Is the Thunderbarge Any Good in Patch 5.0? - OMG PLS NERF Edition - Dwarfs Unit Focus

Quick answer? GOODNESS YES. Long answer? Throws lots of ordinance at the enemy and doesn't run out of bombs easily before you run out of targets. It's probably going to be toned down a little, but the Dwarfs needed this kind of machine in the worst way, plus the regular flying stuff is better than it was before. So, this'll no doubt remain an amazing (and costly) unit.
#totalwar #warhammer #tww3 #offtobattle
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The Off to Battle unit focus format uses combat demonstrations from Skirmish vs. AI, background music and voice commentary, including:
- Intro
- Stat breakdown including hidden stats
- Common lord/ tech tree buffs applicable factionwide
- Tips, tricks, advice, maybe a secret or two!
- Bonus footage, playing out the battle once the voiceover is done so you can enjoy the sights and the music
Today's BGM: Running Errands by TrackTribe (KZbin Audio Library)
Total War Warhammer 3 Immortal Empires, Thrones of Decay DLC Patch 5.0!

[@OffToBattle]

Patch 5.0.3 notes: "Corrected a collision issue with the Thunderbarge that was causing most projectiles to phase through the balloon"

[@InquisitorThomas]

They could use a bit of a buff.

[@OffToBattle]

😆

[@Anterwaare306]

I fought a dwarf end game crisis with 4 barges in one army, they died before doing anything. Obviously they need a buff.

[@babylonastronaut]

They should spawn a unit of slayers when they die.

[@OffToBattle]

@@babylonastronaut Sore loser mechanic!

[@krishnavandewalle9459]

The sounds of non-stop skaven screaming at the end is just too funny

[@OffToBattle]

Well I picked them as my Red Team because I thought it was highly appropriate. Skaven always have it coming.

[@karlfranz5005]

You forgot about the two dwarfs with grenade on top of it

[@OffToBattle]

I wanted to go with what I was sure about. That's why I said "at least". It's not the only thing I missed, but this is what I get for not being an early access KZbinr. Thanks for clarifying!

[@MrNickW123]

My favorite move is calling in thr Spirit of Grungi like an AC130 on some nerd artillery piece.

[@OffToBattle]

Yeah, I've played with it in Malakai's campaign finally, I'll do an RoR video obviously centered around it.

[@spacemichael1177]

Not sure even my hippogryph doomstack could beat this boi.

[@darrylolay2014]

I feel like the nerf hammer needs to hit its survivability but not its damage. Make it more vulnerable to fire and maybe disable weapons when using afterburner/fix the hitbox. If the damage and its durability was nerfed then it would just be a useless tier V unit. In the lore these things were absolute powerhouses and they should be. However it shouldn't be a flying tank, more like a flying glass cannon

[@OffToBattle]

I think you have the best answer so far. I'll keep an eye out for what happens, but it's not wrong to just watch and wonder at the carnage while it lasts.

[@sergoogle5061]

Perfectly said

[@semi-useful5178]

The main reason it seems so tanky at the moment is that the hitbox is bugged and the balloon (What most ranged units are aiming at) has no hitbox so only shots that "miss" and deviate low are able to hit it. And it doesn't help that the Afterburner makes it too fast for janky Air Melee.

[@OffToBattle]

@@semi-useful5178 Got it. I'm all for fixing bugs when they're making things overperform. Thanks a lot!

[@semi-useful5178]

@@OffToBattle It could probably also stand to get some numbers shaved off too.

[@Canuovea]

Very powerful indeed. The Shotgun Dwarfs are very nice too. One of the few ranged infantry that can beat a standing and shooting unit of Ironsides.

[@OffToBattle]

The video I'll have out on them is going to look very impressive.

[@Canuovea]

@@OffToBattle I look forward to it.

[@chomp5797]

@@OffToBattle will you go over the grimdelvers aswell?

[@OffToBattle]

@@chomp5797 I'm trying to cover everything I can. Grudge-Rakers video just went up.

[@tanjoman3411]

The should add a bar like the barrier but instead it’s fuel.

