Unless you play in some very unusual metas, you will realize that 40k is certainly a game about vehicles. Often the plastic dudes stay hidden in their armored boxes and prefer to stay tucked away holding objectives. It is common place for them to stay in their bunkers for as long as possible, and in many cases never poke their heads out of their rides. The armor gives them protection from shooting and prevents them from being removed from the objective until their vehicle is dealt with. In essence its almost a form of another saving throw.
With necrons coming out I have been thinking about the rumors and the two main types of transports they will have. Both are pretty cool, but I really believe they will force Necron players to use them differently that you would initially anticipate. Firstly, lets examine the ghost ark. An 11/11/11 transport that is 13/13/11 until it takes it first penetrating hit. It will clock in at about 115 points and also has the nifty ability to regenerate d3 warriors into a nearby squad of necrons, when within 6″. Now ideally, we will use these to get into position on objectives. Since it is open topped and has the ability to ‘broadside’ two other enemies, the skimmer and guys in side can put out some good fire power. They are also pretty safe from light arms fire since the AV is 13.
However, are we thinking about that ability for D3 guys to be regenerated? That is only going to work on the squad if they have already taken some casualties. The regeneration can only return a unit to its starting strength and it will probably also only work if the unit is not embarked in the ark. So to get the bang for the 115 point buck, you have to get the guys inside shot at to make use of this ability – so you need to get them out. The kicker is, you probably would like for them to stay in the tank, sitting on an objective until it is wrecked or destroyed, then forcing the guys out. But then the regeneration won’t work since the arks not there any more… It’s a duplicity of purpose in the ark that will be tricky. Do I get the guys out to make and get them shot at to make use of the regeneration or do I hide inside until it is wrecked. To me, for 115 points you are paying for both, so you really need to be using both. Thoughts?
I am thinking that maybe 2 units of 20 necrons on foot (maybe with a cryptek and veil of darkness) followed by 2 arks with 10 guys might give you the benefit of both. The arks could move into position on an objective, and the 20 on foot could use the regeneration ability of the ark while running interference against incoming baddies.
Secondly, we have the fast flyer transport. Now for this vehicle, we are relying on rumors from Dakka and Warseer, but this is pretty solid since the other rumors have been spot on. It is rumored to be 11/11/11 and have the ability to carry 15 dudes. We don’t have a points value for this flier yet. It has a unique delivery system, in that if the transport is destroyed the units inside will go back into reserve. They do not come out onto the table where the vehicle was destroyed, once it is destroyed like troops do in the vendetta. They will supposedly go back into reserve to roll on from your edge once you roll for reserves. At first, this doesn’t seem like a big deal. But think about this in terms of objectives. If you have moved that thing forward and it is flying a holding pattern around an objective, can you afford to leave the unit embarked inside? You can’t because if the transport gets roasted, the guys inside won’t be on the objective they were trying to hold anymore – they went back into your reserve. You probably just lost the game! This means you get the guys inside to an objective and you can’t afford to hide inside the vehicle any more!
So in a nutshell, do you see what the design team has done? They are trying to make these transports get you to your location, where you will then either need to or want to get out. They are trying to give you a reason to not have to or to want to ‘live’ in your necron pill boxes. Interesting, I say. A direction away from living in boxes!
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Very interesting. You’re on the ball with this, that’s for sure.
I wish they’d try this out on Tau or whoever is next. I think getting away from hiding in vehicles is good for the game, but Necrons have been waiting 9 years to get some cozy mobile hide-outs. They finally get them and you don’t want to use them?.. Ugh…
Typical GW … and very typical for the Necrons who have historically had many useless bits (the old pariahs) and/or conflicting uses for units, etc. I don’t disagree that they are trying to force people out of the pillbox a bit … but come on we all know 6th is just around the corner. My worry is that much of what is in this codex is going to be rendered irrelevant as soon as the new addition is out. I’m on perma break from 40K until 6th hits.
I wonder if they are going to change the objective rules in 6th so that units inside vehicles cannot capture objectives, only contest. Seems a more logical rule than having elite/or fast attack infantry not count as scoring. if it’s on foot it should score.
Another thing I noticed from the white dwarf was that their gauss weapons auto-glance vehicles on a 6, regardless of armor. while this won’t kill anything it can immobilize and at the very least make their opponents vehicles less viable than normal. may not win games, but could interrupt your opponents plans. 10 rapid firing necron warriors gives you a decent chance of rolling at least one 6 which could make all the difference.
Actually, if you immobilize / weapon destroy a rhino three times it’s wrecked(if it doesnt have the stormbolter or missle options.)
Agree with Jester. Interesting approach to providing incentive to get out of the vehicles. Let’s not forget about the A13 too. So you like missiles huh? Gonna make you work a little harder to bust A13. Might facilitate more Lascannons in marine armies. Eek!
I’m really wondering about some guys here that seem to be dissapointed. Necrons are given the best transports in the game, they’re also been given one of the best long range weapons in the game. And this is only a fraction of the codex.
Get a grip please. Necrons are due to their transports gonna be a top race in 40k.
I wouldn’t say that anyone’s disappointed with them, just musing over the options at this point. No one will really know how they work till this weekend when the book is released with the full rules for the army.
I also really wouldn’t crown their shooting the best long range just yet, till we see how the meta shifts because of the book. Sure the doomsday arc looks mean now, but once ppl realize they go down quick to missle, lascannon, and lance fire, they probably won’t be effective past 1b (if you went first.)
Interesting thoughts going on here
Great article with some very critical thinking….
I don’t believe that they will be the top race in the galaxy, I don’t think their transports are broken or over powered. I do like the model range, but currently have no plans to build an army.
Thans for the compliments, Oadius.
Ironic how one of the most comprehensive, objective and critical 40k blogs out there is written/contributed by a group of guys from Arkansas….
I look forward to trying out the mounted Necron army, I run most of my armies on foot currently and do pretty well for myself so I like seeing what everyone says doesnt work in an army and then give it a shot. All in all the Ghost Arks should be cool to paint, and will some shenanigans i guess it might be possible to get them magnestised for both the Ghost Ark & Doomsday.
Well, there is the combo of using both transports, have the fast flyer coast up and drop its load to provide interference and the Ghost Ark cruise up while keeping its squad inside and providing regen to the first squad.
The flyers can then go grab more troops or be used to block movement or even (depending on their armament) as gunships.
4th September 2012
Necrons have some of the best flyers in the game. They were designed with 6th in mind, and are easily one of the best armies in 6th. Can be played as foot army but why would you with flyers that have giant laser arc beams that kill everything and beam down troops…
Okay what is the deal with all the blog trolls lately? This post was made with 5th edition rules in mind when the book first dropped. Look at the date. Of course they play COMPLETELY different now.