Why would you use Group Activations ?

[adamsouza]

Hiyo,
I recently picked up SBH and MDRG and I've read through them and I just don't see the advantage to using Group Activations.

The leader burns an acitvation, the models test on the worst activation, and then perfom like single models.

Am I not understandning it correctly, or there some sort of advantage to this that I'm missing because I'm so green ?

Any insights would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Adam

[ralph]

I'm new to the game too (no games under my belt yet )but I'm guessing that the advantage is that all the group gets to use the same activation, no need to roll individually.

It's risky, yes, but if you pass the group activation then you don't need to test for the rest of the group.

I would suggest choosing a group of models with good activation scores and roll 3d6. Ordinarily, rolling 3d6 5 times is sure to fail at some point. This way, 4 models could move for free.

Am I way off, experienced players?
Ralph

[Bob H]

Some weaker models can get advantages from group orders. Anything with the Gregarious rule gets a quality bonus when undertaking group orders. Also, there are situations where you want to know in advance that multiple models will activate e.g. multi-charging several low quality/combat models in to try to overpower a lone, powerful enemy. A lone goblin charging an elf lord will likely get splatted. 4 goblins have a much better chance to kill him with their outnumbering bonuses but activating them one at a time runs a real risk that the first one charges in then the second messes up his activation and fails to charge (or worse, causes a turnover) leaving the impetuous first attacker to fight on his own. With group orders you know they will either all be able to charge in, or you don't charge anyone.

[neilg79]

I'm new to the game too but the other day my firend and I were both using swarm tactics. He was using group activations but I wasn't and it was exactly as Bob H describes. I pulled of a few successful charges but often had just one or two goblins facing off against my opponenet's tougher units to little or no effect whereas he knew with certainty whether all five of his swarmers would hit in a single turn. It really does work and is a tactic I plan to use in our next game!