A new direction

[LukeG]

I've decided to change my army.

Instead of Space Marines, I'm going to play...


Space Marines.


Let me explain. I was working on a custom chapter of Subterra Marines to try a different army philosophy, but now I want a change. The problem is I don't want to overhaul my army and change the feel of the Subterra Marines, so I'm not. I'm going to collect a parrallel army in a different paint scheme.

Loyalist marines again, but a fresh start in a new direction with new models and the works. I'm choosing the Imperial Fist paint scheme, and it's a First Company strike force.


I wouldn't talk about it so early, but I have a decision to make.

I'm spending 150 points on a support vehicle. It's definately going to be a light tank and one of the two following...

A Razorback with multi melta.
*Anti vehicular.
*Good at killing characters.
*Maximises the use of the techmarine ("regenerating" vehicle, plus servo arm so can cover both crew positions at the same time).
*Support similar anti-armour units, so redundancy not an issue.

OR

A Whirlwind
*Anti massed infantry, vital in a small elite army that just can't roll enough dice to cover every enemy model.
*Long range with indirect fire.
*Sometimes better at blowing itself up then the enemy.
*One on it's own suffers from redundancy issues (rely on it, lose it in the first turn, then what?)


There's a second minor issue. Veteran Tactical squad coming in at just under 400 points. Should it take a Heavy Bolter and outfit the whole squad with krak grenades (one of very few in the game that can actually hit when throwing them)?
OR
Take a Heavy Plasma gun to cover the squad.


I'm after definitive answers because I want to use this army in tournament 2008, but even if I was going to have the alternatives to customise the army by opponant I'd have to buy one of the options first

[James 40K Champ ***]

you need to cinsider how you are going to play with this new army.

What style you will use to attack the enemy and which roles will best be filled by those tanks. No1 can really answer this appart from you.

The amount of options available to a tactical squad makes them so so versatile, they can be kitted out for really any situation, but you have to anticipate what kind of situations they'l be in before you play the game.

[tturen]

Given the Razor or the whirl I would take the Razor. Its a simple matter of redunacy in case the light tank is lost. A Whirl is a nice third option though that will cause tactical changes for opponents.

In the case of the Vet squad if its mobile then kracks make sense but I would leave the HB at home simply because the squad or battle pack its attached to will not be able to move if you want to fire it. As for the H plasma I woudn't consider it a good weapons choice.

[James 40K Champ ***]

yeah im not a fan of heavy weapons in tac squads, unless you are planning to sit around a lot.

As in my tourn army I went all assault squads, with all my heavy weapon capability being vehicular.

I suppose if your not fast attack like me, a devo squad or two could be stationary points of fire

[Havok]

I know nothing.

[Adoni-Zedek]

I don't mind taking a heavy bolter in a tactical squad. It gives you more flexibility, and it's not that expensive. If you've got your two combat squads supporting each other, you can have one squad run while the other freezes into overwatch, or rapid-fires at visible targets. The next turn they switch. On the other hand, if you have to hold the line, a heavy bolter is invaluable.

[LukeG]

A Heavy Bolter is a useful boost to a tactical squad when you DON'T want heavy weapons.

Sound stupid?

Just think of it as super-rapid fire. If you have a Lascannon, the whole squad will stop just to use it. When and if you dig in, it does the job of a bolter so much better. On the move? Bolt pistol 16" range. The range will only matter if you're not moving. You're NOT moving? Then use the heavy bolter
No other heavy weapon seems to work quite like this purely based on cost. A HB is just cheap as chips.

[tturen]

If the squad has mobility and kracks I'd still leave the HB and its ranged fire support to a seperate unit. I know I've always been fond of a pair of turantulas in that role as they can both move and fire. If the squad doesn't have kracks or mobility then the HB is perfectly fine as some of you gents have mentioned.

[LukeG]

Heavy Bolter is fine as a tag on, which is why the choice was HB + krak, or a bigger heavy weapon, for under 400 points. I'll go with Krak I think, it's more important for a squad in a supporting role to move its ass into position then to hope for a 'perfect' deployment the enemy isn't going to spot and exploit.

[James 40K Champ ***]

I wouldnt mind using a heavy plas in a tactical squad, at least you can just lug it around and fire it off every now an then when its not recharging.

[LukeG]

If you think about where you're moving then alternate low and high power you can get max potential out of a heavy plasma in a tactical squad. Still, I think krak plus a HB is the way forwards for veterans. Actually being able to hit with thrown krak grenades is what sways me. The debate would rage on if it was normal marines.

[James 40K Champ ***]

Its a personal thing really.. and rightly so, they are designed to be tweaked to how you want them to perform