Admech in ITC

[Gaz1858]

Hi all,

 

It would be great to get a place where everyone can post their results with Admech in an ITC environment. I will be attending one at the end of the month and will do so at the time.

 

Each post should contain an idea of your list, a rundown (as long or brief as you like) of your games and an overall review of the units and how they went.

 

Through this we can hopefully gather best practice knowledge to bring Admech back to the top and kick off the annoying Aeldari, Daemons!!!

 

If anyone has any recent games to provide a rundown of fire way, otherwise I will repost again following my tourney (1500pt tourney around 16-20 players)

[synthaside]

I'm taking my Ad mech to my first " real " ITC GT in november  2k  , every other event I've attended has had their own custom rules other than ITC  or was ETC

Will be watching and participating .
 

[Clingy]

I'm taking my Ad mech to my first " real " ITC GT in november 2k , every other event I've attended has had their own custom rules other than ITC or was ETC

 

Will be watching and participating .

 

What forgeworld have you settled on?

[synthaside]

I had been playing a lot of fo Stygies but I was toying with the idea of Lucius the ignore -1 ap weapon's can be quite powerful against things like helverins
until I realised I can't use forge world stratagems on my hoplites .. :-( due to the titan guard restriction.


 

[Clingy]

Stygies after the FAQ isn’t as awful as I first thought. I Managed to make a turn 1 charge with dragoons and smash stuff. Even got some priests in too.

[Gaz1858]

Hi All,

 

So today was the tourney and below youll find my list and findings from the games.

 

My List - 1500 points

 

INQ Aux Support Det

Inquisitor Hector Rex

 

Mars Battalion

Cawl

TPE Warlord w Anzions Pseudo and Reroll hits in CC trait

 

3 X 5 Rangers

 

10 Fulgurite Priests

 

5 Dakka Bots

 

Icarus Onager

 

Termite

 

The INQ, TPE and Priests all went in the termite. The idea being that in previous Tourneys theres been plenty IKnights so the INQ can Terrify a unit to stop Overwatch and Dominate an IKnight to cause some damage.

 

Game 1

Space Wolves

 

Lord w jump pack, TH, SS.

Rune Priest w Jump Pack

Skyclaws

Wulven

Deveststors w Lascannons

2 x Grey hunters

Blood claws

Stormhawk

Stormwolf

 

Game two

Tau w a shed load of characters

2 riptides

2 deep striking commanders.

Drones

3 x fire warrior units

 

Game 3

30.plaguebearers

Ahriman

Sloppity bagpipe

Another character nurgle

2 x daemon princes

Ahriman

Renegade IKnight with 2 avenger gatlings and ironstorm

2 x 3 nurgling units

 

Result - 3 wins and overall first place with Admech

 

Learnings.

 

Screens are a must at the moment. Too many fast moving units and deep strikers looking to charge.

 

Focus fire on something to kill it with bots. Dont split your fire hoping for a great result as neither target may die as I found out against the Space Wolves (2 bots into each flyer and one into devs and used wrath of mars) as both flyers survived to be a pain.

 

Use Wrath of Mars pretty much every turn on the bots unless you are 100% sure you can beat something without it. Against the Tau i assumed 5 bots and 90 shots would kill a riptide. I forgot about the damn drones and this meant it lived. Shoulda used WoM and that woulda sealed it.

 

The TPE never used his warlord trait once as is rarely within 6" of the priests once they and the Termite have charged. No room to get in so was always more than 6" away.

 

The INQ idea was a nice one but i never played against an IKnight so I will drop that for now. This is meta dependant as if you pllay a lot of Castellans or Crusaders this is gold.

 

Character buffs either passive or cast are still the way 8th is going. Im not a fan on the amount of snipers needed to reliably kill a character. Maybe if they come down in price in chapter approved....

 

The codex standouts are still Priests (with a delivery system), bots w Cawl and WoM and Onagers. I have yet to use Dragoons but potentially will in a 2k list.

