IntenseDebate - Neil

8 years ago @ 3++ is the New Black - Necromunda: The Good, ... · 2 replies · +1 points

It's hard to compare in it's current state. In one way it feels unfair to compare the launch version against other more established games, but in another way, it's been around longer than anything else. It's unheard of to release a third edition of a game, but scrap all but two factions at launch.

Easier to pick up an play than Infinity (that game takes bad rulebook to the next level, partly because of translation issues)

Better than Deadzone 1st edition, I haven't tried 2nd ed yet. Although in fairness, there's a big Deadzone influence - they've cribbed the activation system. (Deadzone was written by one of the original Necro devs, so it's entirely possible the activation system started in the GW design studio)

Shadow War: Armageddon is a more complete game, although the two are obviously quite similar, sharing a common heritage.

I haven't played any other non-homebrew skirmish games recently (unless you count Incursion as a skirmish game).

Where it really shines is the miniatures, they are the best on the market. Deadzone has multipart plastics, but they don't look anywhere near as nice. Infinity has very nice looking models, but metal multipart is so fiddly to assemble and fragile.

8 years ago @ 3++ is the New Black - Mathammer: Why Tactica... · 1 reply · +1 points

The reason to field Tacs over Devs is to fill out Battalion and Brigade detachments. For a Battalion, 2x Scouts 1x Tacs, or for a Brigade, 3x Scouts 3x Tacs. I've seen both those configs fielded.

5 tacs with a lascannon in cover in the backfield are cheap and cheerful and not worth spending resources killing. 5 devs are more expensive and threatening and are much less likely to be there at the end of the game. Which is not to say don't field them, devs are obviously good this edition. You can have both.

Another option is to field 2 special weapons in a razorback. That's what I had been fielding. It's.... not great, but OK.

I don't want to be some sort of tactical marine apologist. I think there's a problem with the way cheap infantry is costed, basically everything under 5 points is too good, except Grots. I just don't buy into "Tac marines are totally useless", since they have at least one use :)

8 years ago @ 3++ is the New Black - Mathammer: Why Tactica... · 1 reply · +1 points

Scouts don't have 2+ armour saves in cover, unless you give them Camo Cloaks, at which point they cost more than tac marines. Plus the marines can carry a Lascannon.

We have seen top Marine lists running one or two Tac squads along side their Scout squads. (Although more common is to have a Marine component in an imperial soup list, and use Conscripts and Scions as troops).

They're not great and they're not flashy, but they do have a role, which is more than can be said for many units.

8 years ago @ 3++ is the New Black - Mathammer: Why Tactica... · 13 replies · +2 points

It's a core problem with the rules, unfortunately. Because of the "new" AP system, and removal of Template weapons, there is no elegant way to design a weapon which kills Guardsmen efficiently, which doesn't kill Marines even more efficiently.

That said, Tactical Marines do have a role. Unfortunately, that role is skulking in cover on a backfield objective. Marines benefit much more from cover than Guardsmen, which kinda sucks thematically.

8 years ago @ 3++ is the New Black - Pieces of 8th: Command... · 4 replies · +3 points

Yep, this is right.

Consider shooting a Lascannon at a Land Raider, with a 3+ to hit and 3+ to wound, and D6 damage. The Land Raider will get a 5+ save.

So we have a chain, 2/3*2/3*2/3 before getting to Damage.

If you reroll to hit, there's a 29% chance it will result in a damage roll. So expected damage of the reroll is 1.04 wounds.

If you reroll to wound, there's a 44% chance it will result in a damage roll, expected damage of the reroll is 1.55 wounds.

If you reroll the 1 on Damage, that's an expected damage increase of 2.5 wounds.

Rerolling 1's on damage is the most useful thing you can do in most cases.

8 years ago @ 3++ is the New Black - 2000 pt Battle Report ... · 7 replies · +1 points

The Hellhound chassis, despite being Fast in previous editions, has only Heavy weapon options (and no rules at all to make it more mobile than a Chimera).

The Baal flamer is Assault on the datasheet but Heavy in the summary. The datasheet has received errata to make it Heavy.

8 years ago @ 3++ is the New Black - 2000 pt Battle Report ... · 18 replies · +2 points

This was my experience playing a DA mech castle too - way too easy to get past screens, lock everything in combat and it's all over. I'm considering chainsword/stormbolter vets as sweepers. Another answer is running Repulsors and bypassing the whole issue.

By the way, Chimeras can't Advance and fire Heavy Flamers - Heavy Flamers have been changed to Heavy this edition for some reason (probably just the name!).

8 years ago @ 3++ is the New Black - Codex Preview - Grey K... · 3 replies · +1 points

GK Troops would be the Elites of other armies. So you get to take a Battalion without being forced to take crappy Tactical Marines or whatever.

8 years ago @ 3++ is the New Black - Codex Preview - Grey K... · 9 replies · +1 points

Razorspam.. Shitty list.. lol!

8 years ago @ 3++ is the New Black - 8th Edition - First FAQ · 3 replies · +1 points

The stats on the datasheet didn't match the summary, or the LR Redeemer. They seem to have gone with the majority version if a weapon has different profiles in two places (the Demolisher Cannon in Index Imperium 2 summary got upgraded to match Index Imperium 1).

They should have given it a different name to make it Assault (similar to what was done with the Immolation Flamer)

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