So I took out the Heavy Mechanised List for a run last night.
Battle report up in the Epic Armagedon Folder:
Epic 4K: Biel Tan vs Heavy Mechanised Imperial GuardOr direct to Mark's account of the encounter:
Biel Tan vs Heavy Mechanised Imperial GuardOK, so this was the worst possible match up for the air-assault Eldar force.
I had just finished painting support tanks so took 3 formations of 2 Praetor Sky-Killers.
These have current stats of: RA4+, DC2, and each have 2 x AA4+ out to 60 cm.
So better range and same killing power as Eldar Firestorms and on a pillbox armour.
Extremely intimidating for an air heavy list and well protected behind the front line of more RA4+ armour.
The Praetor Assault Launchers also raised eye-brows. 300 points for BP4 every turn on
a very resilient platform, DC2 and RA4+. Compared to Manticores, at 250 points for alternating
BP4/BP2 shoots on a three stand, Arm 6+ formation.
The Tank Companies did not really get engaged but one of them, with OK shooting dice,
and very poor armour saves killed all 5 ranger stands in one activation. They got compared
with a Leman Russ Company (which are perhaps overcosted? if EpicUK stats/armylists are to
be believed) - although I'd prefer to compare them with a (Minervan) Super Heavy Tank Company.
I fear the army does not pass the "is it fun to play against test". Whether or not it is balanced.
So what to do. Here are some thoughts. Generally I'd like to see a reduction in stats rather an
increase in points costs (but see below).
Praetor Assault Launchers. Could we say that the extra ammunition load means they are not
as robust and therefore only get Armour 4+. And/Or perhaps say the re-loading process is not as
rapid and therefore they only fire every other turn - although in this case upping to BP3 each might
be appropriate. Although 3 BP each might cause problems for a formation of three.
Praetor Sky-Killer. The long reach of these produces a large overlapping AA bubble. AA4+ seems pretty good.
Toning them back to a single long range AA shot might be possible. Dropping to AA5+ a possibility.
I'd also like to see them still with an option to imbed within an armoured company. For this reason
I'm less keen on the reduce to Arm 4+ option but that might be ok too. Say the extra gear for firing Anti-Air
is more vulnerable to damage. Leaving both these on DC2 platforms seems in keeping.
Heavy Tank Company. So this feels a little like a SHT Coy-lite. The disadvantage of being a high cost formation goes away. The main guns on the tanks have a longer range than most SHTs and certainly a higher firepower at that range, 75 cm, than is typical. In company with SHTs their poor 6+ CC factor is largely ignored as part of the war engine rules because they can use FF against enemy stands in contact with other units in the formation. They are somewhat less vulnerable to blast weapons since there is only on throw to hit if they are under the centre of a blast template (half of DC rounded up still only equals 1). As DC2 units they can also spread out to 10 cm separation so can avoid having so many units under the templates. Is it necessary for the higher quality gun on the command tank version? Perhaps have those as upgrades for the formation and/or as a free upgrade for the supreme commander. Forcing a bigger formation might be an option? How have these formations fared in the Death Korps of Kreig lists?
The Tank Platoon in the list offers 6 Lemon Russ for 400 points. In most ways this seems inferior to the Heavy Tank Company (available in the core selection) for 325 points. Perhaps I am missing something? I don't think that the extra 5 cm per move is worth that much. The tanks do have a little more close range fire power, but that is probably not that decisive - an extra 6 x AT5+ shots at 45 cm and an extra 3 AP5+ shots at 30 cm. There are lots of perks (see above) for the Macharius tanks.
Hvy Mechanised Company. These initially felt like Gorgon mounted Kreig-lite infantry to me. Those Kreig formations have been revised up in cost (now 500 points for 2 Gorgons and 19+1 Infantry) to address balance issues. Having a smaller more agile, but still relatively effective formation, with better shooting and a longer mounted move (25 cm cf 20 cm) is an advantage in the activation war. The extra reach of the auto cannons in the formation is definitely a plus (2 ea for Crassus, HQ and half of infantry stands) if you don't manage an assault.
I have not managed to paint enough Troop Carriers to push these formations yet. Just gluing some up now.
The Macharius Chassis. I gather from vaguely remembered fluff, that these tanks were less technologically sophisticated versions of the regular SHT range. Perhaps they could all be dropped to RA5+? Would that impact other lists too much? Perhaps, . . .
Has anybody tested Macharius spam with the Kreig List?