8th Ed. Stegadons and ancient stegadons as mounts.

[VampTeddy]

In 7th edition a stegadon conferred an additional protection unto the skink characters we put on them, but it doesn't seem that it does in 8th.

As i read it a monster only confers one additional armor like a regular mount, and it doesn't mention characters in the howdah special rules - so we can only go to the ridden monster rules for guidance, and in that case the character in question is most likely toast (besides not doing much from the steggies back anyways).

IF we use the Howdah rules the character in question is untargetable in close combat as we use the mounts stat for anything regarding the crew, to quote "All hits upon the model are resolved using the monster's toughness, wounds, and save. Now the latest part here might be what they intended for characters, but clarifications are largely missing, and it would make little sense, as the Priest or Chief would never be able to take a wound on it's own besides those taken from shooting.

I can't really find any other mention of a save for characters riding stegadons - so it seems to me they got nerfed from a 2+ armor save to 5+ for a priest and Chief before item purchases.

Thoughts?

Anyone noticed anything i didn't?

 

[Smexygor]

They die easy in them now, but don't need the priest for EOTG. So only use a cheap priest/chief to get stegs in hero slot.

 

[Spiney Norman]

In 7th edition a stegadon conferred an additional protection unto the skink characters we put on them, but it doesn't seem that it does in 8th.

As i read it a monster only confers one additional armor like a regular mount, and it doesn't mention characters in the howdah special rules - so we can only go to the ridden monster rules for guidance, and in that case the character in question is most likely toast (besides not doing much from the steggies back anyways).

IF we use the Howdah rules the character in question is untargetable in close combat as we use the mounts stat for anything regarding the crew, to quote "All hits upon the model are resolved using the monster's toughness, wounds, and save. Now the latest part here might be what they intended for characters, but clarifications are largely missing, and it would make little sense, as the Priest or Chief would never be able to take a wound on it's own besides those taken from shooting.

I can't really find any other mention of a save for characters riding stegadons - so it seems to me they got nerfed from a 2+ armor save to 5+ for a priest and Chief before item purchases.

Thoughts?

Anyone noticed anything i didn't?

I agree mostly with what you have said. Certainly there doesnt seem to be any reason to field a skink priest on an engine of the gods anymore sice they gain precisely nothing by doing it. On the other hand I think skink chieftaons have potential if the faq that characters mounted on Stegs can fire howdah weapons. It would, in effect, be a 40 pt upgrade which would allow a stegs bolt thrower to actually be able to hit something.

 

[JamJar]

It's almost pointless taking the priest with the engine
it doesn't buff him up and he doesn't offer any other advantages like 7th did

i think the engine (as a rare artifact of the gods) should be like 7th ed where only he could take it, AND use the awesome power that cant be dispelled mwahaha and buff him to a lvl 3 wizard basically

On the topic of steg mounts, I do like the chief on the steg better.

Yes also chiefs firing giant bows would be great

 

[Lizardmatt]

The only reason to take them as mounts would be that you already maxed out your special and rares.
I guess if you really wanted an ancient, and a ton of salamanders/razordons; or if you wanted a trio of ancients, I would take it as a mount.
Otherwise, leave the character on foot.

The character doesn't contribute in a useful way to the model once it's on the table. All he does is add a carrier tax and shifts the Stegg to another section.

-Matt

 

[CookieGuy]

There are 2 real advantages to putting skinks on stegs that I can see:

1: You can use character slots for your stegs.
2: You can fly the around with the shadow spell Steed of Shadows, which could be fun. It's a shame that Smoke and Mirrors won't work with them }

 

[Scalenex]

There are 2 real advantages to putting skinks on stegs that I can see:

1: You can use character slots for your stegs.
2: You can fly the around with the shadow spell Steed of Shadows, which could be fun. It's a shame that Smoke and Mirrors won't work with them }

Would Mazdamundi be able to use Smoke and Mirrors with another Steggy character?

 

[CookieGuy]

I would think so. Or a Carnasaur hero! That's an idea I'll have to keep on the backburner.

 

[sirkently]

I thought smoke and mirrors was only infantry characters. Didn't think it worked if you were mounted. Not access to the BRB at work, so will have to check when I get home. Would be nice if you could do it mounted. Also thought steed of shadows only worked on infantry characters as well.

 

[Dreadgrass]

Agreed that the main reason is to squeeze more dino's into the list, but a chief can also buff his mounts combat potential. Egg of Quango combined with impact hits could be a nice alpha-strike, maybe even with OTS for a good chance at blatting a Daemon Prince or Greater Daemon?

A chief on steg probably has similar value to a scarvet on carno, with the chief doing more damage on the charge and having a more survivable mount, whereas the scarnosaur has better hitting power in protracted combats and a tougher rider.

 

[Smexygor]

I wouldn't spend points on the characters on top the steg, outside of basic mundane upgrades and dispel scroll. Any war machine worth it's salt will off the character instantly.

 

[CookieGuy]

I just double checked, and Smoke and Mirrors just says, 'same troop type' I don't have time to delve further, but would the troop type be 'ridden monster' or what? Oh, and Steed of Shadows doesn't have any troop type based restrictions