After Adepticon, we were faced with the reality of lists that, in a great many ways, were suboptimal won a great many games. I made a post explaining that playskill and experience matters more than your list, so long as a few basic principles are covered in the list.
Since then, there has been a virtual explosion on the blogs of people saying similar thoughts. I'm not taking credit for it, but I am pleased that at very least my original idea has found common purchase in other peoples' thinking.
However, some people have taken the concept too far. They are calling this the "end of spam" and "proof that you can play whatever you want so long as you're a good player." This is just simply wrong. I was originally teh voice of 'experience > list' but now I have to join the backlash.
Yes, experience is greater than the list. But that doesn't mean you should play a shitty list! To paraphrase Kirby, "play an optimal list AND have tons of experience." If you can only have one of the two, take experience. But why settle for that? Play a good list too, and triumph.
So this comes to the crux of this article: the concept of strictly better. 'Strictly Better' explains why "spam" exists, and should continue to exist, in good lists.
Unit A: 10 dudes, 3 meltaguns 100 points
Unit B: 10 dudes, 2 meltaguns 100 points
Unit A is strictly better than Unit B. In this mental exercise, lets say your codex only has these two units in one particular FOC slot and they are your only choices. You would NEVER take Unit B. Even if the models for Unit B look better. Even if their fluff is better. They are strictly worse. You would take max allowance of Unit A, and never consider taking Unit B.
A scenario that clear, though, is rare in 5th Edition codices. A few exceptions though, like Long Fangs, exist in newer codices. What is more common is the following dilemma...
Land Speeder w/ Multi-melta Heavy Flamer 60
Attack Bike with MM 50
Without knowing the rest of the list, it's impossible to know which is Strictly Better. But one always is. ALWAYS. In a list with lots of vehicles, the Speeder is strictly better. In a list with lots of bikes, the Attack Bike is strictly better.
So what am I getting at? The anti-optimization crowd would say that "spam is dumb" and would take one of each. But that is wrong. In a particular list, one of the two would be Strictly Better and you should take them and exclude the other.
So it's clear, "spam" will continue to exist, and should continue to exist, so long as there are choices that are Strictly Better. That is the essence of optimal list building, and is a principle that isn't going to change regardless of how many Njals win major tournaments. The thing you should take away from Tony's list at Adepticon is not that Njal was his HQ, but that he didn't take Blood Claws as one of his Troops choices. Grey Hunters in most lists are Strictly Better, and Tony knew that.
Sometimes I get caught in the "anti-spam" craze but mainly because of the painting processes. For me painting is as important (if even more) than playing when it comes to 40K as a total hobby. So even though maybe 3 x 2 Hydras would be the better choice for my IG, I still prefer to field my current setup (2 Hydras, 2 Medusas, 1 Manticore). For the simple fact that I can't be bothered painting 6 Hydras. Okay, that's a gross exaggeration but that's what I mean.
ReplyDeleteStill I try to compensate by using alternatives that could fulfil the same role (even though slightly worse) as the optimal choice. And I would never use God-awful units just for the sake of it. Hope all this makes sense.
I would argue that Hydras vs. Medusa vs Manticores there is not a strictly better. Each does a very different role on the battlefield, and depending on the rest of your list, a mix may very well be the optimal choice. There are a lot of variables to consider.
ReplyDeleteYes of course, I did a generalisation there. To be honest in many games I wished I had more Hydras, to shoot at transports mainly, since ordnance weapons can really be a hit or miss (no pun intended) thing. In many games they perform very well though. I am just saying that sometimes I am not going to use two of the same unit (and go for a more sub optimal choice) just to be able to paint two different sets of models.
ReplyDeleteTo quote you:
ReplyDeleteLand Speeder w/ Multi-melta Heavy Flamer 60
Attack Bike with MM 50
Without knowing the rest of the list, it's impossible to know which is Strictly Better. But one always is. ALWAYS. In a list with lots of vehicles, the Speeder is strictly better. In a list with lots of bikes, the Attack Bike is strictly better.
As a person who uses a bike army, I completely disagree with this statement. Land speeders with long range weapons (ie. Typhoon missiles) are much more useful then more fast moving multi-melta attack bikes. The army all ready has tons of that so why take more?
Yeah, except in my example you quoted I didn't mention Typhoons. ;)
ReplyDeleteTouche!
ReplyDeleteClose range speeders in any army are stupid in my opinion. But then again everyone takes them. I really can not justify throwing an armor ten vehicle and an entire army that can kill it. Typhoons are where it is at!