Comms Relay

Hey guys, I was just looking for what options people have come up with for using comms relays as I'd like to make more pure DE lists without my Autarch for reserves manipulation. I'll list a couple of the options I've been thinking of but I still don't feel like any jump out as great to me.

1. Aegis Defense Line with Comms Relay and Mandrakes. I'd like this option a lot if I felt like the walls were high enough to give cover saves to our vehicles. Also, I'd enjoy the quad gun and comms if possible, but don't believe I can with just an aegis.

2. Imperial Bunker (or bastion) with Comms and Quad Gun. Tuck the comms behind and out of LOS with a squad or two of warriors/mandrakes and have the quad gun just off to the side or on top so only one model is in LOS to operate it per turn.

I'd really like to use the Void Shield Generator and a comms relay, but unless I'm mistaken that's not an option you can take. Are there any other good combos for our army out there that I'm missing? I've not used fortifications much before and don't feel well versed in their options and tactics.

Comms Relay = win.

Ironically I tend to build lists that have some way to deal with that or that WANT to come in later, but the Comms relay has made it into MANY of my recommendations for other peoples armies because they dont necessarily build them like i do (and really...who does?)

You cannot get both Comms Relay and Quadgun (or Icarus Lascannon), at least for the bunker.

EDIT: well I started being confused bout this. Is this right?

I saw stated elsewhere that if you had a bastion or bunker, that the building counts as one of your models and thus can operate the comms relay. Is this correct?

Sky Serpent wrote:

I saw stated elsewhere that if you had a bastion or bunker, that the building counts as one of your models and thus can operate the comms relay. Is this correct?

A comms relay requires an unengaged model to be within 2" for it to be used. (paraphrasing this rule).

Per 7th ed building rules, under Claiming a Building, a claimed building is a unit in the controlling player's army and will remain so even if it later becomes unoccupied, until the building is either destroyed or claimed by an enemy.

If you brought the building as part of your army, it starts claimed.


So based that - I would say YES, as long as the comms relay is within 2" of a bastion or bunker that it's purchased with, an empty fortification can "man" the comms relay.

I have just realised a massive issue with the Realspace Raiders Detachment - it has no access to fortifications and thus no comms relay. I am currently trying to work out how much of a crux this is to the idea of the list.

Sky Serpent wrote:

I have just realised a massive issue with the Realspace Raiders Detachment - it has no access to fortifications and thus no comms relay. I am currently trying to work out how much of a crux this is to the idea of the list.

Yea that was something I've noticed too. Rerolling on Strategic or the DE table (hoping for Larbrythine Cunning) is not as good as a comms relay.

That said, the following CAD is pretty cheap.

1 Lhamaean
2x5 Kabalite Warriors

Fortification.

90pts + the Fortification isn't ideal but could show how few points are needed to slip a fortification in. Of course the other issue with this idea is that you now have 3 very easy kill points depending on the mission you're playing.

A tournament I am going to allows combined arms OR a codex detachment and then you can take an allied detachment or formation.

Trying to decide whether I'm worth curbing a Fast Attack choice or just not taking a comms relay...

My list is in the army list section if you'd like to take a gander.

Sky Serpent wrote:

A tournament I am going to allows combined arms OR a codex detachment and then you can take an allied detachment or formation.

Trying to decide whether I'm worth curbing a Fast Attack choice or just not taking a comms relay...

My list is in the army list section if you'd like to take a gander.

Done

lelith wrote:

You cannot get both Comms Relay and Quadgun (or Icarus Lascannon), at least for the bunker.

EDIT: well I started being confused bout this. Is this right?

As a medium building, it should be allowed to take two upgrades. That was my understanding anyway, but I've really only used aegis defense lines before.

lessthanjeff wrote:

lelith wrote:

You cannot get both Comms Relay and Quadgun (or Icarus Lascannon), at least for the bunker.

EDIT: well I started being confused bout this. Is this right?

As a medium building, it should be allowed to take two upgrades.  That was my understanding anyway, but I've really only used aegis defense lines before.

It can take two Buildings upgrades but the comms relay and quadgun are Battlements & Battlefield upgrades which you can only take one of.

Well damn, I thought the description under buildings was referring to all upgrades. I'm glad you told me before I tried to use that, but that makes my choices even harder.

I don't really want to drop 200 points on the firestorm redoubt, but I don't really see another good way to combo AA and reserves control.

Only other option I can think of is the Imperial Strongpoint to buy a Bastion and an aegis defense line, but that will still come out pretty pricey with the upgrades factored in.

The Autarch brings more to the table IMO.

It gives you Eldar allies that can plug a ton of holes in our army: Durability, reliable anti-air, Fire Dragons for WWP, the best/OP/solid transport option in the game as the WS, FA bombs with Swooping Hawks, a barrage weapon via the Night Spinner, the Wraith Knight, the list goes on forever.

Right now for me, the option is crystal clear:  Bring Eldar, plug the holes, salvage what we can.

I've got plenty of lists where I do bring Eldar because I agree that they combo very nicely with us. I love the Autarch with my reavers, thoroughly enjoy the fire dragons deepstriking, and much appreciate my crimson skyhunter protecting my razorwings. I was thinking of getting Vaul's Support Batteries or whatever they are next for a good durable unit to leave on the table and wipe out some hordes soon too, but I wanted to also be able to make some pure DE lists.

I tend to use a different list at every tournament and rotate which army I play or what kind of theme I'll be using, but I need some reserves manipulation to do the pure kabalite lists I want to play. That's why I'm looking for comms relay ideas, not because I won't also use Eldar allies a lot, but because I want to do lists without them sometimes too.

I played my first game with the new dex last night, left out the comms relay as I wanted to fit in more units to test. I had 6 deep striking units to bring in. three arrived on turn 2 and three more on turn 3. I'd say the only disadvantage I had from not bringing the comms relay was that my combat unit, that I'd have quite liked to get on turn 2 didn't arrive until later. In this instance the effect that had was that they took out a small squad of devastators and did nothing else to affect the game, if they'd come in on turn 2 i'd have placed them differently to affect the board elsewhere.

In short, if you have a lot in reserve, you're likely to pass enough reserve rolls bring plenty in and do some damage, but (in some ways counter intuitively) the samller the game, the more likely I am to want to spend points on that re-roll because each unit is a larger proportion of my overall force.

I'd go with the cheapest building you can to take the comms relay, which i think is the bunker?

The_Burning_Eye wrote:

I'd go with the cheapest building you can to take the comms relay, which i think is the bunker?

You could just go with the Aegis Line, which is 5 points cheaper and has the advantage of being indestructible.

Count Adhemar wrote:

The_Burning_Eye wrote:

I'd go with the cheapest building you can to take the comms relay, which i think is the bunker?

You could just go with the Aegis Line, which is 5 points cheaper and has the advantage of being indestructible.

Thanks count! My books are at home today and couldn't remember which was cheaper. Aegis it is then!