Stux

Yes, 9 Boltboyz are good, especially with Poisons and All Out Attack. Yes, Dominion Hobgrotz are the exact same models as the new box, complete with musicians and banners.

The Gutrippaz box is already out, and it does have models for the musician and banner. Yes, I agree it's really crappy of GW to release units that don't have free upgrades included. But it seems to be a common pattern for the kits in starter sets the last few years. The 8e 40k starter Intercessors didn't have grenade launchers which were free at the time, and easy build Stormcast units in previous AoS starters didn't have things like Grandhammers that were free upgrades too. At least Dominion unit sizes were correct. Previous AoS starters regularly had things like 3 Retirbutors in the box which only came in units of 5, and similar for Nighthaunt units.

Had my first game with the Boyz against Seraphon. Several stegadons plus Kroak. Did not go very well! He was able to shoot/spell blast my Sludgeraker and Swampcalla off the board before they could do anything. Kroak is nasty! Think I'll need the second Swampcalla next time...

Wow, that's mad. They've gone up a little in the UK, but nothing too crazy. Can see buy it now on ebay at the moment for £20. They were down to about £10 at their lowest.

Not too bad! Didn't take any reposing, just had to stick the arms on while he was already in the cage hah Also the cage isn't glued together yet. Going to paint it first so I can get the angles more easily.

Found some appropriate prisoners in my bitz box! Gnoblar lookout and a pretty pissed off ghoul king! There's also a toad in the small cage 😁

Agreed. It doesn't really make sense for the fluff of it either, if the Troll isn't hurt it isn't enraged etc.

I've seen arguments both ways. I think you do, as you get the attacks when 'suffering' the wounds, which happens before negation. But... this really needs an FAQ to be certain.

A unit of trolls to sit on an objective or something might be OK. But honestly, competitively I don't think there's much you'd want to take. Gitz are not in a great place, and we're generally going to be better off taking Orruk units we have synergies with. Other than maybe a Fungoid Cave Shaman, which I can see bringing sometimes for the CP.

Its just quite matchplay dependent isn't it. Against some armies it's going to do very little or even nothing. But if you're playing fast alpha strike or heavy shooty armies, yeah it'll be really useful!

Yeah, this is fair. Big Waaagh is generally going to be a bad choice for Kruleboyz only. Not only are the benefits not as relevant, but your Waaagh point generation will be comparatively very poor - not only with not having any units that contribute to it directly, but also ranged units are very bad at generating Waaagh points. I'm looking into Iron Jaw and Kruleboy mixed Bug Waaagh though, and I think it has potential. Maybe not in competitive play, but as something that broadly functions and won't be just hobbled by its allegiance choice for pick up games hah In that context I'm looking at it as an Iron Jaw core that holds the centre, with Kruleboyz bringing some range and mortal wounds than the list might otherwise lack.

Bit early to say for sure, there's been debate over which is the more useful out of a second Swampy or first Murky. I think more people are planning for the second Swampcalla. Some lists will probably run double Swampcalla AND a Murknob.

No, unfortunately.

Without building the kit, I would speculate that swapping the rider shouldn't be too difficult. There's lots of more subtle differences that would be much more of a pain though, eg the vultures have different neck/heads. Depends how particular you are on that sort of thing.

Or would be, were it not for his real money price 😞

Yeah, I think you're probably right in terms of optimising the list. I happen to already have a Megaboss and no Warchanter though hah Also, I'd need to factor in the new Megaboss ability to have command abilities affect two units. With him I can Mighty Destroyers/All Out Attack two units, so I think its a less obvious change than it might first appear, given how few units the Warchanter would be buffing in this build. Missing out on the Waaagh points is definitely an issue though. Annoying that no Kruleboyz units contribute additional points.

While we're doing lists, this is my plan for a Big Waaagh: Megaboss 140 Skumdrekk 320 Killaboss on Gnashtoof 170 Swampcalla 105 Swampcalla 105 Gutrippaz x20 360 Brutes x5 160 Brutes x5 160 Boltboyz x6 240 Boltboyz x6 240 2k points on the nose. Killaboss would be general with Arcane Tome and probably Egomaniak. Amulet of Destiny from battalion on the Megaboss.

Im not planning to run 3, but I think there is an argument for it. You'll always have poisons where you need it most, and all our spells are pretty good too. At 125 I'd probably agree with you, but now on 105 it looks pretty solid to me. Depends what else you're bringing of course.

In a vacuum he seems OK. In practice I can't find a place for him in actual lists. As you say, a second or even third Swampcalla always seems like a better option.

Mirebrute doesn't have the battleshock protection. Most builds are going to want a Killaboss. Gnashtoof is for when you have have 60pts spare over a basic Killaboss and you can't spend it on anything else. Which isn't a great niche admittedly...

My main feeling on this is I just can't justify spending £89 on a 240pt model... I think he's OK in game though

I'm also doing some Iron Jawz for my primarily Kruleboyz army. I'm going for pretty much the default Kruleboy paint scheme, so this is a Brute to match it!