[AoS 2 - Blades of Khorne Discussion]

I've seen a fair bit of love for Flesh Hounds lately--why do people like them? 

(Besides the beautiful new plastic models!) 

Is it just cheap screening wounds? 

[AoS 2 - Blades of Khorne Discussion]

21 minutes ago, ogarrah said:

On the contrary, our best competitive lists are 'thirster based. We just like discussing all the different ways you can build a mortal list. I'm a mortal fan myself, so I don't know much about daemons, but the Baleful Blood Slaughterhost or Reapers of Vengeance are the best ones to build a bloodthirster spam list around.

Lovely, cheers to you and Grimrock!

Here is what I'm working on:

Leader:

Bloodsecrator (+1 attack seems to be for all Khorne so can pump up the Bloodletters or Bloodthirsters)

Slaughterpriest

Bloodthirster of Insensate Rage (General with Thermal Rider Cloak for maximizing threat range)

Bloodthirster of Insensate Rage

Wrath of Khorne Bloodthirster

Battleline:

Flesh Hounds ×5

Flesh Hounds ×5

Bloodletter ×30

Other:

Bloodcrushers ×6 (to get the d3 MW on the charge)

Wrath-Axe prayer

Tyrants of Blood (new name!) battalion 

Reapers of Vengeance

 

(Under no illusions about picking Sigmar back up and being even decent, watching battle reports and looking through my battletome to get experience in the meantime but can't wait to get my Bloodthirsters back out there!)

[AoS 2 - Blades of Khorne Discussion]

Hey, hope everyone is staying safe, using this quarantine to get back into Sigmar (left right before Khorne got the updated battletome, ironically). Picked up the battletome and want to get back in. I LOVE the Khorne Daemon models, but don't want to take many mortals if I don't have to.

Looking over recent conversations in this thread, it seems most competitive lists are built around blocks of mortals getting buffed to have tons of extra attacks. Can a list focused around any of the Daemons (either big like multiple Bloodthirsters, or smaller ones like Bloodletters and Bloodcrushers) be great? I saw that the Bloodletter billion mortal wounds strategy got nerfed from where it used to be. What kind of synergies and general ideas should I be focusing on for a Daemons based list?

[What advice would you give when playing AGAINST your own faction?]

5 hours ago, Double Misfire said:

Ironweld Arsenal:

-Kill the artillery crew. Seriously, just kill them, you've got to do 3 wounds four times to disable the 800 point anchor of my army.

-For extra salt tell me I should get a real army with a battletome, or possibly consider 9th Age while I'm packing away my stuff 30 minutes into a game.  

I think it's pretty absurd that you can kill artillery crew members instead of the crew and the machine having a collective pool of wounds... a very poor design decisiom especially when Warplightning Cannons are way stronger and have to be killed as one model

Oh well, anyone running a heavy Ironweld Arsenal army is going to be cool in my eyes regardless of how they do! 

[What advice would you give when playing AGAINST your own faction?]

No one knows their own faction's tricks, what makes it work on the battlefield, and how to counter it than the people that play it. 

For example, as a competitive Slaanesh player, I would say things I hate to see are: 

* Lots of 1 wound screening models

* Shooting like the Stormcast Ballistas that can put out of a horrifying amount of shots at close range. Volume of attacks matters much more than quality of attacks because we have mediocre saves and no ability to stack defensive bonuses like Order lists can do (outside of maybe 1 Pretenders KoS in the list that can be built rather tanky) 

* Deployment far enough back off the line that I can't reliably get turn 1 charges 

What are some specific pieces of advice you would give to someone playing against your own faction? Can be as broad or detailed as you want Cheers! 

[AoS 2 - Spiderfang Grots Discussion]

Anyone tried using a Rogue Idol with their Spiderfang force?

At 400 points he's pricey but seems like a great fit. He gives +1 to casting rolls and +1 to bravery to all Grot units so he can buff all of our units. And is a nice beatstick to either tank damage or punish the opponent for focusing down our Arachnaroks instead

I also think it's excellent in the Rule of Cool category, can't wait to put some webs all over those boulders

[AoS 2 - Clan Verminus / Skaven Discussion]

When we get our battletome, it is extremely likely we will get a Gnawhole model similar to the Beastmen's new Braystone model. 

