a 2K game!! Seriosuly.. never played one competitively...

Coming up later today, WIP shots and painting progress on the Wraith unit..I think you'll all like them..

How do you guys think you'll cope with the rebooted bots? Are Wraiths a shit idea? Should I have gone with Stalkers?
Are you also stripping Anrakyr for overall efficiency? I know I will miss the 2A swing of Counter Attack and Gaze of Flame as well as S5 robots vs vehicles.. I'll definately miss the THREAT of Mind in the Machine and the random infinite range, S10, AP1 Arrow.. although I only ever use it to shoot random marines or guardsmen in the face at point blank range...

3 comments:

  1. Well Ven I have played quite a few games with Crons at 2k and i absolutely love wraiths I'll need to adjust my list to include a particle caster for lol wound allocation but they dot an exceptional job sweeping out units. Additionally they even do a decent job on vehicles due to str 6 and rending. The invul save and 2 would option on the model is nice and they allow you to deal with annoying and powerful units like Incubi with ease. GK Paladins and termies with force halbers are still a bitch but the invul save at least gives you a fighting chance against it.

    Remember to use them as your specific hunter killer unit and one thing to think of if you can squeze in a d lord with war scythe and mind shackle you have a pretty scary cc unit of your own.

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  2. Paul, thanks for your insights. You will have more experience than me and can offer a better shout as to whether its worth 5 points just to wound allocate.. I believe it is...

    The S6 is going to be fun. Vs vehicles, they possess almost enough in the way of volume attacks to be as dangerous as Scarabs, but I really want them to handle CC units, tie them up so I can manouevre away and organise my lines.
    If the can clear out units, even better.

    On the Destroyer Lord - that's another build bro. I need my dual Pulses in this one.. I do want to use DLords, but I'm not sure if they are right for me competitively..for fun, absolutely..Definately can be used for absorbing those S8+ hits for the Wraiths..

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  3. In running a 6 man squad of it it is definitely better. 4 whip coils and 2 particle casters is a good way to handle it, just remember that whip coils only affect models in base to base contact with the wraith that has them so be sure to position those 4 in well.

    But your thoughts for what you want them to do are dead on, i use them to take out or hold up the biggest cc threat unit my opponent has or use them to clean out annoying back field units like missile spam long fangs. Keep em in cover and give them some darkness to get started on their movement and you should be in good shape.

    Best part is most people aren't even expecting them, you're necrons you aren't supposed to be in close combat. Of course that surprise is only around till the meta realizes what they can do.

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