Unit Comparisons: Q9 vs. Stingers*3

[Firemaster]

Q9 vs. Marro Stingers*3

I got this idea a while ago when I saw how Q9 and the Marro Stingers (two of my favorite units) are more or less exactly alike. The idea is basically I compare two units (or combination of units) that are very similar.

In these comparisons, I will compare the units' Survivability, Offence, and Versatility.

Survivability:
In terms of survivability, Q9 wins hands down. Though the Marro Stingers are a common squad, and can take 6 casualties before their power diminishes, at 3 defense, they are very easy to kill (not to mention the fact that they will occasionally kill themselves). This is not helped by the fact that they only have 5 range, so they are in the threat range of even the slowest units (in most cases) if they don't kill what they attack. On the other side, Q9, at 7 Defense and 4 Life, is a complete tank. Aside from the rare occasions when you whiff his Defense roll, he will shrug off most anyone not named Krug or Hulk, and his 4 Life allows him to survive a couple hits that do make it through. Finally, since Q9 is a Large Soulborg, he is Immune to about 90% of the special abilities out there.

Offence:
I'll have to give this one to the Stingers. Three attacks of a modifiable 3 on a common squad is quite potent. Not to mention the fact that it is not exactly difficult to get this particular squad up to as much as 6 attack. With Q9, most of the time you'll be using his special 3 attacks of 3, or if he's out of range for his Queglix gun, or you have height, you might use his regular attack.

Versatility:
Both these units are quite versatile. In fact, one of the reasons Q9 (if not the main reason) is so popular is his versatility. His Queglix Gun can take out 3 cards worth of Venocs easily in one turn, or he can focus all his fire on one target. Or, if his target is a bit out of range, he can use his regular attack. One thing that hurts his versatility a bit though, is that he is double spaced, so he can't fit everywhere, and his shoulderpads can block his LOS. As for the Stingers, their versatility is in their numbers. Because their attacks are from 3 different sources, they are more likely able to attack more targets, unlike Q9, who makes all his attacks from the same spot.


All right, I hope you all didn't find that too bad. If anyone has any suggestions on how I can make the next one better, I'm all ears.

That aside, who would you choose?

[NecroBlade]

Binary poll! :excited:

[Creationist]

quick spray some soda on Rev's comp.! :P

[rdhight]

After a binary-poll-induced fit of projectile vomiting, I would choose Q9. He beats the Stingers in two categories you forgot:

Mobility:
This is a definite point in Q9's favor. The Stingers have a small tactical speed advantage in that they're smaller, single-hex figures who don't suffer from his maneuverability problems and facing, but Q9 has a much bigger strategic mobility edge in that he's just one guy. An order marker on him can move 180 points' worth of 3-attacks-of-3 three times. An order marker on the Stingers can move only 60 points' worth of 3-attacks-of-3. One squad of Stingers can reach the front lines a little faster than Q9, but Q9 can get there much faster than the full three squads.

Logistics:
The Major takes up two start zone spaces to the Stingers' nine.

The Stingers are very good, and I play them all the time, but they're not quite Q9 good.

[Sisyphus]

I don't mind this being a binary poll since the two choices are quite comparable. The correct answer of course is 'it depends.' But there are a few advantages to the Stingers that haven't been mentioned.

First is that glyphs help Stingers a hundred times more than it helps Q9. Second, you can add Stingers to the list of units whose attacks Q9 can't just 'shrug off'.

I think the choice between Q9 and Stingers(3x) could go either way. But an advantage of 180 points of Stingers is that you can add another 180 points of Stingers whereas you can't add a second 180 points of Q9.

[Revdyer]

My work here is done. <grin>

[killercactus]

More differences that haven't been mentioned:

The Stingers also have the ability to spread out, and can have both their multiple attack and defense increased by height advantage. Q9's multiple attack is not affected by height, however it is a special attack, meaning it can bypass abilities like Scatter, Smoke Powder, etc.

There are many more differences between the two (I could get into the Marro Hive vs. Kelda/Sonlen/Healer Glyph talks or the Su-Bak-Na vs Laglor talks) but they're quite minimal. I think my answer is that if you're going against squads, you want Q9. If you're going against heroes, you want Stingers.

[Metaknight]

Stingers. Something you didn't take into account is that there are many of them. You just have to attack 1 Q9 who can only be in one spot on the board. With the common stingers, you must get across the board most likely to kill them all. That takes turns and just gives them an advantage.

Plus, they have less weakness' like one lucky roll with Braxas can't kill more than 3 stingers. Stingers rule!!! Peace out!!! Yay!!! I'll be going now...

[Bloody the Marro Stinger]

Well, Braxas couldn't kill Q9 in one roll either since Q9 is large.
But anyways, I'm giving it to 3 squads of Marro Stingers, obviously. They are soo much more versatile. When I think of Q9, I think of a turtling army. What you forgot was that in numbers, you have a far greater versatility. You can do whatever you want by splitting your guys up. If Q9 wants to get a glyph, he has to waste order markers having someone else get it. Not so with the Stingers. They can lend a guy to the glyph while still having two people shooting if necessary.