We could have some really cool mechanic (because if there is one thing GW loves recently, it is spelling spell models) that takes into account how random their location can be. 

RIFT IN REALITY: 

This Endless Spell has a casting value of 4. If successfully cast, you and your opponent roll off. Whomever wins is allowed to place the Gnawhole model anywhere on the board at least 9" away from any other models. At the end of every Hero phase where the Gnawhole remains on the board, roll a D6. On a 5 or 6, the controlling player is allowed to place a unit of 20 Clanrats wholly within 13" of the Gnawhole. 

Note: If this spell is cast with a 13+, you can summon a Verminlord instead of a unit of Clanrats whenever you roll a 5 or 6.

This would be very thematic of the Skaven. You could do anything from have it placed in a corner and do nothing all game, to swarming dozens of Clanrats all over a key objective all game

[AoS 2 - Seraphon Discussion]

I don't play Seraphon but just was looking at the warscrolls and thinking about how I would play them if I ever pull the trigger and actually get them haha... and wow the Ancient Warlord command ability of a Carnosaur rider seems good enough to base an army around 

It seems incredibly strong with a huge range, take a handful of heroes and have them solo entire armies together--what am I missing? I looked for an FAQ but see nothing that says it can't stack 

[AoS 2 - Bretonnia Discussion]

This thread is awesome, really exciting to read such a well done battle report! 

I'll admit I never played Bretonnia myself, but it warms my heart to see fans like the original poster who keep the love for the faction alive. I know someone who still plays Tomb Kings in AoS and he has as much fun with AoS as anyone I knkw. 

Wish I had some actual strategy advice... but rock on my Bretonnian dudes and dudettes, and good luck in all of your future battles! 

[AoS 2 - Clan Verminus / Skaven Discussion]

Update for anyone curious: It was an annihalation by the Daughters of Khaine

My plan was to use the tactic of constantly retreating then charging with the tip of a Clanrats unit to tie the Witch Elves up with almost no models actually fighting, and smash them with shooting 

Well, the problem was that even with only a handful of Witch Elves able to pile in and attack... 6 buffed Witch Elves were still instantly deleting my screens. Rolled awfully when attacking the Haq Queens (thanks for the suggestiom!) and that was game. First time playing against a good tournament player with a top tier army, eye opening experience. Back to the drawing board! 

[AoS 2 - Clan Verminus / Skaven Discussion]

Have a matchup against the Daughters of Khaine on Thursday. Never played against them, I run a mixed Skaven list with 60 Clanrats, 60 Monks, Screech Verminking, and assorted Skaven goodies like Ratling Guns, Plagueclaws, the Warpgrinder, Warpfire Throwers, a Plague Priest, Grey Seer in various combos. 

 

Anyone have any tips in general for Skaven to play against Daughters of Khaine? Its a good tournament player and am wondering in general how we can even stand a chance against a great army with a battletome. 

[AoS 2 - Spiderfang Grots Discussion]

2 hours ago, sal4m4nd3r said:

@Lord_Skrolk I dont think your list is "legal." Because Fungoid cave shamne must be your general in order to use command ability, and he cant be your general in a spiderfang army. Just something I wanted to point out as an unfortunate loss of a tactic I noticed when building lists. not meant to "call you out" in any way.

You would be correct in general, but the Malign Portents heroes are treated differently--they are unique Heroes in that they can always be chosen as the general. But you are right that he has to be designated as the general, so thanks for the reminder. Attached a screenshot that hopefully will clear things up 

 

[AoS 2 - Spiderfang Grots Discussion]

36 minutes ago, sal4m4nd3r said:

If I run a spiderfang grot allegiant army, do moonclan grots still count as battleline?

No, allies cannot be used to fill a battleline requirement. So you can't just bring a few units of Moonclan Grots and then spam 6 Arachnaroks... as cool as that would be! 

