Good news for the Ork players out there!
First of all, we got our Stormclaw boxes and popped one of them open to take a peak. The models are rad, and both Grukk and Krom, the new models exclusive to that kit, look pretty awesome. Stormclaw is a fun box with a lot of cool goodies in it, a mini rule-book and campaign book in addition to all the great miniatures.
Krom’s rules are OK at best, but, he is cheap. He has Wolrf Lord stats, a strength 6, master crafted power axe, stubborn, Furious Charge and the regular Space Wolf extra bonuses. However, he has to challenge or accept a challenge per his Saga (Saga of the Warrior Born) but gets rerolls to to hit in challenges. Eh, he will murder non-combat characters and cut through normal infantry, even put a decent beating on an MC with that many strength 6 attacks (7 on the charge), but against anything really choppy in combat or that has a power first style attack, he’s probably going to get mulched. I can’t stand models that have to challenge, so that is a big turn off for me. If that doesn’t bother you, then you may like him a lot as he does offer a lot for his price point.
We also see the very clever use of Factions now, as both the Ork and Space Wolf units in the box are all units that are available in the Space Wolf and Ork Faction and so, you can put them into a detachment for those armies. I really dig this new system, it is good fun and allows for a massive amount of flexibility on GW’s part to release rules across a multitude of mediums. You can now get official rules for detachments, formations, units, etc. in White Dwarf, Supplements, a Codex, forge World, etc. It is a brilliant idea on GW’s part, I have to hand it to them.
There are two Formations in the box too, but who cares, they require you use the exact models and wargear in the Stormclaw box for the models provided and no one outside of maybe a new player will be doing so. The real star of the show though, is Grukk Facerippa!
Grukk is a boss dipped in boss sauce. He is extremely good. He is a Warboss with FnP stock (5+), a Kombi-Rokkit, Attack Squig, Bosspole, Eavy Armor and a Power Klaw that has Shred. By itself, that is solid as it gives you a really durable, hard hitting fighting character. The Kombi-Rokkit is silly, but hey, once in a while it will do something cool. However the real benefit is that he comes stock with Bellowing Tyrant as his Warlord trait. Boo-yah! That is the 12″ reroll Morale/Leadership bubble. That is absolutely fantastic. Orks struggle big time with morale and this gives them a way to dramatically improve their odds of passing checks and avoiding Mob Rule. 12″ is a healthy radius bubble, too. The only other character to come with that Trait is Zagstruck, however he is a wet noodle and as he is not a Warboss, you lose WAAGH!! if you take him which can be a big loss for many lists. Grukk gives you both, which is awesome, AND he beats the crap out of most things.
Grukk works great in a variety of lists. A foot mob where he is in a big unit of Boyz and flanked by another 2 works great. That gives you 90 Boyz that will be very reliable. You may be able to sneak more in there, but that is a number you can count on keeping in Grukk’s radius during the course of play. Send them up the table and force your opponent to deal with them as with WAAGH! and ‘Ere we go! you will reliably be charging turn 2. It also means that on your first turn if you are going second, you keep your shooting units like Mek Guns and Lootas safer, too as they also benefit from the leadership reroll.
He also works well in a mechanized list as he helps a ton to mitigate the Pin and Morale checks from exploding vehicles. As his radius extends from the vehicle, Grukk in a Battlewagon is a good choice. He doesn’t stop the damage from the explosions, unfortunately, but, it’s something.
The only downside at all, is that this means you can’t take a shot on the awesome Strategic Warlord traits. One of my favorite load-outs right now is a Warboss with Da Finkin Kap. That gives you three chances on Strategic (reroll on the Warlord table with many detachment command benefits). Those traits are stupid good for Orks, and if you can infiltrate 3 units? Good night. However, that is a minor critique. Grukk is a chief!