Taking units becasue no one else will: Cephalyx

[steelmaelstorm]

I've decided to run each unit in our Faction until I can consistantly use them effectively.

Mechanithralls - done
Banes Thralls - done
Bane Knights - done
Bile Thralls - done (way too fun!!!!)
Satyxis - done
Bloodgorgers - done

next up, Cephalyx. Everything I've read about them says "Meh".

Reviewing eGaspy and his Tier, I can take:

6 Cephalyx Slaver and drudges (4 points)
6 Cephalyx Slaver and drudges (4 points)
3 Cephalyx Overlords (4 points)
3 Cephalyx Overlords (Free)

18 models (10 Tough rolls), with the hidden gem: 6 magic spray attacks that ignore LOS....

Is it worth going Tier with eGaspy to get a free 4 point Cephalyx Overlords unit or should I stick with the ladies who make everything hit harder: Denny/Skarre?

Cheers

[Lambstar]

The overlords are actually okay. Not super great, but accurate no LoS spray attacks can be pretty welcome. Try using them either with a caster who can protect them and needs help killing infantry (Coven) and they're fun under Scaverous' feat. Plus they fit in his tier list!

The drudges on the other hand are pretty bad. The best use they really have is a small-based tarpit unit because they don't move fast or hit hard/accurately enough for any other goal. We only have 1 over SPD 5 unit without reach or a ranged attack and it's Bloodgorgers (who usually charge 10"). They are literally our slowest unit. The icing on the failcake is losing the leader kills CMA and brings the rest of the unit to CMD 4, so their board prescence is pretty nil.

I'd go with eGaspy's tier list without the second overlord unit. 8 points for 15 models is a good bargain no matter how bad said models are. Besides that, they have some use as a cheap screen and they are living, so a necrosurgeon could be of use. It can just be rather frustrating when your screening unit is slower than literally every other part of your army.

[blakeh1]

I've been so tempted to run his theme force just for the 2 units of Overlords. Definitely stick with the min units on the Drudges. I believe even with those 12 points tie up in Cephalyx, you still have plenty of room for things you'd want to take for his feat turn. I forget what other restrictions the theme force has as far as what you can take.

The main reason I haven't tried yet is because I don't have a second unit of Cephalyx or Drudges to actually play it.

Outside the theme force, Overlords are useful regardless of what caster you bring them with. The Drudges however will do best with Deneghra or Skarre if you want to use them for anything outside of standing in front of the Overlords as a roadblock. Of course remember there spray is a magic attack, so you can still use it even while they are engaging something. Not needing LOS on Deneghras feat turn is also pretty good if your trying to reach a caster hiding behind something. He feat makes them effective MA 9, and POW 14. Add in Parasite and the 3 of them can kill most casters with average ARM.

Don't put too much stock in the Death Toll ability. Overlords are much better using their spray or Influence over creating one new Drudge. Just use the Drudges you do bring ( if any) for Sac Pawn fodder and to block LOS/charge lanes to the Overlords

I like to think of Asphyxious them force as buying two units of overlords, and getting a free 4 point fodder unit to throw away in front of them. It makes it more palatible

[steelmaelstorm]

I like to think of Asphyxious them force as buying two units of overlords, and getting a free 4 point fodder unit to throw away in front of them. It makes it more palatible

Now that is "glass half-full" thinking! I like it!!

[eddie]

the cephalex at least get some love...the revenant crew now theres a unit most people won't touch either!

scaverous is decent for the overlords tk and influence makes for lawlzy caster kills. Wish they gave him scavvy influence but his spells list is already a page long...

[Jbradlyn]

I use them pretty effectivly with pgaspy and ragman. Between scything touch, darkshrowd and CMA. They hit accuratly and pretty hard. Also since they are living ragman can sac pawn to them.

[blakeh1]

the cephalex at least get some love...the revenant crew now theres a unit most people won't touch either!

Actually I run the Revenant Crew quite a lot and enjoy it. I can't say the same about the Drudges. Overlords are a differet story and have been finding more table time in more of my lists. Drudges are still only if I really force myself to play them.

[Island]

Overlords are very nice with pDenny also (but what isn't, eh...)

