Brood Strategy

[McNs]

Howdy:

Long time, no post. I've been able to cajole some of my play group into trying Dark Age, and now they're full-on addicts. I've been having a lot of fun with The Brood using the new rules and thought I'd start a dialog about what works and what doesn't for the children of the Mere.

Thoughts on what The Brood do well:

Immunity to Psychology: The Brood don't have to worry about Panic/Fear checks or Last Man Standing. This saves The Brood from some of the more obnoxious Skarrd psychogenics and lets you take small units without worry.

Regeneration: The Brood's core ability. On a 10 or less, you get a wound back. What's not to like?

Speed: On average, Brood units are a hair faster than their Forsaken counter-parts.

Biogens: Biogens are a series of differents buffs certain Individuals can take. They add some flexibility to the Brood list and allow to use the same piece in different ways.

Some things to watch out for with The Brood:

"Fire bad!": Cauterized wounds are you worst enemy (as they bypass Regeneration). Look out for Firestorms, Toxic Mistresses, and other units with Cauterize.

Low Armor: The Brood, on average, have relatively low armor to offset their Regeneration/Speed. There are exceptions (Numbskull, Sawblades) but you don't have anything on par with a Saint's armor level.

Pricey units: While The Brood certainly have chear options (Broodlings), most of their units are 50-75 Points are require Squads of 2+. While a Brood horde can be built, many times you'll be slightly out numbered by your opponent.

In general, I've had success building my Brood in two ways:

Helexa-based Support/Speed army that accomplishes objective based scenarios: Using the new BroodSpawn rules, you're able to give every model in a Helexia based army Elusive if you meet certain restrictions (e.g. - Take Helexia and Scion/Lashers, limits on what units you can take). Given that most Brood already have very low DF values, this greatly protects Brood models from ranged attacks/foci/psychogenics.

Using this advantage, the army focuses on taking Scenarios that encourage you to claim objectives, get tokens, etc. Helexa offers great army support using Biogens like Adrenaline and Phosphorous Gig. I've had a lot of luck avoiding fights and using Brood Hounds/Gazelles/Lashers to make targeted strikes against enemy models. While these armies can have punch (especially with Broodlings granting Gang Up bonuses), they need to pick their fights carefully. Focus on isolating units one at a time and finishing them off piece meal. Beckon helps a lot in this regard.

Here's an army in this style I've had a lot of luck with:

Helexa
- Adrenaline
- Brood Goo
- Venom Spray

2x Lashers (given Infilrate via Broodspawn)

Gazelle

6x Broodlings

Broodspawn: Eradicate "Smashmouth" lists: Almost the polar opposite of the above, using the Broodspawn Eradicate rules you're able to build a very tough list that thrives in combat. While scenarios are certainly still very important, the list focuses on killing models just as much as it does spending AP claiming objectives.

You're required to Mean Jellybean and either Mandible or a squad of Sawblades in this Broodspawn, but gain the Tough as Nails ability for all units in your army. This is especially helpful for your higher armor units with multiple HP and several points of Regeneration (as it prevents you from losing two wounds on the errant roll of a "20"). There's nothing especially ellegant about the list: Take your requirements, Numbskull if possible, some Pud Throwers for ranged support, and run up the middle at the enemy. With intelligent use of Targeting Priority and Cover, you should be resilent enough to get to the enemy intact. Once you're engaged, Acid Blood and Toxic Vapors should greatly help you manage enemy models. Puds are also a great help against large numbers of enemy units (e.g. - Buzzblades, Spear Slaves).

Here's a 500 point list I've had some luck with:

Mean Jellybean (given Brutal via Broodspawn)
- Toxic Vapor

Mandible

2x Pud Throwers

2x Ratchets

******

That's what's been working for me; what have you been successful with?

- McNs

[AngelicOne]

This is a great little 'starting point' for me, thanks! I'll be Brooding up here shortly. Once I get my Air Caste list finished up, it's my second and this gives me a quick set of ideas for a jump off point!

Thanks!

[calisto9]

I've been running Hybrid here at my FLGS. Murtros's reduced cost, along with the ranged support of Grists and Plights can be really nice. I recently took 5th of 27 at our local qualifier with this list.

Murtros (Poison Spray)
2x Grist
2x Plight
3x ratchet
2x broodhound
8x broodlings

I used the hounds and broodlings to take objectives while my other unit covered them. The broodling squad took out a fresh Greater air elemental actually, which was crazy!

[cerealkiller195]

Being a Brood newbie I think Toxic Vapors is a great Bio Gen to take because it can make Parry less of a sure thing.