Caporegime
First of all a disclaimer, I know very little about Grey Knights. They didn't exist as an army the last time I played and I only really know that they are a beefed up Psychic Space Marines list.
That being said, 16 models is not a lot for an army. I had 41 and 1 of those was a Monstrous Creature. It's possible that Grey Knights simply aren't suited to low point battles.
Making a list
While I don't really use this table when making a list, it's the kind of thing I'm thinking about when I choose units. Broadly speaking this covers every threat you can face on the table (you could add in Monstrous Creatures as a new entry) I've included some units/weapons that fit each category best from the Space Marine codex (as I figure it's a codex most people are familiar with)
I've then tried to put Newts and my armies into the table to see what can take on what. Obviously my weakness is Assault, this is just something you have to accept when playing Tau! Other than that I've got at least 2 units that can threaten every armour (in our case AV13+ was banned so that wasn't a problem)
Newt's list on the other hand is VERY strong in assault...but has only 2 threats at over 24" The Psycannon in the Terminator squad and the Heavy Bolter on the Razorback. It's difficult to have a broad range of options with such a high point per model army at a low point level.
Another couple of things I take into account when picking a list is I try and have either a very mobile unit or a unit that can outflank (in this case I had the Kroot which wasn't a great option but the Tau are limited in this area at low point levels) This gives you more options at threatening objectives in the opposition half and also back field danger units (Long Fangs for example)
Newts list was strong in this area, all 3 squads can deep strike, and he had a Razorback to add some mobility.
We rolled The Emperor's Will (one objective each in our half) and a Vanguard deployment.
Deployment
I won the roll and choose to go (and deploy) first (I usually choose to go second which is a habit I need to break)
I set my army up with my troop choices in cover (I had forgotten about the Kroot at this point but they infiltrated to the trees on the right), my long range options (Broadsides and Riptide) covering as much area as possible and my two pathfinders advanced forwards ready to stick some markerlights down.
Newts deployed his Razorback (with one squad) partially behind cover, terminators and librarian on the objective and deep striked one squad. 6th edition only lets you keep half (rounding up) of your units in reserve, Newts has 5 units (3 squads, razorback and librarian) so he could have deep striked the terminators and librarian as well if he wanted to. I probably would have, as one squad coming down is going to lack support.
First turn
Most was out of range but I fired my Markerlights at the Razorback and then used them to fire the seeker missiles on the Broadsides at the Razorback (I must admit we made a mistake here, the Razorback should have got a cover save from one of the missiles) anyway the missiles destroyed the Razorback and left 2/3 of the army with a long walk.
Again we made a mistake and rolled for reserves on the first turn! (Newts hasn't played 6th edition before and I wasn't paying attention) The Grey Knights deepstriked in and the Riptide used it's interceptor ability to fire an overcharged ion accelerator large blast. This hit and should have killed 4 of the 5 man squads (I mistakenly thought I couldn't kill models out of LOS but having read up on it Blast weapons can) anyway 1 died. The remainder shot at the fire warriors and killed 2.
Second turn
The fire warriors, aided by the Cadre Fireblade shot 30 Strength 5 shots into 4 marines and slaughtered them.
Newts conceded at this point.
So what went wrong after deployment?
Newts didn't know about the interceptor rule, it's a new codex and he hasn't played 6th edition so fair enough.
But the biggest mistake for me was leaving his Terminator squad and Librarian (with 2 short range psychic powers) sitting on an objective at the back. This was 410 points out of a 750 point army, doing the same thing a 75 point scout squad can do.
With such a close range focussed army I would have placed the objective as far forward as possible, you don't want your expensive assault troops sitting at the back babysitting an objective. Razorback should have started out of Line of Sight to avoid fire then first turn moved flat out behind the building in the centre (where I would have stuck the objective) this would then let you have one squad on the objective within firing range (and a Razorback for fire support) The two deep striking squads could then have come down in my fire line to threaten my objective. It still would have been a difficult fight but this would probably have been the best chance of victory.
I hope this helps give a look into how I go about a battle. Hopefully I don't come across as thinking I'm perfect, I make plenty of mistakes (my appalling use of jetbikes in the game against Gooner springs to mind!)
