N18 Help with building first Van Saar list

[cvdasf]

Hi there,

I’m brand new to necromunda (and wargaming in general) and I am attempting to build my first list. I’m joining a local dominion campaign that’s starting next month. I’ve decided to try the Van Saar. It seems like the campaign is mostly experienced players with a few new ones thrown in. I want a list that will be semi straight forward and a bit forgiving as I’m so new. I don’t want to pick something terribly casual but also don’t necessarily have to pick the “best” list out there. I do want to be able to compete though with the more experienced players. I’d love feedback on these! For what it’s worth I know there will be two palatine enforcer gangs, delaque, Goliath, and a venator gang. There will be more but those are the ones that I know about.



Please feel free to give as much info as you’d like and suggest whatever you think . Here are my list ideas I’ve come across. I don’t mind buying extra bits / guns to fill out what’s needed.


Also an important note is this campaign is WYSIWYG.



List 1 -

Prime - Lasgun, Mesh armour, Overseer

Augmek - Lascannon, Suspensor, Mesh armour, Munitioneer

Augmek - Lascannon, Suspensor, Mesh armour, Munitioneer

Specialist - Lasgun

Subtek - Lasgun

Subtek - Lasgun



Thoughts:



This seems like it’s very strong gun wise but lacking badly in any sort of melee or body count / activations power. I feel like If I lost one or two guys I’d be absolutely screwed.



List 2 -

Leader - Laspistol, Armored Bodyglove, Overseer

Augmek (Gunslinger) - Plasma Gun, Mesh Armor, Fast Shot

Archeotek (Tech Assassin) - Las Sub-carbine, Mesh Armor, Munitioneer, Torsonic Cyberteknika (Alpha)

Tek - Flamer, Bodyglove

Tek - Lasgun

Tek - Laspistol

Prospect – Neotek (Grav-Cutter) - Lasgun



Thoughts:

This is my bad attempt at having a more well rounded team. I feel like this isn’t good at anything though? Master of none average at everything?


Thanks in advance!

 

[katfezza]

Out of the two lists I think the second will be more interesting to build, paint, and use. It has some speed in the neotek for objective stuff, and can still dish out some damage with teh plasmagun. Only thing I'd maybe change is the flamer as they are a bit expensive, you may be better served with a hand flamer on the neotek and getting something else for your specialist. You could gather a few more creds by changing the lasgun tek to a subtek. BS4+ is still decent enough with a lasgun. Don't forget that your gang heirarchy models can buy guns from the trading post so you could save towards a bolter or grenade launcher.

The issue with the first list is low numbers and overspending on lascannons that are of less use outside the ash wastes. They will be overkill against most single targets, and you won't be facing vehicles in Dominion. A plasmacannon would still do a good job dealing with tough targets and has rapid fire.

 

[cvdasf]

Out of the two lists I think the second will be more interesting to build, paint, and use. It has some speed in the neotek for objective stuff, and can still dish out some damage with teh plasmagun. Only thing I'd maybe change is the flamer as they are a bit expensive, you may be better served with a hand flamer on the neotek and getting something else for your specialist. You could gather a few more creds by changing the lasgun tek to a subtek. BS4+ is still decent enough with a lasgun. Don't forget that your gang heirarchy models can buy guns from the trading post so you could save towards a bolter or grenade launcher.

The issue with the first list is low numbers and overspending on lascannons that are of less use outside the ash wastes. They will be overkill against most single targets, and you won't be facing vehicles in Dominion. A plasmacannon would still do a good job dealing with tough targets and has rapid fire.

Thank you for this info Appreciate it!

