We can sharez Slaughterhouser experiences?

[dboeren]

Let's keep the other thread for theory, this one is for talking about actual experiences for everyone who is trying out the Slaughterhousers (regardless of faction). Feel free to ask questions about the battles as well, but moaning about how they weren't what you wanted or expected or what Santa said they'd be can go in the other thread.

So first, they are exactly as described, the spoilers are accurate for once. There is one addition though, they are also Fearless. Sometimes Carver gives it to you free, but you're not always in range so it's nice that it's an innate ability so you don't have to worry about them breaking.

I had the opportunity to try them out tonight against Circle. The list was built specifically as a Slaughterhouser list and I expect some of you might want to try something fairly similar.

Carver
2xWar Hogs
Blast Boar (could just as easily be a Gun Boar too)
6xSlaughterhousers
6xSlaughterhousers
Razorback
Razorback
Alten Ashley
35+6, Thornfall Alliance

vs.

Kromac
Feral Warpwolf
Pureblood Warpwolf
Gnarlhorn Satyr
5xSkinwalkers
6xBloodweavers
35+4

The Farrow list is built on the back of the Slaughterhousers and what I felt they would want as support. They want their targets to be hurt before they get there, so I put in a lot of ranged models to accomplish this. Also, they're vulnerable to light infantry, either ranged or simply faster than they are. For this reason, I included several AOEs. The combination of Slaughthousers + Razorback/Gun Boar/Blast Boar seems quite good as the AOE models both boost the Slaughterhousers and prey on the models that are most likely to give them trouble. Try it.

The whole cavalcade is put under the command of Carver who I think offers them the most, plus getting AD for all my units was critical for how I wanted the list to function.

Now, in this game my opponent didn't have much range, mainly just the spray on the Pureblood. The Skinwalkers charge range matches the Slaughterhousers, the Bloodweavers out-charge them but only by 1/2" which is usually too tricky to judge.

Here we see the game fairly early on. The Knights Exemplar are being proxied as my Slaugherhousers. Bloodweavers are trying to flank us from the left, Skinwalkers taking a bit of protection from that forest, and Kromac and his beasts sort of on the right. I've just spent two turns running to get here after winning initiative so starting from AD range we get up the table pretty quickly.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/dboeren/198cbcf9.jpg

From there, the Skinwalkers charged and killed two Slaughterhousers, but one made his Tough roll. The forest protected me too you see, and their medium bases made them a little clumsy to get around each other - plus they were a little too slow to reach more of my guys. It was a good setup on my part. The thing is, they NEED to hit me or else I'm going after that Pureblood, so they really have little choice but to take my bait. The Pureblood sprays on two Slaughterhousers who somehow both make their Tough rolls. I know, very good luck w/ Tough so far but I think that's the last one we make all game. Anyway, this is significant because those Slaughterhousers are what's preventing the Gnarlhorn from charging my War Hog with Bounding. He wasn't going to kill me at ARM 21, but he'd put a sizable dent.

That's all Circle's got, and now it's time to find out why they're called Slaughterhousers. Upkeep Quagmire on the white unit. Pop feat, cast Mobility and Batten Down. The left is cloggy and we only manage to reach and kill two ARM 20 Skinwalkers. The guy who couldn't charge (knocked down from Tough) didn't get his. Alten shoots the Pureblood, and I charge it with two Slaugherhousers, getting one b2b for Quagmire so we're hitting on 4's. We're hitting a Warpwolf on FOURS. Turns out that was one Slaugherhouser too many as the first one takes it out by himself. Probably could have sent the other guy after one more Skinwalker if I'd known. Anyway, Kromac is unhappy because he can't reave. My War Hogs charges over the rough terrain from Rift and easily trashes the Gnarlhorn. AOE's get two Bloodweavers and honestly the game is pretty much sealed at this point. The second War Hog follows the first, to hit anyone that hits him.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/dboeren/0b451f7b.jpg