That being said, 16 models is not a lot for an army. I had 41 and 1 of those was a Monstrous Creature. It's possible that Grey Knights simply aren't suited to low point battles.
Making a list
While I don't really use this table when making a list, it's the kind of thing I'm thinking about when I choose units. Broadly speaking this covers every threat you can face on the table (you could add in Monstrous Creatures as a new entry) I've included some units/weapons that fit each category best from the Space Marine codex (as I figure it's a codex most people are familiar with)
I've then tried to put Newts and my armies into the table to see what can take on what. Obviously my weakness is Assault, this is just something you have to accept when playing Tau! Other than that I've got at least 2 units that can threaten every armour (in our case AV13+ was banned so that wasn't a problem)
Newt's list on the other hand is VERY strong in assault...but has only 2 threats at over 24" The Psycannon in the Terminator squad and the Heavy Bolter on the Razorback. It's difficult to have a broad range of options with such a high point per model army at a low point level.
Another couple of things I take into account when picking a list is I try and have either a very mobile unit or a unit that can outflank (in this case I had the Kroot which wasn't a great option but the Tau are limited in this area at low point levels) This gives you more options at threatening objectives in the opposition half and also back field danger units (Long Fangs for example)
Newts list was strong in this area, all 3 squads can deep strike, and he had a Razorback to add some mobility.
We rolled The Emperor's Will (one objective each in our half) and a Vanguard deployment.
Deployment
I won the roll and choose to go (and deploy) first (I usually choose to go second which is a habit I need to break)
I set my army up with my troop choices in cover (I had forgotten about the Kroot at this point but they infiltrated to the trees on the right), my long range options (Broadsides and Riptide) covering as much area as possible and my two pathfinders advanced forwards ready to stick some markerlights down.
Newts deployed his Razorback (with one squad) partially behind cover, terminators and librarian on the objective and deep striked one squad. 6th edition only lets you keep half (rounding up) of your units in reserve, Newts has 5 units (3 squads, razorback and librarian) so he could have deep striked the terminators and librarian as well if he wanted to. I probably would have, as one squad coming down is going to lack support.
First turn
Most was out of range but I fired my Markerlights at the Razorback and then used them to fire the seeker missiles on the Broadsides at the Razorback (I must admit we made a mistake here, the Razorback should have got a cover save from one of the missiles) anyway the missiles destroyed the Razorback and left 2/3 of the army with a long walk.
Again we made a mistake and rolled for reserves on the first turn! (Newts hasn't played 6th edition before and I wasn't paying attention) The Grey Knights deepstriked in and the Riptide used it's interceptor ability to fire an overcharged ion accelerator large blast. This hit and should have killed 4 of the 5 man squads (I mistakenly thought I couldn't kill models out of LOS but having read up on it Blast weapons can) anyway 1 died. The remainder shot at the fire warriors and killed 2.
Second turn
The fire warriors, aided by the Cadre Fireblade shot 30 Strength 5 shots into 4 marines and slaughtered them.
Newts conceded at this point.
So what went wrong after deployment?
Newts didn't know about the interceptor rule, it's a new codex and he hasn't played 6th edition so fair enough.
But the biggest mistake for me was leaving his Terminator squad and Librarian (with 2 short range psychic powers) sitting on an objective at the back. This was 410 points out of a 750 point army, doing the same thing a 75 point scout squad can do.
With such a close range focussed army I would have placed the objective as far forward as possible, you don't want your expensive assault troops sitting at the back babysitting an objective. Razorback should have started out of Line of Sight to avoid fire then first turn moved flat out behind the building in the centre (where I would have stuck the objective) this would then let you have one squad on the objective within firing range (and a Razorback for fire support) The two deep striking squads could then have come down in my fire line to threaten my objective. It still would have been a difficult fight but this would probably have been the best chance of victory.
I hope this helps give a look into how I go about a battle. Hopefully I don't come across as thinking I'm perfect, I make plenty of mistakes (my appalling use of jetbikes in the game against Gooner springs to mind!)
