Friday, September 24, 2010

23rd Armor Company - Killing the learning curve

Here is the army list I posted "the Armored Company with 23 pieces of armor" last friday. Here is the link 23rd Armor Company.  It is important to know how a list works, not just from an initial first glance, but how it will perform against a myriad of opponents that you will face in a tourny or elsewhere. While a good player can pick up an army and do well, it takes  actual games to learn the insides and out of an how a list works. Some are very straight forward, and in general spam lists are much easier to play, but tend to fail against skilled opponents with a more efficient list. So here is the inside scoop at how "the 23rd Armored Company" list works to help kill that learning curve.

One of the things I like to do is see how the army will looks all together. If the army looks intimidating after set up, it will have that affect on your opponents.

Where most alpha strike armies fail, is they cant take a hit from another alpha strike army. It's the battle of rock/paper/scissors. Get a good alpha strike list pairing at a tournament, and its a matter of who goes first or luck of the die. This list was put together with the idea of being able to take an alpha strike in chest, absorbing it, and firing a devastating round of shooting in return. When facing other types of army lists, especially mechanized, the list is meant to strike hard, destroying light armor quickly, grounding and isolating infantry, where they can be overwhelmed with gunfire, or obliterated with earthshaker rounds.

Lets break it down how the list works.

Hydra Flak Batteries should tend to open up first, statistically killing a light armored transport everytime a battery opens up. Priority targets with these early game is transports, followed by any side armor shots that come up. (setting up along opposite corners helps this), Especially since you have 72"'s to work with. Monsterous creatures are excellent targets as well in non mech lists. Generally what the hydras break, the basilisks will fire upon. Hopefully doing a 1-2 punch, killing the transport and the all of the infantry inside. Dont fire the basiliks though til you are done with most of your long range shooting. After light armor is gone, simply pelt infantry with flak.

Vendettas should be taking on the gunship role in this list. Moving to a flank predators etc, getting off 3 twin linked lascannons into side armor. Dont forget to scout move this vehicle, to insure you are getting your side armor shots. If facing a heavy alpha strike list, throw the vendettas into reserve and have them outflank.

Company Command. Two lascannons here, these are simply taking the role of fire supression with a decent chance to damage something. However, company commands should be located somewhere near your veteran squads. If the need comes up, you will have deliver orders to your meltas, with Bring it down to make them twin linked.

Veteran Squads, these units are your anti-heavy armor, your counter to incoming land raiders. Use the company command within 12" to recieve the order to make these meltas twin linked. These units should be moving forward most of the game. Dont get out of your chimera unless its to recieve an order.

Infantry Platoon. Simply to deliver heavy fire suppression. When choosing target priorities, disable a vehicle, and move on to the next. After first round or two, these units can be on the move if required by the mission to reach objectives.

Sentinels. This squadron follows the same role of heavy fire suppression, and follows the chimeras forward across the board. Dont be afraid to jump into assault if the unit is not an assault unit with high strength.

Chimeras. They should be set up so that they provide cover for Hyrda and Basiliks Batteries. The chimera hull is 5" long 4"wide, so you generally have plenty of room. Chimeras and the Sentinels all come with Hunter Killer missiles. These should help in disabling your opponent right from the get go. Dont forget that while multi-lasers are str6, they should be limited to firing upon infantry as your wounding on a 2+ rather than glancing on a 5+. They are also great at shooting at monsterous creatures.

That is it. The list is a simpler one to play, and should deliver the first round punch that most people enjoy. Not only that, it is mech heavy with 23 pieces of armor giving you the durablility that you require to keep on firing round after round.