A "little" comment on the Wych combat drugs in the DE Elite Analysis article, mainly concerning the phrase "+1WS: Curse your luck". Why? Simply because you don't need to...
Well, now, down to the math.
Now, here I have pitted a ten-(wo)man Wych squad (with succubus armed w/agoniser) up against the same numbers of SM in a prolonged fight on open ground, with no reinforcements on either side, 1 example for each of the drug rolls (number of kills have been rounded off according to a procedure where, if rounded up one time, next time it will be rounded down, mostly (so .5 would become 1, and the next .5 would become 0)). Also, normal troopers will always be killed instead of the succubus:
1 and 4:
Assault round(A)1:
DE kill 2.5=3 (7 SM left)
SM kill 1.167=1 (9 DE left)
A2:
DE kill 1.64=1 kill (6)
SM kill 1 (
A3:
DE kill 1.52=2 (4)
SM kill .67=1 (7)
A4:
DE kill 1.42=1 (3)
SM kill .5=0 (7)
A5:
DE kill 1.42=1 (2)
SM kill .333=1 (6)
A6
DE kill 1.3=2 (none left)
After 3 rounds, the SM squad is wiped out, and there are 6 wyches left...
Roll of 2: +1WS
A1:
DE kill 3.333=3 (7)
SM kill 0.777=1 (9)
A2:
DE kill 2.185=2 (5)
SM kill .555=0 (9)
A3:
DE kill 2.185=3 (2)
SM kill .222=1 (
A4:
DE finish off the last 2. 8 wyches left, possibly 9. And it is ended in the opponents second turn, so you are free to attack again (this would typically be in your 4 or 5 turn)
Roll of 3: +1S
A1:
DE kill 3.25=3 (7)
SM kill 1.167=1 (9)
A2:
DE kill 3=3 (4)
SM kill .667=1 (
A3:
DE kill 2.75=3 (1)
SM kill .166=0 (
A4:
The wyches finishes off the last SM. Compared to +1WS, they finish at the same time, but the chance of loosing one extra wych is higher. But, of course, the chance of finishing before is higher, too (but, this won't benefit you if you finish in your own phase, actually it is a bad thing, as the enemy get to fire at you)
Roll of 5: Reroll misses
A1:
DE kills 3.72=4 (6 left)
SM kill 1=1 (9)
A2:
DE kills 2.083=2 (3)
SM kills .5=1 (
A3:
DE kills 2.416=2-3 (0-1)
SM kill .16=0 (
A4:
If the wyches didn't kill the SM last round, they will this time. You will use 3-4 assault phases to kill off the SM squad, and will have around 8 models left. The best, when it comes to killing off fast, but risky, because the enemy might shoot you down afterwards...
Roll of 6: +1A
A1:
DE kill 3.25=3 kills (7)
SM kill 1.1667=1 (9)
A2:
DE kill 2.333=3 (4)
SM kills .667=1 (
A3:
DE kills 2.1667=2 (2)
SM kills .333=0 (
A4
DE kills off the last 2. You got 8 wyches left, and made it all in two turns.
Now, to summarise:
1: 6 assault phases, 6 wyches left
2: 4 assault phases, 8-9 wyches left
3: (3-)4 assault phases, 8 wyches left
4: 6 assault phases, 6 wyches left
5: 3(-4) assault phases, 8 wyches left
6: 4 assault phases, 8 wyches left
AS you all can see, the different drugs don't make that much difference, as long as you don't get 1 or 4. According to my thinking, +1WS will actually be better than +1S, because you might just have one more wych left. And there's less chance, if I am not entirely wrong, to end up getting shot. Rerolling will kill off the enemy squad fast, but will also get your own shot down afterwards. +1A will work about the same way as +1S, but slower.
So, actually, unlike what most people think, +1WS is actually quite effective, as you both get +1 to hit, and the enemy gets -1 to hit. This last one has the same effect technically as a 5+ ward save in Warhammer, a nice thing to have just in case...
Oh, but there is one catch. The +1WS will not have nearly as large an impact upon WS3 creatures. They will be at -1 to hit because of that, but you would have had 3+ to hit anyway. So, by getting +1WS, your wyches go from CC killers to Elite killers (Elites normally having WS4). Anything with WS of four is a good target. WS 5 units (non-character-wise, only Tyranid Warriors and DE Incubi as I know of) could also be taken on better (however, you don't benefit from the enemy being at -1 to hit).
