Transformers Squad Building

[webhead817]

Hey all, wanted to get a thread started just for Transformers squad building.

My first question/concept is this: is it strategically viable to start with the vehicles mode of either Optimus or Megatron in the hopes of "Transforming" into the superior Robot modes later?

[Yaggleberry Finn]

webhead817 said:

Hey all, wanted to get a thread started just for Transformers squad building.

My first question/concept is this: is it strategically viable to start with the vehicles mode of either Optimus or Megatron in the hopes of "Transforming" into the superior Robot modes later?

I'm still very uncertain as to whether or not I'm going to collect any TF Tix, so I sat for a while last night staring at my computer screen with the complete stats of all of the TF figures (except for the Starter Set and Mega twin pack), trying to decide if I could build a competitive team or not.

My first thought was absolutely that you start with those vehicle modes and count on them being white. Yoda has the same ratio, and I always figure he's going to be white (especially if I'm attacking him).

That works out to be a better deal for the Autobots than the Decepticons, because gold Super Optimus Prime is vastly superior to either of the Megatrons. (Very hard to knock down, excellent special, even if it's not a real high ratio) However, in a standard 100 point game, that only leaves you ten more points in your backups. Since you transform out of your backups, that means you can't utilize the special of either Skyblast figure. Rodimus has a decent recruit ratio that would add a 10 point trooper, so I figure that's all you have left if you want to start with the vehicle mode of Super Optimus Prime.

Other than force push Anakin bringing in a Destroyer Droid, this is far and away the best way to bring a powerful 40 point figure into play. In a 100 point game, that's quite a boost.

[capnfalcon222]

I've already thought up a terrorcon squad consisting of scorponok and lots of insecticons and battle ravages. it'll be awesome. one insecticon goes down, and then if I'm really lucky, more insecticons come in from the backups! mwahahaha!

[Joe Manzo]

I think I will convert the SW Flash Builder into a TF one.

It will be easy with only two factions... maybe give me more room for better feedback.

Oh man, I need more time in a waking day (can't steal it from my sleeping part, that would be no good)

[Yaggleberry Finn]

So here's night two of me staring at my screen wondering if I can build a competitive team with Transformers. Phoenix's blog was very informative, but didn't inspire much confidence. Now that I have all of the special power ratios (thanks, Joe!) and Phoenix's thoughts, I feel like I can field a much more informed opinion.

Today's topic: Strikers.

Well, what we see is a major lack of them. If you didn't already know it, the Ohio tournament proved the power of strikers. They're simply the most powerful offensive pieces, and in Attacktix a figure's inherent defense isn't as important because you can augment that.

The Autobots have zero strikers, while the Decepticons have four. How did that happen?? Of the four strikers, Crumplezone sounds like he's useless. Too bad too, as he's the only one in the entire series with 12 speed. But then again, I'm glad he's not great, because he's expensive to get in the first place. Scourge (while looking very cool) only has 8 speed along with a small base - things aren't looking good there.

So that leaves us with Battle Ravage and Scorponok. I like Scorponok, but his special might be limited in a 100 point game if Megatron were already in your backups. But I'll ignore that possibility since his attack looks like a lot of fun!

As far as Battle Ravage goes, you obviously need more than one of him to make use of his special. And it's a real bummer if the first defeated Battle Ravage is white, because that's a total waste. Seems like I've had that happen a lot with the S2 Red Clone Troopers. Without play-testing I have no idea how powerful his mace attack really is... that would go a long way in deciding whether to use him or not.

In a Star Wars vs Transformers match-up, I think the TF's would get slaughtered because of these striker disadvantages - selection, striking power and speed.

In a Transformers only game, the Autobots are likely to get slaughtered since they have no figures that are really capable of getting multiple kills.

[General Grievous]

I have to disagree with Yaggleberry Finn here.

I've been playing with a nearly all Transformers 100 point team consisting of:

Squad:
1x Gold Base Super Optimus Prime
1x Skyblast Vehicle Mode
2x Rodimus

Back-ups:
1x Skyblast
1x Minicon
1x Series 2 Red Clone Trooper

The game style is simply to shoot opponent's down before they reach you and recruit backups whenever they knock you down. Optimus can be used to bust up a formation and then Rodimus can pick off whoever is left out in the cold. High defensive capabilities also help as I've found Optimus can even take a fully powered swing by Kit Fisto unless Kit aims high and I've had Skyblast just slide across the field after a KAM strike.

