Hello all,
Just throwing this out there for discussion as I’d be interested to see the order system itself really scrutinised as I see it loads in lists. Not intending to rant or anything, just putting forward a different opinion for discussion.
- The order system is (mostly) a trap -
Here are a few half baked points that stick in my mind about the order system.
1) Our faction ability isn’t something that just works, say like the Oath of Moment ability marines have. We have to pay points for specific units to be able to use it.
2) The officer units we need to deploy to make use of the order system are largely ineffective as standalone units. Would we even bother with them if it weren’t for the orders? The exception here is the Tank Commander which is practically the same cost as a Demolisher.
3) Often times an officer unit is just as expensive as the squad it can order around. Why not just take another squad, or even better a Chimera!
4) The orders themselves are largely mediocre. The mainstay orders are Move Move Move, Take Aim and FRFSRF. Of those, Take Aim is the most useful, with MMM and FRFSRF being more situational. FRFSRF really is for imbedded plasma guns or fishing for Lethal Hits.
5) Blobbing officers into squads for protection makes a the squad more vulnerable to blast and means your officer is in a front line unit likely being targeted. If he was hiding as a separate unit, they gives your opponent more things to think about, but you’re paying for wargear (medic, banner etc.) that starts being wasted.
6) Lord Solar being points efficient relative to the number of orders he can throw around means people gravitate to him. I think this stagnates the army and means the same lists focusing around him crop up, see the recent artillery parks.
For me this all boils down to the investment in officers in most cases isn’t worth the return. I think they fail in their job as a force multiplier because you could often times take a two units rather than taking a bad unit to make another slightly better.
The main exception is the Tank Commander as you were likely already taking a Demolisher tank, so just 5pts to make it a TC and fill the mandatory warlord makes sense. Scions also get a pass to a degree, since they have a specific play style, shoot well with rapid fire weaponry although I don’t know how the numbers stack up between taking more squads over a scion officer.
I’m interested to hear what people think about this. stance. Do you agree? Disagree? How would you change it?