In this episode, we talk about the Deployment phase. We often hear that games are won or lost in the deployment phase, and in many ways it is one of the most important phases in the game. We are going to talk list archetypes and how they want to deploy as well as the timing and placement of units in order to maximize your options while limiting your opponents.

Introduction

Deployment has changed a lot this edition with the introduction of back and forth deployment of units.

Deployment starts when you look over your opponent’s list.  What kind of list do you and your opponent have?

* Castle

* Mid Table

* Hordes

* Mixed

In general; what does your opponent need to do? Sit and shoot? Move to mid field? Push forward?

Deployment is about ensuring you can do what you need to while limiting what your opponent can do.

Threat Ranges

Know the threat ranges of your opponents armies

* Ranged Weapons plus movement

* Move plus assault

* Move plus Psychics

Watch for anything that impacts this, examples: Swarm lord with Genestealers, Shinning Spears, etc.

How to counter? Deploy out of range/LOS for shooting, out of range, move blocking, or using terrain to prevent melee.

Reserves, Infiltrators, and Redeployment

What units should you put in reserves? You need to have a plan to put a unit into reserve:

* Defensive; avoid getting killed

* Offensive; get closer to your opponent

* Skirmish; be annoying and a threat to be dealt with, grab objectives

What units will your opponent put in reserves/redeploy?

Deployment Maps

Which ones favor what kind of army?

Picking zones

* What offers you the best defense?

* Your opponent the least defense?

Timing of units

* CP farmer first

* Reserve units/Infiltrators

* Cheap units next

* Wait to place the most important units or units that counter last

Want to see where you opponent puts their units first, especially the scary you need to avoid if possible.

Placement of units

Place units to maximize your threat range and minimize your opponents threat range using range and terrain.

Make sure you don’t deploy so defensively that you take yourself out of threat range.

Make sure you leave yourself room to maneuver your units. Ex. Knights

Going First

Keep track of drops; use transports to manipulate number of drops.

-+1 to go first is important, less than 8 drops is good

When to go first/second?

Hobby Segment with Colin

Buying your first Airbrush.

Badger Airbrush

Iwata Airbrush

Credits

Patreon Page: The Battlehosts

Sponsors:

Digital Game Technology

Trader-A