That's really about it. Feral warps strength, almost kills my War Hog. Kromac finishes the job. Slaugherhousers (with Quagmire still upkept) charge at an effective MAT 10 for getting b2b and kill the Warpwolf (who has a couple points of damage left from being shot by Alten earlier in the game, despite Regenerating once to get rid of it), and just one gets the charge on Kromac so he's not dead yet but a moment later when the other War Hog hits him he sure is. Crit knockdown and choppity chop. The Bloodweavers and one Skinwalker did kill a few Slaughterhousers on the last turn, I ended up losing five total over the game, and one of the Skinwalkers hit my Blast Boar for some damage (in addition to the 3 he took pumping his gun) but there wasn't much of anything left at the end. Ending pic looked like this:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/dboeren/3351a965.jpg


So this is just one game of course, and they would likely have more trouble against a shooty force. That holds true of any similar unit though. 5" with Reach isn't the longest charge threat on the block but it's not bad and they can run and engage from 12". We're still in the infancy of the faction too, someday we might get a speed or defensive buff.

What they can do REALLY well is kill injured warbeasts, particularly those that have better DEF and only moderate ARM. What else they can do really well is kill injured casters, particularly if you can stack Quagmire for an effective MAT 10. But even without it MAT 8 hits an awful lot of casters on average rolls. I highly recommend accompanying them with a marksman of some sort, Alten seems tailor made for the job. Saxon is good stuff too, and can give them Pathfinder if they need it, but his gun is shorter range and one less RAT so I prefer Alten. With AD in Thornfall you've hopefully got better odds on setting them up where they won't need Pathfinder for whatever that's worth. They're also good at killing high DEF infantry on a charge (which doesn't need to be hurt first). Overall, I have no problem with their performance and I'm buying two units. I should also mention that although they are a smaller unit than Brigands potentially can be, in a sense they are better Quagmire targets because as melee troops they WANT to get in contact with stuff where Brigands don't always.

Next I'd like to try a hybrid list with both Slaughterhousers and Brigands in it, and then sometime try them out with Arkadius. The first is easy, drop a unit, probably drop a Razorback with them, and pick up a full unit of Brigands.

The second I'd like to think through some more before building the list. Arkadius can zap things with Primal Shock to hurt them, so I think there is less need for ranged models to support them but I need to try it. I'll still bring SOME, but not so many. The thing is, it messes with his Tier at 35. You need a unit of Brigands to get to Tier 3/4 which grants you +1 on the starting roll and +2 SPD on your warbeasts for the first turn. I don't care so much about the starting roll (though it's nice) but I REALLY like having my beasts run up quickly so I hate to give that up. But there's not room for everything, so I guess the only way to make things fit is to drop Rorsch & Brine. What else can I do if I want 3 War Hogs, Brigands, Slaugherhousers, and Bone Grinders to get to Tier 4? I'll miss Rorsch's gun, that leaves me with fewer ranged options for pinging stuff so I'll really rely on Primal Shock more. Maybe take two units of Bone Grinders for more Arcane Bolts? Still mulling it over but I guess that puts you with something like this:

Arkadius
3xWar Hogs
Gun Boar / Blast Boar
6xSlaugherhousers
6xBrigands
4xBone Grinders
4xBone Grinders

Or, max the Brigands and drop the Gun Boar would be another option but there are so few small things you can put into an Arkadius Tier list. It'll be better when Targ comes out.

So that's it. If you get a chance to try them out please post your impressions here. Pics if you've got 'em but otherwise don't worry about it. The important thing is to get real experience with these guys and start building a better understanding of what they offer.

Oh yeah, one more thing - the models. They look better in person so I'm relieved about that. They come in three pieces each: body, head, weapon except the leader has an extra arm piece. They go together fairly easily. The heads are potentially swappable for Brigand heads, but will require a little greenstuffing because these heads have a little piece of hunchback on them so you'd need to fill that in. They can swivel a bit in their socket to give them a little bit of posability (mainly just their "expression") but that's all you're getting without significant conversion work. I'm going to prime mine tomorrow and see if I can get them painted up fairly quickly, maybe run them half-painted in a local tournament this Saturday.

