LVO FAQ: Sporocysts Usable?

[TheDeepestShadow]

More of a PSA than anything, but for anyone going to LVO, the judges have ruled that Sporocysts are able to deploy within 3" of terrain:

"12/27/2021 12:55:51
The spororcyst's Bombardment Organism rules allow it to deploy before the start of first turn "anywhere on the battlefield that is more than 9" away from enemy models." Does this fall under the "unless otherwise stated" rider on deployment restrictions for units with the fortifications battlefield role and allow it to be set up within 3" of a terrain feature? Note also that the Sporocyst itself is a monster, and does not have the terrain or building keyword.

Yes. A sporocyst can be deployed within 3 of terrain. "

This is relevant only to this event, but could potentially be in used as a precedent for other ITC events considering the status of LVO. With the Crusher Stampede adding some durability to these nutsacks, I think there's some potential bringing them to dictate how the opponent moves, and if they survive they can provide some manner of volume fire and Synapse web layering.

[hivefleetkerrigan]

I thought GW had stated that I'd you couldn't place your fortification to move terrain but I'm glad that they have this FAQ for lvo

[TheDeepestShadow]

Jan 2, 2022 17:41:47 GMT hivefleetkerrigan said:

I thought GW had stated that I'd you couldn't place your fortification to move terrain but I'm glad that they have this FAQ for lvo

Yea I think the ruling here is leveraging the "Unless otherwise stated" part of that blurb in the BRB for Fortifications. I could see either side being valid but I'm happy with this ruling simply because it makes the unit playable, even if it is not necessarily any good.

[piersonsmuppet]

Tyrannocyte still is less pts, less CP, and can charge for MWs. Player placed terrain may be the only time they are usable, being able to set up choke points for them to block makes up for the above.

[TheDeepestShadow]

Jan 2, 2022 19:37:22 GMT piersonsmuppet said:

Tyrannocyte still is less pts, less CP, and can charge for MWs. Player placed terrain may be the only time they are usable, being able to set up choke points for them to block makes up for the above.

Right that's the point, LVO is using player placed terrain. Shared Faction bonus also means no CP expenditure for Fortificaton Network, Sporocysts forward deploy I would say is an entirely different role to a Tyrannocyte dropping in later.

[bigpig]

Hah, that was my question. Sent it in a few days ago. I sent it to GWFAQ also and they didn't respond. Glad to see FLG getting in on it. Now to decide if I want to use them

[TheDeepestShadow]

Jan 3, 2022 0:57:21 GMT bigpig said:

Hah, that was my question. Sent it in a few days ago. I sent it to GWFAQ also and they didn't respond. Glad to see FLG getting in on it. Now to decide if I want to use them

Thanks for asking! I love the idea of them even if they don't end up being good, and I'll probably end up bringing them anyways just since they are an interesting tech piece to catch people off guard.

[No One]

It's adding a unit that can't score in an army with limited scoring options, and can act as a slingshot/hostage. I could see it if the terrain consistently supports useful bodyblocking, but with player placed terrain I'm honestly not sure that's happening.

[bigpig]

Jan 3, 2022 1:42:20 GMT No One said:

It's adding a unit that can't score in an army with limited scoring options, and can act as a slingshot/hostage. I could see it if the terrain consistently supports useful bodyblocking, but with player placed terrain I'm honestly not sure that's happening.

Don't disagree with you at all. Army is really strapped for options as it is. When I was originally floating this I was seeing them as the ability to body block with self and spores and just gum up middle board being a low priority target with a bunch of strangler shot and access to +1 to hit. After a couple practice games with it I'm not sure about it. Just does not seem to deliver what is says it does on the box, ESPECIALLY since it doesn't hold or contest objectives. Question the wording on it since I can never find that part. Is it "doesn't hold/contest objects" or "score objectives." As the former can still do EoaF, might be a little more viable

[No One]

AIRCRAFT units and units with the Fortifications Battlefield Role can never control objective markers – exclude these units when determining which player controls an objective marker.

So yeah, could get engage with it, but I think strangle is the better secondary (provided mission supports), and no help there.

[TheDeepestShadow]

I did end up getting a few games in and sadly it does seem that the big sacs, while amusing with how they impact enemy movement, do not do enough to justify when you could take another ScytheDule. With the already limited model count, I found myself lacking in damage redundancy. Oh well, maybe with the eventual codex they'll feel better but doesn't seem lie they'll be going with me to LVO.

On the plus side, transporting them is annoying so at least I won't need to deal with that.