3.17.2010

Tank Shock - Lemme-Know!

Let's look at a good example of tank shock, probably the most underutilized tool in current 40K.  I was playing Evil Homer, my nemesis and sometime-cohort-in-crime, Daemons Vs Guard (and the Video Battle Report is out this week!) and I'd Stunned his Banewolves - they could move but couldn't shoot, if I've mixed up the terminology again - so here's what he did.


He Tank-Shocked the unit into a nice little grouping, setting them up for multiple Manticore and template shots.  Note how his line took away my choice; he wanted me further away from my left flank, so hit me with the tank you see to the right.  As I had to move out of the way in the shortest distance, he grouped me and controlled the direction to which I could legally move.

Now, I'm new to Tank Shock, in that I've never really started using it.  I sent a letter to Fritz and his reply got me thinking.  So, help me out folks -

What's your Tank Shock strategy or story?

15 comments:

Stelek said...

The Tactica Imperialis recommends using completed tanks before tank shocking the enemy!

eriochrome said...

Remember that you if you pass your morale test you only move models which are displaced by the final position of the tank. So it is great for grouping for templates launched from the tank or disembarked riders.

It is not so good for setting up the unit for blast based attacks since your tank has to be sitting next to the unit so better hope no bad scatter.

Brent said...

Stelek - I'm pretty sure you're right. I've always believed a painted unit was a luckier unit... and my friends think I microwave my dice, that's how lucky I am.

Eric - thanks for the heads up. I'll have to take a closer look, since I'd thought you had to get out of the path... that's how we played it in this example.

That's why this site isn't called Totally Awesome.

Gauthic said...

eriochrome++
Those used in the example were last edition's tank shock rules if I recall.

Jwolf said...

Yeah, tank shock for Manticore shots is a fairly ballsy move, since it's hard to herd the enemy and not be in danger of taking S10 on your own guys. Now for templates, tank shock is pretty awesome.

Master Manipulator (every store needs one) said...

Unless I missed something in the change from 4th to 5th, I think he did it wrong. You only move models if they are in the final location of the vehicle. From that pic it looks like you may have been duped.

Evil Homer said...

I looked it up and you all are correct. We played it incorrectly.

In the example above I was really just trying to get my banewolves across the table as they could not shoot that turn. The plague bearers happened to be in the way and needed to move.

Evil Homer said...

On another note the model is now put together, it finished assembly Monday night, just in time for my game with Whit on Tuesday.

Of course they probably won't make my tournament list this month if I can get my heavy weapons teams assembled but if I can't they are ready to go.

Col. Corbane said...

Up until recently, I'd never really used it even though I play mech guard. Then, after reading about it on a blog, I used it in turn 7 to tank shock 3 squads of death guard off 3 objectives to win a game.

Tank shocking with a valk can really upset your oppenent!

On the painted models thing, I've discovered that whenever I field unpainted models, then end up getting broken. I've only done it 3 times and I'm not doing it again!

rpthomps1111 said...

It's useful to grab objectives that are held by troops on foot.

http://ryanstactictalk.com
http://ryanstactictalk.blogspot.com/

twitter: rpthomps

TheKing Elessar said...

1) Col. Corbane, sorry to inform you, but Tank-Shocking with Valks/Vendettas is even more illegal than the misunderstanding of the example above - they aren't Tanks.
2) Brent 'Look who's Blogging again'? lol

Col. Corbane said...

Really, so how does Fritz do it with his skimmers? or am I missing something?

Evil Homer said...

eldar skimmers are Tanks. Valks/Vendettas are not. The Eldar skimmers have the Tank attribute.

Col. Corbane said...

Well, you learn something everyday. Thanks for the heads up guys.

Big Whit said...

I never used tank shock myself until I got moved off of an objective in the last turn of a tournament match.
I used it this last tournament on an ork player to keep him back from contesting. I dumped a unit onto the objective were I was parked and sent the rhino up to shock and block. The great thing was that he failed his leadership test used the bosspole and failed again.

(A new favorite!) Anon: I haven’t even bothered playing a game of 6th yet, cause I have read the rules, and actually understand how they interact with units. I know my armies no longer function how they should, and so I need to change them.

