The Screaming Bell

[huitzilopochtli]

Any advice on how best to use this model? Seems like points would be better spent on an abomination, but I like the model and am toying with the idea of starting some skaven....all help appreciated!

[Metacarpi]

Any advice on how best to use this model? Seems like points would be better spent on an abomination, but I like the model and am toying with the idea of starting some skaven....all help appreciated!

In a word? Defensively.

It provides a nice boost to Inspiring Presence, has some nice results on it's "Ringing The Bell" chart, and is an awesome looking unit.

Downsides - it's a cannon magnet and you don't want it getting into combat as it houses your general.

[tarrym]

Yeah it's definitely not a unit that you want to get into combat - at least not as your main offensive push! Your opponent will simply not issue a challenge and then all of a sudden your Grey Seer basically has a 60mm wide base and only a 4+ ward save to protect it.

In games of 2000-2500pts I probably wouldn't bother using one sadly. But at 3000pts + you can fairly easily fit one in without sacrificing the effectiveness of the army.

And they are definitely a fun unit to play with. The random effects from the bell are just great at giving a game some random twists

[Hashut-Up!]

I absolutely love the bell for many of the reasons stated above. Awesome model and helpful with the leadership bubble range boost and ringing benefits. As metacarpi said, the bell is a cannon magnet but that can be dealt with in a variety of ways with the skaven. howling warpgale from the skaven Lore of Ruin and the anti-shooting banner (forget what it's called at the moment) both can shut down any shooting that can be sent at it.

As well, another way I've fielded the bell is with target saturation in mind and forcing your opponent to deal with the bell, or more immediate threats like a hellpit abomination/doomwheels/plague furnace/Warp Lightning Cannon (and looks great on the field, huge ramshackle constructs surrounded by swarms of ratmen? Epic!). This way they will have to pick their poison and try to deal with the presented targets in the best manner or face the wrath of the others at some point in the game. If you include some gutter runners with poisoned attacks you can also deal with enemy artillery quickly and efficiently, putting even more pressure on their choice of targets.

At 3000 pts (what my group typically plays) you can manage all of the above tactics with ease and your opponents will be very hard pressed to kill your bell, with the exception of a lucky cannon/stonethrower hit or two in the opening turns.

[Ratarsed]

I hardly ever take the bell. It pins down my Grey Seer and I love skitterleaping him to benificial spots from which to cast his magic. Also he can be killed by 1 good cannon shot. At least in a unit he gets a 2+ look out sir then his ward.

[Lord Solar Plexus]

That's not exactly what he asked...

Why don't you use it in combination with other big stuff? Double DW, Furnace, something like this. That makes a nice theme and dilutes cannon fire, if that should be a problem for some reason. Add the Stormbanner and press ahead.

[Ratarsed]

That's not exactly what he asked...

Why don't you use it in combination with other big stuff? Double DW, Furnace, something like this. That makes a nice theme and dilutes cannon fire, if that should be a problem for some reason. Add the Stormbanner and press ahead.

It pins down my Grey Seer and I love skitterleaping him to benificial spots from which to cast his magic.

This is the main reason above all else. No amount of list fiddling can change that. The cannon risk is a minor annoyance because I do take a plague furnace and he gets no ward save. But an annoyance it is.

[Lord Solar Plexus]

But his first question was how to use the Bell, not whether he should use something else. Skitterleaping is cool but you never know if it goes through. I've dispelled it before and a Tzeentch sorc on disc or a unit of Pistoliers can still catch you. Also, an 18" Ld bubble has a lot of merit.

[amazingdev2005]

Another Screaming Bell fan! I've used one in almost every game and seem to have a playstyle with it down now. I have my Grey Seer as the General. Risky, I know; I like the 18" leadership bubble. I have a unit of clanrats 40-50 pushing the bell. I haven't shied away from combat with it, and in fact utilize the Unbreakable unit as my strongest anvil. I don't worry about it as a cannon-magnet. That 4+ ward goes a long way, and as others have said we have the Storm Banner and a Ruin magic spell to protect from shooting. That's about all I can count on with the Bell. The ringing table is very random. I've had the gongs destroy a building housing a unit of Saurus (who almost all failed their Init test and died) to backfiring and maiming my own units. Probably not the most competitive, but always a lot of fun. You can protect the Seer a bit from CC attacks with the Rival Hide and Fencer's Blades. Skalm has helped in many games. Try not to eat those Warpstone Tokens, though. If they're anything like mine you'll always roll a "1."

[huitzilopochtli]

Thanks for all the replies, guys!

What I'm hearing is, the bell is best used as a platform for a general - 18" inspiring presence - and either hidden away or as an anvil - unbreakable unit. I'm not massively worried about cannons. In my usual group nobody plays empire or dwarves.

I'll see how these ideas pan out next time I play my brother - he actually has one in his army - and if it looks good I'll be getting one for my rival clan in future.

Thanks again!