Question as per title. Might seem stupid, but after only ever playing guard, anything non guard is a mystery to me and am slowly learning.

Ctan shard is a "character" but not independant character.

Thanks in advance for help.

No, only Independent Characters can join a squad.

I think when it says 'character' by itself it is referring to something unique.

Cheers I had the feeling it was that way inclined, but still thought I should ask

It's confusing.. "Character" is a term used in the Grey Knight and Necrons codexes that has no rules meaning yet* but will probably be relevant in 6th ed.


* I think there might be a Tyranid special character that randomly used the term and now interacts with them?

Deathleaper

For sure. Having only played guard most of their characters (or the ones i've used) have always been taken as an upgrade to a squad etc.

Just trying to work out how to make a ctan shard work well with my play style. Not used to close combat focused units, especially big single units that have to move across the battlefield first at infantry pace

Take PyreShards and Worldscape and just hide him for the first few turns ... Then just pop out and rip apart anything that comes too close

Definitely taking worldscape as it seems to be the best universal "whole board" covering effect.

was also looking at transdimensional thunderbolt as i dont have much in the way of anti tank and thus this means my opponent might keep distance from him. Couple this with the fact I can freely move through cover while my enemy cannot due to normal restrictions plus worldscape I am sure it could work.

Is the ctan shard worth the points? He seems like it could be a good unit, just not sure with being close combat based and a single unit, how effective he is on a general battlefield?

needs lists built around him, with enough threats to not an obvious target. world scape with 2* douche canoue large unit of scarabs with 4-6 spyders lots of wraiths 2 lights out and max tremmors in min squads is a strong build

To translate:
"2* douche canoue" not sure, either an annihilation barge or doomsdark ark. pretty sure its the barge.
"2 lights out" solar pulses (on crypteks)
"max tremmors in min squads" take a court of crypteks with tremmorstaves and join them onto other units (5 man immortal units) so you can shoot lots of targets, and so effect them all with the tremor ability.

Or, I don't know - Take what you like in YOUR Necron List?

I kinda plan to. Wasn't in question at any stage.

I wanted to know how he operates as a singular unit, not just based on what is around him. At the end of the day, if all unique options require a specific build around them to play, I am not interested. I like to have a go with all units. Just the ctan will be in my first list. Just not used to spending so many points on a single model that isn't a tank.

To translate:
"2* douche canoue" not sure, either an annihilation barge .

Yeah, command barge. cus he floats around the battle waking stuff with his paddle.

I would never advocate building a list just because its the 'best'. Taking what you want is cool, and wasnt sugesting not too. but its nice to know
if its gold or fail before you spend the dollas.
There are plenty of cool little tricks you can do with him
but they all are set up in the list phase. if you give him what ever n just chuck him in, you wont get much out of your C'tan. But if you pre plan, youll end up wanting to grow a moustache, so you can twirl it like an evil son o gun, when your dasterdly plan works.

Ahh thats the kind of answer I was looking for. Sounds like he is very much a build focused unit.

I wont be building a list around him, but at the moment my list is mainly foot sloggers and destroyers/heavy destroyers.

My anti tank is limited to 3 heavy destroyers in a squad, a few models with warscythes, 8 scarabs and a squad of 18 warriors (if you can call that anti tank).

That is why i was looking at the transdimensional thunderbolt and worldscape option. While expensive for what it is, i have imotek, so that gives me a couple of turns at least where he can then freely move through cover, and with worldscape the enemy cannot (probably wont) which should allow me to fairly safely get in range to use the shooting attack before engaging in combat.

You definitely need some douchecanoes.

Please stop using the word douche.. You are making me think about making a douche-cron army. Could you imagine the nightbringer modelled as "the situation"? and the deciever done as Snooky?? Just thinking about it makes me sad..

Night bringer "a giant douche" & the deceiver as " a turd sandwich "

I will not be casting a vote for which is better.