[Josh]

I tried em out tonight, my list was as follows.
Carver
Warhog x3
R&B
Max Brigands,
Min Brigands
Slaughterhousers x2

I played against Amon (which is sorta ideal) running Templar, Reckoner, Scourge, Repenter x2, Full TFG+UA and some solo filler/choir. I wont go into the game fully, but the Slaughterhousers preformed admirably. On my feat turn I used one unit to wipe out both Repenters and the other unit killed 4 tfg who were blocking their path, they also killed 4 more the following turn. The game became a heavy beast/jack mosh pit in the middle, with the Templar and Scourge dieing to two of the WH and then in return losing the 2 WH to boosted up Reckoner and some TFG, I ended getting Brine into melee with Amon with diversionary tactics, boosted tusk attack and dmg leaving him with 7 boxes, but missed both boosted fist attacks needing a 10, and then cast mobility with Carver and charged in, but missed the charge attack needing an 11(due to being too close to the Reckoner) and then missing an extra boosted attack, Amon made quick work of Carver the following turn...

I will say that I while I don't think the Slaugherhousers are the best infantry killers in the game, they do give Carver a better threat ranged, decent Mat melee unit, which I think makes hogs much more viable now. They are a much better option to Brigands in melee and let you use Brigands for what they were intended (shooting!), and on Carvers feat turn they will absolutely wreck your face if you have multiple wounds. Also I realized that had I played my final turn a little better that I could have gotten two of them on Amon with charge attacks, and having powerful charge really makes them a threat to most casters, especially wounded casters.

[sanj]

I ran them today:

Arkadius
x4 War Hogs
Gunboar
Rorsch and Brine
Min Brigands
Max Bonegrinders
Slaughterhousers

I was up against pIrusk (groan)
Wardog
Torch
Khador battle engine
Max Ironfangs + UA
x2 units of doomreavers
Max mechanics
Max Shocktroopers

Irusk had inhospitable ground up the whole game, I couldn't get near him.

The slaughterhousers performed well, they negated Irusk's feat by denying tough and took out a unit of doomreavers.
The doomreavers could out threat the slaughterhousers but I lured them into my threat range with the gunboar.
Brine killed two shocktroopers and the slaughter housers were poised to take on the other three. The shocktroopers had taken light damage from Rorsch's gun and dynamite so I was sure they would destroy them on the charge but we had to call the game due to the LGS closing.

They would have died to the battle engine's firepower if he had targeted them but that would have meant he wasn't bogging my warhog's down in 4" AOEs of rough terrain.

I was very confident in their MAT 8 on the charge, it meant I could run them off on the flank unsupported, in contrast I had to keep the brigands close to Arkadius so they could capitalise on crippling grasp.

[LoadedDice]

I had a quick game the other day. I took two War Hogs, Slaughterhousers, full Brigands, Bone Grinders, Alten Ashley, and Carver. I was playing against a Cygnar force. The experience was pretty simple, I ran the Brigands up front to block LOS, took the losses there until I got into range, Hog Wild to ping a Stormclad for three or four damage and move them out of the way, and charged the 'housers. They wrecked the 'jack in three attacks.

[dboeren]

Thanks for the reports. I've been painting for several hours tonight trying to get my unit ready to run in a team tournament tomorrow. 35 points per player, random teams determined when we start. So kind of a casual event, but probably a good chance to test them some more. I've only got one unit and I'll be running them with Carver again. My prior experience in a team game with Arkadius ran into trouble when my partner's models were closer Frenzy targets for my War Hogs than what I really wanted to get at which cost us a lot of time resolving dependencies so I'm leery of taking him in that format.

Still wrestling with the list, I keep hitting the dreaded 4 points left wall where you can't quite fit anything you want without wasting points. It'll help when Targ comes out but I really want a 4 point light beast someday too.

I agree that MAT 8 on the charge (and Fearless) means they can wander away from caster support without much worry. They'll take a buff if they can get it but can operate just fine without.

[sanj]

Used the slaughterhousers again today.
Same list as before but against Barnabas this time.

He had:
Barnabas
Wrastler
Wrastler
Ironback spitter
Snapper
x2 Max units of gatormen posse
Min bogtrogs
Feralgiest
Totem hunter

He killed all four of my badly damaged War Hogs after my feat.
Barnabas charged my gunboar who was way upfield but failed to kill it by one point.
I healed up the gunboar and threw Barnabas to within the slaughterhousers charge range.
They relished in denying Barnabas his tough roll.