[Deo85]

If your testing the water with them I go with Denny sense she makes any of our horrible units better both in the MAT / POW departments

[Sanctjud]

Problem with drudges stem from the other options available.
Their niche is 'cheap with tough', but many prefer other qualities to that.
They suffer needing their officer to be alive.

I've had a fair bit of experience with eGaspys theme force, and as much as i love theme lists, it doesn't help me like drudges any more. I still use them, but they only let me down...see I expect nothing from them, and they disappoint.

My problem with them, poor DEF for infantry, slow, relies on CMA offensively, tough is too random to have them tarpit something worth tarpitting, ugly models, sac pawn not working vs any kind of damage.

Ultimately, the existance of McThralls really steps in their toes...hell, being alive is somewhat of a disadvantedge for them. They are not for me, I have given them enough play time, they are OP, overtly pathetic

[Bronze]

I vote eGaspy theme, it just comes down to whether you want to have 2 units of Overlords and an extra blister of Drudges purchased for probably just this one run through of your games.

[lichkitten]

i've tried them a few times and really they just blow chunks, depending on vocefirons soul harvester wording they might work as Gaspy3 food?

[Sheer_Falacy]

i've tried them a few times and really they just blow chunks, depending on vocefirons soul harvester wording they might work as Gaspy3 food?

It won't work on friendlies, and if it does, blood witches are living and the same cost (well, +2 points because the UA is awesome).

[Bronze]

It won't work on friendlies, and if it does, blood witches are living and the same cost (well, +2 points because the UA is awesome).

So, not the same cost, heh.

[steelmaelstorm]

The Drudges will be meatshield body-blockers and sac-pawn targets. I ordered the extra unit of overlords, easy to build + easy to paint.

With 2 Slavers and 6 Overlords on the table the unit should look dark and ominus!



Even if they do nothing but distract my opponent and cause him to waste effort to remove them, they will allow the rest of the force to take his caster down...

MIB
(Men in Black)

[Sanctjud]

What if they don't distract and just give the opponent something to do in the mean time?
Their speed 5 (the meat shields) and taking up space is a double edged sword, it can hold you up at the same time.

I guess to put a positive spin, you have to be extra careful with their positioning (needlessly...).

[Drzombieface]

Last time I used them was in a PGaspy list.

Gaspy
-Cankerworm
-Seether
-Ripjaw
-Skarlock

Bane Thralls (min)
-UA
Drudges (max)

BLT
Gorman


Standard turn 1, turn 2 the Banes engaged the front line. Turn 3 the Drudges killed a Destroyer, full- to- dead. Turn 4 the Banes finished off Beast, Drudges killed full unit of MoW. Turn 5, Seether uses Grab & Smash to Headbutt eSorscha, knocking her down. Gaspy had upkept Scything Touch on the Drudges, casts Parasite on Sorscha. Bane Thralls activate and run, one runs behind Sorscha and turns to engage her. Drudges charge with Auto- hitting effective P+S 20 attacks. Sorscha dies.

Basically all you have to do is cycle debuffs/buffs and the Drudges turn into powerhouses. Knocking things down also makes them nasty.



Edit: They ARE meh. But we're Cryx. We can improve them. We have the technology.

[bonesaww666]

I have been running units that no-one in my meta plays (Drudges and Bloodgorgers) and the surprise alone has made them worth it, unfortunately I don't think drudges are a minimum unit which plays against them as CMA is optimized with more models, where as Bloodgorgers do wonders in minimum.
I for one have not given up on them and rather like the models (overlords especially!) I think one has to look at them more for potential Heavy killing rather then infantry killers, leave that up to the Overlords and a Harrower, use a Desecrator to block potential charge lanes to them and the Coven to stop shooting, or pGaspy to max out Armor penetration.
With 2 Spells and 9 models you can CMA 3 attacks at a rather heinous P+S that will surprise your opponent.

[PG_Dmark]

Try running any kind of infantry with pSkarre. She would make a steaming pile of dog dump hit like a very accurate truck.

[bonesaww666]

I don't have either of the Skarres as of yet, but something worth considering.

