General description:
What we’re looking at here is a Stormtrooper with six times the hit points of a regular Stormtrooper at three times the cost… a bargain to be sure. Although this large character is capable of squeezing through doors and small hallways, he will also provide cover for enemy troops for units behind him. Cheaper than the Dark Trooper, Phase III, this character has less hit points and will need more help to hit targets that the Dark Trooper.
Uses:
This character’s best uses are as a shock weapon and as a live shield for more important characters. I would use this character more often to protect Thrawn than the more expensive Noghri. Although they lack the bodyguard ability, their large size provides Thrawn with cover. Although this unit has high hit points, don’t try to use it as a tank… it’s more like a halftrack, providing some protection, but ineffective against strong attacks.
Strategies and game play:
This unit can get extra attack pluses and damage by moving, so keep thus unit moving as long as you don’t provoke attacks of opportunity. Don’t forget that moving a square away from your opponent also counts as moving the character, granting it the Momentum bonus. Use whatever help you can get from additional Stormtroopers, such as combined fire (Remember that a Stormtrooper unit behind this character can provide combined fire bonus… yet by itself it would have no bonus to attack.) A Sandtrooper, a Stormtrooper and a Stormtrooper Commander can make an effect shock team. Assign the extra damage to the Sandtrooper from the Stormtrooper Commander. Move the Sandtrooper at least one square, fire. Use the Stormtrooper to combine fire from behind. This should give your Sandtrooper +12 to hit (+4 base, +4 Combined Fire, +4 Momentum) and good odds to score 30 points of damage. Not to shabby. In a pinch, the Commander can also provide the combined fire.
Combos with other miniatures:
Keep at least one regular Stormtrooper with this unit to combine fire, it needs the combined fire plusses to hit more difficult targets. Nearby Stormtrooper Officers can also be useful for added additional attack pluses (Don’t bother with the officer if you are using the Sandtrooper to protect Thrawn, he has better pluses.) Stormtrooper Commanders are always valuable, as the Sandtrooper can use the extra damage.
Ways to counteract it:
Close with this figure and attack it from an adjacent square, don’t let it get the pluses for momentum without incurring an attack of opportunity. You’ll need about 6 to 1 odds to defeat this character… enough to deal three 20 damage hits. Jedi are overkill for this character, massed troopers are effective and can reduce the target in one round. Jedi would take at least two rounds, one attack on approach, double/triple attack on round two. Remember they will provide cover for you from fire coming from behind it. After it’s gone, however, if your troops are not under cover, the troops you used to destroy it will be vulnerable.
Strengths/Pros:
High hit points and slightly better armor than your average Stormtrooper.
Weaknesses/Cons:
No additional speed. Low damage. Needs support to be effective, increasing it’s total cost (Sandtrooper, Stormtrooper, Stormtrooper Commander combo costs 35 points)
Artwork and aesthetics:
Nice looking unit. Impressive. Fierce. Although it’s odd to see Imperials using non-technological mounts, this one works.
Overall rating (1-10):
I give this miniature a rating of 6.
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