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Manticore; Why no love???
Topic Started: 3rd September 2009 - 03:04 AM (347 Views)
chieftainskritchskritch
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The Freshmaker

Morning peeps and peepettes,

I picked up September's WD yesterday from my local GW, and as I was reading through the preliminary army list choices for the DE vs Orcs battle report, an insert from the DE side about the Dreadlord being mounted on a Manticore piqued my curiosity. The quote went something like "Now, I know a lot of people think that the manticore is the poor man's Dragon, but I do love my 'flying cow'".

My question is, why is the Manticore the "poor man's dragon"? Why is there no love for it? I dont have the army book for the DE in front of me, so I dont know the points cost of the thing, but I remember seeing its stats a few weeks ago and it didnt seem that bad. Can anyone elaborate?

And why is it a "flying cow"?
You kids these days have it so easy, what with your Plague Furnaces and your Hellpit Abominations and your Bonebreaker Warlords. Back in MY day, all we had was Slaves and Clanrats!...and auto-hit Ratling Guns...and skirmishing Jezzails...and 2D6 Warp Lightning...and Lead From The Back...wait, what was my arguement again?
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CapAmr05
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Quote:
 
why is the Manticore the "poor man's dragon"?


It is a noticably cheaper option, but to address more of your post.

I don't know. I've always thought pound for pound (or point for point) the Manticore is the better option when compared to the dragon. And unless fluff has changed recently, the cow reference is probably to that of the manticore's body structure, stocky and bulky (unless its fluff has drastically changed.... recently).

--Cap
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deathmaster riddick
I Am The Monster
cause it's not a generating hydra maybe? also, i don't think any of their special characters are mounted on them. malekith is a beast last i heard.
The best way to configure an army is to go play demons.-Nevamore Posted on Nov 6 2009, 04:02 PM

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Swissdictator
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Steampunk Engineer
Well if a Dreadlord is flying on one he's not using up a hero slot, but he is the general so if he gets killed there is a 100 points for the opponent. It is cheaper and still very deadly, but just be a little less reckless.

As for he flying cow. Try a Great Taurus for the Chaos Dwarfs! It's a flying cow that breaths fire and kicks butt! :)
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scrivener
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*toot*

The manticore is, I guess, the least elegant of the dark elf monsters, though it's quite a cute model and I do like it. I think the author was maybe responding to a "ooh, i want a dragon, they is so big and scary!" sort of way of thinking where everyone would get the dragon if they can afford it simply because it's at the top of the food-chain.
hannanibal
 
*Angry mob assembles*

"WHAT DO WE WANT!!??"
"A THINNISH, WATERY PAINT WITH A GREENER TINGE THAN AGRAX EARTHSHADE!!"
"WHEN DO WE WANT IT!?"
"QUITE SOON PLEASE AS MY LAST POT IS RUNNING OUT!"
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smiler6310
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The Grim Squeaker
The manticores are classed as a large target like Dragons, but unlike Dragons they have no 3+ Scaly Skin which tends to mean they got shot out from underneath the rider before they get a chance to do anything. Also the manti does not have a breath weapon.

Each turn they also have to pass a leadership test or they become frenzied for that turn. Its a pain when you try to screen the manticore with a hydra, the manti then become frenzied, charges at the enemy, doesnt reach and is left staring at a wall of crossbows/handguns and warmachines. Besides its normally enough for DE players to watch their hard work undone by Cold One stupidity let alone watching your general trying his best to mess up the plan as well.
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Jester
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Chieftain
It's harder to tactically use a manticore. They do not have a breath weapon so are just as useful when not in combat as harpies since you now have a large target that can just march block. They also have the passing ld test rule or have to charge and manticores are not amazing enough to really do a whole lot in combat so must be used as a support unit. The difference in points between the dragon and manticore could almost get you another hydra if you can find another 55 points somewhere else and I've had excellent success character hunting with the lord on manticore since the manticore has killing blow. It would depend on the rest of you army composition whether or not a manticore would be a good choice. Plus fielding a dragon, manticore, and 2 war hydras in 2k is quite intimidating.
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