[Sanctjud]

Try running any kind of infantry with pSkarre. She would make a steaming pile of dog dump hit like a very accurate truck.

In which case, pSkarre desires units that have threat range...

[Benejeseret]

I have been toying with the idea of entering Cryx to play a Cephalyx themes army with a lot of mercs for fun.

eDeneghra (converted to look more Cephalyxian)
Have not picked a jack yet..
1-2x Drudges and slavers (min or max preferred)
1x Overlords
2xWarwitch Sirens (similar conversion)
2-3 Machine Wraiths

1-2x Press Gangers (converted to be more like drudges and the Lass like an overlord)
Madelyn Corbeau (overlord-conversion)
Ragman (overlord-conversion)
2x Bokur converted into huge drudges

But, the secret reason for all of this is to get 5-6x seduction actions followed up by multi-backstrike-influences and the possibility of machine-wraithing and bone-shaker. Completely use their army against them for lots of laughs. Important unit leaders and the like can be chain-seduced well out of command range
Against other undead or when needed they can also lay down many, many sprays.
The drudges may be crap, but nearly everything important can sacrifice drudges to stay alive most of the time and all the drudges or gangers are tough

[PG_Dmark]

I have been toying with the idea of entering Cryx to play a Cephalyx themes army with a lot of mercs for fun.

eDeneghra (converted to look more Cephalyxian)
Have not picked a jack yet..
1-2x Drudges and slavers (min or max preferred)
1x Overlords
2xWarwitch Sirens (similar conversion)
2-3 Machine Wraiths

1-2x Press Gangers (converted to be more like drudges and the Lass like an overlord)
Madelyn Corbeau (overlord-conversion)
Ragman (overlord-conversion)
2x Bokur converted into huge drudges

But, the secret reason for all of this is to get 5-6x seduction actions followed up by multi-backstrike-influences and the possibility of machine-wraithing and bone-shaker. Completely use their army against them for lots of laughs. Important unit leaders and the like can be chain-seduced well out of command range
Against other undead or when needed they can also lay down many, many sprays.
The drudges may be crap, but nearly everything important can sacrifice drudges to stay alive most of the time and all the drudges or gangers are tough

You know what? I have a strange feeling that this might actually work...

However, at 50 pts, I'd exchange eDenny for pDenny and get a Skarlock to get two Influences instead of one, throw the Nightmare in, a Necrotech Doc Killingsworth to really have those Press Gangers be tough.

[various]

i really want the Drudges to work becuase they are thematically good but can't bring myself to invest in them after the horrendous rap they have: every time i get the cash for a unit i end up thinking of something better to buy. The Drudges themselves don't look great but the Cephalyx look awesome. Perhaps it's time PP 'fixed' them, it wouldn't take too much to make them viable (i think) maybe something simple like having both components of the unit having the same special abilities? Eyeless Sight is probably not the best thing for a melee unit to have if it doesn't have Pathfinder. Hope that you can get them to work because i want an excuse to buy them, even just one decent review would help!

[shaner]

I use them pretty effectivly with pgaspy and ragman. Between scything touch, darkshrowd and CMA. They hit accuratly and pretty hard. Also since they are living ragman can sac pawn to them.

Aha...well there ya go...ya learn something new every day. Didn't see that. Thanks

[steelmaelstorm]

If I run with the tier (my current preference) to get the free Overlord unit, I don't believe I can add Ragman to the roster...

[Benejeseret]

I'd exchange eDenny for pDenny and get a Skarlock to get two Influences instead of one

Really? I would have thought that for this particular list having eDenny would be much better. The Curse of Shadows is huge for a Seduction run as it lets you walk the lass/witch to wherever they are needed and get the second wave, leaders, big hitters etc. Also, eDenny can go insubstantial, walk where she wants to be, Seduce something to move it away and then lock down all movement. Seduction does not break insubstantial.

In turn, pDenny feat severely limits movement but also affects Seduced/Influenced attacks as they are -2Mat and -2Str (balanced by targets -2 Def/Arm) but the straight -3 Def seems much better and no advancing after 5+ models were seduced away seems much more defensive.