They seem great for hanging back and cleaning up in the second wave.
Man/beast of the match still goes to the gunboar.

[dboeren]

I ran Carver today in a team tournament. 35 points per side, random partners. My partner was using Epic Haley.

Carver
2xWar Hogs
Gun Boar
Gudrun
6xBrigands
6xBrigands
6xSlaugherhousers
34+6 (yes, I'm a point short but nothing really fit)

The first two games we lost on scenario. One was against Sorscha + Epic Asphyxious, the other against Epic Magnus and Epic Haley. More or less they just stopped us from contesting points and won on that even though we crushed their armies for the most part. I'm not a scenario player, I prefer a straight up fight and in both cases we'd have easily won if the game had kept going because they had little left.

Third game was a win against Epic Lylth + Kreoss. We lost eHaley to an Epic Lylyth feat turn, then on our turn killed her and the War Hogs crushed both his Reckoners and finished off the last of his errants. Quagmire is so useful for stopping Enliven :)

The Slaughterhousers did pretty much fine in all the battles charging and killing some models, tying up others. The eMagnus game they were the declared Prey of the enemy Idrian unit so I held them back a bit and they took a slightly smaller part in that battle. Epic Haley's feat turn made them go before the Precursors they were standing behind and then Epic Magnus's feat wouldn't let them move towards any enemy models so they were feeling sort of frustrated. They got their last control point with eMagnus dead and a wounded eHaley engaged by a healthy War Hog though.

There was for some reason very few people running Hordes so RFP wasn't as great as it could have been.

[Icejack]

I'm a relatively new player, I've been playing since December. I started with trolls, then started filling them out with minons, and eventually I built a decent sized Farrow and force. Anyways on the topic of the thread, I played my first game with slaughterhousers today. We where going to do a tournament, but only 4 players showed up, so we decided to do a 4 player battle royale 35 pts. A khador player, a legion player, a troll player, and me with Farrow of course.

Lord Carver BMMD Esq III +7 (from wildlife for league)
War Hog x2 16
Min Brigands x2 10
Slaughterhousers x2 12
Alten Ashley 2
Victor Pendrake 2

P Butcher
Dog
Torch
Destroyer
Full Shocktroopers
Min Democorps
Widowmakers
Widowmaker marksman

E Thagrosh
Ravagore
Scythian
Carnivian
Shredder one or two can't remember
Forsaken

E Doomy
Mulg
Earthborn
Mauler
Axer
Whelps x2

Khador and trolls both went for legion first, I kinda hung back and set up for charges and such. I used alten to pop the dog first turn for fun. Got a charge of on torch with slaughterhousers after he tried to spray my brigands, still had all six and wasted 2 of them, dead torch. Next turn popped carvers feat, downed destroyer, and all the man-o wars. He conceded afterwards with only butcher and widowmakers left. By this time the trolls downed thagrosh, but he was down to axer and doomy. I got of a charge with slaughterhousers on doomy, and only needed two, had couple of damage from a brigand CRA.

[Nalik]

Played two units of Slaughterhousers vs Cygnar. First turn ran one unit up behind a forest to flank w/ Saxon, second unit ran up behind some crates for cover. Cygnar army advances under TB. Turn two used Saxon for Pathfinder and advanced thru the woods to tie up some Gun Mages, but only could reach two due to TB and a Defender. Stayed in the woods for concealment. Unit two advanced out of cover to try to get into melee. Got shot apart by deadeyed standing still Gun Mages and cut down by Storm Knights. Over all one Gun Mage died from a free strike, and I lost two units.

Game two of the night was against Khador and def 17 tough Winterguard so I didn't even bother taking Pigs. Could of dealt w/ tough but not def 17 even on a charge it's still 9's to hit.

[Fellio]

If you're weary about Slaughterhouser's ability to hit certain warcasters, remember that Carver can put Quagmire on them, and you can have one run into b2b contact while the others charge. I saw a player using Slaughterhousers that could've done this, and it would've made Slaughterhousers hitting Ashlynn a very real possibility.

