8th Edition character efficacy question....

How to beat those cowardly High Elves?

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Lion of flanders
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8th Edition character efficacy question....

Post by Lion of flanders »

Hey All:

I've been away from the game for a while, just picked up the 8th edition book and am looking to model a character on a dark steed.

Seems to me on first glance that such a character can't run with dark riders as they would lose their fast cav ability.

Also seems like characters acting on their own can once again gain some measure of "protection" from friendly similar units in close proximity.

Anyway, where I'm going with this is, do sorceresses on steeds make sense in 8th edition? Do fighty characters?

Which do y'all think is more effective, or should I not waste my time with it?
That's silly! Playin with little statues, pretendin' they're fightin'! Why not just round up a bunch of real goblins and lettem' whack it out?
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Mr. anderson
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Post by Mr. anderson »

Sorceress on steed is rather dangerous. She'll have to tag along with some dark riders. and that only gives her a 4+ ward of sorts - shoot at her, and she'll die. Crossbowmen are a good place for sorceresses, and range is not a real issue as almost all spells can incrase range for some slight casting value upgrade (which you'll want to meet anyway because otherwise it'll be dispelled...). Level 4s are a bit like nuclear weapons. You need them because everyone else has them, and not taking one means you have a though time getting spells through, and an even harder time dispelling.

Other than that, I'm very fond of the idea of a well-protected character on steed (pendant, full armour) and close to a cav unit (such as cold ones). This means your opponent is going to waste precious time shooting at that character, and he essentially has a 4+ save, and if he fails that, armour and then the pendant. Almost unkillable. And by himself, he can get round the enemy much quicker, then rearcharge something. That gives you a guaranteed +2, even if you don't kill anything.
Of course on a dark pegasus this would be even easier, but he can't claim protection any more.
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Dalamar
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Post by Dalamar »

Sadly witch elf heroes other than carrying Cauldron of Blood are pretty much useless.

Assassins are one shot weapons in close combat, kill enemy character and die themselves.
But ranged as a rending star assassin they are just as they were. Powerful, reliable and fragile.
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Calisson
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Post by Calisson »

Hey, Lion of Flanders is back! :D

Poll for 8th edition: Various Character Builds - Masterspresents many possibilities for various characters.

Presently, the BSB is nearly necessary but has the highest bounty on his head.
He needs to be footed, inside an infantry unit, or alternatively with a COB.

A mounted character is useful, though, as a warmachine hunter.
He would best be on a Peggy.
On a DS, this might be still feasible.

Sorceresses are IMO as necessary or more as the BSB.
They are better footed or on a Peggy than anything else.
I see hardly any benefit for them to be on a DS.

The general is the other character you need.
If it is not a Level 4, or a dragonlord, then he would better be footed.
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Lion of flanders
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Post by Lion of flanders »

Thanks for the help!

I checked out the Master Poll thread as well.

Seems like HA, S, SDC, and a lance with RXB or Lifetaker, while not the end all be all of Druchii existence, will still be reasonably effective, fun to run around the battlefield with and (perhaps most importantly) ....look really cool 8)

Stay tuned to P&M forum.....
That's silly! Playin with little statues, pretendin' they're fightin'! Why not just round up a bunch of real goblins and lettem' whack it out?
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Dangerous Beans
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Post by Dangerous Beans »

Lion of Flanders - the man the myth and the legend behind that beautiful looking druchii force before the revamp of the website some time ago now (I liked the Ogre salve support ;)).

I'm not sure how effective you'll find the Lifetaker/dark steed combo - I don't know why, but for me Lifetaker is much much better suited for a sorceress in a unit (on a Supreme Sorceress?) you get more for your lower BS value AND means your master can get messy in combat where he is much better suited. I think a pair of handbows is better for the master than the repeater crossbow too - though depends on your regular opponents I guess?

I think if you chose
Ring of Hotek, Full Armour+Dark Steed and Lance, Helm of 2+ ward vs fire (and +1 armour save) and some form of 15pt talisman (either to protect your unit with Magic Res or to give your master a back up protection eg. 6+ ward from Talisman of Protection) would be more prudent.

Add him to a unit of 10-12 (any more seems overkill unless you expect to face heavy missile fire) Dark Riders with no RxBs, but add shields (so it doesnt matter losing Fast Cav ability for having Master in them AND gives them a 50/50 chance vs S3 missile fire - eg. High Elf archers) and you have yourself a great mid-level combat unit that specialises in negating/breaking enemy infantry by flank attacking: preferably a unit with their level 4 mage in!

Downside? It can be a little on the costly side: 180pts for 10 Dark Riders with no command...

I leave the summary to you.

- Beanz

ps. lastly the 'BSB of Doom' (see Calisson's link) is always a good tried and tested model - always worth taking if you needed a reason for a darksteed master ;)
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Lord tsunami
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Post by Lord tsunami »

Sorceress on steed is rather dangerous. She'll have to tag along with some dark riders. and that only gives her a 4+ ward of sorts - shoot at her, and she'll die.


just as a note. this is true only for template weapons. normal BS shooting hits the unit as long as there are 5 of them. if there are less the sorceress suffers the 5th, 10th, 15th hit and so on (if they are 4+ sorceress. check the brb for details). you can NOT target a sorceress in a DR unit with normal BS shooting.

that being said, DRs are incredibly nerfed compared to last edition, so i prefer to keep the sorceress on foot with infantry. especially with dagger :D
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Lion of flanders
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Post by Lion of flanders »

Lord Tsunami wrote:
Sorceress on steed is rather dangerous. She'll have to tag along with some dark riders. and that only gives her a 4+ ward of sorts - shoot at her, and she'll die.


just as a note. this is true only for template weapons. normal BS shooting hits the unit as long as there are 5 of them. if there are less the sorceress suffers the 5th, 10th, 15th hit and so on (if they are 4+ sorceress. check the brb for details). you can NOT target a sorceress in a DR unit with normal BS shooting.


I think Mr Anderson implied that the sorceress would not be in the unit (and lose Fast Cav Status), but rather near the unit and trusting to the lower power "Um...watch yerself, Ma'am" as opposed to the 1+ "Look out, Sir!" from being in the unit.
Last edited by Lion of flanders on Sun Aug 22, 2010 6:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
That's silly! Playin with little statues, pretendin' they're fightin'! Why not just round up a bunch of real goblins and lettem' whack it out?
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Lord tsunami
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Post by Lord tsunami »

ah, my bad...,

dont do that! :D
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