A Warhammer Refugees first forays in KOW. Exploring the development of a Kings of War scene in New Zealand as well as Mantic and more.
Search This Blog
Monday, 25 February 2013
Skull Cannon of Khorne
So
I got the chance to take a peek at the Daemon book today and yes the skull
cannon is indeed a cannon D6W’s 48 range but it is flaming.It looks like it can move and shoot like an
ironblaster and is 135 points.Pretty nasty..
I don't like Ironblasters because they're effectively tanks; that is, they combine shock action, armour and firepower into one neat little package, kind of like a T-34 or M1A2 Abrams. Great for historical games and sci-fi, but not really fitting for fantasy in my humble opinion.
Now we have a Daemon tank..... Hurray!
Maybe we could have a special scenario, call it the Battle of Kursk or Operation Citadel or maybe Yom Kippur Sinai. Daemons and Ogres only, maybe Empire might take a side. Max out on Skullcannons and Ironblasters, and refight the great tank battles of history.
Still, at this rate when Dwarves are eventually redone, sometime before my toddler starts shaving, you just know we'll have big shooty war chariots too.
So a T5 W4 chariot with a cannon and presumably a 5+ ward save for 135 points... Matt Ward just broke WHFB... Not only did Daemons NOT need a cannon, they certainly did not need a half price one at that
I'm not sure that he's broken WHFB (again), but he's certainly given it a kick in the nadgers. Whether he's kicked it to the point of brokeness will be revealed with the whole book on Saturday.
I play Dwarves, and yes, I have lots of S10 d6 wound war machines. But I don't have them in concert with a Bloodthirster, Level 4 mages and lots of fast, hitty troops. Mine don't move and shoot either, mores the pity. I'd have thought that this is somewhat balanced, but apparently you should be able to have your cake and eat it too.
Still, the model is so terrible it needed something to make it sell. These rules might do the trick.
Yep looks like it, it is flaming though which nerfs it slightly with flaming wards, kadii won’t be bothered! We’ll have to see how it goes in the context of the book but yep I don’t think they need a cannon.
Daemon players have to be happy (although I still expect some moans – I can’t take 90 blood letters…) it looks like they got some solid new options, a cannon, a second unit of monstrous cav plus the blood crushers might be more of an option now. Still to see what the other units are like.
Sorry to doubt you Mr Gas Monkey, but can you just re-confirm that the Skull Cannon is actually 135 points, that you didn't read this in error? I don't think you made a mistake, but I'd like to be sure before I wail and gnash my teeth some more.
If it was say 185 points, that would put it in the same league as the Ironblaster (normal broken....). But 135 is a whole different field, and I cannot see how it could possibly be justified.
All the extra cannons really worries my OnG, I rely pretty heavily on single model units such as chariots/war machines/Manglers and this is another army which can effortlessly take my toys off. Armies with units of skirmishing units of chaff won't be too bothered (i.e. Lizards) but others will start to feel the pinch. On the other hand maybe the cannons are needed to deal with anticipated flying circus WOC lists?
Now guys, maybe the cannon is so cheap because the rest of the book is utter crap and this is the one redeming feature...
I find it sad that an 8th book will most likely get a comp smack down so soon after release-especially since the 8th books have been rather balanced (even Ogres when not taking the 1 cookie cutter build). WoC have a "points poor" problem and all the internetz lists that are popping up will suck at the BRB missions (cant play every game as battleline), so not expecting too much of a clamp down on them (possibly flier restrictions...)
Only first glances but I don’t think the book is going to suck at all… Daemonettes at 11 points is good – I know only S3 but WS5 two attacks you can buff them you can get 30 nettes full command for 360 points – bodies in core. Plague bearers also seem a solid option. I think you’ll still see letters as 30 full command is 450 points but you might not see them in 30’s as that is an expensive unit. Depends on the GD route and if they are more viable now, DP’s again look a pretty good option. You might find they struggle to fit everything in – heralds if no longer loremaster (I haven’t confirmed this) might not be the choice anymore and you might see a DP on Death or Shadow working well with a list design.
Empire Gotta be starting to feel pretty hard done by only 15pts less for a static great cannon, sure it has T7 vs shooting & magic but compare that to T5, 3+,5++ and I suspect it looks pretty weak. Particularly when facing move and shoot 48" range counter fire. Not as if you can realistically out range that, effective range of 55"+2xartillery dice = 57"-75" threat means you won't be hiding from it and if they get a nice building to hide behind T1 then it's hard luck for the static warmachines.
I don't like Ironblasters because they're effectively tanks; that is, they combine shock action, armour and firepower into one neat little package, kind of like a T-34 or M1A2 Abrams. Great for historical games and sci-fi, but not really fitting for fantasy in my humble opinion.
ReplyDeleteNow we have a Daemon tank..... Hurray!
