Tactica Obliterators

[Sir_Servo]

Greetings every one!

Well after my last game my friends and I sat around and were discussing why the Chaos players got there asses handed to them. We Played an Apoc game that was 14,000 a side (2v2) Chaos vs I. Guard/S.Wolves/D.Hunters. The Chaos was fielding its own Traiterous Baneblade, 2 defilers, 4 squads of Terminators, 1 squad of Obiterators, 1 predator, and the rest was basic troops with heavy weapons. Icons varied from a large squad of 15+ guys with T5 to a few squads in rhinos with Inish 5 and some vanila CSM with heavy weapons.

Any ways. I played my I.Guard with 6 Lemon Russ, 1 demolisher, 1 stormblade and a decent number of troops to back them up. The Deamon Hunters just had an Iquistor Lord in Land Raider on the feild and the rest were in reserve. S. Wolves had a decent amount of troops, including 2 venerable Dreads!

Well my friend droped his Oblits behind my Tanks and shot and killed one. The next turn I simpily turned my lascannon squad from my Hq on him and shot 9 Lascannon shots and killed all of them in one turn. (9 shots, 6 hits after re-rolling 1's due to Sharpshooter, and then only rolled a single 1 on the to wound roll. He then failed all of his invunerable saves) He was stuned!

"Sorry dude, but that is what instant death will do to you" I said.

After the game he went on to complain about how easily I had taken out this particular unit. He swears up and down that these bad boys have won him game after game before. He claims that all he would have to do is drop them in like he did and they would just start blasting everything to bitz and he relied on a 2+ armour save and a 5+ invunerable save. I tried explaining to him that if he did reckless things like dropping them behind the lines of a heavily armed guardsmen army that they were going to be nothing but pick mist and memories right quick. He would hear none of that.

So I come to you fine folks to help my friend find ways of using his oblits properly. How best do you use yours? Do you even use them? Are they worth their points (in my oppinion no)?

Any help will be great,
Servo

[Ikarus]

I wouldn't use them. I'd just go pure Havocs.

The ability to drop and shoot is cool. But a one hit wonder. I would always instant kill them. Its their curse. They are overpriced. Yes they have options, but options won't give you damage output to makeup for your points.


I just field mass havocs, and provide a strong gun line.

[SteveBerenyi]

yes, they are worth their points when used properly.

the first thing to remember is that oblits are an IN RESPONSE unit. not an initiative one.

you use them in response to something. also, they are slow. so you have to have a set idea of what you want them to do before using them.

1. identify your biggest baddest ugliest target when they roll reserve.
2. DS NEAR not on it.
3. Destory it.
4. Count them as dead. in smaller games 3 oblits can be wasted points. take 2 or even 1 depending on your point limit. if they last more than that single turn then they have another target to shoot. (if you think not remember they have lascannons) but make sure that your first target 1. can be killed by them in 1 turn. 2. is worth more points than they are.

then you're golden

[hairyyahoo]

obliterators are just like almost any other unit, if you send them in unaided they will get mullahed big time. i recently had some success by including them in a daemon bomb type thing. because of the way icons work in the new book teleporting and daemon summoning can be very precise. turbo boost a unit of bikes up a flank and then summon termies, obies and daemons en mass. with so many powerful units together the obies will often be overlooked in favour of more...imminent...threats

[Prince of the Night]

Oblits are well worth their points if used correctly. Your friend has to realize one thing "probability". The probability that he will take out what was he is targeting, and the probability of survival after the target goal is reached. He could not have thought that his 5+ inv save would have work against 9 lascannons and whatever else was in range from that unit. I use 2 of them with my army and only deep strike if nessessary.
Oblits are very versatile as they can morph weapons to fit any given situation, but they need support as any specialty unit does.

[Dragoon King]

I love Oblits. Havocs, not so much. Havocs are slow, unless you put them in a Rhino, but still expensive. Oblits SHOULD be slow, but they DS. Your friend lost his unit because he made a bonehead move. He should have at least whittled down as many low AP weapons as possible before DS. Oblits aren't invincible, but very tough to kill unless you have the right weapons. I have made the same kinds of mistakes. Never rely on one unit to win a battle, you must use your forces combined. Now, when I do get my Oblits back (traded some a while back, built by a friend, slopped together) I will target enemy heavy armour. That is where they shine. Turbo boosting Nurgle Bikers and then DS Oblits within range to use 3 Multi-meltas? Tank problem gone. Just don't send them on a suicide run (unless your losing badly) and give them some support with say, Raptors. Tie up shooty enemy units in CC if possible, then hit them with Oblits. Heck, even Lesser Daemons could be used effectively like this, especially if you have Bikes with an Icon, as Daemons can assault the turn they DS in. Long range support is good too, like Preds, Defilers, even infiltrated Chosen. As for the points cost, I'd say yeah they are worth it. Best heavy infantry in the game, period. Just gotta use them right. Not only good at tankbusting, but think about 3 Plasma Cannons hitting a termie squad. Nothing but ashes left.

[Dravenguild]

I agree wholeheartedly Dragoon, Also I want to play a nurgle army!

[Dragoon King]

Originally Posted by Dravenguild

I agree wholeheartedly Dragoon, Also I want to play a nurgle army!

Oh no, another brain corroded by Nurgle's Rot! I like Death Guard, but only in limited amounts. I prefer CC, and DG aren't that great because of Int. 3. I do use a squad to dig in with, and they are hard to dislodge, and also good for tying up some units. I like a mix though, especially World Eaters and Emperor's Children. Both good, good in CC. I use Tzeencth but not Rubric marines, just a Daemon Prince. I don't care that much for shooty CSM. I leave my shooting to other units, while the CSM focus on stabby death!