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8th Ed. Gor-Rok, The Great White Lizard Tactics & Discussion

Discussion in 'Lizardmen & Saurian Ancients Tactics' started by Lord Grok Of Xillaqua, May 28, 2015.

  1. Lord Grok Of Xillaqua
    Kroxigor

    Lord Grok Of Xillaqua Well-Known Member

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    Intro

    Hello everyone! I created this thread in order to explore the uses for Gor-Rok. Here I'm going to list the tactics that I have tried myself in games.

    Gor-Rok is essentially an tougher Scar Veteran with T6 and the ability to ignore multiple wounds and killing blow on a 2+. His 2 magic items are a mace that allows re-rolls to hit & Predatory Fighter that works on 5's and 6's and a shield that give +2 to armor and makes charging models in B2B take a Dangerous Terrain test. The character's uses on the table can be multifold from being a sturdy character killer in challenges to being used to support several units with his Stubborn special rule.

    1. With Saurus Warriors
    Using Gor-Rok with Saurus Warriors has a nice hammer/anvil combo feel where his presence in the unit makes them less likely to run in combat (stubborn) and still dish out lots of attacks with Predatory Fighter likely to give you a few free attacks along the way. Always take spears in the unit with Gor-Rok so that if charged, an extra rank of attacks are avaliable and his magic shield can give you an chance for an extra kill before combat begins! To really make the combo shine, use a Skink Priest to cast Wyssan's Wildform on the unit to make the unit even stronger for your offensive/defensive purposes.

    2. With Temple Guard
    Gor-Rok in a unit of Temple Guard works much like the Warriors but with the additional benefit of S5 Halberds and the option to take a Magic Banner. Banners like Razor Standard (AP) and Banner Of Eternal Flame (FA) are worth considering. Cast Wyssan's Wildfrom and the unit will break most core infantry units against 20+ S6 attacks. If If a Slann is with the unit, Gor-Rok's Stubborn rule is perfunctory to the Sacred Duty rules of the Temple Guard.

    3. "Killer Rok" Character Hunter.
    Gor-Rok can also go toe-to-toe with characters in challenges and win. To use him strictly for character hunting, the best way is to cast "The Savage Beast Of Horros" to make him S8 with 7 base attacks. Many hero level characters (and a few Lords) will be brought low (and arguably upstages the other challenge oriented character in the rulebook, Chakax).

    There are only two major downside to this strategy.
    1. 2+ armor is awesome but no ward save doesn't give the "resilient" Gor-Rok much defense against characters stronger or better equipped than himself.
    2. Has 2 wounds with no access to magic items that can heals his wounds.

    The best way to counter these downsides is through magic spells such as Apotheosis from High Magic (heals 1 to D3 wounds) and Earth Blood from Life Lore (Regen 5+ but ONLY if he's in the same unit as the casting wizard) but that's only if the casting is successful.

    Summary
    Gor-Rok is a special character that can be useful in multiple scenarios for clearing troops or hacking down those pesky enemy characters. With solid rules and a modest point cost, Gor-Rok is perhaps the best Named Hero Character in the rulebook who will rarely dissappoint and won't die without taking a few unfortunate souls with him!

    Please feel free to comment or post additional suggestions and tactics you might have tried or want to experiment with. :cool:
     
    Last edited: May 29, 2015
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  2. Man0waR
    Kroxigor

    Man0waR Member

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    You have no parry with magic weapon and a magic shield.

    The big deal with Gor-Rok is his shield forcing DT test to the charging unit & stubborn.

    A very nice special character. He would shine with Wandering Deliberations Slann.
     
  3. Pinktaco
    Skar-Veteran

    Pinktaco Vessel of the Old Ones Staff Member

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    I really liking how people are putting up all these tactica threads and while they may not be perfect they do seem to spark an interest and discussion and thus giving s broader perspective on the matter.

    With that said I think your tactica is s bit on the short side. Why do we want him? Sell him! What should we watch out for and what should we target? Just suggestions and you may not necessarily agree with me which is perfectly fine =]

    Good job though.
     
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  4. Pinktaco
    Skar-Veteran

    Pinktaco Vessel of the Old Ones Staff Member

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    I'm having a split opinion about the DT the test. It's only for those in B2B contact with him so essentially a 50% chance to do something. It's neat against cavalry, but then again only 50% chance.

    Personally I'd rather trade the DT test for 1 wound more.
     
  5. Man0waR
    Kroxigor

    Man0waR Member

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    Well he is already cheaper than a scarvet with sacred stegadon helm, light amorur & shield. Magic weapon with reroll (let's say the one that gives ASF) + crown of command.

    As for DT. Well... The time you watch a Chariot crashing to pieces against Gor-Rok's shield your opinion may change.

    This guy has rules & items above the 50 point allowance for magic items. And he is clearly underpriced
    The best special character along Tetto'Eko.
     
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  6. Pinktaco
    Skar-Veteran

    Pinktaco Vessel of the Old Ones Staff Member

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    I'm not argueing that he isn't worth it, just that I'd rather love a +1 wound instead of 50% chance of killing off a 25mm model or 1/6th of a chance to kill a chariot ^^

    One of those is permanent and the other dependant on the roll of a dice :)

    With that said yes he's a great character you just have to utilize him well.
     
  7. Avak786
    Saurus

    Avak786 Active Member

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    I've found that he works really well in low points games (<1500) with lore of beasts skink priests as wildform and the other augments (and hexes) turn him into a complete battering ram. With savage beast and wildform on him, I've had Gor-Rok kill vampire lords in a challenge.
     
