Dryad Movement Tray

[IylanKano]

Hi all,

Am about to make a skirmish movement tray for my first unit of 12 dryards. Should they be in a 6 x 2 formation or a 4 x 3 one, or does it not make a difference?

As you can tell I've not played much recently and therefore don't really know how skirmishers work in the current edition but would appreciate any advice.

Regards.

[Shandrakor]

Personally, I wouldn't use movement trays for Skirmishers because it means you're too rigid in your formations. I tend to reform them way too much to maximize their potential against whatever size my enemy is, so movement trays would just get in the way.

As far as how the unit starts out as... usually 6 wide is about right if you're facing 20x20mm models, or 7 wide if you're facing 25x25mm models.

[minionboy]

Hi all,

Am about to make a skirmish movement tray for my first unit of 12 dryards. Should they be in a 6 x 2 formation or a 4 x 3 one, or does it not make a difference?

As you can tell I've not played much recently and therefore don't really know how skirmishers work in the current edition but would appreciate any advice.

Regards.

Definitely go 6x2. 4x3 is just going to cost you attacks.

[IylanKano]

Do skirmishers not just reform into any formation once they contact the enemy?

[minionboy]

Do skirmishers not just reform into any formation once they contact the enemy?

Nope, skirmishers are rank and file like anything else, except with a 0.5" gap between models. When they contact an enemy, they all get squished together.

Here's an example of a GF9 one:



Sometimes people make the grid piece in the center removable.

[Shandrakor]

Do skirmishers not just reform into any formation once they contact the enemy?

No, Skirmishers are just like any other unit, including rank and file units. They have a front, rear, and sides, and they have ranks, but they just don't count for combat resolution. You are in a stuck formation of a certain number of models wide and certain number deep and you set that yourself before combat. Once you enter combat, the only thing you can do is change facing or expand frontage via combat reforms after a round of battle has been fought.

[jer732]

Don't have much to add on the proper formation debate but here is an example of my movements trays with removable center.

[Sylvos]

here. is an image of the skirmisher movement trays I purchased from http://www.base-x-of-war.com/index.html

[Yuri]

The best movement tray for dryads is presented by mr. Jer732. If you can, make it that way. Reason is that skirmishers tight their ranks when get charged or charge someone. I use for this purpose movement tray with magnets, so I can make them in any formation I need.

[rufus]

@Jer732: Really a great movement tray. How did you do the grid? Seems like quite a big effort.

Rufus

[jer732]

Actually wasn't too hard. I tried a couple of ways before I settled on one. The easiest way I found is to use plasticard and trace out the appropriate demensions. I used scissors and a hobby knife to cut it out. Before I based it I made sure to check that everything fit and made some final adjustments.

[rufus]

@jer732: Thank you very much for the reply. Plasticard just didn't come to my mind. As soon as I can get a grip on a bit of plasticard and a bit of time I'll try your suggestion as it looks great and seems quite handy.

Rufus

[Kev13]

Hi all, i you are interested i constructed some neat trays from plasticard that allow you to move your dryads quickly, and you are able to shrink fast without leaving any unsightly tray behind.





I normally run mine 5 wide, so i just add 2 more to the side.

Skirmisher mode:


Combat Mode:


Close-up (top):


Close-up (Underside):


it is constructed from 1/2mm plasticard, L-shaped card and 1/2mm flexible iron sheet, to allow magnetised bases.

I hope this have given you ideas, for creating your own trays.

[Shandrakor]

It looks interesting Kev13, but could you provide a guide on building something like that?

Also, how does it lock in place when spread out / closed together and can it lock partially collapsed or just when fully spread out and closed together?

[Kev13]

When pulled out the trays lock at exactly at 1/2" spacing.
I did not take WIP pictures, if I make more I will do so.
What I can provide is a picture of my template I used to map my cuts I needed to do.


If I can figure out it out, I will attach my word doc for the 1:1 template.

You can stop at anytime when pushing/pulling apart, but why?

You can also scale for smaller bases, I have not done this yet.

[frogboy]

That's the best idea I've seen for skirmish trays yet.

[Shandrakor]

If I can figure out it out, I will attach my word doc for the 1:1 template.

That would be great! I'd love to see it. If you can't attach it with the forum, you can always post a link to it on a file upload site like http://www.mediafire.com/ or similar. Some kind of instructions on what the color codes for your diagram means (like why is one area more pink than the others?) and possibly instructions on how to put it together would be great too!

You can stop at anytime when pushing/pulling apart, but why?

In case there's weird terrain situations where you need to space them slightly closer than 1/2" apart... Actually the BRB only states Skirmishers are 'Roughly 1/2" apart' not that they need to be exactly that distance apart, so it's fine to spread them out a little more or less depending on the need. (More for template weapons, less for maneuverability.)

You can also scale for smaller bases, I have not done this yet.

The other Skirmishers in our army are Scouts, Waywatchers, and Wardancers, all of which are on 20x20mm bases, so yeah, a similar template for those would be neat to see too.

This is the first Skirmisher movement tray that I've seen that doesn't look, for lack of a better word, but clunky to me. Apologies to those who own the other kind listed in this thread and props to Kev13 for this design.

The other question I have is, is there a locking mechanism to this, or does it just slide back and forth with no lock... so the models might close together a bit on accident, while moving the tray?

[Fortwangle]

I agree - Incredible design! I'll be borrowing these trays for sure. I also thought I should mention the nice green highlights on your dryads, well done.

[Kev13]

I have attached some instructions on how to construct my Dryad trays (word Doc Format), i hope they make sense, let me know how you get on.

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?lmf8spy58aa7346

[Shandrakor]

I have attached some instructions on how to construct my Dryad trays (word Doc Format), i hope they make sense, let me know how you get on.

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?lmf8spy58aa7346

Looks great Kev! Thank you for sharing that with us.

[gas_monkey]

great skills on the movement trays. I always run dryads minimum size 4x2 96 points

[regnaR_exA]

WOW!! This is definitely the neatest design for skirmishers I have seen! I have one question though, in your guide you have sticky-backed flexible iron, I searched a bit but couldn't seem to find anything like this. What do you use/where did you get it?

[rufus]

I copied Jer732's version of the movement tray for my dryads. The only thing I changed is, that I used/made a magnetized version of it. Thanks again for the inspiration and the tipp with the plasticard, it was easy to create, workes really well and looks pretty neat (at least in my eyes). Picture proof in my thread in the meadow of arts (click "Army" in my Sig).

Rufus

[CauCaSus]

When pulled out the trays lock at exactly at 1/2" spacing.
I did not take WIP pictures, if I make more I will do so.
What I can provide is a picture of my template I used to map my cuts I needed to do.


If I can figure out it out, I will attach my word doc for the 1:1 template.

You can stop at anytime when pushing/pulling apart, but why?

You can also scale for smaller bases, I have not done this yet.

Please do if you can, this is way too daunting to do on my own!

Edit: didn't realize you already had. Thanks a lot!

[liesmith]

That's extremely impressive construction, Kev13. Those have to be one of the best things for Warhammer that I've seen in a while.