Monstrous Arcana

[Empire - Ulric]

So what happened in the games that was played with them?

I've fought against a Kaadi Destroyer in a tourney (Chaos Dwarf list from Tamurkhan so the non Flying variety) Even with Empire (Cannons) the best you can hope for is to tie that thing up all game, it's incredibly hard to kill and way under pointed. A captain on a Pegasus with the Dragon Helm works nicely to tie it up, just don't roll too many 1's. If it starts to fly (Thanks MA) I don't see how you can stop it.

The Basilisk is a beast........ quite simply put it kills everything that it gets involved in combat with, including your stuff. Use with extreme caution. I haven't fought against one myself, but I've seen it used in a game.

I don't have any experience with any of the other monsters from the Arcanum as of yet.

[sulla]

I like all the shiny new monsters and magic items in this book...........however I wonder how much they play tested them? Some of them are so horribly broken it's not funny.

A Flying Kaadi Destroyer anyone? (As if the one that walks wasn't bad enough)

A Carmine Dragon who's breath weapon does 2d6 cannon balls in close combat?

Or the Basilisk....... I like the model and I like the rules..... except the rolling a dice at the start of the cc phase for every model in the combat involving the basilisk. That could really slow down the game, imagine a couple of hordes are involved, nothing like rolling 80+ dice before you even get to swing!

There is some nicely balanced stuff in there though.

Don't forget that they are designed for Storm of Magic; a game where those creatures can be unbound by a 3+ spell that every sorceror knows. In my experience, if you field a large, expensive monster, it will be targeted by 2-4 unbinds every phase. It's not uncommon to have a monster attacking it's own side as early as turn 2...


But, yes, if you use the monsters in a normal game, they can be hellishly unbalanced.

[Gwraith]

My fav has to be the Warpfire Dragon, picked myself up the lovely new model the other day Its awesome, and wasnt that expensive by FWorld standards either, it was only a tenner more than the Dark Elf Dargon it is loosely based on. Only uses the same torso and wings, comes with an awesome scenic base, and you can make it a magician without having to take the Emperor version unlike most other dragons which makes it sensational for SoM games. Even in a 2000 point game you can afford to make it a level 4 wizard if you want too. Overall was very impressed with the new Arcanum, lovely artwork, cool beasts, even a really good storyline which has been somewhat lacking in some of the new FWorld books. They still need to find a new proof-reader though

[sulla]

My fav has to be the Warpfire Dragon, picked myself up the lovely new model the other day Its awesome, and wasnt that expensive by FWorld standards either, it was only a tenner more than the Dark Elf Dargon it is loosely based on. Only uses the same torso and wings, comes with an awesome scenic base, and you can make it a magician without having to take the Emperor version unlike most other dragons which makes it sensational for SoM games.

Out of curiosity, does it come with the complete DE dragon kit including the riders, or just the plastics necessary to make the warpfire?

[AngelofSorrow]

Just the necessary pieces. No rider sprue

It is a spectacular model though.


Ready for eternal war!

[Deaf Paradox]

Out of curiosity, does it come with the complete DE dragon kit including the riders, or just the plastics necessary to make the warpfire?

There are two frames in the Black Dragon box and the Warpfire Dragon comes with the frame that consists of the dragon only. In which you only need the main body and wings. The rest is juicy extras you can use for whatever conversions you have in mind or sell it on ebay.

[Feefait]

I tried the basilisk yesterday. Ogre cannon hit it once, did 4 wounds turn 1 and then 5 wounds turn 2 after I missed my gaze attack. Stupid ogres. For the cost I just don't think it's worth it, at least against heavy hitting or artillery wielding armies.

[sulla]

I tried the basilisk yesterday. Ogre cannon hit it once, did 4 wounds turn 1 and then 5 wounds turn 2 after I missed my gaze attack. Stupid ogres. For the cost I just don't think it's worth it, at least against heavy hitting or artillery wielding armies.

Hide him behind a fulcrum until you've dealt with the cannon (admittedly Ironblasters are extremely difficult to deal with unless you have your own cannons)...