[SpaceMonkeyFromSpace]

I'm still a pretty green player, but I had a fun first game with my slaughterhousers. I ran them up as a second wave behind my brigands and got a 5 man charge in against a quagmired Avatar of Menoth. I was hoping to get one point in before the charge, but it didn't work out and I really should have used carvers feat to get that extra dice. They did a lot of damage but it was spread out too evenly and I didn't cripple any systems. On the next turn the Avatar retaliated and killed all but one of them (Stupid tough rolls. Stupid 4 focused avatar). My opponent did seem to forget about the last one and I almost got in an assassination against his caster by popping it with alten ashley first and then charging on in, but I rolled a 4 (12) to hit and then the lonely slaughterhouser got "noticed" again. I lost, but Carver killed most of the rest of my opponents army before going down.

[Jugrnot]

I've played a game against Deny and found her to be one of the worst casters for Carver to go up against (having played her twice before with out Slaughterhousers). It was the first time using Slaughterhousers and he through crippling grasp on the unit which really slowed them down.

Played against Retribution and they hacked up his Phoenix and I only lost one SH. My favorite game so far with them was against Kreoss where they circled around and wiped out almost a whole unit of Examplars, half a Vanquisher, the remaining Choir and chased Kreoss into a forest where he was finished of by Carver's Warhog.

So far they are a great unit and every game I team them up with Saxon so terrain is not a problem for them to get into range. Razorbacks and Gun boars damage the intended targets. A great addition to my army.

[FearMeMortals]

Apologies if this is asked often but has there been a Slaughterhouse preview in NQ? If so which issue? Thanks

[Neutralyze]

the latest issue currently in stores. i think NQ 36.

[dboeren]

Right, they're in NQ 36. Just be aware that the magazine is missing the part where it says which factions they work for. Slaughterhousers work for all four Hordes factions.

The models are out as well, so if your store has them in stock you may be able to look at their card there (which DOES have the factions they work for listed).

[Fuchikoma]

Quick clarification question...Slaughterhousers can't be used in the tier lists, just the thornfall contract, right?

[thag-rush]

They are a farrow unit, so allowable in both tiers.

[dboeren]

Correct. However, note that there is currently a bug in iBodger that it does not allow you to add the Slaughterhousers to a Carver or Arkadius theme list. The author has already been notified and replied that it will be fixed in the next release.

I do not know when that will be, but my guess would be within a week or so, he's usually pretty prompt.

[Fuchikoma]

Excellent...

[Spatulor]

I love my Slaughterhousers. I've only been playing Farrow for a week now, but they've performed well in every game.
I only have one unit of them, so I put Quagmire on my Brigands. I don't know that I'd change that, even with a second unit of Slaughterhousers. Brigands are more likely to be my front screening models, and they can cover a wider area than a unit of slaugterhousers, or a similar area two lines deep.
I saw today that one unit of slaugterhousers can, with just a little luck, wipe out several beasts in one turn and leave my roommate frothing with rage at the loss of reaved fury. Would probably work best to send a unit after two beasts, not three. On Carver's feat turn, two Slaughterhousers per beast seemed to be enough. (It's awesome that the question is not "can they kill beasts/jakcs", but rather "how many can they kill in one turn") - My roommate had never faced Carver before, and I won't be able to do that to him again, or at least not on that scale.
I found Alten Ashley and Saxon to be very useful for setting up for the Finisher dice, especially Alten Ashley on a Wold Guardian with Flesh of Clay up.

[Fuchikoma]

My slaughterhousers performed very admirably against a Vayl list on Saturday. They actually managed to get the killing blow.

[Tamwulf]

Looks like the Slaughterhousers are a unit that works very well in any Farrow list. They fill the void of a much needed "Elite Infantry" unit. A common idea I am seeing so far, and my own experience reinforces this, is the second wave tactic.

They seem to have the best chance of accomplishing great things counter charging or going in the second wave. With the Brigands able to Advance Deploy and Dig In, they form the first line of offense (or defense if that is your thing). The War Hogs and Gun Boars form a fantastic offensive punch as your opponent attempts to deal with the Brigands. These guys, with the aptly named Finsher, can out flank or charge in behind the warbeasts, finishing off anything they didn't, and freeing them up to charge the next line of enemy models.

Can't wait to see what Targ can do!

[Lord Carver BMMD Esq. III]

Played with them twice yesterday against Kromac and some tharn and Grissle.