[AoS 2 - Spiderfang Grots Discussion]

5 minutes ago, sal4m4nd3r said:

Why dont more Spiderfang players run a GA army to get around the 400 point ally limit? 

Idk, probably a lot of people think an almost all spider army is awesome and would rather have that then a more optimized list. And to those people I say rock on with all of your eight legged friends! 

I agree that Spiderfang in a tournament setting is probably best with like ~1000 points of Spiderfang in a mixed Destruction army

Without getting into exact point values, just general concepts that can be tweaked to preference, a Spiderfang based army probably needs: 

Grot Shaman for the better chance to drop Cogs, these guys are so good with an almost guaranteed +2 to casting that bringing 2 is a fine strategy

2x Rock Lobbers for ranged support (our bows are near useless, you'll get like 2 unarmoured models killed all game with them)

Big blocks of Grots to screen and hold objectives 

[AoS 2 - Spiderfang Grots Discussion]

2 minutes ago, novakai said:

Which weapon loadout do people suggest for the Spider riders? reading the warscroll I think bows are actually ok on them

You don't have to pick, you get the bows and the spears if you would like 

[AoS 2 - Spiderfang Grots Discussion]

10 hours ago, PlasticCraic said:

Congrats @Lord_Skrolk, what you running?

 

10 hours ago, Fisher KIng said:

Yes I'd love to hear what you are running. I am due to play my first AOS games next week against Nighthaunt, Seraphon and clan Eshin

 

Replied below, tagging you two so you see since I forgot in my comment haha

[AoS 2 - Spiderfang Grots Discussion]

With this army, you have to play the objectives at the sacrifice of everything else. I've gotten tabled twice while winning the game, a tradeoff I am happy to make. Arachnaroks with Shamand are awesome, Spider Riders are not, so maximize the number of Arachnaroks you have if you're using realm spells and just cover them in magic 

List at 1K:

Arachnarok with Shaman: Ethereal Amulet

Arachnarok with Shaman 

Fungoid Cave Shaman--the Command Ability that lets you charge after retreating/running is HUGE for our army, must take.

5x Spider Riders

5x Spider Riders

5x Spider Riders 

Aethervoid Pendelum, Quicksilver Swords to fill out the roster and give us some damage spells 

[AoS 2 - Spiderfang Grots Discussion]

Now 3-0 with my spider bois against Nighthaunt, Stormcast, and Seraphon. All played by decent players. 

I say this not to brag or anything like that, but because this thread has been super quiet I want to remind people that this is a really decent and underrated army, and not to be discouraged from getting into them (or bringing them as a detachment in a larger Destruction army) 

[AoS 2 - Clan Pestilens Discussion]

23 hours ago, mrbedlam said:

I got my first real game at 1000 points in the other day with Pestilens. I'm not fond of plague claws so I allied in a  warp cannon instead. That thing melted through Stormcast units. (it helped that I rolled 1s). Now I'm stuck on where to go. I'm not super worried about competitive but I do like to at least put up a good fight. My dilemna is running towards Nurgle allegiance and Grabbing some Blightlords, a Lord of Blights and a GUO or staying Pestilens but adding in some fun Skaven options like assassins, Thanquol or more Warp Cannons. What are the big pros and cons here?

Warp Lightning Cannons are awesome, especially for frying those golden tuna cans that are really popular these days

If you're trying to decide between moving to Nurgle allegiance vs mixed Skaven, here are a collection of relevant points. I'm not going to recommend one or the other, just present a bunch of info you may or may not know so you can make an informed decision: 

Nurgle is very competitive these days, but almost all competitive Nurgle lists are based around Blightkings battalions and don't include much, if any, Pestilens 

Thanquol is brutal (basically the only "broken" thing the Skaven have available is a Verminlord Deceiver+Thanquol combo to deep strike him into killing several enemy heroes on the first turn), and if you stay with Pestilens allegiance a fine ally although he takes up all your ally slot. 

Pestilens allegiance abilities arent any better than generic Chaos abilities, so if you want a lot of non-Pestilens Skaven stuff just run allegiance Chaos. Only benefit of Pestilens allegiance really is battleline Plague Monks/Censer Bearers. Note that you'll need 3 units of Clanrats to fill battleline. 

