Going First or Second: Ranged Army vs Close Combat Army

February 7, 2011 by dignity

Darrell has a little tip about how to choose between going first or second when you have a ranged army up against a close combat army.

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Content: Game Tips Content: Video Model: Flyer Model: Trooper Model: Vehicle Model: Walker Proportions: Heroic Scale: 28mm

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maelstorm

15 years ago

Sounds like a solid plan!

leagionair

15 years ago

yes that sounds like a solid plan . and it is simple but a lot of players for get the simple things if they have a plan layed out before the game and they dont change there plan .

reillyperovich

15 years ago

i have an armylist set up for my nids, where going 2 can change the game for you, its a large list where almost eveything deepstrikes … and with nothing on the board for my side …. i waste 2 of their turns … that 2 turns of my trygons avoiding twin links lazcannons and all my little guys away from blasts… but you have to have 3 lictors on the board in cover and thats the only thing i worry about becuase if the lictors go it will be alot harder to get everything onto the board when i need it.

omerakk

Reply to reillyperovich

15 years ago

Lictors have to start the game in reserve in every mission, and their pheremone ability doesn’t work the turn they enter play. This tactic only works if you always roll the lictors in from reserve on turn 2 in order to get everything else out on turn 3. Not sure basing your army on the coin flip of a single unit is a good idea

bubbles15

Reply to omerakk

15 years ago

While you’re right, I do like the idea though.

I’m a daemons player. When none of your army turns up where you want it, when you want it, only to get stuck in dangerous terrain and get used to the word ‘plan’ becoming something you forget about having.

The tactic is sound though – just relies upon not facing another horde army to scupper you.

omerakk

Reply to bubbles15

15 years ago

Daemons play different than nids though.

I’m not saying that a deepstrike heavy nid list is bad, I’m just saying that he is choosing the least effective way to do it. He would be better off using a flyrant with hive commander than the lictors. That way, he still gets to start all of his guys off the board protecting them on turn 1, but he still gets the +1 to reserve roll bonus on turn 2 since the tyrant doesn’t have to be on the field.

Or in a higher points game, take the tyrant and a swarmlord, allowing your entire army to deepstrike in on turn 2 on a 2+ roll! You get all the same advantages reilly wanted, but the added benefit of crashing into your opponent on turn 2 before they have a real chance to setup a defense like they would on turn 3. Plus, with only a 2+ needed, you’ll more than likely get your whole army on the field at once and right where you want them.

Why rely on chance when you can manipulate the odds in your favor? 😀

dwaggiemorph

15 years ago

Reilly.. I find that kind of plan to have a double edge as your opponent have two turns to set up his army instead, making sure that he decides where you’re gonna deepstrike by blocking everything else. Unless you’re using the pods to get your nids in, I can see this tactic being very painful for you.

geniuschrist

15 years ago

i liked this one. it does seem like people think going first is a disadvantage, and that’s not always so.

sessau

15 years ago

As far as i’m concerned its always fun to rush in to combat every now and again, its heroic and always good when you rush into combat and get that +1 to charge bonus on your side. More attacks means more things die and thats always good in combat. But then again sitting back and letting your opponents army come to you whilst rockets and missiles blast them into oblivion is always good to. Darrell’s right and i’ve used this observation a few times at my local GW, if your opponent is equipped for close combat you have one of two options:
1. shoot hell into him and make sure he doesn’t have his best units to fight with before he gets to you
2. charge your army first, choosing which units hit what carefully, lets face it your tactical squad wont do much against that big old Bloodthurster, but your unit of 10 assault terminators with storm-shields and thunder-hammers might just take a few wounds off him

But when it all comes down to it its the dice gods who have the final say in the matter.

redshane

15 years ago

I have a Tau army and love to go first all the time no matter what the senario. As Darrell says, if you kill all the enemy then it doesn’t matter any more

stebloke

15 years ago

I thought the Manticore could move and shoot, that you had to stay still only if you were firing a barrage.

mctictac

Reply to stebloke

15 years ago

Darrel was wrong, most things like a Manticore or Whirlwind can shoot directly (like a normal bast template) or shoot indirectly but if they shoot indirectly they have to remain still.