Game Theory: Buffers

It's been a while since I've worked on the game theory section, but my last game got me thinking about Buffers again. A buffer is something that: cushions the impact of objects against each other, or keeps two or more objects distant from one another. There are several types of buffers, and of course some that fit in more than one category.

It's a shitty job, so use a spell

Damage

These are Caustic Mists, Storm Ravager templates, Scather Templates, Covering Fire templates, and the many other options the game offers to put down patches of damage dealing ground. We can use these buffers to deny an opponent access to vital areas on the table with a part of his army, depending on the nature of the buffer in question (Corrosion, Fire, Lightning, how powerful the damage etc. etc.).

Line of Sight

Blocking Line of Sight makes for a wonderful buffer effect. The ability to declare a charge is vital for the threat and hitting power of many models in the game, and removing that option severely limits the options a model has available. A Warjack/Warbeast could trample through the cloud but it will cost it a Focus/Fury and all it's initial attacks, thus cushioning the impact it has on your army.

Rough Terrain

This type of buffer is heavily dependent on your opponents list. In some games they will be completely irrelevant and in other games they can win you the entire game with one application. A well placed patch of Rough Terrain can take entire units or heavies out of the game for a turn or two while they struggle to get into position.

Obstacles

These buffers create artificial obstacles or obstructions. These can be used to stop non-reach models from physically reaching your army, granting cover, or blocking lines of effect. These are some of the hardest buffers to use correctly but also some of the powerful buffers in the game.

Combinations

Many buffers have more than one buffer ability, making them much more powerful. The most common combination is Line of Sight combined with Damage, which we find with Caustic Mist (Lich Lord Asphyxious), Mage Storm (Black 13th), and many more. Pillars of Salt (Mohsar) combines Line of Sight with Obstacles. Rapid Growth (pBaldur) combines Rough Terrain and Line of Sight, and a select few buffers combine three aspects like Eruption (Karchev) which blocks Line of Sight, deals Damage, and is considered Rough Terrain.

Applications

It's impossible to determine the correct way to apply buffers to a battlefield, as the best way is always determined by the battlefield and positioning of models on it, but there are some basic guidelines that should be considered when you have access to buffers.

• Use what is already there.

If your opponent is caught in a choke point between two pieces of terrain, buffer templates can completely shut down a large part of his advance (assuming he's dealing with obstructions or has no pathfinder). In one game with pKrueger I used his feat to block my opponents Nyss Hunters from advancing, and they never made it to the fight after being forced to run around several rock formations.

• Know what you're up against.

You'll be sad when the the models with fire immunity and Pathfinder completely ignore your buffer and destroy you. Some buffers can be removed/destroyed, so make sure you take that into consideration when placing them.

Dealing with buffers

Being on the receiving end of a buffer zone is brutal, and most of them can't be moved or ignored. The only thing you can do is to acknowledge the possibility that buffers will impede your advance and try to position accordingly. This means spreading out, flanking, and generally attempting to avoid situations where you'll need a lane since you know it will be blocked if you do.

Another way to deal with buffers is to put pressure on his caster, as this will often force him to use the buffers to defend his caster. If you're facing Lich Lord Asphyxious and he's surrounded by Caustic Mists then you're doing it right. You might not be getting him down, but he's not impeding your movements and dictating the flow of the game.

Conclusion

Buffers are incredibly powerful tools, and even access to a single buffer template is something that makes a caster very impressive. These are also one of the hardest tools to be up against because it mostly depends on your opponents ability to place them, and if he's good there's very little you can do about it. There are very few things you can do to counter them, and there's no easy solution to be found unless you happen to play one of the few casters that can manipulate or ignore cloud effects, in which case you have a tool against maybe half the buffers in the game.