Thursday 13 January 2011

'The Basics' Part One point Five - What Kind Of Pokemon Are You?

This is just a brief posting to try and give a better set of examples of different armies that fit into either the 'ethos of continuation' or the 'ethos of perseverance' as identified in the previous article of the series.


This is by no means intended to be a definitive list, and some, lucky (/exceptional), armies can truly straddle the gap, and refuse to be defined as either comprehensively. 



Well, I decided that trying to simply list which category each fell into was a bottomless pit of inaccuracy, and, while I can easily categorise Loganwing as 'EoC' or MechDar as 'EoP' it makes much more sense to try a different approach.


Instead, I shall write brand-new army lists that fit broadly under each heading.  Hopefully, more fun for us both. [Continuity Fans - at this point I am saving this article to write the 'Orks...a New Approach?' article I plan to post first.  I hope to squeeze enough out of the list to justify not merely putting it in this article...feel free to let me know if I succeeded!]

Choosing Codexes to use for this was actually quite difficult.  While I know which ones I would really put where, I had to pick lists that epitomised each as accurately as possible to convey my point as well as possible.  To that effect, I will start with Space Wolves. 
Space Wolves - 1750



5 Grey Hunters:
Meltagun, Razorback [Las/Plas] - 155


5 Grey Hunters:
Meltagun, Razorback [Las/Plas] - 155

5 Grey Hunters:
Meltagun, Razorback [Las/Plas] - 155

5 Grey Hunters:
Meltagun, Razorback [Las/Plas] - 155

Rune Priest:
Living Lightning, Storm Caller, Chooser - 110


Dreadnought:
Rifleman - 125


Dreadnought:
Rifleman - 125

5 Long Fangs:
4 Missile Launchers - 115

5 Long Fangs:
4 Missile Launchers - 115

5 Long Fangs:
4 Missile Launchers - 115

Land Speeder:
Multi-Melta, Heavy Flamer - 70


Land Speeder:
Multi-Melta, Heavy Flamer - 70

Land Speeder:
Multi-Melta, Heavy Flamer - 70 

Wolf Guard Pack -  215
4 WG [Combi-Melta, Power Weapon, Melta Bombs]
1 WG [Boltgun, Bolt pistol]
Rhino [Hunter Killer Missile]


This list you can clearly see is all about shooting, and shooting until the foe is dead.  Possibly a little bit more shooting, just in case, and then a few counter-assaults with Power Weapons.  [I had 40 points left]
The army is resilient, but only really in it's ability to continue firing at reasonable effect despite damage, soaking it up until it reaches breaking point and collapses.  In this sense, I would say it didn't truly fit the description of a Resilient Army, as that is not the focus - and the resilience really only comes from the MSU concept itself.


You could, however, write a different style of Space Wolf list, though few would consider this as good:


Predator:
Autocannon, Heavy Bolters - 85


Predator:
Autocannon, Heavy Bolters - 85

Predator:
Autocannon, Heavy Bolters - 85

Rune Priest:
Living Lightning, Storm Caller, Chooser, Wolf Tail Talisman - 115


10 Grey Hunters:
Meltagun, Meltagun, Rhino - 190


10 Grey Hunters:
Meltagun, Meltagun, Rhino - 190


3 Thunderwolf Cavalry:
[CCW, Bolt Pistol] [ Storm Shield, CCW, Melta Bombs, Bolt Pistol] [Bolt pistol, Thunder Hammer] - 215