[@MAGS-ik5uj]

I would rather they just lower the ammo or something less punishing. I wouldn’t be keen to bring a unit that will just leave the battlefield after a set amount of time

[@OffToBattle]

Maybe that'll be for Total War Warhammer 40k. Fundamental new mechanic in that case.

[@OffToBattle]

@@MAGS-ik5uj They might adjust the ammo some...

[@fcon2123]

Twenty-THOUSAND mass!?!? No wonder even Bloodthirsters can't touch it when the afterburners are on.

[@OffToBattle]

That is pretty incredible yeah.

[@TheCatWarBoss]

I think CA should add sort of attribute that disable range attacks or heavily reduce reloading skill while in "melee" Or something like that. So it would shift its power to being fire support unit rather then fuck everyone and everything unit. And maybe increase dot damage from afterburn.

[@OffToBattle]

That's another very reasonable position. I'm really curious what they come up with to tone things down slightly.

[@pedrohenryque1361]

The age of reckoning has come!

[@OffToBattle]

Sure feels like it huh?

[@sherkhead9638]

Nerf? What did you think would happen when you add a C-130 to the game?

[@OffToBattle]

That they'd fit the hitbox.

[@MrNickW123]

Nah leave the grudging machine grudging ​@@OffToBattle

[@onurseven82128]

140 bombs as ammunition is insane

[@OffToBattle]

And that's without Restock.

[@MiguelSanchezDelVillar]

Nerf the armour, melee defense and speed, fix the balloon hitbox, make it so the Thunderbarge cant attack if it has the turbo active and add more self damage to the turbo skill

[@OffToBattle]

That can work too, they're all good ideas, CA should Pick One and run with that...

[@calebbarnhouse496]

The reason the thunderbarge is fair is because the goblin hewer, slayer pirates, and doomseekers are all pretty mid for normal play, doomseekers are easily the worst of them, they gain there ward save WAY to slow, I've had them in melee vs Gretchen and goblind for most of a match while buffed up by all the slayer buffs malakai has and I still can't reach the 20% percent ward save before the unit is mostly dead, all slayers need a bare minimum of 15 percent physical reistance, doomseekers need it the most

[@OffToBattle]

Main thing is to tweak hitbox bugs.

[@Game-ingCyborg]

This unit is basically the AC-130 version of a fantasy setting and i love it ❤😄 Please don't nerf dawrf has been having a "BORING" Reputation until malikia came into the fray.

[@OffToBattle]

A little adjustment won't be much of a nerf and I hope that's all it is, it's a 700 upkeep monster. Should be powerful

[@mbo1086]

Does anyone know what the minimum reload cap for ranged attacks is? Was shortly mentioned in the video but not specified.

[@OffToBattle]

Because I'm not the one who's cited a verifiable figure, so I'd rather not be the one to give a definitive number but someone told me it was 4 seconds. I just don't want to act like I'm the source, I am not. Thanks.

[@mbo1086]

@@OffToBattle Thanks for the info anyway. A shame CA isn't more transparent with stuff like this. Still much better than some of the older games though.

[@OffToBattle]

@@mbo1086 True and true.

[@t.k7five084]

They should fix it so the ballon takes damage a is flamable. Make it so the bomb are manually released with a limited amount.

[@OffToBattle]

Well those are thoughts too. Wonder if CA is taking notes.

[@kirillrivkin4842]

Quick question- doesn’t it also have an option to speed up in case its in danger at the cost of a few hit points? Also, would it win in 1-on-1 battle vs Marienburg Landship?

[@OffToBattle]

It does, my inexperience with the unit and not stopping the demo to check active abilities made me flub that part, not going to worry too much because I have no idea if it'll remain the same for long (clearly it's making the unit even more overpowered). It's on the stat card too, I just slipped up. As for land ship, it's apples and oranges, clearly the cannon would hurt, but the handgunners and thunderers don't give either an advantage, the grudge rakers are still armor piercing... and any direct bomb hits would hurt. So I don't think the Tier IV land ship is enough to 1v1. It'd help, at least.

[@semi-useful5178]

it would RAPE the Landship

[@joaquinjimenezbecerra5444]

Double the price and don't touch the rest.

