We’ve been wracking our brains (pun intended!) and have been coming up with some really fun ideas.
So, in our last post on the subject we discussed how to deliver the WWPs.
We had some excellent discussion and brainstormed up some new ideas. In this article we will still be focused on the WWP delivery vehicle and which HQ’s to use as it is so hugely important in this list.
The Grotes seem to be the clear choice. Last time we discussed using the Baron but realized his H&R wouldn’t work with Grotes so that sets him back a bit. Still though, stealth, +1 to go first, Phantasm Grenade Launcher, and a bargain basement cost still makes him really appealing.
Lady Malys is a metagame choice. She makes the unit immune to psychic powers which renders most Grey Knights impotent. However, Paladins would still be rough, but not unbeatable in this set up as you take away Hammerhand, and ID on the NFWs. She does lack the Phantasm though, but considering just how tough Grotes are, and the fact that she will swing before damn near anything (8 Str4/I8 attacks on the charge in this setup) she will take out an average of 3 MEQs before they swing. Her redeploy ability and low point cost makes her a really solid choice in the ocean of Grey Knights we are sure to see.
Another really interesting choice is Urein. Urien can make the Grotes str6 for an extra 5pts a pop. This means they are Str7 on the charge and even if they get charged, can rip a lot of things to shreds (including scarabs) at base strength 6. Urien also has a clone field, and regenerates a wound a turn, and at tough 5, he can be a great defensive fighter in the unit, making it even more resilient. You throw in an Archon into this mix with a Clone field himself and a WWP and you reduce incoming attacks by 2D3 a turn! That is crazy. The Archon also makes the unit more versatile with a BS8 Blaster, and Haywire Grenades. The Agoniser and Phantasm really benefit the unit as well, making it an aggressive objective taker. The downside is only a single WWP.
So what you have is a unit with a lot of flexibility and a lot of nuance in how you equip them, all of the choices viable and potentially very powerful.
Off hand, I think Urien with another Archon makes the most potent unit. That can soak wounds like a champ and in combat with tough or troubling opponent’s (Like Dreads) you can use the dual clone fields to really neuter their ability to actually do anything to you. The souped up WGrotes can then just smash their way through damn near anything in an attrition battle baring Paladins. Paladins would require a different game plan.
These choices influence the rest of the army’s build. If you take Malys, you can safely engage nearly any unit in the game head-on and bring them down. With Urien you are nearly as resilient, but have that annoying vulnerability to Grey Knights and need to bring units to counter them.
I think I will start out with Urien and the Archon and build from there. If the single WWP or their increased resilience isn’t needed, then I can switch gears as I develop the army. Theory is all well and good, but now we need to start applying it on the tabletop.