2 Thunderwolf Cavalry:
[CCW, Bolt Pistol] [Power Fist, Bolt Pistol] - 125

2 Thunderwolf Cavalry:
[CCW, Bolt Pistol] [Power Fist, Bolt Pistol] - 125

Lone Wolf:
Terminator Armour, Storm Shield, Chainfist - 85

Lone Wolf:
Terminator Armour, Storm Shield, Chainfist - 85

Lone Wolf:
Terminator Armour, Storm Shield, Chainfist - 85

5 Grey Hunters:
Flamer, Rhino - 110


5 Grey Hunters:
Flamer, Rhino - 110

 That list functions instead by protecting the Troops and throwing threats in the enemy's face, to prevent them being able to focus on the objective and eliminate the (admittedly quite poor for this) Grey Hunters.
 [At this point, the list has 60 points to spare.  I have been told, repeatedly, that the best way to go is Hunter Killers on the vehicles to eat up points - probably the Preds and three Rhinos (Not the Libby's) rather than 4 Rhinos and 2 Preds...but I just never liked them that much.  Plus, they mess with the super-aggressive nature of the 'dud' units like the Preds a little. I would probably end up putting Fenrisian Wolves in with the Loners if actually modelling the list, because I would enjoy that more...and because the list may be made of Orks, in which case the 'Fenrisian Wolves' are Gnasher Squigs.  Fun times!!  If replicating, do what you think best! (As ever!)]


I feel it would become TL;DR if I go on much longer (plus, this has been in draft form nearly 3 weeks now...) so I will do Eldar, to demonstrate how an army can ONLY achieve one of these build goals reliably.  Again, we go for 1750, in the interests of fairness (no, it's not wholly fair comparing a 5e book to a 4e...but suck it.)


Eldrad: - 210


7 Fire Dragons:
Exarch [DBF], Wave Serpent [Scatter Lasers, Shuriken Cannon] - 249


7 Fire Dragons:
Exarch [DBF], Wave Serpent [Scatter Lasers, Shuriken Cannon] - 249


War Walkers:
3 War Walkers [Scatter Laser, Scatter Laser] - 180


War Walkers:
3 War Walkers [Scatter Laser, Scatter Laser] - 180

War Walkers:
3 War Walkers [Scatter Laser, Scatter Laser] - 180

8 Dire Avengers:
Wave Serpent [Bright Lance, Shuriken Cannon, Spirit Stones] - 251

8 Dire Avengers:
Wave Serpent [Bright Lance, Shuriken Cannon, Spirit Stones] - 251

TOTAL: 1750

Compared to:


Autarch:
Fusion Gun - 80


5 Fire Dragons:
Wave Serpent [Shuriken Cannon] - 180
5 Fire Dragons:
Wave Serpent [Shuriken Cannon] - 180
5 Fire Dragons:
Wave Serpent [Shuriken Cannon] - 180

5 Dire Avengers:
Wave Serpent [Bright Lance, Shuriken Cannon] - 205
5 Dire Avengers:
Wave Serpent [Bright Lance, Shuriken Cannon] - 205
5 Dire Avengers:
Wave Serpent [Bright Lance, Shuriken Cannon] - 205

Fire Prism:
Shuriken Cannon - 125
Fire Prism:
Shuriken Cannon - 125
Fire Prism:
Shuriken Cannon - 125

Vyper:
Scatter Laser - 60
Vyper:
Scatter Laser - 60


I *hope* the Eldar lists are different enough that I'm going to let you readers point out which one is which.  That's right, no final analysis from me. 

I will add it into the comments if really necessary, but I think it's quite clear. :p

5 comments:

Death Korps of War said...

wow, no comments after 3 days???
that either means you made a good point and noone wants to argue against it....or, no one cares for this topic.

as for your eldar lists, all i know is that the second list is your competition list. and the list depicted in the picture on top.
so far as i can gather, the list is to drive forward and present as much firepower as is possible, as quickly as possible.

first list i have no idea about

TheKing Elessar said...

The list in the picture was actually:

Yriel
5 Pathfinders (/Rangers?)
3x 5 Fire Dragons in SCan Serpents
3x 5 Dire Avengers in Lance Serpents
3x Fire Prism.

:p

Kriswithak said...

Where was the first article so I can find out what you are talking about with the different ethos.

TheKing Elessar said...

It is here, Kris - http://hobbyinfobythekingelessar.blogspot.com/2010/11/basics-part-one-choosing-army.html

Though you probably found it by now. lol

Kriswithak said...

This is a good way of explaining it!
Its easy to automatically build lists along this kind of design without knowing why, however once you know its much easier to improve on your lists.
Reminds me of people who complain that they had a unit which the opponent spent 3 turns of firepower destroying and how useless they are.

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