Bone Grinders: Minions on a budget

[TheLoki]

Farrow Bone Grinders: Minions on a Budget

Farrow Bone Grinders. A unit that is oft overlooked for more overtly powerful choices across the whole of hordes. Well my young hopefuls Loki is here to show you exactly why this is a mistake.


They have a rather uninspiring stat-line almost across the board,However do not let this fool you. They have a sneaky way of getting their most important stat to the highest in the game.

with an average speed of 5, below average mat of 5 and p+s 9 weapons these guys are no melee powerhouses. Couple this with their defensive stats of 12/14 and you may start wondering how in the blazes could bone grinders be anything other then foam sentinels?

Well my dears lets talk about the stats that actually matter and you shall see.

Cost: How in the world is this a strength? It is when they are tied in cost per model to Mechanithralls at .5 per model. If all else fails you can clog charge lanes on a budget.

Magic ability: this may seem average at 6 but the bone grinders have a very sneaky way of buffing this into the stratosphere.

Special rules:
Confluence ~ ho boy THIS is a doozy. the lead model gains a cumulative +1 to his magic attack roll for each other model in the unit that is within 1". This brings his magic ability up to an absolutely staggering 11. ELEVEN!!!. Have no issues hitting stuff with these guys gents

Spells:
Arcane bolt ~ Long ranged for a spell of its type with pow 11 means this is quite dangerous for the cost of the unit.
Bone Magic ~ The unit may cast the animus of a destroyed FRIENDLY(read that twice) warbeast as a spell. How many times has your Axer been pulled apart by crazy random happenstance when rush would have netted you a sweet revenge kill? I say screw that noise take some grinders.
Craft Talisman ~ A Friendly warlock with 3" gains +2" of range on ALL spells he casts this turn that are not self,control or sprays. Considering how devoid of reliable arc nodes hordes is this ability is an absolute godsend.

Well Senior Loki the devilishly handsome and good smelling what does this mean to me? Well my young pupils you've talked me into a faction by faction breakdown (with a caster by caster breakdown for minions because you're neat).

First i want to add a note on What the road hog + this units means for all casters. Let me assure you. The Road Hog WILL be a prime target as our warhogs are. Having access to sprint well after its dead will be dead usefull across the board.

Lord Carver BMMD Esquire III ~ Ah Lord Carver, What can I say about you that hasnt been said a thousand times? That players mistakenly think you dont like bonegrinders? I've ALWAYS found this missconception ridiculous. Sit down laddies this will take a while.
1. Half Point weapon masters: Yea you heard me right. 3 points for 6 under his feat. Who cares if their ps9 ... they cost half a bloody point. Yea yea the argument can be made that they are only mat 5. I'm getting to that sit still.

2. Quagmire: Half point Quagmire targets. You see a theme here? Being cheap is a HUGE strength. You dont really give a flying pig(you thought i was going to say **** didnt you) if they live or die half the time. Throwing just one into a beast will keep it from trampleing,chargeing or slamming unless the opponent wastes an activation to clear out a half point model. Its friggin GLORIOUS. Tag onto this it makes our little cheapo piggies effective mat 7 ps 9 weaponmasters and they start looking quite nasty.

3. Magic attacks: Face facts mates, Thornfall is completely devoid of ways to deal with incorp models and the like outside of bone grinders and the warlock. The good news is that we have an extremely accurate magic attack for dirt cheap.

Dr. Arkadius ~ Ok this unit just became auto-include. Arkadius is a very squishy and very prone to assassination. Having 2" added to his spells and a dirt cheap unit to choke up lanes to him is integral to the way he plays. 2" doesnt sound like much but i PROMISE you thats the difference between getting assassinated and staring at a solo who is .5" out of range just begging to be annhilated. Their uses are very straight foward with Arkadius (which amusingly enough is the anti-thesis for how he operates dur hur) and should be fairly obvious.

Sturm and Drang ~ Once again a little more complicated then their use with Dr. Arkadius
1. Extending the range of the various spells: With both heads having access to spells that sorely need the increase in range (hey obliteration DOES get cast sometimes. Deal with it). Without access to arc nodes or the like making Telekenisis 10" range is a deal breaker.
2. Magic weapons: Once again Thornfall is extremely short on the ability to clear out certain models. Its hard to turn this down.
3. He's new: I'll play more games with him and come up with a number three.

