N18 Underhells Campaign: Secundan Incursion Gang (from box)

Aug 9, 2015
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Sunderland, UK
EDIT: This is for the ‘Underhells Campaign’ included in the Hive Secundus Box, not the forthcoming ‘Book of Desolation’. A brief summary of some of the rules:

  • Visibility (6”) is in place for all battles
  • Starting Crew size for the scenarios is 1 Spyrer + 4-7 Tek Hunters. 1 Territory, if gained, allows +1 starting crew during final couple of games.
  • Starting Crew for Malstrain is usually 3-5 Brood Scum. Reinforcements arrive at the end of every end phase; usually 1-4 models + any brood scum already taken out of action.
  • No access to Trading Post, and cannot purchase additional equipment from gang list during campaign.
    • Can access some archeo-loot (special equipment) in exchange for data crystals extracted during game.
    • Can create max 2 weapons and max 2 pieces of wargear (cost less than 25 creds) from gang list as post battle actions, if tek hunters (guntek and Teknomat) are not in convalescence/recovery/dead.

Have opted to eschew armour in favour of as many fighters as possible having the chance to shoot more than 6" and keep brood scum and Tyromites pinned or OOA before they get within range, and numbers to still try and max post-battle actions to build gang (avoid injuries, buy laspacks and armour over 4-5 games ready for finale).

Not worried about lack of killing punch in first few battles - really want the Spyrer to be doing all the killing to maximise suit upgrades.

Comments and suggestions of course welcome.

TypeLoadoutCostRanged capability in UnderhellsTotal Cost
Orrus Spyer(Skill: Bull Charge)
350​
20", 3+, STR 4, -1AP, RF1
350​
Orrus Power Talons-
Orrus Bolt Launcher-
Augertek
75​
15", 2+, STR 3
140​
Lasgun
10​
Photo Goggles
35​
Augerspex
20​
Augertek
75​
15", 2+, STR 3
150​
Lasgun
10​
Photo Goggles
35​
Vox Array
30​
Gunntek
75​
15", 3+, STR 4, -1AP
165​
LongLas
20​
Photo Goggles
35​
Refraction Cloak
35​
Teknomat
75​
15", 2+, STR 3
120​
Lasgun
10​
Photo Goggles
35​
Teknomat
75​
15", 2+, STR 3
120​
Lasgun
10​
Photo Goggles
35​
Bioteknist
75​
6", 2+, STR 3
125​
Laspistol
5​
Medicae Kit
30​
Servo-Medicae
15​
Bioteknist
75​
6", 2+, STR 3
80​
Laspistol
5​
1250​
1250​
 
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Don't have the Secundan book/box so may be missing something from the rules that's necessitates it, but you're spending a lot of creds on photo goggles for lasgun armed models.. I'd be inclined to suggest that's money better invested in armour/bigger guns/more models
 
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Undehells games, visibility is limited to 6” except for the Spyrer and the Malstrain. So photo goggles seem pretty essential just to try and keep the Malstrain/brood scum/tyramites at bay long enough to complete mission (they boost visibility by 9”, to 15” - the Malstrain player will never have range more than 6”). And you can’t access them after gang creation.

Photo lumens is the other option, but it also makes you visible to the other player at any range, so definitely a hard pass.

The ranged weapons options are pretty limited (lasgun, las carbine, shotgun, radgun, flamer combo I think - don’t have book with me. Lasgun is at least upgradable with hotshot pack as campaign progresses (you can get access to hotshot pack as it is sub-25 creds).
 
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In that case the choice makes sense, thanks for clarifying.

I would still consider the extra wargear /tools, but without the nuance of the new rules in front of me it's difficult to know what could be traded.
 
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No worries - thanks for replying. I’ve edited original message with some details of the campaign rules for people to see (Copied below as well).

Weapons wise Ive checked and it is limited to: Lasgun, Las Carbine, Laspistol, Las sub-carbine, Flamer/Mancatcher combi (unstable!), Radgun, Longlas, Power Knife, Fighting Knife, Frag/Krak Grenades.

Wargear wise: Flak/Mesh/Light Carapace; Bio-booster, Photo Goggles, Photo Lumens, Respirator, hotshot pack, las projector, mono/telescopic sight… plus some of the Tek specialist tek.

Specialist Gear: Vox caster provides only group activation option, augerspec prevents Malstrain deployment or reinforcements setting up nearby, cloak makes more difficult to shoot, Medicae kit as usual, servo-Medicae allows a bonus recovery role during action phase (presumably with assist).

EDIT: This is for the ‘Underhells Campaign’ included in the Hive Secundus Box, not the forthcoming ‘Book of Desolation’. A brief summary of some of the rules:

  • Visibility (6”) is in place for all battles
  • Starting Crew size for the scenarios is 1 Spyrer + 4-7 Tek Hunters. 1 Territory, if gained, allows +1 starting crew during final couple of games.
  • Starting Crew for Malstrain is usually 3-5 Brood Scum. Reinforcements arrive at the end of every end phase; usually 1-4 models + any brood scum already taken out of action.
  • No access to Trading Post, and cannot purchase additional equipment from gang list during campaign.
    • Can access some archeo-loot (special equipment) in exchange for data crystals extracted during game.
    • Can create max 2 weapons and max 2 pieces of wargear (cost less than 25 creds) from gang list as post battle actions, if tek hunters (guntek and Teknomat) are not in convalescence/recovery/dead.
 
