Skinnie project - would this make any sense?

[Don_Silvarro]

Hey all

Since my poor chitinous babies got splattered all around the place lately (could be a poor roster and a lack of a Brain Bug, but still that's quite annoying) I've been thinking about a second force that I could toy with - a one with a different approach. And since non-Arachnid and non-LAMI forces in SST can be built quite cheap, I can actually afford that even with my wallet being overgrown with fungus.

So I'm thinking about Skinnies, a Lord-themed army (General is probably better, but I like the fluff & the hi-tech and elite 'feel' of the Lord and Venerables). That said, how you folks feel something like this might work for starters:

Lord (standard kit + Harmonic Shield, Extended Jump, Dive for Cover)

8 Raiders (standard kit, no upgrades - can't see anything interesting in the weapon options for these guys, and Constrictors still do well against Caps and other 'soft' targets)

8 Raiders (same as above)

3 Venerables (3 Missile Launchers)

3 Venerables (3 Missile Launchers)

Venerable Champion (Dual Laser, Loner, Extended Jump)

Venerable Champion (same as above)

All in all a bit over 1400 pts.

The basic idea is to lay low with the Venerables and send suppression missile fire against light armoured targets (though with the sheer amount of dice these guys generate Exos can be taken down without much sweat) while keeping out of harm's way and using the Champions' Dual Lasers for hit-and-run attacks against anything bigger. The Raiders are here to bulk the numbers a little, but since they're nowhere as mobile as Vennies, they will probably end up holding the center and defending my deployment zone.

Later on I'll probably add some Marauders (since I love converting and the new Eldar War Walker from EE looks quite tempting), and maybe I'll go all-Venerable (a little worried by numbers and the new Suppression rules tho)

So, what do you think?

 

[Rob_A]

I'd be inclined to wait until Evo comes out. The models are supposedly more refined.

 

[Don_Silvarro]

Actually, I like the current ones. Well, true, the Militia and Slaves are ugly, IMO, but I find the Raiders okay, and the Venerables quite well done :wink:

And I'm not distasteful of painting minis by myself... That is when I FINALLY get to actually do that :wink: Models aside, how's the starter list?

 

[crucible_orc]

Don_Silvarro,

Champions are squad leaders, unless you give them the trait that allows it, they cannot roam freely. they must stay with hte squad.

My venerables are on my desk now. i took one squad of 4 with Missiels and one with dual lasers.

Steve

 

[Don_Silvarro]

Yes, I am aware of that. That's why

Venerable Champion (Dual Laser, Loner, Extended Jump)

Venerable Champion (same as above)

 

[Rob_A]

You want to check out sharpshooter with those rocket packs, just saying.

Maybe I should stop doing that. :lol:

 

[Kenrick Dargoth]

give neural beamers, as many as you can carry.

and the accurate wit ML.. well the skinnies are overpowered

 

[Don_Silvarro]

There's no way neural Beamers are going on Venerables, I would have to get Soldiers for that. I could switch Raiders for Soldiers, but I would end up really low on numbers, which can't be good.

I haven't thought about Sharpshooters, that would nice against those Tankers... I guess the problem is that it's either Accurate or Extended Jump, not the two. Plus, you need to Ready for Accurate, which means no jumping at all.

I guess I'll think the trait combinations over again.

Maybe I should stop doing that.

Only if you want to :wink:

 

[Dr.Ravingburger]

What purpose do the Raiders serve? They lack the firepower and maneuverability of the venerables, so they will be left behind in an attack. If you are set on using them, how do you plan to use them? Are you going to use one squad as an ambusher?

 

[Don_Silvarro]

Given the advice, I reworked the list a little:

Skinnie Lord (standard kit + Harmonic Shield, Extended Jump, either Orbital Support or Tactical Ambush for one Venerable squad - could use some help on the choice) [350]

3 Venerables (2 + 1 Champion with Extended Jump, all with Light Rocket Launchers) [275]

3 Venerables (2 + 1 Champion with Extended Jump, all with Light Rocket Launchers) [275]

2 Venerable Champions (both with Loner, Extended Jump and Dual Lasers) [320]

10 Raiders (4 Boneshard Pistols, 1 Champion with Stealthy) [245]

This comes up to 1465pts, any ideas for the last 35 to make it all nice and even?

The basic idea is to throw the Raiders into Ambush (along with one Venerable squad if I take Tactical Ambush) and pop out right in the first turn, not causing reactions and shoot a vulnerable flank (preferably soft targets like Caps or light bugs, though even a Plasma bug could be wounded with all the dice rolled), while the Venerables stay low and dive from cover to cover with their 18" jump and loose volleys of missiles during the process. The Champs and Lord go after the harder targets (like Marauders and such, sadly 2xD10 of the Dual Lasers won't be a big threat to a Tanker or something similar, so that Orbital Support could lend me a hand with those).

Lastly, I have a technical questions regarding the Skinnie army list and unit organisation. Are Loner Champions considered to be part of a unit for purposes of Ambush? Can I, say, take Tactical Ambush and put a unit of 3 Loner Vennie Champions in Ambush, pop them from the terrain piece and then fly every one in another direction and make them operate individually?

Same goes for other 'afects own unit' traits, like Stealthy or Extended Jump - if I have one Champion with that trait in the unit and I kit other Champs with Loner, do they all still benefit from those, or does every one of them become an independent one-model unit for these purposes?