Editing Age of Darkness-Warhammer 30k/2.0 Tactics/Mechanicum Tactics (section)

== Why Play The Mechanicum? ==
[[File:Belicosa_Potentis_Omnissiah.png|400px|thumbnail|right|Start at the top, and requisition your way to the bottom.]] 

You've seen the models, right? For the first time since Rogue Trader, the followers of the Machine God can take to the field en masse! You can embody the grimdark universe of Warhammer <s>40,000</s> 30,000 with your exotic Martian death-rays, terrifying Battle-automata and horrific Cybernetic monstrosities.

Also, Robots.

In HH 1.0, the force used to be divided between the three ordos of the Mechanicum: the footsloggin' MCs of the Legio Cybernetica, the more complete Taghmata (vanilla) and the extremely limited Ordo Reductor. This led to the question of why would anyone ever use Reductor when the Taghmata list [[Fail|had better siege]] engines. The most recent update, however, offers you six Orders of High Techno-Arcana to choose from.

The list is still fairly small, with limited unit choices, but a large amount of flexibility within many of these units; however, many units have been yeeted into the Legacies doc in 2.0. Furthermore, almost all the models are FW resin. Be warned, this is a slippery slope that may result in the loss of financial security, family, friends and house...

Also, '' '''BIG''' Robots''!

Unusually for Forge World, the Mechanicum is one of the cheapest armies to get into. It's possible to start an army with a single Magos and a pair of Castellax or small Thallax Cohorts (Adsecularis if you really want to break the mold!). The army lists, whilst capable of standing alone, are intended to be used as allies for the Legion army list. As a starting point for a new army, this is ideal, as you need even less to get have something you can field. Mechanicum units provide you with some unique possibilities for conversions, too! Take a cursory glance around Coolminiornot or a painting forum and you'll find some damn fine examples. Of course, if this is not your thing, Forge World's own models are more than capable of satisfying any model fanatic.

'''PROS:'''
*Lots of tanky robots! God-Machines at your beck and call!
*Practically everything in your army has some shade of Invulnerable save or another way to mitigate damage.
*Certain High Techno-Arcana can improve either the effects you can make when using ''Battlesmith (X)'' or give you unique uses for Cybertheurgy.

'''CONS:'''
*Extremely limited transport options. If you aren't taking the Aktaeus for its massive storage bays, you're stuck with the Triaros. Yes, the Legacies doc brought back the Termite, Land Raider and Macrocarid, but they're eating up spots you could've spent on other things.
*The majority of your army's still in that Forge World resin rather than plastic like the Legions are becoming. Want to wait for plastic? Best be prepared to wait a year ''at least'' before hearing something aside from new Legion upgrade kits.
*The changes to the WS chart means that most of your army is only effective at shooting. Your robots' human-tier WS and less than stellar Initiative means that a lot of your big scary robots will struggle to deal basic tactical squads and will more often than not lose to Space Marine squads that are made for combat. Even the handful of units you have that ''are'' good in combat will be ripped apart by Dreadnoughts and the Legions' elite fighters.