I've really enjoyed listbuilding the Secundan Incursion gang and discovering all the hard choices to be made between survivability, threat etc offset by the possibilities of fabricating weapons and wargear as you go.
I've taken a different approach and prioritised armour over numbers and guns, and thus had to settle for photo-lumens rather than goggles, but I reckon between good armour and the average BS and basic weaponry of Broodscum it's worth getting each tekhunter Mesh (4+ save with Armoured Bodyglove), Photolumens and a Laspistol as baseline firepower for the same price as a pair of photoggles, also from a gameplay perspective the hunters being invisible outside 6" to the Broodscum sounds a bit boring, and the models have them nice shoulder lamps anyway so screw it, says I.
This also leaves me with only 6 Tekhunters, all packing Mesh, Lumens and Laspistols, to further specialise. I've got 1 each Augurtek and Biotek, 2 Gunntek and 2 Teknomat for max making stuff, trusting Mesh to mitigate the need for more than 1 Biotek.
Still trying to nail down the final loadouts, I'm wavering over the Unstable and massive cost of the flamer combi. Thought I'd found a great alternative but just realised Lascarbines can't get Hotshots so back to the drawing board. Great fun :)
 
Yeah, the choice is really limited and forces some hard decisions. Armour was one - had considered dropping a body to put mesh on 5 of the remaining 6. And good point about it being 4+ with Undersuit, not just 5+.

Combo of photo lumens and las pistol seems risky though! That means you can be targeted at any range (up to 24” with brood scum weapon options), whilst you are limited to the 12” range of the las pistol! May not get through armour, but getting pinned will slow down fighters from completing mission objectives.
 
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If the earlier matches are on "easy" setting, the pistols may be ok; you can always build some long guns. Or maybe consider Las Subcarbines, for slightly better melee potential?
I also think that mixing a few las carbines in might actually not be a bad idea in these types of matches, since engagements will take place such relatively short ranges.
 
Oh aye, no-one will be left with just the laspistol to defend themselves with, they're backups for hotshot lasguns and/or to be augmented with Power Knives as we go for Melee unpleasantness.. I had 3 Hotshot Lascarbines in the mix til I realised that was illegal :(
 
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If they're legit back-up weapons for Lasguns, I'd definitely be tempted to go with Las Subcarbines. I figure you're more likely to use them in melee than you are to need them as a back-up firearm for your very reliable Lasguns.
 
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Lasguns not so reliable with Hotshots, but you've sold me the Las Subcarbine and first-in-line for a free Power Knife instead of 2 Laspistols starting on the Biotek at least :)
Edit: Ah crap a subcarbine is 15c, 5c short!
 
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One word: Revealed. Brood Scum have unlimited range to see a fighter that fired a weapon. Also, the Incursion gang has limited versions of each of the four types of Tek fighter, right? So, eight max? The campaign ruthlessly uses what comes in the box, and nothing else. It's a refreshing throwback to simply-er times.

Personally, I'd give them Tek's Mesh armor to go over undersuits. It's six games with no recruits. Part of the strategy is survival. And, the new and cruel Bottle rules mean you can't just up and leave at your leasure. We've played only one game, and my son won, but lost a Tek. Lasting Injury roll was death without Doc. Med Tek escort to Doc. Multiple LI rolls, resulting in Death without Doc. Another Med Tek escort visit to Doc, resulting in multiple LI rolls. Yup, third Dead without Doc. So, well and truly dead.
 
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One word: Revealed. Brood Scum have unlimited range to see a fighter that fired a weapon. Also, the Incursion gang has limited versions of each of the four types of Tek fighter, right? So, eight max? The campaign ruthlessly uses what comes in the box, and nothing else. It's a refreshing throwback to simply-er times.

Personally, I'd give them Tek's Mesh armor to go over undersuits. It's six games with no recruits. Part of the strategy is survival. And, the new and cruel Bottle rules mean you can't just up and leave at your leasure. We've played only one game, and my son won, but lost a Tek. Lasting Injury roll was death without Doc. Med Tek escort to Doc. Multiple LI rolls, resulting in Death without Doc. Another Med Tek escort visit to Doc, resulting in multiple LI rolls. Yup, third Dead without Doc. So, well and truly dead.

Had totally misremembered ‘Revealed’, which of course means as soon as shooting, brood scum can then Target the Tek who fired. Given their BS not too much of a threat, but certainly reduces the value of a strategy based on phot goggles and not being visible.

I think I’ll keep one on Long Las, and perhaps a Photo Lumens on one other… Should release enough creds for Mesh for everyone, and some extras.
 
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