Strictly Average: 'cause 6-inches is all you get.

Stalking Jawaballs since 2009.

Jawaballs: "My butt just tightened up."

Brent, preferred 2-to-1 over Not Brent in a recent, scientific poll.

Brent: emptied the Kool Aid and DRINKING YOUR MILKSHAKE with an extra-long straw.

Unicorns don't exist.

Home of the Stormbuster, the Dyson Pattern Storm Raven.

I'm a comment whore and this whore is getting no play.

Not Brent hurts Brent's feelings.

I think, therefore I blog.

"You should stop writing for everyone else and worry about your crappy blog." - Anon.

Not Brent has been spotted lurking around with a green marker.

He's not like a bad guy from a cartoon, all devious but never quite evil, Not Brent is bad beans, man, bad beans.

Dethtron: "Again I feel obliged to remind you that trying to sound smart only works if you are."

MVB: "I am not one to join the unwashed masses of self-titled 40k experts out there distributing advice from their blogs about exactly how your list should be built..."

Shiner Bock on tap: that's how I choose hotels.

Strictly Average: The Home of Hugs and Gropings.

Don't feed the trolls!

MoD: "Welcome to Brent's head."

Competitive is Consistent.

Dethtron: "...you could use that extra time to figure out a way to get your panties unbunched and perform a sandectomy on your vagina."

Dethtron: “When calling someone an idiot, it's generally best to avoid making grammatical mistakes.”

Warboss Stalin: "You know, if it actually WAS funny, maybe I wouldn't mind."

Mike Brandt: "It's not a successful bachelor party if you don't misplace someone".

"The Master Manipulator (every store needs one): "...now, enough stroking."

Kirby: "I don't know about gropings. Seriously, Brent, keep it in the pants, please."

Loquacious: "No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get Hugs & Gropings or Stalks Jawaballs into Brent's little tribute."

Captain Kellen: "I rate this article a Brent on the Faith Hill to Nancy Pelosi scale!"

Drathmere: "Come for the balls, stay for the Brent? Kind of disturbing, man."

Go no further, lest thee see something thine eyes would fain look past!

Isabelle: "So, thank you for supporting your local and not so local unicorns. A noble gesture like that can show some scared kids out there that they don't have to hide from everyone and it's ok to be who they really are."

There is nothing more interesting than We The People... in all our beautiful, ugly glory!

On Internet Advice: You see, I have an almost religious belief that's it's a huge, colossal waste of time.

...I think I'll call it the Gun Shy Pattern Stormbuster, because after the Internet destroyed my first humble effort, I find I'm a bit worried about the reaction to this one.

Lauby: "Is it left over from that time you thought that you could just complete step one 12 times to meet the mandates of that court order?"

Not Brent: "I guess we'll have to read on and find out. Signed, Not Brent. Especially today."

Cynthia Davis: "I think the scrolling text is from Glen Beck's new book."

Grimaldi: "Spamming certain units creates interesting possibilities but also fatal weaknesses."

Purgatus: "Math can inform decisions. It cannot make decisions."

Thoughts? Comments? Hugs and gropings?

You'd be that much quicker to figure out what I mean when I refer to a Unicorn if I covered it in a rainbow flag.

SinSynn: (To Brent) "Curse you and your insidious influence on the internets..."

Dave G (N++): "You know you're an internet celebrity when your following is more akin to tabloids."

I prefer the term Internet Personality (or IP) myself, seeing as how I coined it.

Lauby: "Your attempt to humanize him as failed. I feel nothing but scorn for his beard - it's like a warcrime or something."

BBF: "I've always thought you are a good player but I finally figured out that you are a great player. It's hard to see sometimes because your personality is engaging, sincere and quite charming - to me that is kind of a rare combination."

'Clearly cheating?' I didn't misspeak: you jumped to conclusions. If you'd like to apologize I'll be happy to send you an autographed picture of my ass.

Ass.

I thought I was doing alright before I realized I was losing.

Age and treachery beats youth and vigor every time.

Popular Posts