Today we're taking well over an hour to talk about the most superfriends of superfriends factions - the character-dense, Iliad-inspired (in-lore and out) Aleph's Assault Subsection - the Steel Phalanx. Phalanx are both a mechanically powerful and unique faction, and a great stepping-off point into the more rounded vanilla Aleph faction. Credit to amazing webcomic Hark, a vagrant! for a few frames I couldn't resist including when discussing a certain well-known character.
It's a little painful listening to you talk about the toughness of the superfriends when my Phoenix got crit straight to dead in the active turn by a TR Bot on my first order of the first turn of the game last Saturday. (Great video)
I was teaching a new player the game a week ago and even though he had no idea what he was doing the dice roll adjusting power of Steel Phalanx kept him in the game for a long ass time lol
Thanks for the video, it's great! One comment about the Makhai tho, while she is an expensive piece in an expensive sectorial, I have had lots of success putting a missile launcher one in ARO duty in a Thorakitai link. Sixth Sense, mimetism and MSV1 throw a heavy wrench into many would-be ambushers like Intruders, Noctifers and even active turn Swiss Guard attacks. Even a Cutter needs to think twice about popping their heads knowing that a single missile hit can end them (and in a link you shoot two). Between her and a hidden Atalanta you can control a lot of what happens in your reactive turn
Great overview, thanks for the video! Just wanted to say I think there’s something to be said for putting Hyppolita in a fireteam with two thorakitai. Not an amazing one, but I’ve had some success as a secondary offensive fireteam. The fact that she’s non-hackable, has eclipse, and has super jump is what does it for me
I take hippolyta over ajax. Less risk, and often in turn 2 or 3 there's an opening to seperate her out of the team and rambo the enemy pretty hard. Now I ALSO usually run two myrm based link teams and have Eudoros in my other team with wildcards and acmon as my point team for the first turn.
Hoplites I passed over because to me they're a unit that doesn't really do anything. Their points cost is blown out by CC stats that are too weak to be used in CC but just high enough to increase the cost of the model, which is otherwise a very mediocre generic heavy infantry dude. The one interesting combo is that I did mention is that you can duo an Engineer Hoplite with Agamemnon, but that's a pricey little duo - fun, though. And their models are awesome.
Double myrmidon link team. Phoenix in pure core. Have thrasymedes start in macheon link . I feel the additional smoke a is just oppressive for opponents particularly if you're running Agema/Atlanta as well
Since I have nothing of substance to add to your faction review, I'm just gonna be *that guy* and say: - It's MYR-mi-don, not Myr-MI-dion - emphasis on the first syllable, and the last syllable doesn't have an i in it (pronounced like "Sir, he's gone", not "Her Idiot") - It's Thra-sy-medes, not Tha-rys-medes - It's Tho-ra-kee-TAI, not Tho-ra-KEE-tees, with emphasis on the last syllable (and pronounced like "tie") Unless of course you ask a Greek how it's ACTUALLY pronounced, and then I'm completely wrong as well...
My partner is greek. Whether or not they judge me horribly for my mangling of the words of their native tongue I leave as an exercise for the audience.
Hi you are wrong in a sense but in other not cause its in English of course. So technically you are not. Thorakeetes Θωρακίται the -tes sylable is pronounced as in tennis. Thorakizo(Θωρακίζω) is "I shield" the body part thorax(Θώραξ) is from that, it shields the main organs. Thorax in greek also we call the enforced vest or breastplate and as i said the bodypart. Myrmidon is Meer-mee-don. Myrmigki is the ant. Achilles soldiers were many and came from ants which Zeus transform them into men. Thrasymides Thra see mee dees(Θρασυμήδης). Tharos(Θάρρος) courage+ Medome(Μήδομαι) thinking. The one who is thinking with courage. These are the Hellenic(Greek) pronunciations not the English ones which to be honest are cringy. XD Ps I wish I worked for Corvus Beli cause sometimes they lack that oomph. Not only from a Hellene perspective but a Hellene who knows etymology in addition to the historic and cultural assosiations of the words. Excuse my English and I hope i wasnt ultra boring
@@faelreklaw8837 not at all mate, it's super interesting. I don't think I'll be able to remember it, which means the channel is doomed to horrible mispronunciations ad infinitum, but if we're very lucky "meer-mee-don" might manage to stick. :)
Hello, I'm still pretty new to the game so my understanding of the game is still pretty basic, certainly for N4 and I'm a little confused when you said that Atalanta could hit on 18's when she has a ballistic skill of 15. Could you elaborate on this? Great video btw, I learned a lot from it and looking forward to try out some of these link suggestions out.
A model's base BS is almost always affected by modifiers. The most common modifiers are firing in good range (+3 BS) against a target who has cover against you (-3 BS). Because Atalanta has marksmanship, she doesn't suffer a penalty for shooting at enemies in cover, meaning she will usually only have the positive modifier for her sniper rifle's excellent range bands - giving her a resultant BS18 on most of her attacks.