 

Admech can shoot really well and are no slouch in combat either. Have a backfield unit that can jump in and dish out some hurt should the bots get tied up. Cawl is good for this.

 

Have a list that can take out a horde, assault a gunline and still score Objectives.

 

So there we go. ITC Tourney done, 1st place and some learnings to.

[ImperialSquishiness]

Stygies after the FAQ isn’t as awful as I first thought. I Managed to make a turn 1 charge with dragoons and smash stuff. Even got some priests in too.

The stygies strat just means that stick priests will have a 9" charge t1 as opposed to a 3" charge.

[brother_b]

Anybody starting their drills on the board with Stygies? Load it up with priests and infiltrate. That's 9" move pre game then a disembark and full move for priests turn 1.

 

Just thinking about possibilities.

[Riot Earp]

I would like to but our tournament environment have faqed that we are not allowed to infiltrate dem with the stratagem if there are units unside.

[brother_b]

I would like to but our tournament environment have faqed that we are not allowed to infiltrate dem with the stratagem if there are units unside.

Bummer any reason why?

 

Was a thought and I want one of those models so I'll probably try it with tha club.

[Stray]

I have to say, FAQ'ing it that way seems quite bizarre to me... I see no reason why a transport shouldn't be able to infiltrate with its cargo O.o

[Finkmilkana]

I would like to but our tournament environment have faqed that we are not allowed to infiltrate dem with the stratagem if there are units unside.

That seems more like a local houserule than a FAQ.

[Riot Earp]

 

I would like to but our tournament environment have faqed that we are not allowed to infiltrate dem with the stratagem if there are units unside.

Bummer any reason why?

Was a thought and I want one of those models so I'll probably try it with tha club.

Because it isn't extra stated that units inside can do the trick with the drill. Other Stratagems like the Eldar or new Ork one states they can make their special move with units inside. Sure it is an regulatory gap because the Stratagem was not with any transports in mind written. Only an FAQ can clear this.. I wrote already gw but I've got no response yet.

[Finkmilkana]

Because it isn't extra stated that units inside can do the trick with the drill. Other Stratagems like the Eldar or new Ork one states they can make their special move with units inside. Sure it is an regulatory gap because the Stratagem was not with any transports in mind written. Only an FAQ can clear this.. I wrote already gw but I've got no response yet.

I mean I could in theory understand that reading with the old infiltrate rule (though even there it would be very bizarre). With the new rule from the FAQ (that was published after the drills were out for quite some time and arguably in direct response to people using the drill in tournaments) that’s just baseless. It’s now a unit that’s placed on the battlefield as normal and later on moves moves like any other unit would (though in a different phase with a different move characteristic). It’s not a unit that arrives from reserves like the orc or eldar stratagem.

 

Besides even with the old rule it shouldn’t need it. The orc and eldar stratagems need the clarification because they happen at the end of the movement phase. So it needs to be clarified whether embarked units can disembark this turn. Even the old infiltrate did not happen at the end of the movement phase, so there was never any reason to state what happens with disembarkation.

[Gaz1858]

What are people using for capturing objectives in ITC missions?

 

I am finding that 5 man squads of Rangers, whilst good for screening, arent great at holding an objective

[Finkmilkana]

If you stay pure ad mech, rangers/vanguard (for backfield, front) are still your best bet. Otherwise guardsmen.

Admech is not that great at holding space, despite kinda cheap troop units. The actual models aren’t that cheap afterall.

[synthaside]

Im actually using 7 man teams for my objective holding ... / stealing 7 troops out objective secure most MSU armies like marines or even gaurd after you have shot at them .. yes they are a bit more likely to lose a model or 2 to moral after being shot at but at 7 points a guy it's not that bad really and if you really need to score the objective it's 2 CP ... Another thing to remember is our stratagem , "acquisition at any cost "... It makes our units very hard to shift off an objective they get 2up in cover and 5+ invuln plus a bonus attack in combat .... If you know an opponent is going to try to take something back off you it's very strong.

