The Book of Deathwalker 9000

[Myst9]

Yes, it can be tedious rolling the dice a few at a time, and rolling one at a time seems to fail. But like with what I said, and what Killercactus also said, it may just be an illusion. But yes, I think it would be annoying; both for the roller and the rollie. But, if it works, it works.

[Elf_Archer]

You're supposed to get a more stable average with more die rolled.

I learned it as uncommon sense, but I think it's called the Law of Large Numbers on wikipedia.

It only seems to be less effective when you roll all at the same tive because you expect more.

"Hey, Jotun has 8 attack. Insta kill!!!"

"Only 4 skulls!?! My dice are broken!!!

[killercactus]

Originally Posted by Elf_Archer

You're supposed to get a more stable average with more die rolled.

I learned it as uncommon sense, but I think it's called the Law of Large Numbers on wikipedia.

It only seems to be less effective when you roll all at the same tive because you expect more.

"Hey, Jotun has 8 attack. Insta kill!!!"

"Only 4 skulls!?! My dice are broken!!!

One time I attacked a 6-defense Zelrig twice with a 6-wound Krug. I managed one wound. That's just how the dice fall sometimes. Of course I was furious, but there've been times where I've thrown 2 skulls on 8 dice and my opponent whiffed. I can't remember any of those times in detail, because what was supposed to happen happened (my 8 dice won).

[Corpsy]

Here's something weird I found looking at the dice probability chart...

If DW9000 has to defend against a 4 skull attack, he needs 44.4% of his 9 dice to come up shields. The odds of getting at least that many is 35%.

However, if a Sentinel needs to block a 4 skull attack, he needs 50% of his 4 dice to come up shields. The odds of getting at least that is 40.7%.

So, even though the Sentinels need a higher percentage of shields, the odds of getting it are higher with less dice.

[Myst9]

Of course, the sentinels are special, as they have Shields of Valor, as you included in your numbers.

[SymphonyScaper]

One would think the high base defense of the Deathwalkers would discourage figures from attacking. Unfortunately, it attracts them.

From my experience, the Deathwalkers either make or break games. Sometimes they can sit on height, and your opponents can't do a thing. At other times, that Aubrien Archer rolls 2 skulls, and you stare in horror at the 1 shield you rolled. Fortunately, I still don't have the "pleasure" of whiffing to that lone Arrow Grut. At least the Deathwalkers look sharp.

[jschild]

My last game with my family, DW9k murdered my sons army due to terrain. It had alot of water so I stayed back and just bombed them into submission.

[Bonecrusher]

Not really. That nine defense is not that good with one life, especially with the repulsors around. His offense isn't that great since most of the time he will be only attacking one figure. Q9 is FAR better for 40 points more.

[RetroJunky]

I love using Deathwalker 9000 and think he looks cool, but he is normally the first character I lose. I'm lucky to have him survive passed the 2nd round. The last 3 games that I've played him, he was taken out 1st round because I rolled all blanks. I gave up on Deathwalker and started using Major Q10, because he has more lives.

[kpotassiumk19]

I think the Deathwalkers are more of a cleanup. If you send them out early, they will get murdered by heavyhitters or swarms. Of course, towards the end of the game it will be hard to get an explosion off, but the normal attack is much stronger and that can be used. Once the swarms and powerful figures are eliminated, not much will be able to penetrate the high defense. Lone arrow gruts might inflict a couple wounds on a 4 defense 6 life hero, but it will never (fine, "almost never") penetrate 9 defense. Especially 8k's rapid fire that can pick apart lone squads.

[TheOtherGuy]

I have had some success using DW9K with Ornak in larger games. He provides a solid ranged special, and Ornak means that on order marker 1 you can provide a solid secondary attack. Sure, the deathwalker will fall easily to concentrated fire. But they are a lot less likely to concentrate fire on him when you're moving up krug at the same time.

I also found that when it worked, Ornak taking a turn with both the DW9K and the DW8K at the same time was ridiculously potent. Higher point games obviously.

[Aldin]

Sounds like it may be time for me to try another army with 9k in it. I think a lot of "bad" units are really pretty good most days. I've recently played with Monks, WCW, Kumiko, Acolarh, Tandros Kreel, SotM Raelin and MRT (not all in the same army) and had good experiences with all of them. They weren't tourney armies, but who wants to spend all their time focused solely on competition? Or perhaps more to the point, if you're only interested in tourney-competitive figures why bother with even thinking about units that you don't think are tourney-competitive?

How about this:

Deathwalker 9k 140
Nakita Agents 120
Feral Troll 90
3x Marro Dividers 150

Nakitas both offer multiple range and a range/melee shield of sorts for 9k. Dividers set up explosion attacks if your opponent isn't otherwise accomidating. The Feral Troll provides a tempting target to reduce the sheer number of attack rolls against 9k.

~Aldin, who also likes 9k as a counter draft to anything that works with adjacency