Maybe we could have a special scenario, call it the Battle of Kursk or Operation Citadel or maybe Yom Kippur Sinai. Daemons and Ogres only, maybe Empire might take a side. Max out on Skullcannons and Ironblasters, and refight the great tank battles of history.
Still, at this rate when Dwarves are eventually redone, sometime before my toddler starts shaving, you just know we'll have big shooty war chariots too.
and they'll be like 25 pts each...
DeleteSo a T5 W4 chariot with a cannon and presumably a 5+ ward save for 135 points... Matt Ward just broke WHFB... Not only did Daemons NOT need a cannon, they certainly did not need a half price one at that
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure that he's broken WHFB (again), but he's certainly given it a kick in the nadgers. Whether he's kicked it to the point of brokeness will be revealed with the whole book on Saturday.
DeleteI play Dwarves, and yes, I have lots of S10 d6 wound war machines. But I don't have them in concert with a Bloodthirster, Level 4 mages and lots of fast, hitty troops. Mine don't move and shoot either, mores the pity. I'd have thought that this is somewhat balanced, but apparently you should be able to have your cake and eat it too.
Still, the model is so terrible it needed something to make it sell. These rules might do the trick.
Jossy, you're right, but this is me right now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayO1wtXbh_Q
DeleteCan't wait for Saturday
Don't forget the 3+ armour save. Do daemons really need this, really? Hopefully they will loose rule book lores.
DeleteYep looks like it, it is flaming though which nerfs it slightly with flaming wards, kadii won’t be bothered! We’ll have to see how it goes in the context of the book but yep I don’t think they need a cannon.
ReplyDeleteDaemon players have to be happy (although I still expect some moans – I can’t take 90 blood letters…) it looks like they got some solid new options, a cannon, a second unit of monstrous cav plus the blood crushers might be more of an option now. Still to see what the other units are like.
ReplyDeleteWhy can't you take 90 bloodletters? What are some of the new options?
DeleteToo expensive now? Probably. They went up by two points. 90 Bloodletters would cost an extra 180 points with the new book...
DeleteThe moaning has already started on several forums :)))
ReplyDeleteI'm just over the moon that GW has punched out 2 army books only a month apart.
2 army books in a month is pretty awesome, agreed.
DeleteSorry to doubt you Mr Gas Monkey, but can you just re-confirm that the Skull Cannon is actually 135 points, that you didn't read this in error? I don't think you made a mistake, but I'd like to be sure before I wail and gnash my teeth some more.
ReplyDeleteIf it was say 185 points, that would put it in the same league as the Ironblaster (normal broken....). But 135 is a whole different field, and I cannot see how it could possibly be justified.
It's not a chariot by the looks of it either, so more of a warshrine that shoots?
Deletesorry 135 points bro... two for 270 points in rare..
DeleteMhmm, delicious Ogre tears, that's all I want to sup on.
ReplyDeleteI take it this is a Rare choice? There's a real cannon-gap starting to go down around here.
ReplyDeleteyep rare mate.. your not cool if you haven't got a cannon... 135 points. Not sure of the daemon engine rules might be interesting.
DeleteAll the extra cannons really worries my OnG, I rely pretty heavily on single model units such as chariots/war machines/Manglers and this is another army which can effortlessly take my toys off. Armies with units of skirmishing units of chaff won't be too bothered (i.e. Lizards) but others will start to feel the pinch. On the other hand maybe the cannons are needed to deal with anticipated flying circus WOC lists?
DeleteNow guys, maybe the cannon is so cheap because the rest of the book is utter crap and this is the one redeming feature...
ReplyDeleteI find it sad that an 8th book will most likely get a comp smack down so soon after release-especially since the 8th books have been rather balanced (even Ogres when not taking the 1 cookie cutter build). WoC have a "points poor" problem and all the internetz lists that are popping up will suck at the BRB missions (cant play every game as battleline), so not expecting too much of a clamp down on them (possibly flier restrictions...)
Only first glances but I don’t think the book is going to suck at all… Daemonettes at 11 points is good – I know only S3 but WS5 two attacks you can buff them you can get 30 nettes full command for 360 points – bodies in core. Plague bearers also seem a solid option. I think you’ll still see letters as 30 full command is 450 points but you might not see them in 30’s as that is an expensive unit. Depends on the GD route and if they are more viable now, DP’s again look a pretty good option. You might find they struggle to fit everything in – heralds if no longer loremaster (I haven’t confirmed this) might not be the choice anymore and you might see a DP on Death or Shadow working well with a list design.
DeleteEmpire Gotta be starting to feel pretty hard done by only 15pts less for a static great cannon, sure it has T7 vs shooting & magic but compare that to T5, 3+,5++ and I suspect it looks pretty weak. Particularly when facing move and shoot 48" range counter fire. Not as if you can realistically out range that, effective range of 55"+2xartillery dice = 57"-75" threat means you won't be hiding from it and if they get a nice building to hide behind T1 then it's hard luck for the static warmachines.
ReplyDelete