[DeStinyFiSh]

Since Stygies got a little nerf and Mars is kind of boring, what do you guys think of other Forgeworlds for tournament games?

Can Forgeworlds like Graia, Ryza or Metallica be scary or do they lack the damage you get from Carl and Dakka Bots or Infiltrating E-Priests?

[Vel'Cona]

 

Can Forgeworlds like Graia, Ryza or Metallica be scary or do they lack the damage you get from Carl and Dakka Bots or Infiltrating E-Priests?

 

I feel like Ryza wants a specific build/models, which makes it tough to tune your list unless you magnetize extensively.  Metallica just doesn't offer enough buffs that are relevant, and Graia once again doesn't bring enough to the table.  At this point, Lucius and Mars are still the standard since Stygies VIII got the specific nerf-bat (seemed like fallout from other OP lists, to me, as AdMech certainly isn't rolling top tables).

[Gaz1858]

Im actually using 7 man teams for my objective holding ... / stealing 7 troops out objective secure most MSU armies like marines or even gaurd after you have shot at them .. yes they are a bit more likely to lose a model or 2 to moral after being shot at but at 7 points a guy it's not that bad really and if you really need to score the objective it's 2 CP ... Another thing to remember is our stratagem , "acquisition at any cost "... It makes our units very hard to shift off an objective they get 2up in cover and 5+ invuln plus a bonus attack in combat .... If you know an opponent is going to try to take something back off you it's very strong.

I do like this idea Synthaside. I have removed the Inquisitor from my list and I have 102 points left over. As a result I am looking for better Obj holders. These can be more bodies, faster units to run around and get Obj or just tough to shift units.

 

More Rangers was a thought but then thats more drops and less chance of Turn 1.. they are cheap though and also buffs my screen up a bit.

 

Infiltrators was also a thought as they can just appear on an Objective and stay there until killed.

 

Thats really all we can do I think

[synthaside]

I found 7 is more or less the sweet spot...  I also used to run  Greyfax to counter the leadership issues in my army ..  the way I think it through is below.

7 guys in a team translate's to 4 bullet catchers, 2 specials, 1 leader  If I lose 3 casualties ... the unit is still 75% effective with their leader intact, at leadership 7 they will pass morale
on 4 or lower ... which is a pretty good chance.  I can roll a 5 and be ok with it losing my last bullet catcher ... if i roll a 6 well i might consider a Cp for that.

If i lose 4  the moral test  is a 3 or lower and I haven't paid for the weapon upgrades on the alphI i pull him , to a lost moral of a 4 , but that point the squad is dead , typically i may end up protecting the plasma guns / Snipers / Arcs into the next round , Hell in a close game  i've paid for 1 Taser alpha to stick around after 6 of his buddies died ... it was very possible for me to need him next round and a troop of 1 beat wolfen  because of obsec ;-)  ... supremacy denied ;-)

 

[Gaz1858]

Yeh thats good logic.

 

I personally dont give any upgrades to my Rangers. I like their standard guns for range etc so keep the points for other things.

[Gaz1858]

Hi all,

 

I will be attending a 2000pt ITC tourney on the 12th of January and will be taking the following

 

Mars Battalion

Servitor Maniple + Field Commander

 

Cawl

TPE w Raiment and Master of Bio Trait

 

2 x 5 Rangers

1 x 5 Destroyers w Plasma and Cognis flamer

 

1 x 4 servitors

 

1 x 5 Dakka Bots

2 x Icarus Onagers w Stubber

 

Ryza Battalion

 

TPE

TPE warlord Monitor Melevolus

 

1 x 5 rangers

2 x 5 Vanguard w 2 Plasma Caliver

 

1 x 11 Fulgurites

 

2 x Terrax

 

1992 points and 11 CP remaining

 

My thoughts

 

1CP will be spent to give Destroyers 5++ pregame.

10 remaining pre monitor rolls.

