Deff Rolla

I have spent some time looking at some of the heavy metal options for the Orks. I do like a big bit of kit on the table and for whatever reason I seem to have a lot of good luck using them in game especially the Deff Dread.

However a particular option for the Battlewagon has caught my eye and it feels like a proper Ork addition to a vehicle - the Deff Rolla!

Deff Rolla

In the 8th Edition the Battlewagon has a WS and can therefore get stuck into Melee. Now there is a big change! So what can it do?

It has a WS of 5+ so a bit crap, it will need to roll 5 or above to hit. On the up side it has a S8 and 6 attacks. All in all, not great. Until you read the Deff Rolla rules. It has the Strength of the User, in this case 8, AP-2 and you add 3 to the hit rolls.....what?!

So now you get 6 attacks, hitting on a 2+ with a Strength of 8 so that it is double most infantry Toughness meaning 2+ to wound and AP-2 significantly reduces the armour save. Even against marines that is some serious damage. 6 Attacks needing 2+ to Hit, 2+ to Wound and armour save of 5+.

I think I need to get me one of these beauties! Bitz Box here I come.

8th Edition Tankbustas

As those that know me will testify, I just love the Tankbastas. I love the very idea of them. They want to go out there and maul vehicles. It is so understandable and just so Orky! They have rokkits and rokkit pistols and tank hammers and bombs of every sort and of course my real favourite Squig bombs!

The Best!

There can be 15 boyz in the unit and you can add 2 squig bombs for every 5 boyz. The boyz are all armed with S8 Rokkit Launchas. They can swap in close combat stuff but I prefer to attack from distance. As usual the downside here is the BS of 5 meaning you need 5+ to hit. So that is an average of 5 hits per turn for the 15 boyz probably needing 3+ to wound but....

Each squig bomb, and there are six, has a BS of 2 and a range of 18". They are single use as explode  with the bomb. They have S8, AP-2 and D6 damage. Now that is pretty cool indeed and their deaths are ignored for the purposes of morale.

If we close the distance to the target the boyz can use Tankbusta Bombs with R6", Grenade D3, S8, AP-2 and D D6. Not bad for Orks and the D3 grenade is a big help to increase the volume of hits as is the D6 damage, especially against multi wound vehicles.

Da Boyz

The unit also benefits from 'Ere we go (re-roll failed charge rolls) and Mob Rule (use the leadership characteristic of any unit within 6")

The thing that really sets them apart though is the Tank Hunters rule. This means that they can  re-roll failed hit rolls when attacking vehicles. Oh yes indeedy folks. This really gives them an edge. In effect it doubles the number of hits achievable.

And for the Squigs .... they hit on a 2+ with a re-roll. In my book that is six guaranteed hits then. For shooting this is as good as it gets!

Now just imagine that there is a particular vehicle that you really want to take out. Weirdboy use Da Jump to move the Tankbustas within 9". Deploy the Bomb Squigs and throw the Tank Busta bombs. So what are we talking as averages against a T7 vehicle?

Bomb Squigs - 6 hits needing 3+ to wound so that is 4 wounds D6 should make it 12 and AP-2 should mean only a 6 will save so with 2 saves that is 10 wounds.

Tankbusta bombs - 5 hits, re-roll the 10 miss's another 3 hits, thats 8, D3 grenade should make it 16 hits needing 3+ to wound call that 10 wounds, D6 should make it 30 and AP-2 should mean only a 6 will save so with 5 saves that is 25 wounds.

In summary - No more vehicle - it is merely a pile of smoking metal with some very happy Tankbusta Boyz standing nearby taking selfies.

8th Edition Loota's

It is a well known fact that Orks are CRAP at shooting. BS of 5 so needing 5+ to hit after which you have to Wound and then the opposing unit gets a chance to make armour saves. The math tell you that this does not add up to much damage.

So how on earth do you get to lay down some serious ranged damage. May I have the pleasure of introducing the Ork Loota.

Loota's

The unit can include 15 Loota's They are armed with Deffguns with R48", Heavy D3, S7, AP-1 and D2.

Things to note: -
1) 48" range. You can stand outside the range of most opposing units and still be effective. This is an important advantage.