Did you leave out the Hoplite profiles? Or was I not paying attention. You didn't go into the bots, again unless I missed them, however included them in the list. Netrods important/good as they are veteran if memory serves
Hector costs about 70pts, it's hard to consider something like that an "auto-include." Especially when you've got OTHER 70pt options in the army like Achilles.
I like to keep the videos at about ~1hr and the Phalanx character roster meant a few things didn't get mentioned. Netrods and remotes didn't get mentioned because they're basic building block stuff that aren't really part of faction identity (really good, absolutely necessary for lists - just not a big discussion piece). Hoplites I passed over because to me they're a unit that doesn't really do anything. Their points cost is blown out by CC stats that are too weak to be used in CC but just high enough to increase the cost of the model, which is otherwise a very mediocre generic heavy infantry dude. The one interesting combo is that I did mention is that you can duo an Engineer Hoplite with Agamemnon, but that's a pricey little duo. Regarding Hector, as Ninjat126 notes, the man is far far too expensive to ever be considered an auto-include. That advice might be very old now, from a different rules era when things like ten-person armies had some incentives in the ITS pack.
@Ninjat126 comes with 2 Lt orders which are converted to regular orders through strategos to regular orders. Combats taking two orders from your pool turn one.
@R0bertShepherd those starting from Blackwind will be presented with the Hoplite as their LT option. 2 wounds, total immunity and an HMG for 41 points. Yes overshadowed by other things but it's a nice model and not the end of the world to field. The other HMG options the Thorakitai, a remote and the TAG. Fair enough link bonuses make the thorakitai a bit more formidable but it's more likely to go down if hit. Think you may have also missed Andromeda (I know I know, was a long video as was) but an interesting piece with guard +MA3, specialist operative. Maybe a bit pricey
Today we're taking well over an hour to talk about the most superfriends of superfriends factions - the character-dense, Iliad-inspired (in-lore and out) Aleph's Assault Subsection - the Steel Phalanx. Phalanx are both a mechanically powerful and unique faction, and a great stepping-off point into the more rounded vanilla Aleph faction.
Credit to amazing webcomic Hark, a vagrant! for a few frames I couldn't resist including when discussing a certain well-known character.
Don't think I've ever heard Myrmidon mispronounced like that. 😆
I have a gift. A terrible, terrible gift.
I know right, everybody knows it is pronounced: Μυρμῐδόνες
Thank you for helping to grow the community by including the sectorial that emerge from Code One.
It's a little painful listening to you talk about the toughness of the superfriends when my Phoenix got crit straight to dead in the active turn by a TR Bot on my first order of the first turn of the game last Saturday. (Great video)
This post elicited an audible 'oof' on reading.
Oh wow yeaaa that's rough
Every time I've used hector, he hasn't usually done that much honestly, but the orders have let, say, eudoros fight the world
Yeah I personally find him fairly underwhelming.
Eudoros, Acmon and Pandora are just such a value haris that can accomplish almost anything
Given that trio costs a third of your army, I'd expect them to! But it is an absolutely killer setup.
Yessssssss, I haven't even started watching and I know that Rob will say those few special words that I want to hear.
Myrmidion? :p
Buckets of Kum? 😆
I was teaching a new player the game a week ago and even though he had no idea what he was doing the dice roll adjusting power of Steel Phalanx kept him in the game for a long ass time lol
Calling it "closed loop defense" scratches an itch in my brain that has bothered me why its hard to fight SP.
Thanks for the video, it's great! One comment about the Makhai tho, while she is an expensive piece in an expensive sectorial, I have had lots of success putting a missile launcher one in ARO duty in a Thorakitai link. Sixth Sense, mimetism and MSV1 throw a heavy wrench into many would-be ambushers like Intruders, Noctifers and even active turn Swiss Guard attacks. Even a Cutter needs to think twice about popping their heads knowing that a single missile hit can end them (and in a link you shoot two). Between her and a hidden Atalanta you can control a lot of what happens in your reactive turn
You're very welcome for the night terrors regarding Agema.
Great overview, thanks for the video! Just wanted to say I think there’s something to be said for putting Hyppolita in a fireteam with two thorakitai. Not an amazing one, but I’ve had some success as a secondary offensive fireteam. The fact that she’s non-hackable, has eclipse, and has super jump is what does it for me
I take hippolyta over ajax. Less risk, and often in turn 2 or 3 there's an opening to seperate her out of the team and rambo the enemy pretty hard. Now I ALSO usually run two myrm based link teams and have Eudoros in my other team with wildcards and acmon as my point team for the first turn.
Achilles is also a TAG profile with an S2 silhouette... Some pros and cons...
Any commentary on Hoplites?
Hoplites I passed over because to me they're a unit that doesn't really do anything. Their points cost is blown out by CC stats that are too weak to be used in CC but just high enough to increase the cost of the model, which is otherwise a very mediocre generic heavy infantry dude. The one interesting combo is that I did mention is that you can duo an Engineer Hoplite with Agamemnon, but that's a pricey little duo - fun, though. And their models are awesome.
Time for a hate watch! 😉
I have absolutely seen Atalanta shred an Avatar IN ARO. Just sayin'.
I'm sure I'll edit this for more comments as I keep watching.