 

So the idea is to mainly castle up with the rangers as a screen, mars units doing their thing and the servitor maniple keeping the destroyers ticking. Elimination volley, wrath of mars etc. Destroyers have been given flamers as for only 1 point more youre giving the opponent a pause in charging. 5 x 2d6 pick the highest auto hits plus the plasmas are nothing to sneeze at.

 

The vanguards go in one terrax, priests in another. They can shore up defenses, take the fight to the enemy or go grab objectives. Theyre my "see what Im facing" units. I chose Ryza as there was no need to take Mars again and no real benefit while Ryza will allow the Priests and Terrax some extra oomph in combat. The Vanguard are split into 2 x 5 rather than 1 x 10 for both morale purposes and because I can get an extra plasma in there. Yes I know that makes the shooting protocol less good as it only affects 2 plasma and not 3 but id rather the enemy have to deal with 2 units and 4 plasma guns over 1 unit and 3.

 

I chose Raiment flr the relic as this will assist in overwatch a teeny bit and all the other relics are pretty cack. Any feedback on this is appreciated as I am open to changing it.

 

Monitor has been chosen as again its probably the best Trait and the extra cp (if any) will help keep Elimination and Wrath running.

 

@synthaside - mate i did like your rule of 7 for the troop unit sizes but i cannot find the points for 6 more rangers without losing something more powerful. I can get rid of the stubbers but thays only 12pts from the 42 needed so it may just be 5s

 

Any comments or questions fire away, otherwise I will update after the tourney.

I'm taking my Ad mech to my first " real " ITC GT in november 2k , every other event I've attended has had their own custom rules other than ITC or was ETC

 

Will be watching and participating .

 

How did you go and what did you take?

[synthaside]

Holy thread necromancy  batman .... * caveat * there will be typo's in this i've rushed it through

Did i forget to post how i did ...? Probably because I was utterly shattered by the end of the event  but had an amazing time ,  It felt like I took a plastic spoon to a knife fight , there was soup everywhere of every variety .. previously to this event I had always felt a little bad about doing things like mixing detachments in a list or taking unfluffy soup or spamming too hard abusing rule of 3 etc , most people here had no qualms about that .

I was very proud of how I played but the dutch GT had some of the best players I've had the fortune to play against ...  with highlights such as losing to Lawrence from tabletop tactics mortal combat and then again to bone at air hockey , the late night drinking and new friends i made were absolutely amazing  , as for the actual games ,   Guard   >   Nids >  Salamanders > Grey knight  soup  > Custodes soup

I was very  worried about my first game against the Gaurd  playing deadlock plus  4 fixed objectives ....  he was running a full Catachan brigade of infantry spam with Harker , Straken and Ministorum priests to make them fight better than marines. I  however had loaded up to go against the knight meta ...  ( there were a LOT of knights)  ,  he also took assassins , and 3 Manticore * yuck * especially in a format where games often don't get past turn 4 because of time.


I took  my typical Ad mech battalion , 3 dragoons , 3 las chickens , 3 Onager ,  Supplemented by 1 knight with thermal cannon  and 2 Warglaive  .. just my luck I didn't actually face them once , despite them being everywhere.  This  game was a hard fought battle with me just losing on objectives at the end .... due to a lucky over-watch lascannon shot taking the last wound from a dragoon which would have meant a 3 point win for me , but due to the way the scoring works at these type of events splitting  20 points between you we split 11 points and me 9

Game 2 was a whitewash ... my opponent had scraped a win in his last game  unsure how that worked out for me but he  went on to place  5th out of 120 a very good and nice guy to play against.  I was not prepared for the amount of horde kraken genestealers that came  across the board at me  ... nor had I any way to deal with invisible hive guard shooting at my heavy Armour from behind LoS ...  3 ranger teams inst really enough to deal with 120 genestealers  and wounding them on 5's with vanguard doesn't work well either ...  suddenly i miss my typically noneffective Dakka bots ... 

score    17 - 3 

 