Can you give a Skarlock attachment to lesser warlocks? WrongEye with a Skarlock could also get extra influences flying around. My guess is no, but WrongEye could bring along 4x more influences on his own plus some heavier hitting and warbeast control. With all the Def debuffs thrown around plus back-strike influencing after seduction he should hold is own for sure. Also, if he submerges during eDenny feat turn they are basically immune to targeting.

[bonesaww666]

Here is one for you!

Cryx
35+4 points, 43 models

Lich Lord Terminus* +4 points
* Arc Node or Stalker 4 points
*Skarlock 2 points

Cephalyx Overlords* 4 points
10 Cephalyx Slaver & Drudges* 6 points
10 Cephalyx Slaver & Drudges* 6 points
6 Mechanithralls* 3 points
* 1 Brute Thralls* 1 points
Necrosurgeon & Stitch Thralls* 2 points
Necrosurgeon & Stitch Thralls* 2 points
Wraith Engine* 9 points

Run army up, collecting corpse tokens from your Drudges to build up MechT's on Feat turn if your enemy is lacking in souls or you don't think he will charge, cycle Berzerk on your own Drudge Leaders who have Anatomic Precision and butcher your own guys! Necro's gather the corpses Max out on Souls for charge fest, slam in Wraith Engine now with Berzerk and mow through infantry/pone a Heavy! Overlords are there to wipe a unit or two out of his charge vector. Terminus does his usual shenanigans!

Would work wonders against a Legion List!

[Sanctjud]

Bonesaww666, you need to read Ravager again.

[Gamingdevil]

Can you give a Skarlock attachment to lesser warlocks?

Of course not, the Skarlock is a Cryx Warcaster attachment. You can't attach something to another faction (Minions), except when they explicitly state it, such as the Ranking Officers. Not to mention, Wrong Eye isn't a Warcaster, he's not even a Warlock, he's just a solo with some Warlock rules.

[steelmaelstorm]

First unit of Cephalyx and Overlords complete!

I followed the P3 painting Techniqes DVD and used the P3 paint tray extensively while painting. This is my first attempt to paint models with lots of flesh!





Time to unbox and paint the second unit!

[ZombieWar]

I could see them being good with a Pskarre list that includes Bloodwitches. They can be used for Sac strike AND with a base str of 8 the bloodwitches can use them for bloodmagic goodness.

[steelmaelstorm]

I could see them being good with a Pskarre list that includes Bloodwitches. They can be used for Sac strike AND with a base str of 8 the bloodwitches can use them for bloodmagic goodness.

With a free Tough roll, would they be inconsistant Bloodmagic fodder?

[DavidRM]

Very nice work on the flesh. And on those really cool black trenchcoats. =)

[ZombieWar]

meh, just keep them between the bloodwitches and the enemy and it doesnt really matter if only 2/3 of the attacks go off. Also, under Pskarre they would be pow 13 autohits for her feat turn.

[steelmaelstorm]

Very nice work on the flesh. And on those really cool black trenchcoats. =)

Thank you!

The Drudge flesh was painted with all 3 shades of P3 flesh (lots & lots of layered highlights), and then washed with P3 flesh wash.

The black trenchcoats were simple - Black primer, thinned dark-grey hightlight, thinned light grey highlight, black wash to blend. Two tones of P3 gold for the buttons and masks. The whole thing was sprayed with Krylon Matte Clear Primer to turn the black into latex/leather! The results were very-very quick!

[Alzer]

Ok, those are gorgeous. The latex-suit look fits them very well.

I've been considering running the Overlords in a Scaverous list for a second-line once I get up to higher points (aka: over 15). That many boosted attack Pow 12 sprays has to murder something. Seems really strange to take them without the Drudges but I think McThralls would be better with Scavvy (Excarnate and all that).

[steelmaelstorm]

Ok, those are gorgeous. The latex-suit look fits them very well.

I've been considering running the Overlords in a Scaverous list for a second-line once I get up to higher points (aka: over 15). That many boosted attack Pow 12 sprays has to murder something. Seems really strange to take them without the Drudges but I think McThralls would be better with Scavvy (Excarnate and all that).

Thank you!

8 Black leather/latex suits will look awesome on the table - plus I'll get 18 models for 12 points!