[@OffToBattle]

1400 upkeep heh, -10% with the tech?

[@joaquinjimenezbecerra5444]

@@OffToBattle why not? Is simple and could work.

[@fcon2123]

Add another zero to the recruitment cost, triple the upkeep, and give them a 10 turn recruitment time. Honestly they'd still be worth the investment if you don't touch their stats. That's how silly these things are.

[@OffToBattle]

@@fcon2123 If the hitboxes are indeed broken then that's an issue.

[@Ren99510]

I'd rather that than nerf its survivability. The thing is that yes it is hardy but you reduce that and it becomes a worthless unit due to what a sitting duck it is for flying, shooters, and artillery.

[@zeroinfinity9189]

Come on guys and girls, we paid money for this dlc, let us have ourselves some joy in summoning a AC 130 gunship to kill us some pointy ears elf things can we?

[@OffToBattle]

Oh yes I agree, don't let my sarcasm detract too much, it needs to be STRONG. Not busted hitbox strong but tons of damage strong.

[@kilercola]

Malakai can buff it to max 70% missle resitance.

[@fcon2123]

Yeah, that doomstack vid Legend posted was absolutely ridiculous.

[@OffToBattle]

So really awful for factions without flying monsters/ lords.

[@OffToBattle]

@@fcon2123 I'll have to check that one out too. Time constraints made me not watch as many of his videos, it sure wasn't because I don't like them!

[@phantomthunder203]

I would like to point out that theres a lot of flying units that can absolutely dunk on these things

[@17thFable]

Okay to expand the point further there are a fair amount of counters *if* it's just by itself and the dwarf ai/player gets a stroke mid battle after only sending the barge forward. 1. Net plus like 3-4 rattling guns melt the barge like swiss cheese even with it's broken hitbox. You will need a caster bringing that specific spell. 2. Net and any range unit do melt this thing like cheese, but it should kill it. 3. Anti large flying lord + like more units than you should bring *obviously that's their job, what are the pointy sticks for the?* 4. Caster harass, spirit leech fireball etc Your technically right but its already bad when it's direct expensive/mob counters are can and not *should* not to mention once again not everyone has the best options and dwarfs could just I don't know have good artillery, AP range and stalwart Frontline and oh yeah a Malakai for healing or a rune lord for buffs to make that can to *fat chance*. Of course in campaign this means nothing since the ai is so dumb you could achieve this same mass carnage with a hyper boosted caster on flying mount (and don't say those need to be built up, by turn 30 people always prioritize character limit + level buff building especially for casters and those *end* the game. If the battle barge can be brought out even faster and with less effort than that's even more broken at this point...)

[@OffToBattle]

Still a lot to consider for multiplayer tweaking. Why am I so convinced they'll rein it in? Mother O-spank-ya.

[@mistercrumbling1694]

I think a fire weakness and less health would be good. Nerf damage too if even more nerfs necessary. I always wanted the thunderbarge To have a parachute summon but its so op alr so maybe not.

[@OffToBattle]

Parachute is an interesting idea though.

[@mistercrumbling1694]

@@OffToBattle like drop some slayer pirates or dwarf warriors as a one time summon

[@OffToBattle]

@@mistercrumbling1694 Yes, it really is interesting. Modders could have fun with that idea.

[@johndane9754]

Still say it aught to be weak to melee and artillery. One, because the hull is suspended from the balloon by ropes. I don't care that they're dwarfen weaved ropes, they're cut just like any other bundles of sinue. Two, since it has the hull of wooden ship reinforced with metal, it's only logical that artillery pieces do any serious damage to the Thunderbarge. Especially if its a hail of ballistae bolts, 84lb cannon ball, glob of magma, a ballistic daemonic missile, projectile of burning souls, or a big rock.

[@OffToBattle]

It doesn't move that fast so I'd think decent artillery does well against it... the problem in the pre-release multiplayer matches was taking it against factions that don't have much for artillery or are capable of an anti-barge build but wouldn't normally do so, and wouldn't normally want to give up lots of other stuff to do it.

