Imperial Bastion and Maleceptor

[miithos]

I have been really struggling in my local community. Most games are over by turn 2 and I feel like it was a waste of everybody’s time and no fun for anyone. Part of the reason, I hope, is that the terrain we have is mostly non-existent. There is a bunch of ruins and a few forests and craters but unless you field 5-10 man infantry squads, there is 0 LOS blocking pieces. My opponents don’t seem to understand that is an issue since 90% play marines and the other 10% run Neccron with 3 DDAs and 3 Doomscythes so it doesn’t matter. I want to think that part of the reason I am tabled T2/3 every single game is because of that. 

Enough salt. I had an idea of taking an Imperial Bastion and backing it with a maleceptor. This would give me a T9 20W transport for 20 models that allows 10 of them to fire from within. Plan would be to put 2x6 impaler cannons inside and if need be disembark 1 unit to buff it with Symbiostorm + fire twice. I want to know if the maleceptor -1S buff would buff the Bastion too. Since my local community does not believe in line of sight blocking stuff this seems like a decent alternative.

[kelermorph]

I would never play on such terrain. I would buy/make my own LoS blockers if the store doesn”t have any and if someone has a problem with using it i would show images of tournament terrain. You know, how it should be played. If they still dont’t agree I would simply just not play.

Sorry, but I cannot give any input on the real question you asked.

[N.I.B.]

Auras don't affect embarked units.

[Synaptic Scourge]

Dec 23, 2019 6:45:13 GMT N.I.B. said:

Auras don't affect embarked units.

They want the aura to affect the Bastion. I have no idea as I skipped PA as I've stopped playing since the Marine debacle.

[No One]

Yes, they're considered to be friendly units thus would get 'cepter buff (though possibly only when manned? Not 100% on that). Note that this is pretty terrible, since you cop IB penalty while embarked. And it'd be...almost 400 pts for protection that's even that effective.

[kazetanade]

LOS blocker is the only way to play Nids with any effectiveness.

If you cannot get LOS blocker at all then quite frankly you want a full 4++ or better army, since you'll be tanking everything. Or, 200+ models which isn't fun.

[bigpig]

Game is designed to be played with Ample Terrain. Your meta is doing it wrong if not.

[j0rdan]

I want to add on here a bit, as this is an issue that is near and dear to my heart.

Tyranids (and every other army lacking powerful armor or invulnerable saves) NEEDS some LOS blocking terrain and the design of the game itself assumes that it will be available. My playgroup is full of (thankfully) reasonable people who see this as obvious and are cool with it, so we generally have fun games with a dynamic mix of terrain.

Here's the important part. You are ALLOWED to INSIST on this. It's been a while since I've read it (like I said, I don't run into arguments about this), but the core rule book does mention that both players AGREE on terrain. You have a voice and you are expected to use it! If your play location doesn't have sufficient terrain, bring your own! Take a sharpie to a small cardboard box and now it's a building. Glue a couple empty soda cans together and now they're a power generator.

It is unsporting and unfair for your opponents to start the game with an advantage, be it from being able to just shoot you with abandon the whole time, or from expecting you to pay points to bring a fortification. The core rules support us in this, so unless you're playing at a tournament with set, unmodifiable tables, make the table fair!

P.S.: Also, good TOs will make sure their tables have multiple LOS blocking pieces as well!

[mule]

There is super cheap terrain.

archon-studio.com/shop/rampart/158-rampart-eternal-cathedral.html

Three or four of those kits and youre set.

[nopeace]

Could also ask them to do the whole "first floor of ruins is Los blocking" thing as well if your lgs does just mostly have ruins. That would help out. As all have said, there is no viable solution other then getting things that are gonna break Los on the table imo.