Double myrmidon link team. Phoenix in pure core. Have thrasymedes start in macheon link . I feel the additional smoke a is just oppressive for opponents particularly if you're running Agema/Atlanta as well
Steel Phalanx: "This unit is really good, but really expensive..." copy + paste
Pretty much, yup.
@@R0bertShepherd I do appreciate the details you go into on these, your script is like poetry too. I subbed earlier today 👍
Since I have nothing of substance to add to your faction review, I'm just gonna be *that guy* and say:
- It's MYR-mi-don, not Myr-MI-dion - emphasis on the first syllable, and the last syllable doesn't have an i in it (pronounced like "Sir, he's gone", not "Her Idiot")
- It's Thra-sy-medes, not Tha-rys-medes
- It's Tho-ra-kee-TAI, not Tho-ra-KEE-tees, with emphasis on the last syllable (and pronounced like "tie")
Unless of course you ask a Greek how it's ACTUALLY pronounced, and then I'm completely wrong as well...
My partner is greek.
Whether or not they judge me horribly for my mangling of the words of their native tongue I leave as an exercise for the audience.
@@R0bertShepherd 😂
Hi you are wrong in a sense but in other not cause its in English of course. So technically you are not.
Thorakeetes Θωρακίται the -tes sylable is pronounced as in tennis. Thorakizo(Θωρακίζω) is "I shield" the body part thorax(Θώραξ) is from that, it shields the main organs. Thorax in greek also we call the enforced vest or breastplate and as i said the bodypart.
Myrmidon is Meer-mee-don. Myrmigki is the ant. Achilles soldiers were many and came from ants which Zeus transform them into men.
Thrasymides Thra see mee dees(Θρασυμήδης). Tharos(Θάρρος) courage+ Medome(Μήδομαι) thinking. The one who is thinking with courage.
These are the Hellenic(Greek) pronunciations not the English ones which to be honest are cringy. XD
Ps I wish I worked for Corvus Beli cause sometimes they lack that oomph. Not only from a Hellene perspective but a Hellene who knows etymology in addition to the historic and cultural assosiations of the words.
Excuse my English and I hope i wasnt ultra boring
@@faelreklaw8837 not at all mate, it's super interesting. I don't think I'll be able to remember it, which means the channel is doomed to horrible mispronunciations ad infinitum, but if we're very lucky "meer-mee-don" might manage to stick. :)
@@faelreklaw8837 Thanks so much. This was very enlightening!
Hello, I'm still pretty new to the game so my understanding of the game is still pretty basic, certainly for N4 and I'm a little confused when you said that Atalanta could hit on 18's when she has a ballistic skill of 15. Could you elaborate on this?
Great video btw, I learned a lot from it and looking forward to try out some of these link suggestions out.
A model's base BS is almost always affected by modifiers. The most common modifiers are firing in good range (+3 BS) against a target who has cover against you (-3 BS). Because Atalanta has marksmanship, she doesn't suffer a penalty for shooting at enemies in cover, meaning she will usually only have the positive modifier for her sniper rifle's excellent range bands - giving her a resultant BS18 on most of her attacks.
@@R0bertShepherd Ah so that is what marksmanship does. Thank you for the clear explanation!
As a opinio: a sectorial that makes you play guided as opponent is not really much fun on either side and probably a design flaw...
Did you leave out the Hoplite profiles? Or was I not paying attention.
You didn't go into the bots, again unless I missed them, however included them in the list. Netrods important/good as they are veteran if memory serves
And an other advice I've seen online pointed towards Hector as an auto include Lt
Hector costs about 70pts, it's hard to consider something like that an "auto-include." Especially when you've got OTHER 70pt options in the army like Achilles.
I like to keep the videos at about ~1hr and the Phalanx character roster meant a few things didn't get mentioned.
Netrods and remotes didn't get mentioned because they're basic building block stuff that aren't really part of faction identity (really good, absolutely necessary for lists - just not a big discussion piece).
Hoplites I passed over because to me they're a unit that doesn't really do anything. Their points cost is blown out by CC stats that are too weak to be used in CC but just high enough to increase the cost of the model, which is otherwise a very mediocre generic heavy infantry dude. The one interesting combo is that I did mention is that you can duo an Engineer Hoplite with Agamemnon, but that's a pricey little duo.
Regarding Hector, as Ninjat126 notes, the man is far far too expensive to ever be considered an auto-include. That advice might be very old now, from a different rules era when things like ten-person armies had some incentives in the ITS pack.
@Ninjat126 comes with 2 Lt orders which are converted to regular orders through strategos to regular orders. Combats taking two orders from your pool turn one.
@R0bertShepherd those starting from Blackwind will be presented with the Hoplite as their LT option. 2 wounds, total immunity and an HMG for 41 points. Yes overshadowed by other things but it's a nice model and not the end of the world to field.
The other HMG options the Thorakitai, a remote and the TAG.
Fair enough link bonuses make the thorakitai a bit more formidable but it's more likely to go down if hit.
Think you may have also missed Andromeda (I know I know, was a long video as was) but an interesting piece with guard +MA3, specialist operative. Maybe a bit pricey