[@johndane9754]

@@OffToBattle Hence the vulnerability to melee since those factions who don't have artillery, do have fliers.

[@OffToBattle]

@@johndane9754 They tend to yeah. So, bottom line, this unit may well be tweaked, but it's with us for the long haul and deservedly so, they'll just balance it.. hopefully "A BIT" and not the crazy nerf someone said it would be. My title was sarcastic, I'm not a "hard nerf" advocate.

[@johndane9754]

@@OffToBattle That is my worry, that the flying galleon will become worthless by community vote.

[@OffToBattle]

@@johndane9754 Well I'm not that worried, to be frank. We'll see how it works out.

[@Sam-cruel]

While its a super cool unit, its so hilariously overpowered that its not fun to use. It makes age of empires cobra cars look weak. It needs some serious nerfs, one single unit shouldnt be an auto win against half the factions in the game. What can any chaos faction including monogod, vampires, norsca etc do against it? the answer is absolutely nothing. Even if you try your hardest to get it killed its still a challenging task to accomplish n even when just rightclicking the worst case scenario with it, you often end up trading cost effectively with it. This unit as it currently stands feels like a modded in cheat unit n by all means if people like that theres nothing stopping them from downloading a mod or editing the stats themselves but i prefer a more balanced vanilla experience myself.

[@OffToBattle]

Well busted hitboxes are one of my biggest peeves in games like this in general, so that needs fixing for sure. As a generally mod-avoiding guy I respect your desire for a balanced vanilla experience though!

[@Matt-vw2bs]

No the nerf will only effect multi and no one plays that .... its fun so leave it alone.

[@OffToBattle]

Yeah, they're pretty good.

[@MrNickW123]

Nah. Leave them OP. The Age of Reckoning has come.

[@OffToBattle]

The hitbox got fixed, careless Spirit of Grungi use against massed missiles - even Norscan, in my case - will get it down to 0 hp eventually. Of course it was a summon for me so I just wanted it to do its thing at that point, and it did FINE. Just not ideal circumstances in that one battle.

[@MrNickW123]

@@OffToBattle yeah I literally use it as a throwaway. But thunderbarges are still fuggin good

[@guitarhausdoesntknowwhatac3285]

This thing is desperately in need of a nerf; it does a buttload of damage, can take a beating, it flies so you can't engage it with melee, it has good armor, it can speed up to dodge incoming shot or deal with all but the fastest fliers... whole thing feels like something a Modder would come up with without any interest in having counterplay options.

[@OffToBattle]

It'll get something, I just don't know what form it'll be.

[@guitarhausdoesntknowwhatac3285]

@@OffToBattle If it was up to me,it would be a mix of speed and armor, that way it can actually be shot at and engaged by fliers. Because yeah, right now if you're playing just about any of the chaos factions, skaven or lizardmen these things will slap the hell out of your forces.

[@OffToBattle]

@@guitarhausdoesntknowwhatac3285 Yeah it'd take a very concerted effort to deal with.

[@linussyren9221]

These balloons are dumb. Especially that the new dwarf can summon 1 on turn 1. And they take no real damage from overdrive. Should be increased a lot.

[@ericleon8805]

Let me stop you. If they nerf it, it won’t be good anymore period. They don’t just shave a few stats and leave it alone. It will be gutted and useless and quite frankly it’ll be you and other content creators fault that a unit we the regular players paid money for is now complete trash.

[@karatekan2182]

"We the regular players" like having to use strategy in strategy games, not faceroll the AI with broken nonsense. Hell, the hitbox on the unit is completely broken, the balloon itself has no collision.

[@OffToBattle]

Well my title was sarcastic, but I would prefer a MILD change, nothing more. I don't need them to be Arrowhead or Fatshark ^^;

[@OffToBattle]

@@karatekan2182 Now that's something that legitimately needs adjustment.

[@ericleon8805]

@@karatekan2182 i didnt relize my 692 hr didnt make me a regular player. but i will say it not having collision is a bug and i agree that should be fixed.

[@forloveofthepage2361]

CA has no accountability, only content creators have control over units, not the devs. Brilliant.