In the first game I kept them behind two units of Brigands. His unit of blood trackers had marked the slaughterhousers as their prey. During my first turn I moved up a bit, then during my second turn I moved back slightly with everything except the forward unit of brigands which acted as the bait for his big unit of tharn. His second turn he took the bait and charged his tharn in, dispatching the Brigands.
During my next turn I had the second unit of brigands Hog Wild, first shoot the tharn for a few points of damage and then move out of the way of the slaughterhousers which then charged the wounded tharn and mopped them up.

During the second game I basically did the same thing with a unit of brigands running interception against Grissel's Fennblades. The Slaughterhousers did OK, but the lack of a good target hampered them. They didnt really do anything that game more brigands wouldn't have done.


They seem to be a unit that really relies a bit to much on the enemies army composition for my liking. As long as the enemy has a multi wound unit then the Slaughterhousers should do OK. Keeping them screened with a unit of brigands and then doing Hog Wild to ping the target and then move out of the way worked out perfectly.
However, against some armies (Especially Cygnar) I think I would find their points better spent for brigands. I wish they where only 5 points in regards to the fact their only situationaly effective...

[Barnaby]

I played a few games last week and wanted to share. My buddy plays Retribution and was running the New Vyros theme list; lots of Jacks and lots of Infantry. During my best game i got the Slaughterhousers to do exactly what they are supposed to.

I had the Brigands in front; slightly spread out- with Quagmire cast onto them. Behind them were the Slaughterhousers- with Carver one step behind them. My two Warhogs were on either side; hidden behind the row of infantry while the second brigand unit with Rorsch and Brine moved along the flank.

I'm sure we all know how this goes- but my force advances; abandoning dig in to make sure that a few bullets get put into the Myrmidons. The Jacks get their charge off (under feat) but fail to kill the Brigands thanks to a few lucky tough rolls- and a failed Trample due to the new ruling + Quagmire. The only inconvenience was that he managed to get his Force Locking Light Jack onto a Warhog who really wanted to carve into the Infantry advancing behind.

Carver promptly feated on my turn, tossed out Mobility and moved up to where the lines would soon be- firing off a double barreled spray to take out a bothersome arcanist. The Brigands moved around the targets opening up charge lanes and hitting them with clubs; knocking down their shields a little more and making sure that the Quagmire defense bonus was securely in place. Then my undamaged Slaughterhouses did the full 5d6 doom charge. 2 of them killed the one slightly Damaged Myrmidon, 3 more killed the almost entirely unhurt Heavy, and the Last one brought the light locker jack to half health. The Warhog finished it off and tossed out his animus to the second warhog who charged into enemy lines and ate his way through them, the massacre movement and feat movement letting him finish off half of the unit. When Brine Animused and Trampled it forced a command check (failed) leaving Vyros completely exposed.

Couldn't have done it without my Slaughterhousers. I really want to try them with Arkadius, the lack of Carver's feat means -1d6, but Primal Shock seems like a great way to make sure there's some small damage on heavier targets.

[Zombied00d]

I played with the Slaughterhousers at DieCon in my Arkadius Hardcore and my 35 point lists this past weekend. They hit hard, which is great but there's a lot of ways to shut them down, chief among them is any kind of rough terrain. At 6 points they feel a little too expensive for my tastes.

[Cannibalbob]

They hit hard, which is great but there's a lot of ways to shut them down, chief among them is any kind of rough terrain.

To be fair, you can take Saxon Orrik to help deal with that - and I think a lot of people overlook how useful Saxon can be for a Farrow army. Brigands can give themselves pathfinder if they need it, but as the amount of Farrow units increases I expect that Saxon will become a lot more useful for granting Pathfinder - in addition to the other stuff he can do.

[ozmo]

So far they've played ok, but at 6 for 6 unit I'd like them to be a little more self sufficient.
They shine with support, charging under carvers feat on damaged targets but that's an awful lot of set up.

[Pirrekurr]

I have played them once. They did nothing since my opponent was so afraid of the new shiny pigs with big cleavers that he shot them to smithereens (I didn't manage a single tough roll). On the other hand that helped to deliver 2 unharmed War Hogs in his face so I guess they helped anyways.