8th Ed. Bastilodons

[GCPD]

I don't think anyone is honestly questioning whether or not it stacks, more like why it doesn't stack because.. +1I on the slow as snail saurus is almost useless, although it makes up for better defence against initiative spells.

One thing though - is it really that needed? I mean stack initiative email would be awesome and would make it much more appealing, but if we look at the current rules does anybody actuslly take the bast for the buff and not the bound spell and extra stomp/terror/fear?

The buff isn't the only reason I take it, but it does form a large part of my considerations - especially if I am going Saurus heavy for the Purple Sun pro.

 

[lizard_sNow]

I think of the saurus initiative as the saurus just being polite. "ladies first" is what I imagine them saying. I think this also goes for other races because elves are always permitted to strike first and what other race looks more like ladies than elves?

 

[Moniker]

Templeguard at I3 isn't a bad thing either theoretically. 'Course in my Meta I play Lizards and Ogres while my regular opponents are various kinds of elves, Skaven and Vampires... So I never even attempt to get my initiative up. I bring the thing just for its lazerbeam and the threat of rolling well - especially since I like lizardmen for the weaponized dinosaurs.

 

[Markhaus]

I think of the saurus initiative as the saurus just being polite. "ladies first" is what I imagine them saying. I think this also goes for other races because elves are always permitted to strike first and what other race looks more like ladies than elves?

This actually got an audible laugh out of my fiance.

In the 9 games I ran a blastadon I have only had the spell go off once, but it annihilated a group of wraiths, so I guess I can't complain too much. The initiative has helped a little bit, but I am not sure it is worth 150 points.

 

[lizard_sNow]

I've been running a blastidon for my campaign of 500pts and he has been the MVP of at least three games. Now i know that these are smaller games but i think that as cheap as it is, the bastilodon gives us a lot of great tools. 150pts for a monster isnt that expensive. And it comes with a built-in lazer? Not bad IMO.

 

[Dancing with Saurus2]

I've used my Bastilodon in 8 Battle Brothers games (2x 1000 point armies - my Lizards with Dwarves) and I agree with lizard_sNow that in smaller army lists it's a good and versatile option. I actually forgot about the initiative buff for a lot of these games but still found the unit worth taking. It's pretty useful against Orgres and Dwarves (when they don't have heavy weapons).

In small points level lists it's a reasonable support unit, it can take on fast cav/fliers/skirmishers/small units in combat (just about more often than not) and when you're fielding only low level Skink Priests the Solar Cannon allows you to take more unit buff spells like Wyssans and Iceshard because you have a shootie spell. Plus you can throw 5/6 dice at the bound spell and if it's irresistible then great!! Alas, the spell was often dispelled scrolled (early in the game) but this does mean they can't necessarily dispel Wyssans later on.

I'd say in most games it makes its points back unless someone puts a cannon ball in it's skull on turn 1

 

[Gary_M]

I used my Bastilodon for the first time against Vampire Counts recently.

Only tried the spell once (due to trying and succeeding in getting Fiery Convocation off twice in 3 rounds and having a rubbish magic turn on one occassion). Used 2 dice. Rolled a 1 and a 2!

But against VC the +1I buff was useful fighting skellies and zombies etc with my Saurus.

 

[mipevo6]

I have used one in every game I have played so far.

I got it off twice against skaven and he then spent the rest of the game dispelling it every time and shooting his warp lightning canon at it for the rest of the game.

I got ice shard off pretty much the rest of the game as he ate his dispell dice on the bound spell.

Worth its points for me so far.

 

[Kaleidoscope]

I would use them at the beginning of the magic phase to try to 1-dice the bound spells through especially with Tetto. If your opponent tries to 1-dice a dispel with their level four and they roll a 1 or a 2 then they automatically fail the roll and cannot dispel with that lvl 4 for the rest of the phase. This gives you magic superiority. If they use 2+ dice to dispel then you're gaining a dice advantage quickly. That's how I would use them.

 

[nblackburn15]

I like lizzies, had a good game versus Wood Elves today. No Slann, no carnosaur, but still made it out with a solid victory.

Bastiladon was great to add some magic support, cover flank of saurus block and overall just scare away nasty wood elves.

 

[lifeasalizard]

Kaleidoscope, I believe Tetto'Ekko's ability specifically states wizards reroll ones, and the Bastiladon is not a wizard.

 

[Pinktaco]

I can confirm that. "All friendly wizards who can cast spells".

 

[Eladimir]

I love the model and the bound spell is great. I tend to throw one dice at it at the start of every turn. If you get it off they have to risk rolling a single die to dispel. If they get a 1 or a 2 in that dispel attempt that level 4 is out for the rest of the round dispelling. And if they throw two dice at it to dispel your up another die on them.

 

[honkou]

Hello, my scaly kindred!
I've never wrote a post here because of my mediocre English, but I feel I'm missing something in this conversation abound bound spells. Can't the opponent decide to dispel the bound spell using his army, and not a wizard? Or just take a wizard with lvl 2 for dispelling the bound spell only?
Peace

 

[Eladimir]

Yes he could declare to not use the level 4. but then its a straight roll off he could certainly lose.
If he brought a level 2 wizard that would certianly be the best idea, dispel with him. But he'll still fail on a 1 or 2 and the laser cannon bound spell goes off.

Also the first time this happen most player won't give it a second thought and will just throw a die at it without declaring the wizard which could take out there level 4 from dispelling.

 

[Sleboda]

I love the model and the bound spell is great. I tend to throw one dice at it at the start of every turn. If you get it off they have to risk rolling a single die to dispel. If they get a 1 or a 2 in that dispel attempt that level 4 is out for the rest of the round dispelling. And if they throw two dice at it to dispel your up another die on them.

=> Eee! I don't know if you are more brave, more devil-may-care. or more lucky than I am, but I never do this.

Just like you can wind up with a power die advantage, you can also go the other way.

If you toss 1 die at the spell and roll a 1 or 2, the spell fails and the opponent need not waste dice stopping it, which gives him a leg up on your pool without him having to do anything at all.


I only ever 1-die a spell if it's my last spell of the phase and I 'might as well.'

 

[Belerophon]

I actually bring 2 in a lot of my lists - One-dicing the spell works wonders for me.
If the first one goes off, the opponent often has a hard choice. Either Dispel with 1 die, which is risky business, or Dispel with 2, knowing that a second casting will be incoming. Add the threat of a Slann, multiple Iceshards, and he'll have a lot of thinking to do...

I usually have around 5 channel-attempts, 3 of them on 5+, which usually means that I add at least one die to my pool each phase. With the combo of Becalming/Reservoir, I often sit on an extra die there as well (depending on Slann-kit).

The I-boost helps me often enough as well, especially if I run into another LM-player.
Had another player charge his 4 Rippers into my 3 the other day, thinking he was up because of the numbers game.
He'd forgotten about the Blastadon parked behind.


/Bele