Game  3   The relic .... plus  Maelstrom cards  against  Salamanders 

My opponent had Soupy salamanders ... all painted to match which was a real treat a knight Gallant as a distraction carnifex , some of the small space marine fliers  loads of multimelta attack bikes  ( actually really good for sallies)  as cheap hq's as possible on bikes  a bunch of devastators which were all las  plus 1 h-bolter , 3 scouts with missile launchers  and 3 scouts with heavy bolter's for  even more stratagem mortal wound spam , plus some hell-blasters because .... why not ;-)

This army was surprisingly effective , its a lot of firepower from all the mortal wound stratagems and salamanders re-rolls  he actually castled up good  while i charged my entire army  at the relic  grabbed it  and ran away with it ... the return firepower was pretty devastating  , my knights managed to kill his gallant but took crippling damage in return ,  the game ended with Octavia my tech priest Domini  warlord running away with the relic as fast as her mechadendrites  could manage ...  sacrificing unit  after unit to get out of LOS / range .

My first victory  6 - 14 

Day  2  -- ~Insert catastrophic night of Drinking here  ~ ---- 

My 4th opponent  is  Grey knight soup player  and lovely guy who actually does a lot of painting for Tabletop tactics ... his models are drop dead stunning ... i spend as much time dribbling  as i do  playing ..

This game was a low scoring win for me ... i can only really remember highlights ... it was back in November but I really struggled to kill his fliers due to some catastrophically bad rolling on basically my entire army ( i had the kill a flier card)   this was then balanced out by karma  by my opponents  horrifically bad save rolls when i killed an entire falcion squad  which gate of infintied behind my lines  using the shoot at them when they come in at -1 to hit  , with a 7 man ranger team  and overwatched  the 1 that didnt die when he tried to charge.

Final game ... I get utterly crushed by custode's jetbike soup and gaurd loyal 32 CP ...   18 - 2 

Standings , which i'm OK enough about  considering my was first ever event and how powerful every list i fought was ... 80'th  out of  120 

Lessons learned .... i need more dragoons ... in the games where my opponent didn't know how good they were or ignored them ... they destroyed things ... but when they didn't or were put off by -2 to hit i wrecked face with them ...   So  i now have  another 3 ready to be painted ...  works .. my next big event is heat  4 where i will be taking this 1750  Brigade .

https://photos.app.goo.gl/asXysPevpN8mh3cZ7

I'm actually trialing it in 30 mins against nurgle ,  excuse the unfinished dragoons my Armour and riders  get painted separately.

[Gaz1858]

Hey Synthaside,

 

Thanks for the write up. First off its great to hear that you got on well with the other players. Its kinda the main point of these things!!

 

Playing a pure list in these style missions generally does leave you missing out on things, out of sight shooting for example, however it just means you need to see what your list does well and hammer it home to negate those deficencies.

 

Game one sounds like one of those 50/50 games where a slightly better roll here, better choice there and the game would have swung heavily.

 

Game two is against a list I have also played. Those little monsters can move. Dakka Bots and screens make it easier but add in the out of sight shooting and it is a difficult match. Screens are very neccessary at the moment. And dont be afriad to sacrifice an expensive unit as a screen if it can win you the game!

 

Good work on the win in game three. Sounds like you assessed the list and knew that outshooting may not work so took the mission and sealed it. Good tactics!

 

I am a GK player to so I know these guys can be underestimated. We will pass onto the next due to alcohol content lol

 

Jetbikes and Guard. Expect to see this in every tourney everyone!! I played it in my last tourney and my fulgurite priests crushed it almost on their own. This was pre stygies nerf and I found that once the priests got their 3++ guard found it very difficult to shift them in combat. Going forward in the new rules I will be running Mrs mainly and attempting to blow them away/assault strategically from terrax drills.

 

In terms of lessons for us all you think more dragoons? And I take it this is in a Stygies Det?

 

What were the overall takeaways from the tourney that you think all admech players should build for, regardless of Forge World?