Deploying and Reserves

Howdy y'all. I've been away from my army for awhile now due to job reasons and before I go back, I was wondering what experiences people have been having with deployments and units in reserve.

Other than a quick couple of games with friends when the rules leaked and we all went to our respective internships, my only experience has been a plethora of battle reps online.

What I've seen so far, has been pretty much everyone deploying their army as close as they can and hoping to get the first turn. This results in an absolute blood bath as the battles are usually determined by the end of turn 2. The only report I've read where this didn't happen, was a Necron player against an Eldar 11 skimmer list, that finally got up close and personal on turn 4 to try and grab objectives.

Also, I've seen an interesting array of deepstrike reserves, with the majority of them being dropped turn 1 and failing the ~27.78% chance of making the 9" charge. (ignoring rerolls for a minute, I'll get to that.) I understand the idea of having as much firepower on the board as possible, but these deepstriking units are almost always the first to die. Which is good if they're a cheap distraction with a good save, but there have also been times where dropping them turn 3 would be the difference between winning or losing an objective.

The other mistake I've seen made, is dropping a CC unit behind enemy lines after the enemy moves up a little. It's the saddest thing to see Lightning claw terminators get dropped behind enemy lines, fail their charge, and play catch-up for the rest of the game as they get peppered down.

Back to 9" charges and rerolls. You're given two options. Reroll charges means rerolling both dice. The other option is to use the stratagem to reroll a single die. (*sidenote* CP reroll a die, can you then reroll charge distance for the other one? can't reroll a reroll but you've only rerolled a single die...) Back on topic, The first option is getting a 9 on 2d6. That's, as I mentioned previously, a 27.78% chance of success. Rerolling them both if you don't make it is again a 27.78% chance of success. Together this is 47.84% chance of success.

equation used: -((1-P)^n - 1) Where P is the probability (27.78/100 or 10/36) and n is the number of rolls, in this case 2.

ex: P=.3
1: .3
2: .51
3: .657
4: .7599
5: .83193

In the event you have a single good die (4+) you may choose to use a command point to reroll your other die. In the event of a 6, you need a 3+ so that a 66% chance of making it. with a 5, 4+, 50% and with a 4, 5+ so 33%. decreasing by 16.67% each time. Basically, with 1 good die, you stand a better chance using the command point to make it, than rerolling both of them.

What experiences have y'all had so far? What works, what doesn't work? Do you agree with what I've put above?

I agree with your observations.

You should know if you have less or more "drops" than your opponent and if you have more you should be using range and cover to avoid his alpha strike. If he has strong DS units you should castle too.
Hoping for a seize even with CP reroll is a fools game.

Often it's wise not to DS T1.

DS is more for shooty units. You cant rely on a 9" charge from DS but there are options that allow units to DS and move and charge. CSM have a psy power that does this for example. As I said before, castling is an option.


What works for me?
I often go second as I have (at least) 12 drops at 2000pts.
I use this to my advantage by deploying spread out, encouraging my opponent to do the same. Using terrain and range to limit alpha strike. My most important units will be dropped last after I've seen my opponents deployment.
T1 after weathering his alpha our fast speed allows DE to redeploy to attack the most vulnerable enemy units.
If I seize its a bonus!

With our cool darklances you should be able to combine fire and take out a vehicle or MC (the one that threatens you most) T1.

I like to DS a unit of mandrakes or scourges behind his lines. I use cover so most of his army has no LOS to them and shoot up a unit. They demand he turn units around and deal with them.

Remember, you dont need line of sight to charge in 8th, however you do need line of sight to overwatch.

Edit: Also the command point reroll specifically states you reroll 1, not both =(

I only just realized today that you can only hold units in Reserve if they have a special rule that lets you do so. Sad face.

oh Jim


and @Host. Yeah, you can use the stratagem to reroll a single die, otherwise from Power from Pain, DE can reroll both dice.

Ah true @barrywise.  After t2 starts you can reroll charges.  If ynnari, you can soulburst charge as a quasi reroll. Only CW/Corsairs get the rough end of the stick. Harlies shouldnt need it with the extra d6 advancing before the charge.

Too bad the heamies still dont give +1 turn to power from pain, not that you can deepstrike a heamy anyways.

@jim They really neutered out deepstrike options.  I mean we are the damn kings of the webway...  Yet we just walk onto the battlefield waiting for the ambush.   I understand the other eldar, but raiders and venoms are supposed to rain from the sky as slaves are snatched up to fill the fighting pits!

Well yeah, the codex isn't even out yet. And that'll come with all the relics and special stratagems. If anything, the webway portal will be in there.

I cant wait. I wonder how they will implement the webway now that characters cannot join units.

Perhaps the Webway Portal will get a rule like the Tyranid Trygon tunnel: declare the character with the Portal is in reserve, along with another unit; on arrival the Character deploys by normal Deep Strike rules, and the adjoining unit within 3".

Tip for deployment:
Units that DS must be deployed and count as a drop.
If you bring a couple of units like scourges or mandrakes deploy them first in DS, so you start to drop on the battlefield with at least two units of the enemy already in position.