[Black Behemoth]

I have had mixed opinions on this Kroot leader. For 21 points, you get 2 extra wounds and 2 more attacks. You also get a 6+ save you can pass onto other Kroot for +1 point each. which can get expensive for 19 Kroot. You also MUST consolidate, which is very bad. I, myself, do not think all of the cons of this model are worth $10 or 28 points, enough for 2 FW or 4 normal Kroot. If it had a Kroot Gun or the Kroot Power Weapon Thingy (forgot name), it would be better. You get a much better model, but it affects the other Kroot terribly with the must to consolidate. Is it worth it? I think not, but this is up for discussion.

[RCanine]

Think of it this way: a shaper, at 28 points, costs as much as four kroot but fights like two. If you armor your kroot, he costs 3.5 kroot, and still fights like two. The only time a shaper is a decent investment is when you are running into the upper limits of your unit size (including hounds) and want to squeeze in a few more attacks. While the armor upgrade isn't very appetizing at its points cost, mediocre leadership and initiative can quickly lead into a sweeping advance mowing down an entire unit in one round of combat; not a pretty picture. When I do take it, it's for the Ld boost, not the chance to save a few more kroot lives.

[Xiou]

Could you convert a krootox to be a shaper? If you could i might consider taking one

[Artiglio]

Originally Posted by Xiou

Could you convert a krootox to be a shaper? If you could i might consider taking one

???

i think it would be better to convert a normal kroot :

[The Orange]

Note: I have yet to use a shaper. But the main advantage to having one would be the LD boost. Also the Shaper fights like 2 kroot but only takes up the spot of one, so he helps put alot of attacks at one spot (however helpful that is :). Also when facing SMs they have the "And they shall have no fear" rule which means sweeping advances just prolonges the hth (which is bad for kroot). With a shaper you get out of the hth, hopefully are close enough to deny a regrouping, and leave the SM squad open to the firepower of the tau. And if you have some hounds (which would benefit from the 6+ for free) you get to throw in some extra wounds.

[frankthetank]

i never used him but he look cool

[42]

Originally Posted by The Orange

Note: I have yet to use a shaper.* But the main advantage to having one would be the LD boost.*

I agree fully, the armour save is inconsequential to me, but that extra leadership point is useful. However until they get some sort of power weapon then I will never take them for their combat ability or optional armour save to the group.

--42

[Andromidius]

Not being able to run down enemy units would be annoying though, so I would suggest adding Kroot Hounds to a unit with a Shaper in if you are expecting it to be in an assault that it can possibly win. Sure, the benefits aren't amazing, but they all add up

~Andromidius

[42]

Good point there Andromidus! I hadn't thought how logical that would be actually! Adding Kroot hounds in the team anyways is always a big plus, especially verus Initiative 4 armies!

--42

[TimberwolfCY]

That is a good point about the Hounds, and I bet what the designers put them in there for, besides getting more attacks.

However, I don't think I'll ever end up taking a Shaper, unless I have points I'm looking to waste and all other logical expendures have already been made. I mean, a Shaper is 21 points, and with the armor upgrade for a full squad, is 40. 40 is a lot of points - 4 Fire Warriors, 4 Seekers (what I'd get as long as I had Pathfinders), 3 Pathfinders, half a Devilfish, almost 6 Kroot or 7 Hounds, another Crisis Suit, etc., the list goes on. After some articles I read and doing some of my own thinking, I realized its just a massive points sink.

However, someone on another thread did point out that a 6+ save could be pretty handy in CC, and as 42 said the extra Ld would be nice. But, ergh, 40 points? That article I alluded to said that Kroot should be taken for what they are - dirt cheap, as a flanking/harassing/meatshield unit, shooting as much as possible, assaulting when necessary (not unlike Stealths, oddly enough). Once this realization came to me, I switched them out for my Stealths, since their almost as effective, and if someone is stupid enough to get into Rapid Fire range without being able to Assault, that's a lot of attacks. Not to mention I 10 if they survive to charge you.

As far as modeling a Shaper, I'd do what Artiglio said and simply use a normal Kroot model and add some stuff to him. I did that for mine, adding a few of the fuzzy things from the slings (which I converted as normal slings, 'cause I wanted my Kroot to look relatively civil and shooty).

My 2C.