Necron review, the non-heavy heavy

Doom Scythes are supersonic aircraft. Unlike most of the forces employed by the Necrons, Doom Scythes can function in an independent manner and contain an advanced intellect which is capable of simulating billions of possible strategies in only a few nanoseconds, much like the Tomb Blades. Doom Scythes are usually released during the first wave of a Necron invasion. They are used for sewing terror and confusion among enemy forces. Its propulsion system is a repulsor drive whose high pitched whine is capable of driving those who hear it crazy. Sometimes it even knocks the enemy unconscious (WARNING....this is reflected nowhere in the stats or rules of this unit). Should the enemy not surrender after this loud fly-by, the Doom Scythe then unleashes its devastating compliment of weapons.

In my mind it lloks like and is as awesome as a Cylon Raider.........

......what it will proably resemble, (which is close) but has a huge weird crystal in the front.

This is sort of a non-heavy heavy unit. It has a weapon that could be considered for a heavy unit, but the rest of this thing screams fast attack. It is a fast skimmer with BS 4 and armor 11 on all sides. It can deep strike, has aerial assault, is supersonic and has living metal. It is armed with a twin-linked tesla destructor and a Death Ray. This vehicle will cost as many points as the year Wei Yan, a general of Shu is born (man I love me some Dynasty Warriors!).

Aerial Assault- allows for all the weapons to fire if the Doom Scythe moved at cruising speed.

Supersonic-gives this vehicle a flat-out move of 36”

Death Ray- is the big scary gun this has. It is 12”* S 10 AP1 and heavy 1. The * is for the special way this is fired. You pick a spot within the 12” range of the gun. Then you pick another spot that is 3D6” away. I guess you roll for distance then pick or pick then roll distance? Whatever.....anyway. Then you draw a straight line between these two spots. Every model that this line passes over is hit. It only hits models that the invisible line touches/ passes over. This means you can blast your own models as well. Now the models touched are "hit", but the wounds are allocated as normal. There is no sniping allowed.

I guess the death ray is what makes this a heavy vehicle. There is nothing else that screams heavy on this thing. An armor 11 vehicle has nothing heavy about it. Sure it can fire both of its guns, and the second gun is strength 7, but armor 11 is nowhere near heavy. Much like the Dark Eldar Razorwing, that is also a non-heavy heavy. I look at the Vendetta and think heavy with armor 12 and three twin-linked lascannons, yet that is a fast support unit (and slower and cheaper than the Doom Scythe). I am really scratching my head over this. A faster and more fragile vehicle is heavy; where a bit more durable, slower, having three really good twin-linked weapons and squadron ability is cheaper and a fast support? Seriously why is that? I guess it is more akin to the Falcon tank, but with less armor and zero options for weapons.

Well back to the Doom Scythe. Yeah the death ray is cool right? Well that is if it ever gets to fire the thing. Who is going to let this thing get more than if only one shot off in a game. A shot that is short ranged to begin with and has a chance to go up to 30” or peter out at 15”. Yeah a variable range is straight up turd! You have to be close enough to get the shot off and hope for an awesome roll. Then you probably suffer some damage the following turn since you are with 12” of some unit and are armor 11. Pray they don’t have anything over strength 6. Yeah how is this a viable unit?

Hey wait it does have living metal.....which might help with survivability, but doubt full. It can go flat-out up to 36” to get in range and get a cover save. Yeah but it is still a bit vulnerable. It will have to wait a turn to fire and a 4+ cover is good, but it is not a guarantee by any means. You don’t have to blow it up, just keep it from shooting, immobilized it or take off the death ray. Yup it can also deep strike and that is about the only way I would think of using this thing. Sure it is risky, but it should get within the needed threat range, even with a bad scatter. Well unless it scatters and is destroyed. A big risk to take considering the price of the unit.

I really want to like this, but I just can’t. It has a gun that is both awesome and stupid. It is way too expensive for what it is and doesn’t have the durability I want in a heavy vehicle. Oh yeah.... there is still no model for it either. If this came with some other weapon to start, a much lower price tag, the ability to take a squadron and swap weapons for upgrades (including Mr. Death Ray) then I might be interested in it. The Doom Scythe gets a big ole pass from me. I know others will love and swear by it, but for me it reeks of over-priced gimmick.