[Ender Shadowkin]

I've fought against a Kaadi Destroyer in a tourney (Chaos Dwarf list from Tamurkhan so the non Flying variety) Even with Empire (Cannons) the best you can hope for is to tie that thing up all game, it's incredibly hard to kill and way under pointed. A captain on a Pegasus with the Dragon Helm works nicely to tie it up, just don't roll too many 1's. If it starts to fly (Thanks MA) I don't see how you can stop it.

.

I've played WITH a destoryer in a bunch of games including two 5 game tournies. It actualy dies roughly 80% of the time. Crumblining, self-imolation, poison, High strength attacks, spells (spirit leach one time), dragon bane heroes, it's not as hard as your 1 experience may project. Its pretty much a missile. Makes the CD list workable though as it gets a lot of attenetion. I would rate it slightly bettern then a hell pit, if at all. It is particularly good agains T3 armies, which it seams like yours was.

Interestingly enough, there are 5 or more monsters in the Monsterous Arcana with that non-magic weapons are -1 to wound rule. Forge world seams to like that one.

[Antipathy]

Having got into the hobby only recently, I wasn't too sure about getting the more expensive books, but I bought Monstrous Arcanum and Tamurkhan on the suggestion that they are the more well written books in the game.

Things I find quite amazing - the Emperor Carmine Dragon - the Dragon's traditional weakness of low Initiative is nullified. Not entirely sure how it deserves I7. Throw in its Magic levels (despite bringing it to nearly 900 points), and you've got a L4 Death Caster capable of being nigh immune to a misplaced Purple Sun, Doom and Darkness before Terror Bombing, 2 attempts at Character Sniping with it's Cannonball Breath Weapon following a Fate of Bjuna. It's only redeeming feature is that it's not got a Ward Save, but it can survive around 3 cannonballs. With Storm of Magic, you can simply summon a Lifeweaver (and that's if you've not taken one as a Wood Elf already), and use a combination of Earthblood, Regrowth, Storm of Renewal, (and hence 3 Lifeblooms), and Verdurous Harmony to heal basically any and all damage it's suffered, while halving incoming damage.

Yes, it would require work and luck to get all those off, but I find that with the right help, that the Carmine Dragon is the deadliest one so far.

Warpfire Dragons are also excellent - a Flying Stone Thrower that can be fired multiple times in a game for 285 points? Sure, it's not much a fighter, but even so 4 S5 Attacks, the Warpfire Aura and a Thunderstomp can rack up kills. Then again, the ability to fly should keep it out of sight of the enemy, while it's I4 keeps it resilient against Initiative or Die test, (not to mention the Miscast on a Double 1). It can't be stopped by an Ethereal like all most other monsters (that's if you can get an Ethereal to reach it). It's weakness? Ld7, but that can be nullified with careful placement.

Phoenix - a Thunderstomping, Always Strikes First, S4-autohit-before-combat, Flying directional cannonball with Ld9, with basically a 5+ Ward causing a S5 hit on enemies for 220 points?

Preyton - S5 D3 Impact Hits, Flying, 5 S5 Attacks, Flying, Terror Causing, Reroll Misses, and nullifying an enemies "wounds caused" for Combat resolution, for 175 points. Beastly.

Dread Saurian - Although Expensive (560 points), you've got an Ethereal Unbreakable T8, HKB S8 Chomp, 6 Attacks causing D3 wounds, Thunderstomping monster. With the slower movement, it doesn't extend far ahead of your Slann Bunker, and can stall untill the cows come home.

Wolf Rats - 2 Wound M8 monsters with 2 S4 attacks each and Always Strike First - perfect War Machine hunters, and at only 80 points each, far too good. Might as well just take 4 units of them for ~320 points, as they are an excellent redirector as well.

Mourngul - might just be me, but I find it to be near unkillable with support. 5 wounds and carnophage, combining its ability to make enemies ASL, means that it usually heals at least some damage, before the Thunderstomp heals any damage done back. Yes, it doesn't have armour or combat ward save, but it can easily get them through magic which in SoM is so prevalent.

