Extra Armour

[bravelybravesirrobin]

Greetings to all from a grizzled old long fang who has spent far too many a moon away from the fang.

 

Like many of my kind I have been lured back to the Space Wolves by our shiny new codex having been disillusioned with my puppies, and much of the game entirely, during 4th edition.

 

But some of the nuances of Space Wolves have begun to escape me as I toy with lists. For example, back in the day all rhinos cost 58pts. I know theoretically they could have been 50pts or many more points but in practice every single rhino in the game came stock with a smoke launcher and extra armour for 58pts.

 

Now that rhinos are 35pts and come stock with a searchlight and a smoke launcher for real I notice that extra armour, which used to be a mandatory upgrade has fallen out of favour somewhat.

 

What do people feel about that? For me on the surface I still feel like extra armour is mandatory. Rhinos are there to move troops around, period, and extra armour ensures that no matter what else happens barring an immobilised or total destruction you can still move troops around.

 

But is that just my crustiness talking? After all they now cost 15pts! Are the circumstances in which EA is useful no longer worth 15pts?

 

I'm very curious as to what the received opinion is on this as saving 60pts a game on extra armour would certainly help afford some more toys like landspeeders, lone wolves or scouts.

[Jarl Kjaran Coldheart]

I never field a Rhino without extra armor. i dont see the point of a transport that cannot move.

 

WLK

[thade]

I see Rhinos as cheap mostly-mobile walls. I don't give them Extra Armor.

 

I do give Extra Armor to Dreadnoughts and Land Raiders (as the former can use it to get into cover if it gets pounded on, and the latter can still fire even if it's been pounded on).

[WG Vrox]

Rhino, if the vehicle has to been downfield or will get used as drive by shooter for MG, its a good idea to take EA. This is why a DP is such a good deal you know your going to get close to where you want to be.

 

Dreads that you plan to put up close should have EA as you don't loose your +1 attack on stunned results CC as well as makes sure you can get into CC.

 

As expensive as the LR is 15 points is not that much more and if your payload needs to be working for you in assault. If its just a firing platform then don't worry about it.

 

Preds, I don't take EA for

 

WW, nope

 

Razor Back, usually not

 

Vindicator, I am guilty that I don't, but if you have the points its a good idea. Keeping this baby moving and it's front armor towards the enemy is critical to it's survival.

 

Vrox.

[Firedrake28]

I see Rhinos as cheap mostly-mobile walls. I don't give them Extra Armor.

 

I do give Extra Armor to Dreadnoughts and Land Raiders (as the former can use it to get into cover if it gets pounded on, and the latter can still fire even if it's been pounded on).

 

Thade nailed it. Extra armor is most worth it on Dreadnoughts and Land Raiders.

 

Dreadnoughts need the ability to remain mobile so that they can still bring their formidable close combat weapons to bear, or so they can move out of the way of enemy fire. Land Raiders need it so that they can be kept moving. The Machine Spirit doesn't allow a Land Raider to move if its been Stunned anymore, so the extra few points are totally worth it.

[Evilmerlin]

For Rhinos and Razorbacks, 15pts is a lot to pay for extra armour these days and with the cover saves available, not really all that required to be honest.

[Grey Mage]

We can afford it- cheaper, by gods are they cheap, marines and cheaper rhinos.

 

Dont think of it as spending 15pts, think of it as not having tp spend 58... thats an 8pt discount.

[Evilmerlin]

But that 15pts is another marine or special something though.

[wiplash]

i dont use it i play against eldar who fields his wave serpents with bright lances so usually he's likely to penetrate etc

also i buy rhino's cos they are cheap not because they are the supporting part of my tactics so if 2 (out of 3 get immobilised in the first turn like they did last game) it didnt make too much of a difference and i went on to win the game

then on non transport vehicles i usually have them and keep the reasonably still, so if they can't shoot then usually i cba to move them either because i still want them were they are

 

and once my first go is done the rhino's purpose is done as it has moved full distance and has probably unloaded its passengers and i will now go on to ram it at any rear armour or tank shock any squad i can find!! and it doesn't make a difference at the end of the day what happens to them after that

[Grey Mage]

But that 15pts is another marine or special something though.

*shrugs* Mostly it depends on how often your opponents are taking meltaweapons I suppose. If its a low-melta enviroment, I can attest its worth quite a bit.

[Spacefrisian]

I dont useextra armour, eg 4 vehicle with Extra armour or 4 vehicles and an extra Landspeeder, no brainer for me.

[Natanael]

Yeah, I'm with Spacefrisian. I'd rather have extra vehicles/troops than EA on my rhinos.

[nurglespuss]

Yep, its the age old argument: more 'hard targets' or few 'very hard' targets.

 

Which ever works for you. I would say that, with the average gamingtable being so small 6x4 and with so many heavy weapons in the game, plus this being 'melta-40k' due to the march forward, close fire, charge in style of play, I would say the investment return is negligeable at best. However, the exception for me would be dreadnoughts (as others have mentioned), anythign you can do to keep them moving/in combat means that even their few attacks last an extra turn or two.

 

Basically, if your rhino gets to run forward at full pelt for just 1 turn, thats a foot of the way across a 4 foot board, with the enemy, probably ~1 foot close to you, its not far to walk after that!

[Bobman]

I stopped in 5th because of they new vehicle rules. The amount of times your gonna get stunned I don't think it's worth it. More like they're gonna get immobalised or popped.

 

Dreadnaughts need it for CC as stunned results are much more common there.

[Max_Dammit]

My rinos, move full speed, pop smoke, pray to russ, move full speed, pray to russ, and than the slashing can begin, in 5th i didnt lose a full rino yet, to much other scary stuff on the board

[wiplash]

My rinos, move full speed, pop smoke, pray to russ, move full speed, pray to russ, and than the slashing can begin, in 5th i didnt lose a full rino yet, to much other scary stuff on the board

 

thats a very nice tactic

[Wolf Lord Fenrir]

Always extra armour - the difference seems small, but can be big.

[Max_Dammit]

In the old points this was true, but with the new point costs, you can do nasty stuff for it

[Sven Bloodskull]

I never use Extra armour. There is just so many things you can use the 15 pts for that would be more helpfull (like power weapons, mark of the wulfen etc.). Besides, they dont get stunned that much.

 

Sven Bloodskull

[xxvaderxx]

Always use it, Marines of any flavor are about quality not quantity, 2 assault cannons/heavy bolters are never going to make up for 25% (on the average 1.5k game) of your assault forces being 1 turn too late to save the day.