2) Heavy, D3. You roll one dice and apply the outcome to the entire unit. So you will have either 15 shots, 30 shots or 45 shots. Volume baby. Likely 33% hit so 5, 10 or 15 hits. Lady luck will have play her part. Heavy makes the unit static so consideration can be given to put the unit in a transport for added mobility and protection. Likely a Battle Wagon to optimise the number of troops in the unit.

3) S7 so when to hit you are likely to be doing damage. Probably wounding on 3+, 66%.

4) D2 so that is doubling the damage if the target has multiple wounds.

5)AP-1 reduces the armour save by one.

That is some tasty output.

Up to 3 Loota's can be replaced with Spanner's. Spanners come with the Mekaniak special rule that allows them to repair a vehicle would once per turn. So it might be worth swapping out one of the Lootas for a Spanner. Bearing in mind that we want these guys operating from distance consideration could be given to arming him with a Souped-up-weapon. Maybe a Kustom Mega Blasta with R24", Assault 1, S8, AP-3, D D3. I think I would likely stick with the Loota's myself.

I think it is safe to say that many an Ork general will be including some Lootas.

Da Boyz are back in town - WAAAAAAGH!

This blog started as a Waaaaagh so this brings us full circle.

It had to happen, the 8th edition has been published and I have been to get my copy. So what does it mean for the green skins? It's all change in the 40k world but is it a good thing? 7th edition was a disaster for Orks. They were pretty unplayable. These are my first thoughts on the new rules.

My beloved 'Ard Boyz are gone. They have been a mainstay for years and, if I am reading the codex right, they the are gone. RIP. They were the first thing I went looking for. Downhearted, I flicked on through the pages. Things got better, much better.....

Da Boyz

STATS
First up, Da Boyz are now S4 and I like it.

FEARLESS
The Mob Rule ability means that the units can use the number of models in the unit instead Leadership for morale. The allowable unit size is up to 30 so this is encouraging the Green Tide. We can be Fearless again. Superb!

Note all template weapons are gone from the game so no need for all that spacing out Da Boyz to maximise the 2" allowable gap. Much better for the green skins and for playing generally.

MOVEMENT
Move is reduced to 5", boo hiss. There is now an Advance option where the unit can move forward a further D6". Charge is a 2D6 test and the 'Ere We Go ability allows this to be re-rolled. There is a 3" Piling In allowance and a Heroic Intervention allowance of 3" for Characters.

So basically move 5", Advance D6 say 3" (8" total), Charge 2D6, with re-rolls, should be 8" (16" total), to Move within 1" of the enemy (17" total) then everything else comes Piling In and uses Heroic Intervention for characters. Yip - that is potentially a good long way!

Disembarking vehicles has to be done before the vehicle moves. So no more racing Da Boyz forward in Trukks and jumping out for some choppa fun. Alternatives need to be found.

Wierdboyz can now choose their Power of Waaagh discipline. Da Jump is a real possibility as a unit can be moved to within 9" of the enemy.

Stormboyz are interesting too. They have a 12" move. They can Advance and Charge the same turn (with some downside but ...). They also have 'Ere we Go and Mob Rule. Upto 30 in a unit. Gosh. So using 12" instead of 5" above thats 24" total. Potential to be in combat during the first turn.

Kommandos can sneak in behind the enemy. He, he. I have used this to my advantage before.

When it is all done units can Consolidate a further 3" towards the enemy.

FIGHTING
I have been having a look through the latest fight rules the first thing that strikes is that Initiative is gone so Da Boyz can hit first when they charge. A proper first for Orks. Yipee!

Waaagh

Overwatch is still a pain, but such is life.

And so to dice......Da Boyz get 2 attacks, plus an attack for using a Choppa (3A's), plus an attack for Green Tide (being more than 20 models in the unit) (4A's), A Wierdboy with Warpath plus another attack (5A's), add Ghazghkull Thraka with his Great Waagh so Da Boyz can Advance and Charge in the same turn and you also get plus one attack for every model in the unit (6A's). I am making that 180 attacks plus the extra ones for Nobs and Boss's etc. Throw in a Waagh Banner and you get plus one to the hit rolls. I mean seriously! (not sure how this will work out points wise but even the thought of it.....)

I think I am going need some more dice and a bloody big bucket to throw them :-)

I am also going to need more models and I just never thought that would be the case with all the Orks currently in my possession.

SUMMARY
Da Boys are back in town - Waaaaaagh!!