Topic: 2000pt Drop crons

[007]

Hi all, wanted to get some takes on the new necron build that folks are talkin about.

HQ: Necron Lord w/ resorb, destroyer body, nightmare shroud, warscythe.
210pts

Necron Lord w/ resorb, gaze of flame, chronometron, warscythe.
175pts

10 Warriors 180pts
10 Warriors 180pts
10 Warriors 180pts

4 Destroyers 200
4 Destroyers 200
4 Destroyers 200

Monolith 235
Monolith 235

1995pts

So yeah, i guess people say the basic plan is to start with everything in either natural reserve, or lith reserve.  lord on foot joins warrior squad, destro lord joins some destroyers or warriors. 

Use the duel liths' bulk and portals to play keep away.  Having most of the forces come in on turn 2 and 3 will mean the opponent will have much less time phase us out and gives us the ability to plan where their nasty units will be.  They say the  list is designed to be a big surprise and most opponents don't know how to counter it exactly

[TheGreatAvatar]

Some suggestions:

Drop the Shroud and Scythe from the DLord.  If the DLord is hanging with the Destroyers he'll never be in range to use either and if he is will be in CC that following turn (as will the Destroyers).  Not something you want to do with the Destroyers.

Dropping the Shroud, Gaze, and Chrono plus the two Warscythes gives you enough points to give the foot Lord a VoD, a far more useful piece of wargear the all three of the dropped items combined.  You'll also be able to give the DLord Phylactery which just might come in handy in the later part of the game.

Also, a DLord joining a unit of Warriors hamstrings the DLord.  The Lords do NOT have to join a unit for the units to be affected by the ResOrb.

[Doopsie]

(warning: lengthy lecture ahead. No offense is intended)

I strongly believe this army is exceptionally foolish. It's a Necron take on a Drop-Pod type army without understanding the differences between Necron and SM or what lets Drop-Pod armies work.

Any army that relies this heavily on the reserve table MUST be able to guarantee against bad rolls for reserves, be it through IG Master of the Fleet (or whatever on it is), the Drop Pod special rule, whatever. Barring that, the army must be comprised of units which function as effectively alone, without support, as they do surrounded by support (for example, SM Tactical Squads).

Necrons cannot manipulate the reserve table, and our units do not function at peak efficiency independent. For example, say on turn 2 your reserve roll nets you 1 unit of Destroyers and 1 unit of Warriors. You now have 380 pts facing 2000. Your opponent will wisely focus all fire on one of those two units, lets say the Destroyers. All 4 Destroyers fall. You have just lost 4 Necron Destroyers with no chance of WBB.

The greatest strength of a Necron army is our durability. Our durability is derived from our WBB. This army makes a massive, and in my opinion, foolish gamble with our greatest asset.

[TheGreatAvatar]

He can decide whether or not to deploy in reserve at the time of the mission.  This list can also function sans reserves.

I agree this list can be susceptible to reserve rolls...the risk a third of the army coming in one round at a time does exist (thus making the entire army vulnerable).  However, the list is a solid list and has many ways to be deployed and sometimes it makes sense to take the risk and deploy as the OP suggested.

 

[Doopsie]

Yes, the list itself is fine. The equipment on the Lords is a tad questionable, but overall the list itself is perfectly acceptable. The stated intention and tactics for this list are what I am calling into question.

If you really want to use deep-striking monoliths and warriors in a game, I would recommend limiting it to 1 Monolith and 1 Warrior Squad. 10 Warriors & Monolith appearing anywhere you want will still throw your opponent's game-plan off, but are less vulnerable to the whims of the reserve table, a smaller chunk out of your army should something go wrong, and small enough to be sacrificed if need be.

[Gutstikk]

Personally? Anything new intrigues me, I've not seen this sort of thing described for the reasons the above posters mention. So, now I need to start thinking about, is there an effective, reliable way to do a reserves necron army?

Again, I think the points above stand in regards to multiple monoliths, but something using flayed ones, scarabs, a monolith, warriors... It might be workable. I'm gonna think on this further...

edit - hell, everyone thought I was nuts for using a CC necron army for the longest time... And they still think I'm nuts for considering Pariahs a steal. So let's see if there's a way to make this strange idea functional.

second edit - also, welcome aboard, 007!

[007]

I agree that the list does look a bit silly.  But trust me, the list can work with everything in reserve.  5th edition is very situational and with so very many aggressive armies running about, this list could very well catch many off guard.  It seems to take alot of practice or something, i'm still trying to see how it did so well at the ard boyz.

The lords are kitted the way they are for a number of reasons.  The destroyer lord has nightmare shroud because later in the game he can break off from his escorts and visit a weaken squad or a squad without a fist.  T6 goes along way, especially while he forces morale test to all around him.  I honestly don't get why folks don't take the shroud more often, It can win games!

Gaze is on the foot lord solely because necron warriors get charged. period.  I love the necron army to death, but as of right now, warriors are perhaps the worst troop unit in the game.  They just need a re-write badly.  But gaze and chronometron help them out a little bit. 

[Tyranid_Wannabe]

Okay looking at things, first thing I'd do would be to drop one of the lords for some more warriors and make the other lord res orb and VoD. I would also drop one destroyer squad. Now we have some points to do buisness . No need for a destroyer lord as your destroyer units should be able to aviod combat and strength 10 weapons are rare.

I'd get a maxed out immortal squad and put that with the lord now with VOD. Then I'd use the rest of the points on warriors adding to a previous squad.