Special characeter HQ's and tournamnets

I'm going to a tournament or two. First is in January. At first it was 1750 and no special characters. Now they have changed it to 1850 and special characters allowed.

I never really use special characters. I've always considered them to not really be balanced. (either too cheap, too expensive, or just plainly bend too many rules)


However, I'm not sure what to do now. Should I just join the rush and inculde one? Would it be more beneficial for me? I'm not looking forward to knowing nothing about the hundreds of characters out there (since my gaming group rarely uses them either).

So, I've been thinking of adding in the Duke. But how best to utilise him? What is he good at/not so good at?

My list will have 3 units of wyches, so thought the 2 rolls on the drug table to be useful.

I have then had to include a 10man warrior unit with a splinter cannon for him to deploy in, that will then hold objectives in my table area. He will then join some wyches and taz off. or that's the plan....

I will also have a regular Archon (huskblade, SS combo)

What experiance has everyone had with him?

What else in in the list? The duke has 3 key areas of benefit and ideally you need one to use alot, 1 a little and the other as a meh...

There is no NEED to include one just because you can but building around one can work

SC ain't that bad.
In fact, SC (and "weedy" one, no inv or EW or base T5 (he have T4(5) due to beeing Mek-Biker) on guy that cost 180 points. And yes, its Wazdakka) stopped me from dumping my Orks due to fact I can pick FA units (Warbikers) as Troops. That, with added huge unit of 'ardboyz and Nobz, allowed (literally) *me* to punch new Marines in their faces.



no racist pun intended.

Seriously, 4+ is nearly as good as 3+ in CC, especially if You double enemy number and triple his attacks (so 2x3=6).

Anyway apart from *just* fighters (who are most time NOT worth their points) there are pretty neat guys that allow You to take different army (Warbikers are like Ork mech, except they are faster and don't suck like hooker with vacuum cleaner). Also, new SC are actually ballanced.


Duke basically allow You to make Drop Pod army. He also can amplify Wyches/Hellions/Jetbikes a bit due to drugs reroll. And You may make execution platoon from pure Warriors (20 with 2SC), I guarantee people would not come close to that trollfest without huge tanks.

Sorry, maybe my list would have helped more.

Archon
Sliscus

5 blasterborn, venom

9 wyches, hekatrix, agon, haywire, raider
9 wyches, hekatrix, agon, haywire, raider
9 wyches, hekatrix, Pweapon, haywire, raider
10 warriors splinter cannon
5 warriors blaster, raider

5 scorges 2x haywire blaster

Ravager
Razorwing
Talos

As I rely on mywyches doing a lot of damage, I was thinking of making sure I got a good drug roll. I also have a few vehicles that could take advantage of deepstrikiing - although I'm not sure its a good idea to do that.

Here is the thing with special characters, you pick something that will complement your army. Baring The Decapitator, all of them can be used effectively, but I think some need a list built around them. While Duke is one of the more lientent characters to throw around, there still needs to be a reason as he costs more than a huskblade/soultrap Archon. So lets see.

group of warriors/TB for him to sit in??? Check
Alot of wyches??? Check
need to deepstrike??? No

So two out of three isnt bad, so I think duke will do fine in this list. I also think you can get more out of say... 3 haemies instead of that archon, but thats beside the point

I thought about a lot of Haemo's - but one of the scenarios I face is kill points and HQ and elites give double kill points. My army already gives away loads of kill points without adding 6 for just 3 haemos.

I think I will have some practise games then and see how Sliscus will perform and if he compliments my army/play style.

thanks

I'd be more inclined to include Lady Malys instead of Duke in the list as it reads right now.

She'd fit in with a 4+ invuln, provides some psychic immunity, and a chance to redeploy and bait your opponent. She isn't all that expensive either.

I'd not really thought about Malys - was too occupied trying to ensure a good drug roll.

Do people use that finecast Lhamean model for her?

Is just a 4+ invulnerable enough?

Does that redploy work? I always find I am limited where to deploy anyway because I am already limited by what terrain is available to hide behind/in

Ive seen alot of converstions of her using wych parts, and lately the lhamean.

a 4+ is ok, considering she hits first, and most likely so does her squad. Consider this... most SM Chaptains run around with a 4++, and you dont see them shying that far away from power weapons

the redeploy can work. Remember you could deploy some bait out in the open, then roll and move it back into cover. Or even deploy along one flank, then pull a few units to the other (whatever doesnt get pulled can always flat out over there anyway) Also you can pull into reserves, which is huge sometimes. Its a nice ability that Im supprised we dont see more use of.

thanks - sounds like another thing i need to try out. Maybe I should try them both in a list and see which works for me most, and go from there.


I would like to keep my huskblade archon in the list.