I’m finally getting around to putting my thoughts here. Overall I feel orks are fairly balanced but maybe a smidge underpowered (particularly compared to some newer armies). Some units and formations are distinctly underpowered and could do with tweaking to allow a wider range of competitive choices.
Gunzwaggons are a bit underpowered and often effectively carriers and bullet shields for the Oddboyz which do the real killing. Armies composed of vast hordes of Gunzwagons are quite orky and described in the background but not that effective. I’d suggest costing the Blitz Brigade Oddboy at +25 but reducing the cost of the Blitz Brigade formation by 25 (big 50, ect). This would keep the regularly used upgraded formation the soon while boosting the Gunwagons on their own. Deth Koptas are a little underwhelming too but if the cost of the Blitz Brigade goes down this would fix them also. Flakwaggonz are relatively too good compared to Gunzwaggons at the moment and taken in large numbers, with only small amounts of regular gunzwaggans, which is a shame as AA units should be a bit more rare and in terms of models there have been vast numbers of gunwaggonz models made over the years (back from the SM/TL era when there were loads of different ones doing different things) and only relatively few flakkwaggonz from the Epic 40; and EpicA era. Dropping Flakkwagonz to CC6+ would be a small need that would help bring them into line.
Supa-Stompas similarly are overly good relative to the Stompas, but as a whole the commonly used formation is balanced enough. It’s just the relative internal balance that’s off and I’d suggest the Stompa formation be -25 and the Super-Stompa +25.
Kommandos aren’t worth taking while priced the same as Stormboyz: a formation of 6 for 125?
I’d be tempted to try Batlewaggons down to 25 to make them and a mechanised Warband a bit better a choice. If it’s felt this would make them too good (I’m not sure it would but testing could determine this) then yes slightly reducing their shooting could balance it. I wouldn’t remove a twin big-shoota as other suggested – as clearly the old model has two guns and the newer 40k ork vehicles have lots of guns. Instead I’d reduce it to having 2 x Big Shootas and drop the twin bit. It’d slightly speed up dice rolling to have them hit on the same as the boyz and nobz too.
Battle Kroozer: has anyone ever taken one? It’s just not appealing given it’s slow and steady nature (and how a higher strategy army with a spaceship of their own can bring it on turn 3 and potentially mean the battle is entirely over before it can attack). Perhaps it’s cost could drop as low as 100 the same as the Kill Kroozer (which isn’t that
great a choice itself)?
Just a small change but Fighta-Bommerz Tankbusta Rokkits should be fixed forward as is standard for other similar aircraft. Their eavy shootas are often in rotating turrets so should stay all round as now.
Skorchas are a bit too good and overly taken compared to the others. Drop their save to 6+? They would explode easily with big containers of fuel on them. OR make their shooting AP5+ but leave their armour and FF unchanged.
Adopt the Shield option for Battlefortresses from Epic-UK.
Feral Orks Steam Gargants should have fire arcs!
Do adopt the worse critical as used in the Epic UK list for Orkeosaruses - as before but alsdo it looses 1 extra DC. This would make a small difference to one it down and it has been found problematic at some Australian tournaments.
Feral Orks Orkeosauruses seem balanced to me (and I've run an 'Orkeosaurus Legion' list with 8 formations of them plus 3 Steam Gargants and Madboyz - 60 DC of 4+ reinforced at 3k) as it’s hard to get more than a draw using them. I certainly wouldn’t give them walker as they don’t need the boost! Also, they’re great lumbering stupid enraged beasts that obvious ‘walk’ but realistically seem much more liable to crash into a tree and hurt themselves than an Eldar titan say.
If there was support for a larger army change faster moving Orkeosauruses that were more expensive and/or weaker then maybe this could be tested but this would be a very significant change for a long standing army and I’m much more inclined to leave them be and just accept them often getting draws.
uberChris wrote:
In the Speedfreeks list, Biker Nobs should be an upgrade for "Kult of Speed" formations (and maybe Warbike Outrider formations?). It always seemed very odd to me that Nobs on Warbikes can't be added to formations of Warbikes.
I agree with this!
Thanks for your work Tim! I'll be interested to see what changes make it through here (and in any future Epic-UK revision)