[scottishlad5]

lol, way to go Rev.

[Revdyer]

lol, way to go Rev.

As was written of old:

Let your "Yea" be "Yea" and your "Nay" "Nay" and don't go posting a binary poll about it.

[Metaknight]

Well, Braxas couldn't kill Q9 in one roll either since Q9 is large.
But anyways, I'm giving it to 3 squads of Marro Stingers, obviously. They are soo much more versatile. When I think of Q9, I think of a turtling army. What you forgot was that in numbers, you have a far greater versatility. You can do whatever you want by splitting your guys up. If Q9 wants to get a glyph, he has to waste order markers having someone else get it. Not so with the Stingers. They can lend a guy to the glyph while still having two people shooting if necessary.

What if Braxas rolled 5 skulls and Q9- no sheilds!

[Gdawg4]

Well, Braxas couldn't kill Q9 in one roll either since Q9 is large.
But anyways, I'm giving it to 3 squads of Marro Stingers, obviously. They are soo much more versatile. When I think of Q9, I think of a turtling army. What you forgot was that in numbers, you have a far greater versatility. You can do whatever you want by splitting your guys up. If Q9 wants to get a glyph, he has to waste order markers having someone else get it. Not so with the Stingers. They can lend a guy to the glyph while still having two people shooting if necessary.

What if Braxas rolled 5 skulls and Q9- no sheilds!
:duh:

[Clarissimus]

Q9 wins this one, hands down. The big strength of the stingers is that you can have more than 3 squads of them.

[Onacara]

In the mobility section you left out the fact that Stingers can climb ladders and Q9 cannot

[Naruto]

Marro Stingers are better with 2 squads of these i took out Abomination,I used stinger Drain and none of mine died,And abomination killed None!!yes I Mean none no figures in the battle field He was surrounded by the Stingers. :D

[Creationist]

ummm.... :zombie: topic

[syvarris0]

I was a tie breaker!Anyway I voted Stingers because I am tired of Q9 being lionized.

[gamjuven]

I was a tie breaker!Anyway I voted Stingers because I am tired of Q9 being lionized.

And I tied it up again. Q9 is not as good anymore I think. He was at the peak of his performance but now can only go down. Still an awesome character don't get me wrong, and still a viable unit to win championships, but I just think people are getting better at dealing with him. I think the Stingers will rise above soon.

[syvarris0]

I was a tie breaker!Anyway I voted Stingers because I am tired of Q9 being lionized.

And I tied it up again. Q9 is not as good anymore I think. He was at the peak of his performance but now can only go down. Still an awesome character don't get me wrong, and still a viable unit to win championships, but I just think people are getting better at dealing with him. I think the Stingers will rise above soon.

I totally agree with you

[Boozehammer]

I was a tie breaker!Anyway I voted Stingers because I am tired of Q9 being lionized.

And I tied it up again. Q9 is not as good anymore I think. He was at the peak of his performance but now can only go down. Still an awesome character don't get me wrong, and still a viable unit to win championships, but I just think people are getting better at dealing with him. I think the Stingers will rise above soon.

Already have.

Stingers / Hive won the last tournament I went to. It was no fluke either: I believe that combination is the strongest strategical combination possible in the game at this point in time between Wave 7 and 8.

[waffenIG14]

I was a tie breaker!Anyway I voted Stingers because I am tired of Q9 being lionized.

And I tied it up again. Q9 is not as good anymore I think. He was at the peak of his performance but now can only go down. Still an awesome character don't get me wrong, and still a viable unit to win championships, but I just think people are getting better at dealing with him. I think the Stingers will rise above soon.

I totally agree with you

I must agree also. When Q9 first entered the battle ield I loved to pick him for my force. But as time has progressed my friends have purchased new units and have developed new stratagies. So yes Q9 is less of a Titan now, but I still enjoy using him on large battlefields.

[CaptainCanuck]

Well Firemaster bring your marro stinger team and I will bring my Q9 Team and we will see which is better. But my vote is q9. In our tournaments you run into a lot of airborne elite and they could rip through the stingers real easy.

[Firemaster]

Wow, I thought this thread had died a while ago, after some of the first posts seemed to indicate that this thread was a waste of time. I'm not quite sure of the significance of the poll being binary, I guess I must have missed a thread.

When I first thought up this idea, I was going to put in an 'it depends' option, however I knew pretty much everyone would choose this option, since I would think that option would generally be the 'correct' one. However the reason I created this thread was to see, if required to choose between them (and you have no knowledge of your opponent's army, the maps being used, etc.), which would you generally choose?

I suppose my question now is: was this thread at all useful? If I created another one of this type, would it just thought to be pointless? And if I were to create another one, do you have any suggestions on how to improve it.

Well Firemaster bring your marro stinger team and I will bring my Q9 Team and we will see which is better. But my vote is q9. In our tournaments you run into a lot of airborne elite and they could rip through the stingers real easy.

We'll see, just remember that if I use such an army, the Stingers will not be the only figures you face.