I first tested this squad out against a thrown together Bounty Hunters team consisting of Flying Boba Fett, Series 2 Bossk, Series 3 Greedo, and the Tie Pilot. Autobots blew away the other team.

I then tested against an Imperial team made up of Gold Base Vader, Grand Moff Tarkin, Biker Scout, and three Series 3 Stormtroopers. Autobots wiped the floor even after Tarkin vengeanced Prime out of play.

Finally, I gave my Autobots a major challenge and put them up against a team of four Jedi Knight, Kit Fisto, Gold-Based Ki-Adi-Mundi, Utapau Warrior, and a Starter Set Orange Clone Trooper. The Transformers fought well and the game came down to Rodimus and a pair of Jedi Knights. One Jedi Knight sliced down the hot rod but he just brought in a single Minicon who shot down one Jedi Knight but was slaughtered by another. So, even against the best team I have, the Autobots were able to bring it down to the wire.

Also consider that this team is incredibly thrown together with very few resources. In all, I think a good competitive Transformers team could stand up to a strong Star Wars team.

[YodaBreaker]

The one question I'd have for you, General Grievous, is how many figures do you usually knock down with a single strike? If you're playing against only launcher figures, then the Autobot team sounds like it could be formidable, but launchers will only get one kill per attack. If you're not getting multiple kills per strike, then you'd overestimate the strength of the Autobot team when you play against someone who routinely gets multiple kills per strike (as the striker basically becomes a launcher figure, using your opponent's figure as the projectile).

Also, I'm not sure how Kit Fisto wouldn't be able to send Prime flying across the table with a properly executed strike. Though I don't have any Transformers Attacktix myself, I've never found a figure that wouldn't be launched at least three feet by Kit Fisto's strike. That should be enough distance to at least remove Prime from the playing field boundaries.

[greyelephant]

Here is what I have used for my 100 point teams and have found success.

Decepticons:

Megatron (jet)
Scorponok
Dirt Boss
Decepticlone


You need to keep Scorponok alive. He seems to be the only one who can kill "Optimus the house Prime".


As Autobots:

2x Optimus (Vehicle)
Sky Blast (jet)
Rodimus


The trick is in the Transforming part.

[General Grievous]

beevomit said:

The one question I'd have for you, General Grievous, is how many figures do you usually knock down with a single strike? If you're playing against only launcher figures, then the Autobot team sounds like it could be formidable, but launchers will only get one kill per attack. If you're not getting multiple kills per strike, then you'd overestimate the strength of the Autobot team when you play against someone who routinely gets multiple kills per strike (as the striker basically becomes a launcher figure, using your opponent's figure as the projectile).

Also, I'm not sure how Kit Fisto wouldn't be able to send Prime flying across the table with a properly executed strike. Though I don't have any Transformers Attacktix myself, I've never found a figure that wouldn't be launched at least three feet by Kit Fisto's strike. That should be enough distance to at least remove Prime from the playing field boundaries.

I will wholeheartedly admit that I am nowhere near a top notch striker. Multi-kills are sheer luck to me and I am certainly overestimating my Autobot team's strength mostly because I have no idea how well a striking expert (such as yourself) could decimate the team.

One thing I learned in a game I ran against myself right after my last post is that my near win in the earlier game was sheer luck. I re-ran the game and my Transformers team was absolutely decimated after a Jedi Knight, the Orange Clone, Kit Fisto, and KAM all ended up white when they were knocked down. The game ended after three turns and the Jedi team still had an Utapau Warrior and three Jedi Knights.

In conclusion to this point, any Transformers-based team will most likely fall to a squad with a fair amount of strikers ran by a good striker user. However, in defense of my squad and the Transformers, the same can be said about nearly every Star Wars team as well.

Also, as far as "Kit Fisto vs Optimus Prime" goes, I've continued testing and it takes on heck of a strong strike to take down Optimus IF you aim low. A strike to the upper body has the possibility of missing and is slightly more difficult to execute but will easily send Optimus flying across the board as you described.

[Yaggleberry Finn]

General said:

I will wholeheartedly admit that I am nowhere near a top notch striker.

Well, there's a great way to remedy that! Read YodaBreaker's striking tutorial and you'll have all the knowledge necessary to be a top notch striker.