First game vs Necrons! Tips?

[Shiver]

Hey folks,

I've recently moved, and it sadly seems that there aren't many gothic players out here where I am now.  I've managed to find one, and he plays Necrons.  Having finally found an opponent, he's quite excited to play, and since we're the only two BFG players in the store atm, we'll obviously be seeing a lot of each other.  Anyway, I've never played against Necrons, and I admit I'm kind of scared!

I play Chaos mostly, and have the following models:  1 Desolator, 1 Repulsive, 6 Cruisers, (magnetic, can be anything), and 3 iconoclasts.  We'll probably play at around 1.5k points.

My usual fleet at this size is:  Repulsive, 2 devastation, 2 carnage, 2 slaughter, 3 iconoclasts. 

Anyway, what sort of general tactics should I be aware of to help defeat necrons?  Which ships *need* to die asap?  I know to fire lances first, *then* WBs, but aside from that, I've never even seen them played!  Any tips and tricks are much appreciated, thanks!

[Vaaish]

shoot anything you think you can kill if it's in range and keep a close track of VP to know when to disengage. Cron escorts and shrouds will be easier to kill. Scythes next and ignore the tombship if it shows up. You probably don't have enough firepower to kill it before everything else decimates your fleet.

[Plaxor]

Fire lances first always, if a ship braces your weapons batteries become more effective.

Playing against Necrons is a bit more about playing your opponent, not his fleet. The more he braces the more you win.

[horizon]

I know to fire lances first, *then* WBs, but aside from that, I've never even seen them played! 

Noooooooooooooooooooo!!!! DO NOT DO THAT!

ALWAYS fire Weapon Batteries first !!! Even against Necrons!!  That old article which created the wrongness of shooting with lances first was written by a Necron!!

I maybe over shouting but really: weapon batteries first! Thrust me on this.

If he has Shroud --> fast and easy vps.
Scythes are deadly...

[fracas]

you have a good fleet
consider paying 35 points extra per ship for CSM which gives you +1 LD and +2 (or is it +3) to board
then play to board him (not hit and run)

don't bother with escorts

[BaronIveagh]

If you absolutely must slug it out with firepower, keep him braced if at all possible.  Do NOT allow him to get any other special orders in.

[Xyon]

All their advice was good, I'd also say combine massive bomber waves if you are going use bombers. he wont have any ordinance to counter yours, so bomb the heck out those capitol ships!

[Shiver]

Hmmm... common policy is to fire lances first, then WBs, but Horizon is saying otherwise.

Could you elaborate as to why?  I can't see the reasoning to fire your weapons batteries first.  Statistically you'd do less damage, unless I'm missing something?

Shrouds do indeed look like quick easy VPs.  I'm terrified of the tombship though.  It has the firepower to wreck a battleship in a single turn.  Aside from trying to keep it braced, what else can I do?

[Vaaish]

IIRC it's the psychological factor. Firing WB first won't usually prompt a Necron player to brace meaning you have slightly better odds of doing some damage than if you fire lances and he immediately braces giving him a save for both the lance fire and the WB. If he does brace, just target something else with the lances.

[Dark Depths]

In general, always fire WB first.  If for no other reason other than the effect of blast markers, which will reduce WB, but not lances.  And you need all the WB strength you can get versus Necrons, trust me!

[fracas]

i thought a ship must declare BFI after a ship/squadron declare shooting. i didn't think you can declare BFI or not after each weapon system declaration

[Vaaish]

Since Crons don't have shields, you can't put BM down so WB shouldn't get reduced regardless of firing them first or second.

Fracas, I don't know if that's directed at me, but you can split fire so if you fire WB at the crons first and they pass the check to brace brace you can just target a different ship with the lances and if they fail the brace roll you can shoot them with lances. No one is saying you can brace after each weapons system.

[fracas]

its about the psych of shooting wb or lance first
in the long run i don't think it matters actually which you fire first

[horizon]

Hi,

indeed:
-> Necrons do not place blastmarkers
-> A ship may brace once versus an enemy ship shooting
----> Which does not mean said ship must fire its weapons at one target.

So againt Necrons ships with mixed weapons are good.

Example Lunar.

Now if the Lunar shoots with lances first the Necron is bound to brace all the time.
If it shoots with batteriers the Necron goess: hmmm, it can shoot batteries at me but lances may follow. So it decides to brace vs batteries. Meaning the Lunar can attempt a Ld test to shoot at another target with its lances.
Result = 2 ships on brace.

Because it is was soley batteries the Necron wouldn't brace as quick.

[Dark Depths]

Sorry, I meant in general, not at Necrons.  The wording of my reply was atrocious, whoops! 

Yes, you can do as Horizon says if you fire WBs first.  I am unsure how many Necron players will fall for it, plus if the other ship is further away then you have to roll leadership, which could fail.  So the plan works in theory, but is less reliable in practice, in my opinion.