Some thoughts about Psychic Choir

[l0rdf1end]

Thinking about different lists/opponents and what diciplines you should consider when fielding lots of Psychics.

Low leadership = Telepathy (Psychic Screech, Terrify, Dominate).

MECH/FlyerSpam = Telekenisis (Objuration Mechanicum, Crush).

Anyone have some additional thoughts/tactica on this subject?

[Jabberwocky]

It varies from unit to unit really. Biomancy is great on most units for a nice offensive/defensive split, especially if you want to get into combat.

[tinytermagant]

Which tables I roll on depend very much on the enemy I face.
But I have some general philosophies. (Note: I do not use Genestealers at all)

Telekinesis is my favorite tree for two reason mainly (but it also has other goodies)
1) Objuration Mechanicum is the best AA option for Tyranids, and man, that thing swats down flyers like they were flies.
2) Half my army is deep striking Trygons/Devilgants/Zoanthropes/Doom, and with Gate of Infinity I can warp the rest of army up to join the deep strikers in turn 2. Works really great.

Telepathy is my second favorite tree for one reason.
1) Shriek. Enough said.

Biomancy is my third favorite tree for obvious reasons.

[coredump]

So, assuming 2 powers each model on average. That means for every 3 models you have rolling TK, 1 will get OM.

Each model with OM, can kill 1 flyer every 3 turns.... I kill flies a whole lot faster than that....

[Jabberwocky]

I think it's more you get an AA option on top of any shooting you have, without locking yourself into any movement/shooting/assaulting.

[Anax]

OM is useful if you're worried about overwatch or fear for your flyers.

- Yay I rolled 6's with my guys, your flyrant's getting grounded!
- Ok, now reroll those.
- Aaaaw.
-

[tinytermagant]

It means if you get 2 OMs you can kill 2 flyers by turn 4, then add the hive guard shooting to that.
All i know is the last 2 necron flyer players i played against have both ragequit

[coredump]

Except it takes (on average) 6 models to get 2 with OM.
And it assumes those flyers are always within 24"
And it assumes those flyers don't just kill the models with OM.

And what about the other 4 models... how useful will their powers be?

[Jabberwocky]

Rolling for OM and not getting it doesn't mean you'll have no powers at all. You'll still have some usable powers. Personally I wouldn't spam it on all my psykers but it's worth trying for if say you rolled endurance/iron arm on your first roll. You then have the option of when to use it, if you do get it.

Like with anything random you can't base your entire game plan around it but knowing what to use it on when you do get it, is handy.

Personally I also like it for protecting my own flyers, in a more supportive roll. If it happens to be a vehicle I'm targetting, then great I may have saved a unit or 2 from needing to shoot at it for now.

[tinytermagant]

I have a 60% chance of getting 2 or more OMs on my list. 90% of getting 1 or more.
You're right it's not an "i win" button. And you can get unlucky. And the monsters can get shot down, just like the Hive Guards or a Quad-gun can.
But for me OMs have made fighting against flyer-heavy lists a very enjoyable experience so far:)

[coredump]

How many psykers do you have trying for OM?

And what do they do with the other powers if you don't get it?

I agree that OM is cool. (Particularly shuts down NEcron Tesla....) But it just seems the other powers are so weak.... And any unit with OM just seems to graduate to #1 target for the flyer player.

[Jabberwocky]

I've been loving Gate on my DoM, especially in small games where I can't afford a spore.

Gate lets him jump in and play offensively. OM lets him play in a support role shutting down overwatch for my assaulters or stopping things hitting my FMCs, even if there are no flyers/vehicles to target. TK Dome is a great support power to use on any bolter-bait units you have, especially those that suffer from rapid fire. Crush and Nova are weak, but can be swapped for Assail, which at least gives him a reliable mid-range shooting attack.

I probably wouldn't go for it with my Flyrant, since he loves endurance/iron arm so much. On a unit of Zoans, I'd definitely mix in plenty of TK. Swarmlord might even dabble in TK occasionally but so far I've done better with Bio until iron arm or endurance then Telepathy for the rest.

[l0rdf1end]

Psychic powers are nice editions if you get the powers you wanted.
This thread is more about what powers would be aimed for when facing certain lists, if you had a high number of psykers it would improve your odds of getting something useful.

When it comes to my list (Stealers and Str6 Spam) I look at the diciplines and think these will aid me.

Low LD = Terrify, Dominate.
MECH = Objuration Mechanicum.
Blocking Overwatch = Objuration Mechanicum.
T4 MultiWound = Enfeeble.
T5 Bikers = Enfeeble x2.

Even with high amounts of psykers your opponent can still bring multiple threats that fall into the different groups above.
I guess its all very situational, probably best to just try to cover what would be the biggest problem for your list.

My angle on wanted powers is very agressive according to my list but some others might think more about the defensive elements to aim for.

Tervigons would favour Biomancy for Endurance and Warp Speed for Smash attacks?
Zoans, if they were to swap would favour Telepathy for the fall back power Pyschic Shriek?

Objuration Mechanicum could even ground FMC's (Str 1 hit) if/when the Grounded rule is altered to play as RAI.

[tinytermagant]

Buy a Skyshield landing pad then and place the OM monsters in it if you're so afraid of getting shot by flyers lol

[Psychichobo]

Don't forget, as an army we can field a quite frankly silly amount of psykers. A massed power spam might be quite entertaining if you can distribute the disciplines carefully.