Most of the changes are quite straightforward.

I'm really curious about the Oddboyz power field, though.  Can one of you guys who were involved comment on it?

It seems like a very inefficient use of points.  You're paying +50% to the unit cost for something which only adds a marginal amount of durability.  The added durability is really only measurable against MW/TK and it will degrade rapidly.  I understand that MW/TK early in the game is the main complaint about the forts being too vulnerable, so that would seem to make sense.  However, the internal balance seems off.

2 Oddboyz - 100 points, ~4 shields
1 Battlefortress - 115 points, 3 DC, 4+ save, firepower, more FF/CC, extra transport capacity

When you start looking at something like 2 formations with 2 Fort+shields versus a 1-fort/2-fort combo, the shields only help durability at all if the opponent can definitely get to the 1-fort formation first.  Of course, that benefit will still be partially offset by the extra fort that remains on the board.  For 15 points difference, I'd take the extra flexibility of the additional Battlefort in virtually any situation.

The only time it looks like Oddboyz are a better choice is if you know the enemy will definitely be able to bring MW/TK to bear early against a target of choice, without use of assaults (most MW/TK in assault is CC, bypassing the shields anyway).

Is it just the security that with the fields you won't get tapped by a lucky potshot?

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Neal

The problem comes from a fortress' save. 4+ is great, but not when facing MW & TK weapons. We discussed, as Taccoms has in the past, giving a fortress 5+ RA, but this was felt over the community as not a great change. Others have done the maths on this before.

We didn't want to make the fortress too good, but we wanted to be able to give it a greater initial chance of surviving. We don't see this as being a big change in the lists that we see in tournaments as it has a specialist role. Yes it is expensive compared to the basic cost. Yes it does degrade quickly. However it does allow a warband with fortress to be played aggressively in the first turn rather than hiding behind a piece of terrain.

You will also note that where the upgrade would be most effective, Speed Freak Fortress Mobz, it’s not allowed.

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www.epic-uk.co.uk - home of the UK Epic tournament scene
NetEA NetERC Xenos Lists Chair
NetEA Ork + Feral Ork + Speed Freak Champion

Perhaps, but you don't lose any initial armament for taking the fields as you do with taking Supa-Zzaps or Soopaguns.

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www.epic-uk.co.uk - home of the UK Epic tournament scene
NetEA NetERC Xenos Lists Chair
NetEA Ork + Feral Ork + Speed Freak Champion

Er... "lose" armament from enhanced guns?  Doesn't it make their armament *better*?  

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"EPIC: Total War" Lead Developer

Now living in Boston... any EPIC players want to meet up?

He means that the TK/BPMW gun replaces one big gun, whilst if you take the EUK Power Fields upgrade you get to keep your full complement of 'big' guns.


I can't see this upgrade as particularly useful, considering the price paid.

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Currently doing a plastic scenery kickstarter

In testing it has been a viable option - not one you would take every time but which you would take/or consider taking in some builds.

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www.epic-uk.co.uk
NetEA NetERC Human Lists Chair
NetEA Chaos + Black Legion Champion

But you're not losing any shots... but gaining range and, potentially, better/more attacks.

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"EPIC: Total War" Lead Developer

Now living in Boston... any EPIC players want to meet up?

What builds would consider it viable?  How is it being used to get its points back?

I'm not trying to be difficult.  I'm trying to figure this out.  In the OGBM I've been concerned about the power field option being underpowered compared to the other Mek options.  Having it proposed as a kind of fix here is a bit confusing.

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Neal

The way I see it, anything that would typically be shooting at a Fortress formation would generally be able to brush aside D3 power fields almost without noticing, so I too am having trouble seeing how to make best use of it, in comparison to a more 'point and shoot' upgrade like the MWBP or TK attack.

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Currently doing a plastic scenery kickstarter

Since a Supa-Zzap does d3TK hits, a single shot could eliminate all the Power Fields it it's only up to 3 Fields.

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"EPIC: Total War" Lead Developer

Now living in Boston... any EPIC players want to meet up?

I don't see how that's a good demonstration. They both hold wildly different goals at that point. How do you test it? LOS, required movement actions (Doubling means 50% to hit with Zzzap), and a whole lot of other variables make it very hard to compare.

The way I see it, the main use for a PF GunFortress, is for the turbo-drive. If routinely playing with a substantial road network, the ability to move up to 105cm automatically. The Power Field means the errant shot isn't going to paste it and toast the crew. A Zzzap/Soopa isn't really beneficial in that role.

Morgan Vening

The power field option is only available on the forts.

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Neal