Maybe it is just sour grapes after getting beaten so badly the last two games, but I could not help doing some comparisons after seeing the new Space Marine Codex. Here is a Troops option from each army costing 11 points. Since the point system is used to balance each unit to be roughly equivalent on the tabletop and result in relatively even games, you would think it would be a toss-up as to which unit was better, with playstyle and personal preference being the deciding factor. But when I line them up side by side, it seems pretty obvious that the scout is a better and more versatile option for the same cost.
The scout gives up one attack and the 'Ere We Go special rule for +2BS, +1S, +1In, +1Ld, Infiltrate, Scout, Chapter Tactics and Move Through Cover. I think the shoota is comprable to having a bolt pistol and bolter (because of the bolt weapons better AP). And when it comes to morale, the has mob rule which might let you pass morale for the cost of killing some boyz, but the scout has ATSKNF which means they will always rally and will never be killed in a Sweeping Advance, which is a fairly common occurance for my boyz. Both units have options for Fast, Assault transports (trukk or land speeder storm) and weapon options (close combat weapon and pistol)
When you compare the scout to its closest equivalent in terms of function in the ork army, the kommandos, the comparison is even more one-sided, in my opinion.
A kommando is ten points instead of 11, but has basically no options other than a few special weapons. The scout can have four different weapon loadouts (bolter & bolt pistol, bolt pistol & CCW, sinper rifle, space marine shotgun) as well as camo cloaks and a transport option, as well as special and heavy weapons options just like the orks. The scouts are also better at destroying vehicles due to their krak grenades. So despite the kommandos being "elite", the scout is much more versatile. In the old 3rd edition codex, kommandos could have shootas and tankbusta bombs, but for some reason they took those options away, even though I think they are very much in the character of what kommandos are and reasonable considering they are Elites.
I would rather use the scout rules for my kommandos, but I doubt many marine players would pick the kommando rules for their scouts. I think in general, regular ork boyz and their various specialists are a bit over-priced.
Anyway... enough whining and crying from me. Time to start planning a better strategy for next game. Because the truth is, I did not lose a battle of attrition because my units are a slightly worse value for their points. I got totally slaughtered because I did not manuever properly and didn't allow my units to support each other properly. I will definitely play a little smarter next game. And hopefully we will have a mission that requries mobility, where my biggest advantage is. I don't have good odds in a straight-up slug fest, but in a mission that forces both armies to play aggressively or flexibly, I think I have a good shot because of my wider mix of unit types. We'll see what the next game brings!
Hmm. What 11 points buys you. Interesting comparison. The orks are soundly outclassed in stats for sure. In smaller games in which a single point of S, T, or I can make or break a melee, the fact that the scout is so much better is an unfair advantage. However, I suspect that the reason their points are similar is that 40k is intended for larger battles w large. super killy units that can wipe out a squad w one blast of it's ultracannon. Space marines are awesome in a side by side comparison to other troops but they're all just ash when the smoke clears from the attack from that S9 AP2 blast weapon or a barrage from the Exocrine (plasma gun stats and assault 6). I feel a separate points value for different size games would be better. Like a cost for less than 2000pts and a cost for greater than 2000.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you're right that it doesn't matter as much in bigger games. Sometimes it just seems that certain units or armies are not properly balanced in points costs. And once you pick an army and start painting, you can't mix and match and switch for the most efficient choices like you can in a game like Magic.
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