 

[Hobo86]

I agree with katfezza

first ganglist:
lascanons work on 3D boards.... less so on 2D boards. I would start with maximum 1 heavy weapon and a plasma cannon may be more practical as long as long as brutes remain scarce. lascanons are usefull but not as a first pick.
(get more bodies)

second ganglist:
-gunslinger doesn't work on your plasma gun, only on plasma pistols, ...
-perhaps a gravgun or second plasma gun has a higher utility for the spec a high BS gang?
both your archeotek and prime boost your augmek, this would interact better with a plasma gun spec

strengths of other gangs:
goliath: high toughness means you may need more killing power (high strength ranged weapons) and smoke negating gear
enforcers: they may attempt to use flashbangs, disperse your dudes and try to keep them pinned as their basic BS is lower
delaque: have your dudes support each other, your prospect with a hand flamer can be handy against infiltrators
venator ?

weakness of van saar:
they're expensive, more lasgun juves or hive scum can help you to have more bodies

 

[Psyan]

The first list is brutal, possibly as rough as 3 or 4 Plasma Gun gang and the second list is probably underpowered. Just as a helpful hint, never buy a regular Flamer and in general, don't put template weapons on low-manueverability fighters. A Hand Flamer on a Neotek would be far more useful.

I'm not personally a fan of Overseer, as I feel like it's a waste of your best fighter, but lots of people like it in power builds.

Here's my 1000cr starter list. Strong, but not OP and with room to grow.

Scions of Mars New

Van Saar (HoA) gang with a rating of 1000 by Psyan

yaktribe.games

 

[Hobo86]

a er... way too few bodies-list / should swap the plasmagun for more subteks :

Munda Manager

A gang management tool for the boardgame Necromunda

www.mundamanager.com

 

[Psyan]

The low body count on the first list is indeed perilously, exploitably low... they could bottle after a single casualty and if I were playing against it, that's probably what I'd be angling to do.
That said, those Overseered, suspensored Lascannons are likely to reliably remove 2 enemy fighters per turn. It's a glass cannon list.

 

[cvdasf]

Would love to hear any thoughts on this new list. I've tried taking the feedback I've gotten from the various people on here and reddit and combined it into a list.

Prime (Leader): Plasma Gun, Mesh Armour, Iron Will


Augmek (Champion): Plasma Gun, Mesh Armour, Trick shot


Augmek (Champion): Plasma Gun, Mesh Armour, Trick shot


Tek (Ganger): Lasgun, Mesh Armour, Fixer


Tek (Ganger): Lasgun, Mesh Armour, munitioneer


Subtek (Juve): Lasgun


Subtek (Juve): Lasgun





Total Credits: 965 / 1000

 

[Psyan]

That's a strong list! Triple plasma is really good and some may accuse you of going WAAC (win at all costs), but with Van Saar, all the other Special Weapons options are at least as expensive as the Plasma Gun and less effective.

I see that you have some creds left over... I'd suggest dropping the Mesh Armor from your Teks and adding another Subtek.

Also, you don't start with skills on your regular Teks, only on Primes, Augmeks and (if you take one, I don't at the start) Archaeotek. Also, Iron Will is an ok choice, but Fixer and Hip Shooting are both far better.

 

[Psyan]

Also, if you want to see an extra cheesy list, here's my example:

Munda Manager

A gang management tool for the boardgame Necromunda

www.mundamanager.com

 

[Hobo86]

yes, I wanted to suggest hipshooting as well.
At +2 BS trickshot is a nice to hav,e but mobility can help you get those +2 to hit at short range

 

[Psyan]

A hip-shooting Augmek with a Meltagun is one of my go to fighters (his name is Frank)... especially when I get the tactics card that increases the range to 18". It's a useful skill on a slow, shooty gang.

 

[cvdasf]

That's a strong list! Triple plasma is really good and some may accuse you of going WAAC (win at all costs), but with Van Saar, all the other Special Weapons options are at least as expensive as the Plasma Gun and less effective.

I see that you have some creds left over... I'd suggest dropping the Mesh Armor from your Teks and adding another Subtek.

Also, you don't start with skills on your regular Teks, only on Primes, Augmeks and (if you take one, I don't at the start) Archaeotek. Also, Iron Will is an ok choice, but Fixer and Hip Shooting are both far better.

