My Conversion Project Idea

[Hrathnar Flintfang]

Frankly brothers, I think that it is an outrage, Sure we are getting a few nice, new goodies, heck from the looks of it we will be getting a long overdue refresh... but I still feel rather gypped. After all every other chapter and their successors seem to have their own special land raider to tote around, and I don't know about you brothers, but I was excited enough to base a whole game of Inquisitor around retreiving the STC for the fabled Land Raider to be. Perhaps I ma just being bitter, but I feel it is time we do something about it, and so to that and I am going to start a project here to convert a normal land raider into a new assault cannon variant.

 

Below I will start by listing the Data sheet, I already know what I want out of the vehicle, so the challenge seems to be more a matter of getting the proper parts and honing my own meager conversion skills, but I should have some time and honestly Brothers it seems only right that we get what the internet had promised us.

 

So then without further adue. I give you...

 

Land Raider Ragnos

 

Points: 250

 

The Ragnos pattern Land raider distinguished itself against both Ork and Necron Forces during the Battle of Brokkr. Initially the Clawscar Great company of the Space Wolves had come to Brokkr, an abandoned and Ork-infested Forgeworld in the Ragnos System, looking for a fabled Transport said to have once been a staple of their chapter. Upon entering the system the Clawscar noticed that the Forgeworld had been taken over and quickly made planetfall, driving back the foul Xenos as best they could so as to make way for the Iron Priests and an exploratory team. The Wolves fought on for many months holding the Greenskins at bay, until a young Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor named Valarin came to the system seeking the same STC database which had apparently been claimed by a Techno-heretic hiding withing the system.

 

Eventually Valarin found the Database and Defeated the Heretic, but not before a series of special signal beacons had been set up throughout the system. With the Inquisitors forces having been drained while clenching a Daemonic threat from the system and the Beacons having already sent their signal out to any Necrons who would listen Valarin became desperate. Having already promised Wolf Lord Hrathnar Flintfang the STC he desired in exchange for aid in routing the Daemonic threat Valarin quickly handed the Database over to the Iron Priests in the hopes that they would find the weapon in time for it to be implemented.

 

What the Priests found was a new Variant of the standard Land Raider designed for dealing with large numbers of foes as well as punching though enemy armor. Lord Hrathnar ordered his own personal Transport, the Boot of Russ to be converted to the new pattern with all haste, along with two other Land Raiders from among the five that had come with them.

 

By the time the Necrons arrived within the system they were greeted by strong offensives on each world, all spearheaded by one of the new Ragnos Land Raiders as they pushed into the lines of necrons unleashing devastating bursts of shells and pinpoint lasblasts to cripple each enemy unit one at a time.. Over a year of long and bloody combat eventually found all but one Ragnos Land Raider destroyed and many of the joint Imperium forces close to the breaking point. However thanks to the tenacity of the defenders coupled with the raw power that the Ragnos brought to the field The Ragnos system itself was cleared and work began to bring what was left back into the fold of the Imperium. As for the Ragnos Pattern STC itself, it has been gifted to the Space Wolves in recognition for their bravery and in honor of their Primarc.

 

Transport Capacity: 16 models

 

Unit: 1 Ragnos Pattern Land Raider

Type: Tank

 

Armor

BS: 4

Front: 14

Side: 14

Rear: 14

 

Armament:

 

-Two Sponson-mounted Twin-linked Assault Cannons

-One Hull-mounted Twin-linked Lascannons

-Power of the Machine Spirit

-Frag Assault Launchers

-Smoke Assault Launchers

-Searchlight

 

Weapons:

 

Assault Cannon:

 

Range: 24" Strength: 6 AP: 4 Special: Heavy 4, Rending

 

Lascannon:

 

Ragne: 48" Strength: 9 AP: 2 Special: Heavy 1

 

Options:

A Land Raider Ragnos may take any of the following options from the Codex: Wolves (keep in mind this will change when our Dex is out)

 

Storm Bolter: + 10

Multi Melta: + 10

Hunter Killer Missile: + 10

Extra Armor: + 15

 

 

Constructive comments and criticism on any part of this data sheet would be welcomed. I would also welcome any tips on the conversion as I do not have a very steady hand, and often cutting to reposition is accompanied by a night of frustration and anger as I try not to do any pinning if I can help it.

[Hfran Morkai]

I think it would probably have to be more than 250 points brother, otherwise the cries of "cheese" will never end.

 

And I'm not too sure about the hull-mounted lascannon, I would rather go with heavy bolters, or perhaps even another assault cannon.

 

Standard optional upgrades such as air conditioning and multi-meltas?

[Hrathnar Flintfang]

You may be right about the point cost brother, and I admit I was rather tired when I put the sheet up so I forgot to list options. Still I do like the Lascannons, if only to act as the 'power fist for the pack of bloodclaws' if you get my meaning. Twin linkedAssault cannons already provide the potential to eat though most units with ease, I just worry that adding heavy bolters would just end up being troop overkill.

 

I will work on the point total though, and options, as soon as I get the chance.

[Lord Rao]

3 pairs of TL assault cannons (2x sponsons, 1x hull) isn't really troop overkill in my book. I think ACs are overrated, and aren't THAT great. 3 pairs should give you slightly more firepower than the crusader with its hurricane bolters, at least that's my experience.

If you want anti-tank or a "pseudo PF" simply mount the MM that's an option on all LRs nowadays.

 

The hull-mounted TLAC comes ready with the LRC.

The sponson TLACs are available on the tank accessory sprue (I read in WD it was comng, though I can't seem to find it on the GW site - ?)

That's basically NO converting right there.

 

EDIT: Having said that (and I might be veering OT here), as ACs are S6, they're actually not much use on an assault tank, unless you plan on standing still for an entire turn to shoot all weapons. The LRC, with its S4 Hurricane bolters that can fire whilst moving, is still - by far - the superior assault tank in the entire game. I'm quite sure the guys at gamnes dev realised this and decided another LR variant was kind of pointless. Unless your goal was always to replace the Godhammer with your new Ragnos variant, and to use it as a mobile pill-box.

 

LR

[Hrathnar Flintfang]

I won't be able to afford most of the parts anyways for a bit, I may just have to grab a basic land raider Hull off of the Battlewagon and grab the rest as it becomes available.

 

I do agree that the Ragnos won't match the raw assault power of A crusader, nor will it match the troop-munching power of a Redeemer or the tank killing strength of a nellaraider. Frankly though I'm not trying to do any of these. Thinking about the actual use of such a vehicle would probably be a midground between the three codex variants, providing one gun that can be used to hunt armor that may get in the way of its cargo, assault cannons that can be used to hunt armor in a pinch or mow down troops/soften up targets before a strike. It could stay in place and provide cover for a Lord and his Guard after they hop out while drawing fire and dealing out punishment to tanks that are further away.

 

I'm not saying its better than any of codex raiders as is, or that it is not being made at least in part for reasons of personal fluff rage and desire to see how it would work, but I do think as is it would work rather well, at least for what it is intended to do. Frankly though I would really just love to see how the thing looks made up and painted a nice codex Grey.