Saturday looms!

Another shot at qualifying for the DM this Saturday, and I haven't had a serious game in a month...

There's no doubt I'll be bringing Terminus, and I'll probably end up with eGaspy as backup again (I've noticed two people lining up eIrusk). This time it will be 50 point games, so I can bring the full Dark Swarm list (and I've got the models for it, juuuust needing a bit of assembly). I have two grudge matches lined up as well, though I'll probably end up facing 0/2 of those opponents, but one of them is an old friend I haven't seen in about five years, so here's for hoping!
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To combo strike or not to combo strike?

A guy over at the forums asked about the combo strike, and I remembered I'd written something about that a few months back. The original thread is here. The question is about the sweet spot where you switch from initial attacks to the one big hit, so I did a lot of math (though I suck horribly at it) and came to the following conclusion: Armor eighteen is the breaking point. 

• At armor 17 or lower; the initial attacks inflict more damage on average.
• At armor 18; the average damage is equal, but only if every attack hits. The potential damage is also a bit higher for the initial attack option, and you don't risk loosing the entire damage pool on one bad roll.
• At armor 19 or above; the combo strike option pulls ahead in terms of raw potential damage.

It doesn't really matter how much Focus you apply, as the results will be the same, as buying an extra attack will be the best option below 17 anyway.. I made a "not so simple" formula you can apply, in order to determine, if sending in the combo striking Slayer is a viable tactic:

• Target must be ARM 19 or better. [Otherwise the Initial attack option is better]
• Target must be at low health. [Health should equal 32, reduced by targets current armor score. Further modify the target number by current armor -23, for each available focus.]
• Target must be hit on 3+ in order for this equation to be anywhere near valid.

Example: Combo striking on a charge. against an Khador Juggernaut, would require it to be at 32-20 health (12), and each available Focus would modify that number by 20-23 (-3). Attacking an closed Devastator would require it to be at 32-25 health (7), and each additional focus would reduce that by 25-23 = nothing. You can buy another attack and boost it instead, which would give you an average of 25-26, and equal one whole point of damage, which will rarely be worth spending two Focus on.

As you can see the combo strike option is really meant as a finisher, and only against Heavy Warjacks that are easily hit, and only if there are no debuffs available. There are rare heavy infantry models that require the same attention as a Khador Heavy, but generally it will be a poor trade to send in a Slayer against such a unit.
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Spotlight: Darragh Wrathe.

I was asked this over on the Privateer Press forum, but I might as well answer here. "What does Wrathe really give eGaspy?  Sure, he has the spell that gives everyone +1" movement.  Is that worth 4 points?  4 points is a lot, especially since he can't be brought back by eGaspy mounted.  -2 Str for living models is good, but eGaspy wants to play that tradeoff game."

Darragh Wrathe is an incredibly powerful addition to almost any list at, or above, 35 points... why... because he's a force multiplier with near limitless potential. So what can this man do for us, or as the question refers to... what can he do for a caster.

• He's on a large base, and incredibly hard to kill. This means that if Eiryss got to your caster, or clouds/stealth won't work, you still have a place to hide. This might not seem like much, but it's a very nice backup plan when something hits the fan. Darragh can also shield other important models.
• When combined with Tartarus, he increases the Bane Thrall threat range to 11.5", which is the critical inch where they suddenly have a longer threat range than the classic speed six model with reach. This is so incredibly powerful and has won me several games.
• When you mess up positioning, Darragh Wrathe saves the day. Suddenly you realize that Tartarus is stuck behind the Bane Knights, out of range of the target, and if you activate the Knights to move out of the way, you can't charge with them once Tartarus has cursed... No worries, Darragh Wrathe will solve it: Death Ride the Knights out of the way, so Tartarus can go do his job and they can follow up with the charge at MAT8 and increased range.
• Didn't kill the Target you charged? ... and now your own models are blocking access to it for you last couple of units/models... Darragh Wrathe will solve it, and shuffle a few guys around, allowing you to charge the target with another couple of models to finish the job.
• Annoying solo giving you a hard time... Darragh has 18" threat on his Hellfire, and can move 5" away after the deed is done. He can also charge one if it got close, with 13" threat mind you, then Hellfire another one with Battle Wizard, then return to shield something. Incorporeal models or not, Darragh Wrathe will solve your issue with non-stealth solo annoyances.
• Beyond Death... it's great with casters like Venethrax and Terminus, but it can actually save a lot of lives if used offensively, though that will cost Darragh his life. Park him up front, and opposing models will have to gun him down first.
• Assassination: When eGaspy pops his feat, you can add an inch to their range as well, and spread them out a bit to gain some better vectors on the charges. This has caught a couple of players unaware.

I was interrupted in my post, but I think I got it all down now... Darragh Wrathe really is one of the most amazing models in the game, and incredibly durable at that. I've only ever used him once where I didn't feel I got my points worth, and that was because I boxed him in with Death Ride moves so he couldn't run away afterward (sigh).

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