court of the archon

Ok, yes I know, it's outshine by other choices but humour me. If we're going to run it regardless, how do we go about it? As far as I can see, there are two models you want; sslyth and Medusae: a build with the minimal squad for a venom brings you to 75 pts but I was looking at an 8 man variant with max sslyth and Medusae for 160. It puts out quite a bit of hurt in shooting phase, a good chunk in combat and has a bit of staying power (obviously accompanying a tooled archon) for Dr, given that a few of the models are t5 with fnp to start with.
I was comparing the unit to a grotesque bodyguard and I can see some advantages and disadvantages tithe court:
Pro: fleet, multiple flamer templates, 18" range poison weapons
Con: not all benefit from power from pain, majority won't be t5 until wounds are taken

Anything I'm missing? Any specific tactics I need to look up before running it? Are it-ghul worth it?

As you have to take 1 of each to start, it's tough to build a good unit. Personally, I have had some success with just the min 4 plus an extra medusae... Cheapish and burny in a venom.

Going 3 sslyth, 1 of the others each nets a T5 unit and you can add a haemy without loosing it

You could add a Haemie as stated above, taking a Scissorhands would increase it to Poisoned 2+ (thanks Lhamean) but u do loose fleet. However, adding in a Liquifier for more Flamer goodness and you're gonna be getting to within 8" naturally anyway so maybe not all the bad.

Its a pity Lhamean doesn't increase the Sslyth's shardcarbines ...which btw do NOT have Night Vision.

As for Ur-Ghuls you've got 20 S5 attacks on the charge, still hitting before MEQs, but no grenades so dealing with cover calls for PGL

Just realised this one; Haemie, Archon & Court could pull off some pain token shenagians. Archon starts with Wracks, takes their PT and joins the unit (or if he rolls PT for his Drugs no need for this move). When its time to disembark they leave the Haemie onboard, the Court models can take the Haemie's PT and the Archon can take the one that he stole......giving the unit, and more importantly, the Archon, Furious Charge going into the first assault

if only the lhamean had that ability! unfortunately it only works on the archon she is assigned to, effectively giving him a free stinger pistol. she isnt that good, basically a witch in a 5+ armour suit with a free venom blade but no dodge save.

fleet is really the reason i'd take these guys over grots tbh, i think an archon, 4 grots (liquifier) + abberation (v.blade) and a haemy with liquifier and v.blade would make for a kick ass rram-it-down-their-throat type unit.
Raider with FF, EA and flanked with support units it would be very nice indeed. dumps a few flamer templates, is majority T5, archon gets furious charge etc etc. it aint cheap, but it should do what you want it to do!

as for ur-ghuls, yeah thats not a bad point actually. like a cheaper version of grotesques in terms of damage output though they pay for it in terms of toughness.

Bear in mind that despite the lhlamaen having sub par buffs, she still packs close to sybarite stats with a venom blade, easily cheaper than she should be

So basically were saying that assault is where they belong and that there are 3 builds to consider.

1) Archon, PGL, SF and assorted weapons, Max Ur-ghuls, Max Sslyth, min others giving them Fleet, grenades, Shadowfield but T3
2) Haemie, Max Sslyth, min others; no fleet, no grenades but T5
3) Haemie attached to build 1 and Archon starts with Wracks taking their PT, joining the unit on turn 1. When charging in, Archon and Court split from Haemie taking both the tokens into assault

The other less desirable people in the court could be used as wound takers in addition to their original roll in the court.

yeah, i like option 1 and 3 the best, that way the haemie doesn't drop fleet. you don't want an expensive assault unit tripping over its shoelaces and then eating a round of fire before it gets another chance.
i'm not above sacrificing my lhamean to overwatch. even if she is an "extremely imaginative lover" :-)

Remember in comat she is the one with good Ld and decent stats... The medusae die first!

yeah, thats a good point actually. Medusae do their flame thing and soak a few bolter rounds, leaving the sslyth and archon to do the killing. i like it :-)

Will this unit be ok in Kill Team?

Provided opponents ok i even take it without Archon. It seems extremely interesting, so many different models, just what it needs for Skirimish Game.

Im preparing for new Kill Team rules.

if you really like kill team, take a look at infinity
http://infinitythegame.com

its much more fleshed out and works better (rules are free and models are cheap) we've all been having a lot of fun with it!

Well, won a court for £30 on eBay so splattering commences in January!