Calaban the Gravewalker ~ While only available in his Theme list, they are so usefull for him that playing him in theme is considered the norm.
First gators will get alot of use out of having after death access to Rise,Spiny Growth and Elascticity. However it mostly comes down to the Increase in his spell range. Its extremely usefull on casters without arc nodes. Dont be fooled into think that grave door will give you the arcing you need. The enemy meat nodes are usually facing the wrong way.

Trollbloods ~ Trolls tend to be a bit strapped for points due to all of their quality options they already stuff into their list. However Its quite easy to fit a min unit of bonegrinders in for the bottom barrel price of 2 points. This still gives trolls access to a MA 9 magic missile in a faction that isnt quite known for their magical weapons. Craft talisman will give your warlocks a much needed boost to the range of their spells. How many times have you been assassinated because of being just a tiny bit to forward? This allows you to stand 2" farther back while shuffleing your buffs. Also lets not disredit the fact that if you DO lose that beast with a key animus (arent they all? Seriously jealous of your animi) you can still pop it on whats needed should it meet an untimely demise.

Circle of Oroboros ~ With the impending release of Gallows Groves the stock for Bone Grinders has dropped quite a bit with Circle. As a faction who isnt hurting in any sense of the word for magical attacks the missile isnt needed. Couple this with most of the animi being rng self bonegrinders have a hard time finding a place. An exception however does exist in Cassius. They provide the cheapest early access to souls Circle can get ahold of.

Skorne ~ Skorne has always had a unique relationship with minions via the Taskmaster. However bonegrinders seem to be one of the lone exceptions to the rule of minion units being better in skorne then native. With the cyclopes shaman being such a fantastic beast with access to craft talisman for a modest price increase with the added benefit of being a beast bonegrinders just have a hard time justifying their points for skorne.

Legion of Everblight ~ While not as pronounced as say in trollbloods Bonegrinders can still find their way into a savy Legion players list. You ARE savy right Mr. Legion player? Craft talisman will always be pretty nice even with your 1 shot arcnodes. They arent exactly hard to kill and you may not always want to blow one up to buff a beast when you need that extra inch or two. Arcane bolt can always find itself some use in a faction with its extreme accuracy and 17" threat range. They can also perform a role as simple as just being throwaway bodies to clog up a lane that then get mulched into shredder parts via the spawning vessel.

[PG_Electric Seal]

Nice Write-up.

[Arlaharen]

Their cheap cost coupled with the spell extension is why I want to run two full units together with Calaban and two Witch Doctors. Make them tough and undead and use them to tarpit in front of your more expensive stuff. Then use them for cheap sac strike fodder. You even have the comedy option of Carnivore + Parasite to actually give them a decent punch in melee

[TheLoki]

well another funny use for them is casting parasite on the bonegrinders for when you need that +1 arm but cant risk getting near. Their armor goes from who cares to who gives a crap and Calaban gets that 1 point boost.

[sergeigen]

you have opened my eyes (and my wallet) to these necromantic piggies...I'm gonna get a unit and see what happens.

[Gdead909]

If u have 2 squads of tthem can they extend the range of spells multiple times? I don't remember how many you're allowed to field cause I am work and don't have my books in front of me

[TheLoki]

Abilities with the same name do not stack I'm afraid.

[ticklord]

Hi guys

In Calavans Bad Religion list you shoud also consider them for target of the witch doc. they are arm 14, and auto pow 14 magic damage roll is not bad when you face stealth or high def low arm targets, they are just half a point, and will potentially kill 1 point or soften something.

[Burninated]

Do all the grunts get to use arcane bolt, or is it just the leader? I can't remember atm and don't have my rules in front of me.

[Vex]

Do all the grunts get to use arcane bolt, or is it just the leader? I can't remember atm and don't have my rules in front of me.

Just the leader.

[SneaklePete]

Legion of Everblight ~ While not as pronounced as say in trollbloods Bonegrinders can still find their way into a savy Legion players list. You ARE savy right Mr. Legion player? Craft talisman will always be pretty nice even with your 1 shot arcnodes. They arent exactly hard to kill and you may not always want to blow one up to buff a beast when you need that extra inch or two. Arcane bolt can always find itself some use in a faction with its extreme accuracy and 17" threat range.