Thank you for telling me about the skills on the teks. I read the rules wrong, appreciate you clarifying! That would have been awkward .

As far as WAAC goes I suspect I will lose most games as this is my first minis game and they have been playing for many many years. That's part of why I went with the same gun as I was thinking it'd be easier to learn / memorize things then having all different guns.

I love your list! The cheese names really made me laugh. Would you mind telling me about the long las and how you use it / how it's gone in games? I was literally thinking about seeing if they could bring a sniper for long long range.

I'm also curious why you don't choose to take augmeks at the start? Do you typically get them early on afterwards?

yes, I wanted to suggest hipshooting as well.
At +2 BS trickshot is a nice to hav,e but mobility can help you get those +2 to hit at short range

Thank you! I'll look into that. I was pretty much just going with trickshot or fast shot as that's what I saw in almost every list that I've found online. However, I see it overlaps a lot with the cybernetic stuff so seems like long term wouldn't be the best choice.

A hip-shooting Augmek with a Meltagun is one of my go to fighters (his name is Frank)... especially when I get the tactics card that increases the range to 18". It's a useful skill on a slow, shooty gang.

If I choose this route I'll name him Frank to honor your franks legacy! Curious if you go with the Meltagun for fun or because you think it's better over the plasma/las?

 

[cvdasf]

Here's what I think I ended up with. Still might switch something for fixer but outside of that I think I'm happy with it. Excited I got a "sniper" in there!

Munda Manager

A gang management tool for the boardgame Necromunda

www.mundamanager.com

 

[Psyan]

My cheese list (and my personal list) does have two Augmeks in it. Pretty much all VS lists should. I do skip Archaeoteks to start because it's best to start focused on shooting and Augmeks do it better and cheaper.

The release of the Hive Secundus set made the 4 types of Tek Hunters available for regular Van Saar gangs. They're 10cr more expensive than regular Teks, but have an additional 1" of movement and access to certain weapons and gear. I consistently take the Guntek because they can take the Long Las, which fills a gap in Van Saar shooting, since it is reasonably costed, unlike all other Van Saar special weapins. A Lasgun with Hot Shot may be just as good or better, but I'm a fan of snipers and think they better adhere to the rule of cool.

I take the Meltagun because it's terrifying. If you hit with it, someone just got turned into a pile of goo.

 

[Psyan]

Here's what I think I ended up with. Still might switch something for fixer but outside of that I think I'm happy with it. Excited I got a "sniper" in there!

Munda Manager

A gang management tool for the boardgame Necromunda

www.mundamanager.com

Very strong list! The only change I would reccommend is to make Prop, your Tek, into a Specialist. It's free.

 

[cvdasf]

Very strong list! The only change I would reccommend is to make Prop, your Tek, into a Specialist. It's free.

I can make him a specialist and still have the Gunntek / ted-hunter? I didn't realize I could have two specialists?

 

[katfezza]

There is no limit on specialists as such. There is just a starting limit on the specialist that is promoted from your baseline ganger, Tek in this case. One may be promoted at gang creation. Other types of specialist like the Van Saar Tek Hunters, or the Nomad Sha'dar Hunters can be taken freely as they are a completely independent fighter type.

 

[cvdasf]

There is no limit on specialists as such. There is just a starting limit on the specialist that is promoted from your baseline ganger, Tek in this case. One may be promoted at gang creation. Other types of specialist like the Van Saar Tek Hunters, or the Nomad Sha'dar Hunters can be taken freely as they are a completely independent fighter type.

Thank you for clarifying! I will change that.

 

[Psyan]

The regular "free" Tek Specialist has broad access to special and heavy weapons and is limited to one (1) on gang creation. The special Specialists are unlimited, cost an additional 10cr (but with a +1" move, a fair trade IMO) and are more limited in their equipment choices, but at least two of them (the Gunntek and Medtek) are very worth taking over a regular Teks.