Ghost Sniper

Template:Retbox This model is playable only in an Unlimited format.

Ghost snipers are specialized and secretive hunter-killers employed ostensibly to help patrol the borders by employing powerful rifles to bring death to hapless intruders who wander into their sights. Many were already sympathetic to the Retribution while others seek profit and a chance to exercise their skills abroad. These killers stand ready to aim their formidable rifles at the enemies of the Retribution.

Basic Info

Abilities

• Template:Pathfinder
• Template:Marksman
• Template:Swift Hunter

Weapons

• Arcane Cannon - 14" range, POW 10 ranged attack
  • Template:Deadly Shot
• Sword - 0.5" reach, P+S 7 melee attack

Theme Forces

• Template:Defenders of Ios. Ghost Snipers gain Reposition [3] in this theme.
• Template:Legions of Dawn

Thoughts on Ghost Sniper

Ghost Sniper in a nutshell

Ghost Sniper is a straight combat solo. Set damage on his Deadly Shot, along with Marksman designates his task against heavier targets. If you found juicier, soft targets, Swift Hunter lets you to slither back into the bushes after killing. Deadly Shot doesn't do enough damage to take out a solo, but can put crucial damage into multi-wound Shield Walled infantry, like MoW Troppers, or Cataphract Cetrati.

Combos & Synergies

Nearly any lists can make use of a sniper. He is rather self-sufficient, and can slowly chip away health from afar as long as he keeps shooting. He rarely warrants direct support, but if you have the spare points for him, why not?

• Eiryss1 and 2 snipers mean 9 points of fixed damage, even into the toughest target
• Another sniper - a duo of them can scalpel out arc nodes from all but the best armored warjacks. Against warbeasts, aim for the Spirit aspect. Ryssovass Defenders can also do targeted damage in melee, House Vyre Electromancers can fry cortexes.
• Goreshade4 and Kaelyssa have ways to stationary enemy warnouns. If you use Snipers to carve out the cortex/spirit, they can no longer shake stationary.
• The Defenders of Ios theme gives Reposition, which stacks nice with Swift Hunter for a total of 5" movement after killing something - or an emergency 3" move, if you need to back off.
• Clouds and Stealth is a serious issue for a long range shooter - something that Issyria's feat can manage.
• Garryth, Eye of Vengeance - Mostly you are playing these models together because scary Garry has an amazing feat on ranged models, shooting out of activation still works with swift hunter and deadly shot, Blackpenny is useful but the ghost sniper usually can shoot something with its impressive range.

Drawbacks and Downsides

• His low ARM makes him an easy target for blasts.
• He has no way of seeing through Stealth or clouds.
• There are many good solos in the Retribution's arsenal: for free, he is usually not your first choice. If you have to pay for him it is hard to find balance between omitting others solos for him, and not bloating your army list with too much support.
• if he gets caught up in melee he is pretty much a write off as he won’t take a free strike and live.

Tricks and Tips

• Against ARM 14 targets there's a good 58% possibility that you'll cause equal or less damage than with Deadly Shot. Keep it in mind when you might want to roll for damage. Plus, sparing a damage roll can win you precious seconds on your deathclock.

Other

Trivia

Released in Forces of Warmachine: Retribution of Scyrah (November 2009)