 

[AoS 2 - Clan Verminus / Skaven Discussion]

Looks like a wonderful conversion, well done! 

[AoS 2 - Clan Skyre Discussion]

I really love the idea of Jezzails and rat snipers, so I spent the past day or two on my subway ride to work reviewing every Chaos warscroll looking for any buffs. synergies, or tactics to make Jezzails work. Did some math to compare them to other artillery pieces per point effectiveness, some allegiance abilities that may have helped, really put some thought into them

And I have to report that for anyone that had a shred of hope left for them, Jezzails are useless and there is no reasonable way to buff then to decent effectiveness. 

Their mechanic of doing 2 MW on a 6+ to hit from 30" feels like it could be really good in the right list, but basically everything Chaos only buffs hit rolls in melee (although a cheap Hero general with the Lord of War trait and a unit of 9 Jezzails *could* be kinda interesting, its just such a huge resource investment into something that will never recoup its cost)

Just sad because they are such a cool idea for a unit with a fun model and some amazing conversion possibilities (picking up some 40K Skitarii snipers to convert some plastic Jezzails today), oh well thanks for nothing GW 

[AoS 2 - Clan Verminus / Skaven Discussion]

27 minutes ago, Mayple said:

Oh? Is that a new addition? It hasn't been like that before.

 

Edit: just checked the wording in the GHB2018, there's no mention of needing the allegiance to use a battalion, so no change there. If you have all the neccesary units, and pay the points, you get it So I'm good.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that's not true. GW clarified that Pestilens battalions are only for Pestilens allegiance. 

[AoS 2 - Clan Skyre Discussion]

3 minutes ago, Filius said:

Hey there, just a small question: If I read the Warscroll Builder correctly the  Archwarlock is the most expensive "regular" Skaven Hero (meaning it's a "common" Skaven that rose among the Ranks of the Skaven to it's current position – unlinke the Verminlord Daemons – and he doesn't have a powerful companion, like the Screaming Bell or Boneripper). Does that imply that it's currently the most powerfull regular Hero Character?

(I'm asking for background story-building reasons, but I try to keep the backstory in line with the rules / crunch …)

Yes. The Arch-Warlock is such a badbass unit and the best non-monster Hero the Skaven have

[AoS 2 - Clan Pestilens Discussion]

11 hours ago, wander said:

This is my go at a 2000pts Pestilens List for 2nd edition. I don't own this many Plague Monks yet, though I thought I'd share and see if you could offer ways I could optimise the list, make it a bit more competitive or just general constructive criticism!
 

So there you have my Pestilens list.

Uses Ratling Guns as I find them more reliable than a single Plagueclaw. I'm not sure if the single Priest will be decent enough to expand the Heroes roster (also not sure if 4 shots per hero phase to get a Great Plague up is actually adequate). I decided to forgo the Chronomantic Cogs to go for +1 Command Point instead, for extra Gouge-Tear and Inspiring Presence goodness. I honestly find the Cogs, whilst suiting our rat boys, over-priced for it's main pick of +2 Move and +2 to charge rolls.

Flaws I know are a lack of real heavy hitters outside the Verminlord and Furnace, plus the odd sized Plague Monk blobs. Though I'm willing to get experimental with how the blobs work in full-scale games though, as discussed above.

I also know I don't have many allies and I know Nurgle has some cool (if expensive in points) choices, along with Skaven stuff too. This is a work in progress and I really want to make a great and fun list, so I'd like to know some cool adds. I picked Ratling Guns for a better ranged support than the Plagueclaw would bring to the army. Having some ranged ability is important to me.

Okay, let me know what you think!

I like the list. Only obvious thing to me is make the 2 units of 30 Monks into a group of 40 and a group of 20, saves 40 points you can use for an endless spell for your Corruptor to cast 

[AoS 2 - Clan Skyre Discussion]

IMO with this update, the best way to run a Clan Skyre army is as Grand Alliance: Chaos allegiance and bring 3 units of Clanrats to fill out the battleline