*** Obligatory Long / Rambling Read Warning ***
So I decided to try out "Quadrant Theory" (
See this thread over in the Tactics section) and evaluate my Space Wolves list.
Space Wolves - 2000 Points - 11CP at Deployment - Strike Force - Matched Play
Battalion Detachment
HQ:
Bjorn the Fell Handed - Multi-melta, Trueclaw, Heavy Flamer - 180
Chaplain - Jump Pack, Relic: Benediction of Fury, Mantra Of Strength, Warlord: Imperiums Sword, Warrior Of Legend: Hunter - 105, 1CP
Lieutenant - Arjac Rockfist - Foehammer - 120
Troops:
10 Assault Intercessors - 190
5 Infiltrators - 120
5 Infiltrators - 120
Elite:
5 Hounds Of Morkai - 110
Fast Attack:
5 Cyberwolves - 75
5 Inceptors - Plasma Exterminators - 300
4 Thunderwolf Cavalry - 3x Storm Shield / Power Fist, Pack Leader with Storm Shield / Thunder Hammer - 245
Heavy Support:
3 Eliminators - 75
Vindicator Laser Destroyer - 175
Vindicator Laser Destroyer - 175
I've been slowly putting this list together since the lockdowns were put in place back in January, and have yet to assemble around half of it. I've yet to play a single game with this list because my goal was to fully paint this army before playing it. I've not even test-driven this in TTS either.
Ok, we have the list. Next, what secondaries are we going to take?
I realized in building this iteration of the list I literally never even thought through secondaries for it. I figured I'd take some killy stuff that looks cool, and take some kill secondaries and go fight on primary objectives and call it a day. Quadrant Theory means I need to know what my "default" secondaries are going to be so I can figure out what does what.
So uh, what's this list good at??? Uh... Well it's good at killing stuff I guess.
I thought "well, what secondaries are good these days?. Stranglehold and Retrieve Octarius Data are popular right now, I'll take those and... Heroic Challenge from the Space Wolves list looks good, I have 3 big punchy characters that can go beat up some guy on the other side."
Alright, here we go, let's apply Quadrant Theory and see how awesome my army is!!!!
Primary:
Assault Intercessors
Secondary:
Infiltrators (ROD)
Infiltrators (ROD)
Arjac Rockfist or Bjorn The Fell Handed (whoever got selected for Heroic Challenge)
Support:
Arjac Rockfist or Bjorn The Fell Handed (whoever was NOT selected for Heroic Challenge)
Chaplain
Trade:
Hounds of Morkai
Cyberwolves
Inceptors
Thunderwolves
Eliminators
Vindicator Laser Destroyer
Vindicator Laser Destroyer
I looked proudly at my quadrant theory list above for a moment... And thought... Then this image came to mind....
What the heck was I thinking? I have one unit whose goal is to go after primary objectives and I'm taking Stranglehold? My Infiltrators are the only thing whose primary goal is to do Retrieve Data, and they are suppose to be screening my backfield too? I'm suppose to get Bjorn or Arjac across the board safely to fight the nominated guy for the Challenge?
I got really discouraged. "My list is crap... This is why I test play things first" I thought at first...
Surely I had just done Quadrant Theory wrong, I'm a great list designer! let's re-watch the video again....
Then it hit me. 4 and a half minutes into the video.
Ok, what does my army actually do well? Well, I'm actually quite nimble, the point of having the Saga Of The Hunter Chaplain and Thunderwolves as my core pieces was to charge quickly and pop the Saga Of The Hunter so I can give all my Core units Advance + Charge and then I can flex across the battlefield with crazy agility.
Well... wait a minute...
Warrior Pride - Score 3VP if you have 2 units in engagement range or that completed a charge move this turn.
Incidently, I also happen to have some Phobos units that can get advance deployment and can start just 9" away, but they are meant to be action doers and don't have melee weapons...
<2 hours of battlescribe'ing later>
Updated List:
Space Wolves - 2000 Points - 10CP at Deployment - Strike Force - Matched Play
Battalion Detachment
HQ:
Bjorn the Fell Handed - Multi-melta, Trueclaw, Heavy Flamer - 180
Primaris Chaplain on Bike - Master of Sanctity, Relic: Benediction of Fury, Warlord: Wise Orator, Warrior Of Legend: Hunter, Exhortation Of Rage, Canticle Of Hate - 140, 1CP
Libarian in Phobos Armour - Extra Relic: The Wulfen Stone, Tempestas Powers: Murderous Hurricane, Instincts Awoken - 100, 1CP
Troops:
10 Assault Intercessors - 190
5 Incursors - 105
5 Incursors - 105
Elite:
5 Hounds Of Morkai - 110
Fast Attack:
5 Cyberwolves - 75
5 Inceptors - Plasma Exterminators - 300
4 Thunderwolf Cavalry - 4x Storm Shield / Thunder Hammer - 260
Heavy Support:
3 Eliminators - 75
Vindicator Laser Destroyer - Hunter Killer Missile - 180
Vindicator Laser Destroyer - Hunter Killer Missile - 180
Secondaries:
Shock Tactics - Take control of an objective your opponent controlled at the start of your turn.
Retrieve Octarius Data - 4x Actions in Table Quarters
Warrior Pride - Two units in engagement range or completed a charge this turn.
Updated Quadrant Theory:
Primary:
Assault Intercessors
Eliminators
Secondary:
Primaris Chaplain On Bike
Cyberwolves
Incursors
Incursors
Hounds Of Morkai
Support:
Bjorn The Fell Handed
Phobos Librarian
Trade:
Inceptors
Thunderwolves
Vindicator Laser Destroyer
Vindicator Laser Destroyer
Actually Thought About Scoring Plan:
Shock Tactics and Warrior Pride actually combo really nicely to create an incentive to really storm one or two key objective(s) each turn, denying opponent primary along the way.
I've grabbed all the bonuses the Chaplain and Librarian have access to that improve or support charging (Saga of the Hunter, The Wulfen Stone, Canticle Of Hate, Murderous Hurricane) and can ensure I'll very reliably make at least 2 charges each turn.
Phobos/Reiver armoured units are all focused on actions around the board with their advanced deployment, outflank ability, and Guerilla Tactics Strategem to re-enter reserves to warp around the board helping make it easy to score at least 8, if not 12 for ROD, or one of them could even provide an early-game charge for helping with other secondaries.
Eliminators hold a back field objective and Assault Intercessors provide the second-wave moving into midfield supported by Bjorn with the goal of linking up with my Phobos units.
Chaplain, Thunderwolves, and Cyberwolves have rediculous (read turn 1) charge/threat ranges on most boards and can pinball around with fall-back-and-charge once Saga Of The Hunter activates, while throwing buffs and charging/clearing primary objectives, scoring Warrior Pride and Shock Tactics while doing so.