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  8. NIGHTBRINGER
    Slann

    NIGHTBRINGER Second Spawning

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    This guy is a predatory fighter expert. The combination of re-rolling misses AND scoring PF on a 5 or a 6 is huge. Plus any PF attacks generated are themselves more likely to hit.

    I think Gor-Rok excels as a troop killer, while he is sub-optimal against powerful characters.
     
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  9. Pinktaco
    Skar-Veteran

    Pinktaco Vessel of the Old Ones Staff Member

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    Hm.. Savage beast of horror on this guy <3
     
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  10. NIGHTBRINGER
    Slann

    NIGHTBRINGER Second Spawning

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    He would pretty much crush everything in his path!
     
  11. Lord Grok Of Xillaqua
    Kroxigor

    Lord Grok Of Xillaqua Well-Known Member

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    Thank you for your comments and suggestions. This is the first time i've posted a tactical thread and didn't quite plan for all possibilities for the character's use and purpose. I do intend on updating the main post with more information from future games i'll play with Gor-Rok and other member's comments and ideas.



    I totally forgot to mention the DT test with the shield! That will be updated soon as well as the lack of parry save.
     
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  12. Bainbow
    Bastiladon

    Bainbow Well-Known Member

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    I'm not a fan of Gor-Rok because, although he's cheaper than say a lord, against any solid character he'll get shut down badly. Last time I saw him on the battlefield was when an opponent fielded him and my Oldblood overkilled him in a challenge without taking a hit back. His T6 is a nice touch but it's not as good as one may think and at only 2 wounds he isn't very tough.
     
  13. Pinktaco
    Skar-Veteran

    Pinktaco Vessel of the Old Ones Staff Member

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    Yeah well that's the thing alright. He's relatively cheap for what you get, but still somewhat expensive. If we wanted a wound booster on foot taking an OB with armour of Destiny and great weapon would result in a 2+/4+ with S7 and overall better stats. Almost the same price.

    Gor rok is 6T and stubborn. If you want to properly use him you should aim hit at something he can kill without taking any wounds so S4 is the perfect target. At least in my opinion.

    Or maybe trick some knights into charging his units and hope he survive :p
     
  14. Lord Grok Of Xillaqua
    Kroxigor

    Lord Grok Of Xillaqua Well-Known Member

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    Actually, taking a cavalry charge can be very interesting depending on the size of the unit and how the models line up in B2B (DT for any model in base contact of Gor-Rok might mean the occasional dead horseman) and most cavalry charges are S5 for one round, so if he survives the first round, he will likely break the unit in the second.
     
  15. Pinktaco
    Skar-Veteran

    Pinktaco Vessel of the Old Ones Staff Member

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    Actually there are quite a few S6 knights: inner cirlce knights, black knights, chaos knights, grail knights, Cold One Knights. On the top of my memory the S5 knights are erran and knights of the realm, empire knights, dragon princes, silver helms Cold One Riders with spear,

    I might've missed some, but from the looks of it it's somewhat evenly split.

    Knigths who can in some way reroll (hatred/ASF) actually have a decent shot at one-shooting poor gor-rok =)
    Knights who doesn't or are only S5 cannot do a whole lot.
     
  16. Bainbow
    Bastiladon

    Bainbow Well-Known Member

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    It really does depend on how big the game is and how much you want to invest in melee. If you want to or can afford to go balls-to-the-walls all out on a melee fighter, I'd say go for somebody else, a tooled up Oldblood is plenty more powerful but is more expensive. If not, Gor-Rok is a perfectly viable alternative.
     
  17. Lord Grok Of Xillaqua
    Kroxigor

    Lord Grok Of Xillaqua Well-Known Member

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    In a 2000+ point game, yes an Oldblood is the better custom option. I find that in certain sizes of games, after a Slann has been added, there's only enough points for 1 dedicated melee character and Gor-Rok works well with giving Stubborn to Saurus Warriors and Temple Guard are Stubborn from being with the Slann, thus mitigating the chance of my main regiments breaking in combat.
     
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  18. Niarg
    Skink

    Niarg Member

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    I haven't been able to bring myself to use Gor-Rok as his abilities just seem to be too unfocused and I wouldn't know what to point him at.

    On the one hand he's designed to carve through low toughness troops but then his stubborn ability and extra toughness are wasted.
    But as soon as you get to strength 5 attacks then he's not that survivable.

    I guess that he's there to give the saurus the extra stubborn boost but with a cold blooded and Ld8 the saurus are generally destroyed before running away anyway.
    I do have a Scar Vet that is designed to take on lot's of softer troops but is also much more survivable when facing tougher troops, could anyone sell me what roles Gor-Rok fills better than this?
    Scar Vet, Cold one, Armour of Fortune, Sword of Striking (75ss)
     
  19. Bainbow
    Bastiladon

    Bainbow Well-Known Member

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    I reckon he'd be more effective with more wounds.
     
  20. Lord Grok Of Xillaqua
    Kroxigor

    Lord Grok Of Xillaqua Well-Known Member

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    3 wounds at least, like an Oldblood. Would have made his ignoring Killing Blow & Multiple Wounds seem more worthwhile. I still find with High Magic, Apohtheosis is great to heal Gor-Rok with an easy 5+ casting cost, especially if a Slann has the Focus Of Mystery Discipline.
     

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