Mycetic Spores: How and why?

[riverzora]

Ok, so I'm returning to the hobby after nearly a decade (uni-related poverty held me back), and now I'm seeing all this Mycetic Spore stuff flying around... I've bought the new Codex, but not the new rulebook yet, so any and all details regarding how the spores are used, what the advantages of using them are, and any and everything else would be wonderful.

Thanks,

[ravengoescaw]

They are our "Drop Pods" allowing us to deep strike our units, is a monsterous creature, has at least one ranged weapon, can have two. I can deny objectives, block line of sight to gie our units in them a safe round to get in to position on the back line, to cause havok. Typically taken with a DOM, a unit of devgaunts, or Devfex. You have make your own. Which I consider a plus. I am doing one slowly but surely out of a crafter's polystyrene egg. (DO NOT PRIME THE EGG< IT MELTS IT FML.)

[riverzora]

So how do the drop pods work in the new rules? Do they start with a unit on your side, and are then transported with them to where you want it? Do you pay just its cost, or the cost of it+the creature inside? Seven years without playing the game is as bad as never playing- be really black and white...

[ravengoescaw]

You take a unit that can take "dedicated transport" pay the cost for the unit and the the cost for the Mycetic spore. That unit and the spore start in you Deep Strike reserve. then during the game you make your reserve roll, which dependng on the turn what number you need. if you get the number or higher the mycetic spore comes in you roll scatter, because of the mycetic rules, if you scatter on top of impassable terrain or another model, reduce the scatter by minimum distance need to avoid the obstical, then the unit that was inside must be placed within 2" of the spore, if any models can't be place due to impassabe terrain, or enemy model within 1" are destroyed. From that point on the spore never moves, it can shoot and fight in melee if it is assaulted. if with 3" of an objective it contests it.

[riverzora]

Ooh... Sounds tempting... Sounds like it would be best for the elite units: like getting Zoanthropes up close and personal... That way you don't risk having to fit them all in, but get some decent sized beasts in/synapse creatures. Any suggestions of what works well?

Is the scatter risk worth it? Do you choose your ideal spot, then scatter 2D6" in the direction of the arrow, and then only 1D6" if you get a hit, or is it 1D6" for an arrow and dead-on-choice for a hit?

[ravengoescaw]

Hit is dead on. The transport ability removes any risk from the scatter unless you scatter off the board. Yes ideal spot then scatter. I think it is worth it. The most common units are devgaunt, (up to 20) a carnifex, Dom, I think Zoans are used. You can put up to 20 troops or one monsterous creature in them. I run 15 devgaunts in mine.

[dakkathrope]

I personally always spore in DoM when he is in my list. Generally I run 3-5 spores in a game over 1500; I find them to be extremely useful.

[brianb9999]

Spores are a pretty reliable way of getting certain units where you need them. I find them useful for my carnifexes (they fire 12 s6 shots a turn) because they are otherwise slow and short-ranged. I modeled 3 spores for less than $10 using styrofoam cones and cut them with a styrofoam cutter. Someone mentioned not to spray paint them, but also don't try to superglue any ripper tentacles on there! It will melt the styrofoam pretty nicely

[ssyke]

doom. or zoanthropes. dev guants are too expensive to me to use ever, same with carnifexes. normal guants maybe to grab an objective and shoot at something. maybe warriors with death spitters. especially if you can support them with an old adversary flyrant. give them the reroll 1's to hit and wound when close by.

[wisdomseyes1]

How to use Mycetic spores: i personally prefer deepstriking mine, only because I feel like I am cheating if I start them on the table.

oh, and there is the matter of them having to deepstrike and all...

Why use a mycetic spore?: Simple, deepstriking. Any unit with the ability to take one gains deepstriking. Devilgants are popular with them. Carnifexen are somewhat popular with them. The Doom is almost exclusively taken in a spore by most of the hive, but that doesnt mean its useless out of one.

Things to remember: The spore itself is a MC (that can't move). This means that it is a denial unit and therefor contests objectives. Now, while this is a good thing... also remember it is a T4 MC. This means that S8 squshes it and gives an easy kill for the opponent. it also means, because it cant move, it has to death or glory. If it doesnt get a good enough result on the death or glory, it dies then too. It is very fragile for its cost, something to consider when taking it.

[Sezar]

Well worth the cost, if you ask me.

To me, DoM just costs 130pts, not 90; the Spore is just a freebie partner that uses to land besides it to draw some firepower away From the rest of my bugs.

[kippawah]

Doom in a spore is just about the most surefire way for you to get him to suck souls the turn he comes in. Your opponents turn, this also happens, DURING HIS TURN, BEFORE HE GETS TO SHOOT AT IT!

So, he gets 2 opportunities to disrupt infantry before they get to shoot back. Not bad. Sure beats him walking on the board and getting focused down before he gets to do any of that.

[wisdomseyes1]

Doom in a spore is just about the most surefire way for you to get him to suck souls the turn he comes in.

there is another way to get the doom in?

i don't know, I like (at least in smaller point games) the doom just starting outside on foot. less S8 shooting then and catalysm has a pretty good effectiveness. S4 AP2 is still pretty potent as a large blast.