Winning Harder: A Common List-Building Trap

This is going to be a bit of a longer post, but I hope you can bear with me on it, as I feel there is an important lesson to be learned.

Winning Harder is the concept where you specifically choose things to add to your list that make your easier match-ups even easier. Either they are elements added that work well against inexperienced players playing any list, or against anyone playing an unbalanced list. Now, this might not seem novel at all, but there is absolutely no reason to increase your chances against these opponents as stronger play will carry the game for you anyway. I think a lot of people fall into this trap, with units that are commonly referred to as 'Death Stars' (much of you strength and points limited to one or a handful of hard to defeat units). Meanwhile, you have unbalanced your list so much that you will have issues against an opponent running something more balanced and with the experience to back it up.

The Land Raider: N00b Hammer. One of the most classic examples of Winning Harder.

I am going to start with an example of a list one of my friends was running at the local GW. He was playing occasionally on the intro nights where you bring in 1000 points and generally play against new players. As he played, he kept adding to and changing elements of list such that he could win his games faster and faster, and to that end he was succeeding. I had been taking a rather long break from the game at the time and was just coming back and people were raving about his list. My response, after hearing what was in it, was, 'That just sounds really bad.' Now, those who heard me say that rolled their eyes, this list had been utterly unstoppable. Before I go on a bit, let me show you the list and maybe get you thinking about why this thing was bad:

The N00b Hammer (1k Blood Angels)
Mephiston 250

Librarian Dread w/ Blood Lance, Shield of Sanguinius, Drop Pod 210

5x Death Company 100
Death Company Dread w/ Blood Talons 125

Baal Predator w/ Flame Storm Cannon 115

Storm Raven w/ Multi-Melta, Twin-Linked Lascannon 200
Total: 1000 points

Well, what are your thoughts?

Starting a Warmachine League

A pretty ambitious Warmachine/Hordes league is starting up here locally, with games spanning over an entire year. We start at 25 points and move up 5 points every two months. They seem to have found a balance with how to handle the games as your 'score' is based on your win/loss ratio for the month. I have been disappointed in the past with some people gaming a league to max out their games when others cannot; not necessarily leading to the better players getting up to the top.

This is being hosted at the best gamestore in town, Thunderground Comics, if you are in the area, it is definitely worth checking out. Probably the best Privateer Press selection in town and Roy Kim, the owner, always bends over backward to help out the community hosting large events.

So, what will I be bringing? My Cryx (which will be shockingly under-represented by just myself). Here are the lists I am looking at with a little explanation of their playstyle:

Lich Lord Asphyxious (AKA Epic Asphyxious (AKA eGaspy))

This guy promoted himself by turning his old boss into his new weapon.

Lich Lord Asphyxious (*6pts)
* Nightwretch (4pts)
Bane Knights (Leader and 9 Grunts) (10pts)
Bane Thralls (Leader and 5 Grunts) (5pts)
* Bane Thrall Officer & Standard (3pts)
Bane Lord Tartarus (4pts)
General Gerlak Slaughterborn (3pts)

NOVA Open 2012 Tickets Are Released!

Tickets sales have begun today, get them while you can:

NOVA Open website

Event Flyer

If you have ever thought about traveling to go to a tournament, this is the one to go to. The most competitive tournament being run with more prizes and support on their 'hobby track' than you will find in any 'fluffy' event.

Turns out we can all just get along and play Warhams...

Night Fight, Scarab Swarm

Alright, I have been thinking a lot about how Necrons could work non-mech, and I think I have come to a conclusion, basically you need one important element: nearly endless night fight. To ensure maximum doucheyness, be sure to max out on slots of Spyders and Scarabs. Oh, and cheat at 'going foot' by bringing along Command Barges.

I typed 'arachnaphobia', this seemed good enough

Imotekh w/ Command Barge 295
2x Destruction Crypteks (one Solar Pulse) 90
Overlord w/ Warsythe, Tachyon Arrow, Command Barge 210
2x Destruction Crypteks (one Solar Pulse) 90

5x Warriors 65
5x Warriors 65
5x Warriors 65
5x Warriors 65
10x Immortals w/ Tesla Carbines 170
10x Immortals w/ Tesla Carbines 170

6x Scarabs 90
6x Scarabs 90
5x Scarabs 75

3x Spyders 150
3x Spyders 150
3x Spyders 150

Total: 1990

Scarabs Are Stupid? Actually, Just the Editors Are...

There is an issue with Canoptek Spyders in the new Necrons book, specifically how poorly edited some rules make it out of the gates. As an avid Warmachine player, I tend to notice these things pretty quickly, but I am sure others might have had inklings about this also. Check out my scenario which allows first turn charges with a significant amount of scarabs. Combine that with Imotekh's seize on 4+ rules and this is something that can be done more often than not.

It all comes down to the Scarab Hive rule in their entry:

Nominate a Canoptek Scarab unit within 6" and roll a D6. On a roll of 2-6, add one base to the Canoptek Scarab unit - the base can move an act normally this turn.

There is however no limit, currently, for where to place that new base, observe:

Start of turn, you have your Scarab swarm and three units of Spyders.

Place your first three bases.