The Exalted Vermin Lord is particularly nasty against any Monster - 7 I9 ASF S7 Magical Attacks causing Multiple Wounds. However, for its cost, it should be that deadly. As for againsts a unit, however, that same amount of attacks and a thunderstomp are likely to see it cope for the most part, especially as it can Dreaded 13th, and Plague in the same turn to decimate the enemy.

By far though, the Preyton is one of my favourite in the book though - it's not too large, and I'm hoping it will be included in an updated Wood Elves, as possibly something to work with the Shadow Fey.

[Darnok]

Since this is no longer news or rumours: off to WHF General.


Darnok [=I=]

[Private_SeeD]

If my situation was different I'd plan on buying a Warpfire dragon cause its rules are good and its not too expensive money wise. bar that I love how bad ass of the Dread Saurian but unless they release an awesome model its the wapfire dragon for me

[Darnok]

Currently I'm waiting for the Mournghoul, Dread Saurian and Merwyrm. I would like to have all of them, and I'm curious about the actual models.

[Athelassan]

By far though, the Preyton is one of my favourite in the book though - it's not too large, and I'm hoping it will be included in an updated Wood Elves, as possibly something to work with the Shadow Fey.

I'm also a big fan of the Preyton (although I dislike the spelling - it should be a Peryton, surely...) I believe it will be one of the next Warhammer Forge models released as previews have been seen at open days etc.: I do hope it's affordable. I can't see it making its way into a Wood Elves army, though - I suspect it'll remain FW only.

[zoggin-eck]

Currently I'm waiting for the Mournghoul, Dread Saurian and Merwyrm. I would like to have all of them, and I'm curious about the actual models.

These are the ones I'm waiting for, too!

The Dread Saurian sounds great, as the art looks different enough to just being a huge dinosaur. That is, it has a bit of "GW feel" to it, and I relly hope the model reflects this, rather than just a toy dinosaur painted up.

I hope they keep the "body bending sideways" type look for the Merwyrm. Very aquatic, kind of like an eel, and makes it different enough to a wingless dragon conversion.

[Vogon]

I'm waiting for the K'Daai Destroyer (and the Bull Centaurs) to round out my Chaos Dwarf army. After I'm done with that I'll just have to see what models I like the look of. That's more important to me than the rules that go with them.

Cheers

Vogon

[Morkash]

Very excited about the Mourngul as well. Also looking forward to the Magma Dragon, as well as the K'daii Destroyer of course!

Oh, yes and the Warpfire Dragon is also on my list... I was a fan of it ever since I first saw it, but recently I saw a fantastically painted version in the Fantasy logs, I don't remember the particular log though... the dragon was only green and grey and looked fantastic!

[snyggejygge]

I've played WITH a destoryer in a bunch of games including two 5 game tournies. It actualy dies roughly 80% of the time. Crumblining, self-imolation, poison, High strength attacks, spells (spirit leach one time), dragon bane heroes, it's not as hard as your 1 experience may project. Its pretty much a missile. Makes the CD list workable though as it gets a lot of attenetion. I would rate it slightly bettern then a hell pit, if at all. It is particularly good agains T3 armies, which it seams like yours was.

Interestingly enough, there are 5 or more monsters in the Monsterous Arcana with that non-magic weapons are -1 to wound rule. Forge world seams to like that one.

Yes of course it's just slightly better than a hell pit abomb , I guess that's why they made an errata on it http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Download...amurkhanQA.pdf & we have topics about it on warseer about being OP, not to mention that everybody already agrees on the a-bomb being too good for its points already (& that is a 7:th ed monster which is likely to get a pointsincrease). I like this book, in fact I love it, but tbh some things are just too good for 8:th ed warhammer, the Destroyer is one of those things.

[Vaiuri]

Yeah. Maybe it's the pic, but my first reaction was thinking "that's terrible".

Haha, I'm totally the opposite, I looked at him and thought 'thats cool'! Its nice to see a dragon with a neck thick enough to hold up its own head for a change - so sick of these skinny serpentine things, its great to see a different take on a Dragon.