Orks have some pretty good stuff, I'll be the first to admit. I'll also be the first to admit that there are a *ton* of obstacles that Orks have to deal with in order to be a competitive army. This post will be my thoughts on exactly what makes the greenskins tick (not anything too deep, I promise!), and maybe some other stuff.
Ork boyz are oftentimes the reason an Ork army fails, I've come to realize. Despite being a 'steal' for 6 points with their T4 and furious charge, they simply die too consistently in combat to really do what they're supposed to do. In combat, one of two things almost always happens:
1) Ork boyz annihilate what they've assaulted: the opponent squad/unit never really stood a chance, and maybe killed a single ork boy.
2) Ork boyz lose so many of their number that they can't really do enough damage in combat, and are subsequently wiped out in that combat phase, or the next.
It doesn't really happen another way. Sure, maybe they'll get stuck in with a big Tactical squad for a turn or two, or they won't be able to kill a Dread or something, but overall, the boyz don't really have 'stalemates' in combat: if they lose, they lose a lot of momentum and eventually flee, and if they win, they've likely killed a ton of the enemy squad, and win by a landslide. Anything tough enough not to lose a bunch of guys to the Orks means they can usually hold their own in combat, and inflict a like number of wounds to the boyz, drawing combat.
A huge worry with Orks is the danger of being stopped. They hit like a pile of bricks against many things, sure (if you do it right), but in subsequent combats, they are extremely lacking. 1/4 less attacks, without the +1S for furious charge. If something can hold out for one round of combat against orks, many times they'll end up winning the combat, especially if they can whittle the boyz down to under 11, so they aren't fearless anymore.
One thing to remember when getting orks in combat, is that trading point for point or even better, isn't always worth it. If your orks kill 60 points of marines in combat, and the marines kill 60 points of orks in that same combat, it seems like a push, right? Very wrong- the orks just lost 10 boyz, and the marines only lost 4, and won combat by 6. Now the boyz get to run away with shit for initiative. Or if they're fearless, they get to lose 5 more boyz. Now the mob is down to 15 at best (down to 5 many times) and will realistically lose the next combat before they even get to swing.
Even in a slightly more realistic situation, if the boyz kill 60 points and the marines 'only' kill 30 points, the marines still win combat. Losing combat with orks is a big worry, one that I think too many ork generals discount. Those extra two orks dying to fearless checks every turn really start to add up.
Not to mention, if the orks charge and get stalled, even for a single turn, they open themselves to be counter-charged off the table next turn, before they even get to strike.
So, what's the redeeming grace of Orks? I'll just spit it out and say... Klaws. Every boyz squad has a claw in it, in just about any competitive list. With boarding planks on vehicles, Orks can stay in the (relative) safety of their vehicle and kill transports, tanks, etc. In a big squad of boyz, the nob can swing away and kill 2 enemy models a turn in relative safety. Where a squad of boyz has quite a bit of trouble getting through a 3+ save, the Klaw perseveres.
Pretty obvious, I suppose. However, I think there's something to be learned from this, and maybe I'm just being foolish, but here's the 'greater wisdom' I've discovered:
More Klaws/squad = more won combats. Heh, not really that hard to grasp, I suppose. The trick is, to not get stuck in combat for more than a turn, since momentum is very much against orks, and whereas you might be able to lose a single turn of combat, and stick around, you certainly can't afford to lose 2.
This is part of why Nob squads are so useful. I won't get into it now, but suffice it to say that very rarely does a Nob squad suffer the same sort of sad defeat a mob of Boyz will. Their 6-9 WS5 Klaw attacks are going to end up winning the combat for them almost every time.
What about boyz squads though? They can only fit in a single Nob, and usually, that single nob is simply not enough. They'll kill around 2 models a turn with their klaw, and combat will largely have the same results as it always did.
The only way I can see to help make this basic flaw better, is to add more Klaws. I think this is pretty doable, actually. Every Ork army that I've seen since forever, has a Big Mekk with a KFF. Why not throw a Klaw on him and an attack squig? 5 extra Klaw attacks can really make a huge difference on the charge. If you do it right, you can usually get the Mekk away from the opponent's fist by hitting it with a boy from the squad, and suddenly, your orks have overwhelming force on their side.
Or, try a few Deff Koptas w/ Klaws. They only have S7 on the charge, but that's enough against almost any infantry model out there. If you hide the Koptas in either a big squad, or behind some Wagons, they can fly out and charge something that your boyz are fighting, and lend 'supporting attacks'. If they enemy decides to allocate some attacks into your koptas, you have a better save and T5 to help with combat res.
What about warbosses? Too often, people put the boss with their Nobs. It isn't needed in the nob squad- they can take care of themselves just fine. A warboss with a bunch of boyz is going to be a lot bigger help than the overkill that happens when they hang with nobs.
I don't really know if this is the answer to making orks more viable in combat, but it's something I'm playing around with. I know that any combat army that I play would be hurt by these ideas.
What do you think?
