Problem with roadblocking with mines from biovores

[nod007]

It is common tactic with biovores to try to miss with their shots and place theirs mines to block enemy units. But does this really work?
You see, you have to place the mines at least 3" away from the unit. Then in the enemy turn they could move 2" and then declare a charge to them. At the end of charge phase the mines blow up BUT the enmy unit has made a successful charge so they eligible to pile in and consolidate!

So when the enemy is finished his turn he has moved 8" (2"+3"+3"=8").
So is this roadblocking tactic only good when the enemy has gotten closer to you? I have always thought this would be best to use to keep enemy unit in their deployment zone.

So am I not seeing something or is just many people forgetting the pile in and consolidate after the mines blow up.
How are you guys using the roadblock tactic?

[purestrain]

Never have because my friends have a brain, less roadblock and more kronos strat easy activate

[No One]

nod007 said:

So am I not seeing something or is just many people forgetting the pile in and consolidate after the mines blow up.
How are you guys using the roadblock tactic?

I haven't even tried for this exact reason and totally not because I only have 1 biovore.

While it can give movement (expecting them to only move 2" on the charge is probably ambitious to be honest: outside of situations where you can move block with a single spore, it's much easier to fit through gaps on the charge/after a few have been shot out, then you've got most of the charge distance as well), that movement isn't until after they've done everything damage wise. So you can still use it to prevent shooting/charges, and it is still a large loss of movement for very high, non-Fly things. Is that worth the points, needing multiple biovores to pull off (especially hitting on 5s at 'best'), impossible to use against Fly? Definitely don't think so.

[hivefleetkerrigan]

It works really well against elite armies that don't want to eat mortal wounds. You can also use single mines to block lanes so knights can't move through. I've also used it against horde orks to keep them away from objectives or from being able to charge one of my units.

You also get the psychological warfare aspect of being blocked by a single mine... And that mine will just keep cropping up each turn.

[No One]

hivefleetkerrigan said:

It works really well against elite armies that don't want to eat mortal wounds. You can also use single mines to block lanes so knights can't move through. I've also used it against horde orks to keep them away from objectives or from being able to charge one of my units.

You also get the psychological warfare aspect of being blocked by a single mine... And that mine will just keep cropping up each turn.

If the nid player judges it best to moveblock and the other play judges it best to not eat the mortal, one player is wrong. And it'd usually be the person with their elite unit sitting there uselessly for another turn.

Charge blocking yes, I could see it being useful for that: effectively minimum -3" to charge provided the path is properly blocked (which I'm not sure you could do consistently without multiple units) but even otherwise probably -2", unless Fly. Looking at it that way, not too bad: still don't think it's great as a tech option, since hitting/Fly/mobility to go around etc all render them pretty much moot, and the tech won't even always give concrete results.

[kazetanade]

Move blocking with spores was from a time when you took around 6 and considered double shooting with 1 of the 3. Lanes can be blocked out against fast moving non-fly, or shooters that needed their full range movement, where 2" into 1" charge also meant a max of 6-9" movement after so a net loss, or a lost shooting turn.

This was also before the time of Apothecaries reviving for free, and kill objectives being far more important, so every loss on the unit and every turn bought without damage dealt is a big deal.

Having only 1-3 biovores the tactic does not work and is not recommended for use, otherwise it works very similarly to 30 gaunts catalysed and ran into the enemy's face to stop them moving a turn.

[No One]

kazetanade said:

This was also before the time of Apothecaries reviving for free, and kill objectives being far more important, so every loss on the unit and every turn bought without damage dealt is a big deal.

And also litany of hate (canticle? You know the one ). Because then you just hand your opponent 12" of movement...

[tylertt]

I've had quite a bit of success with the Biovores and move blocking zones. However it is definitely very situational and often they end up not doing a whole lot for their points. When it works, its super trolly and fun.

Normally I use the Biovores in more of my melee or monster mash type lists and try and block opponents or key targets off of objectives. Often I try and position my more threatening towards where the mines land, so even if they make the charge for that extra movement against the mind, it pulls them closer to where they don't want to be.

[afewveiws]

Do realize that if they do the "charge them and they go away and get my 8" movement" action, they arent doing any close combat that turn. This is still a win.

The reason the mines can work is because it creates a worst of 2 evils choice. They have to shoot it, charge it, or ignore it... you inherently win here.

However... all the nonsence you do to miss, a waste of time. They are going to miss enough without trying to.

If you want a reason to not take them, cite the point cost compared to the amount of damage, the use of heavy support slots, or how painfully delicate and slow they are. The gimmick isnt thier problem, its that in order to use it you have to dedicate your whole list to making it actually work out.

Makes me miss the DOM. Plop him down with a alien flesh booger and BOOM! Watch half your enemies army disapear. That was a fun gimmick, the new biovore mechanics are trash and have been since this codex dropped. After they increased thier point costs they became a waste of time to speak of.