Bone Grinders make excellent grinding meat for shredder-shaped pork sausages, via the Spawning Vessel. Talisman also brings pThagrosh's buff ranged to just under that of his Death Shroud range, for when you want that extra Spiny Growth after something charged. Not to mention extra threat on Obliterate.

And with eLylyth the range you can get on spells without arcnodes is impressive.

[Carrington]

Special rules:
Confluence ~ ho boy THIS is a doozy. the lead model gains a cumulative +1 to his magic attack roll for each other model in the unit that is within 1". This brings his magic ability up to an absolutely staggering 11. ELEVEN!!!. Have no issues hitting stuff with these guys gents

Spells:
Arcane bolt ~ Long ranged for a spell of its type with pow 11 means this is quite dangerous for the cost of the unit.
Bone Magic ~ The unit may cast the animus of a destroyed FRIENDLY(read that twice) warbeast as a spell. How many times has your Axer been pulled apart by crazy random happenstance when rush would have netted you a sweet revenge kill? I say screw that noise take some grinders.
Craft Talisman ~ A Friendly warlock with 3" gains +2" of range on ALL spells he casts this turn that are not self,control or sprays. Considering how devoid of reliable arc nodes hordes is this ability is an absolute godsend.

I'm confused about the Magic ability number and its interaction with 'craft talisman' and/or 'bone magic' -- do the bone grinders have to hit a Magic 6(?) number to cast bone magic successfully? When the animus is not an offensive spell? I'm curious because 'confluence' doesn't seem to apply if it's not a magic attack.

[TheLoki]

Its not a skill check at all. Magic ability is used exactly like mat/rat.

[Rotfell]

The only rolls you make with BGs are Arcane Bolts and there you get the sweet bonus. All other abilities don't need one.

[Azahul]

Unless you're having them cast an offensive Animus

[Gator_Dave]

I've used Bone Grinders with Calaban for quite some time now. I bought the four man blister, and the two pig add-on. I've never gotten around to painting or using the add-on. four pigs works just fine. But when the Witch Doctor arrives I might change my tune and get them battle ready to be sacrificed. Great article btw Loki.

[CrypticApathy]

How are bone grinders weapon masters? There card doesnt show them as such.


As for skorne i take them over the Shaman, I can always have my lock cast the animi of the beast if i need to worry about generating fury on them. But losing rush because your gladiator is dead can cost you a game depending on who your playing against *cough* Circle *cough*. Or use fate walker on your lock after a failed assassination attempt with the molik missile to give him some more maneuverability.

[TheLoki]

Carver's Feat makes them Weapon masters for a turn. Why its listed under Carver specifics.

[CrypticApathy]

Ah ok that makes sense sorry wasnt reading right.

[TheLoki]

My pleasure mate. What I'm here for.

[Dragoneye9]

Okay quick question on Claban's Bad Religion list. Witch Doctor isn't listed under solo options so how are people fielding Bone Grinders and Witch Doctors? Or am I missing something?

[TheLoki]

You most certainly are mate, read it again =P. Calabans tier list allows ALL gatorman solo's. Witchdoctors are labeled as such. As for Bone Grinders it under his unit allowances.


UNITS - Farrow Bone Grinders

SOLOS - Gatorman solos


Witch doctor - Minion Gatorman Solo

Hope that helps

[Dragoneye9]

Thankx sometimes I miss the simple stuff lol... 80)

[Washburn]

Great write up dude. Almost finished painting my unit and after reading this I reckon I'll finish them tonight.

[TheLoki]

Thanks everyone for all the positive feedback

I'm working on a few more that I'll upload when they are up to my standards.

[PG_Devilsquid]

I have two units of the little blighters, and they're super useful all the time. The range extender is a near must have for the Dr. And S&D, and having an effective Magic (11) with your bolt means you can hit A LOT of things.

Blackbane learned that being incorporeal wasn't going to save him from my piggies...

[TheLoki]

I have two units of the little blighters, and they're super useful all the time. The range extender is a near must have for the Dr. And S&D, and having an effective Magic (11) with your bolt means you can hit A LOT of things.

Blackbane learned that being incorporeal wasn't going to save him from my piggies...

They are also pretty handy at picking the underboss out of a unit of Kayazy. The look on their faces when they find out I hit the sucker on 6s