FW Mechanicum list - Usable in 40K?

[boreas]

Ok  those gorgeous FW models are getting to me. I'v borrowed FW HH vol. 1 and 2 from a friend and started going through the various Mechanicum rules. But it seems to have a very different "feel" compared to 40k. Not sure why, can't put my finger on it yet! I'd love a robot-heavy list with a few units of thralls and myrmidons for flavor.

 

So, any experience fielding such a list?

[miteyheroes]

Forgeworld have often said that their HH/30k books are not designed to be balanced against 40k...

 

But if your opponent agrees, it can be fun.

[Phoros]

Mechanicum lists are completely fine against 40k armies. If you go all-robot, you'll have a lot of trouble with Green Tide and such things, but it's pretty balanced for the most part.

[ElectricPaladin]

I'd try it a couple of times, but given how much Warhammer 40k struggles with balance all by itself, I have a lot of doubt that any kind of 30k/40k crossover will be anything approaching balanced. But I haven't tried it, and who knows? Maybe it works great.

[*Furyou Miko]

Ordo Reductor vs Necrons was pretty balanced.

[Nehekhare]

 

The Horus Heresy Volume 1: Betrayal Errata & Addenda – Version 1.1, Amended 8th May 2013

 

Q: Are the armies and units in the Horus Heresy books by Forge World meant to be used in

games against regular Codex armies, such as say Grey Knights or Orks?

A: While Forge World’s on-going range of Horus Heresy books and their game content are all

designed to use and be compatible with the Warhammer 40,000 rules, they have been fine-tuned and

focused on playing battles in the milieu of the Horus Heresy rather than in conjunction with the

Codexes representing warfare in the 41st Millennium, and this will remain the case.

Designer’s Note: This means that while you are, of course, free to have fun and play games against

your friends using any forces you like, and Horus Heresy forces will be broadly ‘a fair fight’ with

Codex forces of the same scale, certain rules anomalies and inconsistencies may be thrown up that

you have to deal with, although these should not seriously affect the game in most cases. (For

example, certain units, such as those with the Stubborn special rule are at a premium costing in

Horus Heresy armies over their regular Codex counterparts, owing to the results of play testing

within their own sphere.)

In terms of using Lords of War and the Primarchs, however, these are definitely not intended to be

used in standard Warhammer 40,000 games, but only in games where both sides use the Age of

Darkness Force Organisation chart, and the specific provisions within, and in games of 2,000 points

or greater.

Designer’s Note: So if, for example, you wanted to play a battle representing a narrative where the

Sons of Horus Legion fought Orks or Eldar during the Great Crusade, you could quite easily use

those xenos forces’ Warhammer 40,000 Codexes (possibly house-ruled to accommodate larger

squads) to proxy for their Heresy-era counterparts. In this case, however, both sides should be using

the Age of Darkness Force Organisation chart, with the army’s own Apocalypse level units and flyers

available as Lords of War entries following the guidelines found on page 184 of Betrayal.

[hisdudeness]

I love when people pull out that quote like it means something. 

 

It is completely fine to run 30k vs 40k, as decent lists can be made.  At lower point games (below 2000) you will have an issue as you cannot take full advantage of the Crusade list.  At higher levels it will balance out.

 

AdMech is a little different as they are a pretty tough enemy for just about anyone.  low model count will be your issue, but they will have high Toughness (T6-7).  They also have some of the most powerful ranged weapons.  Built with the local meta in mind you will do fine.

[Nehekhare]

I love when people pull out that quote like it means something. 

 

as opposed to you stating the same yet as your personal opinion only?

[Battybattybats]

I've played 3.5 games with Mechanicum against 40k armies so far. The point 5 is that a game vs Sororitas was played with the intention that if a 3rd player arrived before we'd finished a game their Chaos Marines would attack the shrine world we were fighting over (as a saints tomb contained some Archaeotech the Mechanicus were demanding be handed over to them) and we'd stop our game midway with survivors joining forces against the new enemy (and my oh my was I annoyed at the destruction i was wreaking in the last turn before the merge, especially when i blew the gun off the Exorcist).

So far while my single Castellax has got some respect it's my ordinary Knight Paladin that's been getting the grumbles about cheese and OP.

Though i expect that will change when i get around to buying a Thanatar and kitbashing some Cyber Ocularis.

[Seahawk]

My friend is frustrated that we don't want to play his Ad-mech in 40k. Perhaps it's his units of 6 Castellax (oh no wait, it's totally that), but they (all Ad-mech units he uses) are insanely tough to destroy, can shoot you to bits, chop you to tinier bits, and generally be indestructibly nasty in every situation for 40k.

 

Any suggestions for improving gameplay vs Ad-mech in 40k?

[Reclusiarch Darius]

Take Grey Knights ;)

 

Instant Death from force weapons gets rid of Castellax and even Thallax very quick. Dreadknights munch Thanatars and even Destructors. Storm bolters, incinerators and psycannons shred your Adsecularis objective holders. AdMech tanks are a harder task to destroy at range, but in melee Dreadknights rip them apart with ease. 

[Seahawk]

Interesting. He's all bots (Thallax and Castellax), and that's pretty much it; there are just so many of the jumpy killers!

[Kilofix]

Pretend they are Tau Firewarriors (Thrall), Crisis Suits (Thallax), Broadsides / Riptides (Castellax / Thanatar), and use similar vs tactics.

 

Yeah, I know they aren't exactly the same but similar tactics are still effective.

[Battybattybats]

I've heard snipers are good against them. Castellax being monstrous creatures many anti-nidzilla tactics i would imagine might be effective.

[Reclusiarch Darius]

Interesting. He's all bots (Thallax and Castellax), and that's pretty much it; there are just so many of the jumpy killers!

 

 

Melee is the real issue for a lot of Mechanicum units. Aside from Ursarax, there isn't really a dedicated melee unit. 

 

Pretend they are Tau Firewarriors (Thrall), Crisis Suits (Thallax), Broadsides / Riptides (Castellax / Thanatar), and use similar vs tactics.

 

 

I would disagree entirely with that assessment. Thralls are way cheaper, even after you give them Rite of Pure Thought and Revenant Alchemistry. Castellax do a different job to Broadsides. Thanatar and Riptide are close, I'd argue its better in many ways. Thallax work differently to Crisis and in many ways are actually better. 

 

I've heard snipers are good against them. Castellax being monstrous creatures many anti-nidzilla tactics i would imagine might be effective.

 

 

Not really. A Thanatar will shrug off sniper fire pretty easily, and even Castellans care little. You kill them by shoving something high Strength and low AP into their face. Lascannon spam is probably the best option.