Storm Shields for Thunderwolf Cavalry?

[VonMerrick]

I have a pack of four thunderwolves in my current 1850 army and am undecided on how to equip them.

 

Basically since I am very near my points limit, I don’t want to go overboard on the wargear. Right now, one has a Powerfist, the rest are standard BP and CCW.

 

Is a storm shield worth the 30 points or is the T5 enough to make it across the board usually? I’m playing mostly other marines, but I’ll be facing a guard army with 3 Leman Russ Tanks and 3 BaneWolf tanks soon.

[the jeske]

1 for 3

2 for 4

3+ for units of 6 or bigger.

[thade]

1 for 3

2 for 4

3+ for units of 6 or bigger.

 

^ this.

 

Also, a pack of Fenrisian Wolves is a cheap screen to give them mobile cover as they cross the board.

[Ominous Anonymous]

1 for 3

2 for 4

3+ for units of 6 or bigger.

 

This, but an attendum: give the first Storm Shield to the one equipped with the special weapon, especially if it's a power fist or equivalent.

[40k Junkie]

I agree on the numbers, but what about wound allocations? Dont you have to give everyone a wound before doubling up?

[Evilmerlin]

1 for 3

2 for 4

3+ for units of 6 or bigger.

 

This, but an attendum: give the first Storm Shield to the one equipped with the special weapon, especially if it's a power fist or equivalent.

 

Is there a reason for this? Because I find that it's better to give the Storm Shield to a base model as losing it won't mean you are losing your special weapon as well.

 

And I do agree that you need the storm shield. Don't skimp on it.

[thade]

1 for 3

2 for 4

3+ for units of 6 or bigger.

 

This, but an attendum: give the first Storm Shield to the one equipped with the special weapon, especially if it's a power fist or equivalent.

 

I respectfully and strongly disagree with this.

 

The guy holding the shield has ONE job...to soak hits that would otherwise kill the guy with the weapon. Keep your Storm Shields and your Power Weapons (whatever they may be) on separate models. Only after you've given everybody without an upgrade a storm shield do you consider giving people with upgrades storm shields. Remember that in the unit you can allocate wounds such that the ones that require an invuln go on a storm shield...so you don't lose somebody you otherwise would. Frankly, with units so small, it's probably not a bad idea to put SS on everybody.

[Evilmerlin]

Cost goes up very quickly though when you give storm shields to everyone, considering that each storm shield is 60% the cost of another TWC.

[thade]

Cost goes up very quickly though when you give storm shields to everyone, considering that each storm shield is 60% the cost of another TWC.

 

This is the same situation I confront with my Vanguard, except in this case you can't take 9 models (like I can). 3-4 power weapons with 2-3 shields and 1-2 vanilla troopers is my usual load out for that. For this I'd stick to the same idea...

 

4-5 TWC total.

1-2 w/ SS only

1-2 w/ special weapon only

1 vanilla

 

Though in practice I might hook the extra vanilla guy up with a special weapon. I feel that the Fenrisian Wolves will really shine here as people will try to ignore them for favor of the juicier looking target, meaning the little guys will tear huge chunks out of whatever is trying desperately to kill the TWC.

[Ominous Anonymous]

I respectfully and strongly disagree with this.

 

The guy holding the shield has ONE job...to soak hits that would otherwise kill the guy with the weapon. Keep your Storm Shields and your Power Weapons (whatever they may be) on separate models. Only after you've given everybody without an upgrade a storm shield do you consider giving people with upgrades storm shields. Remember that in the unit you can allocate wounds such that the ones that require an invuln go on a storm shield...so you don't lose somebody you otherwise would. Frankly, with units so small, it's probably not a bad idea to put SS on everybody.

 

Touche', I hadn't thought of it that way.

[Sigismund's Ghost]

With T5, not 4(5) there will not be many weapons out there that can instant kill you. You have two wounds. I thing being torrented down will be a bigger threat than thethreat of BIG guns/CCW. That being said I think more models would be better than Storm Shields. Along with a fenrisian wolf screen for cover that is.

[bravelybravesirrobin]

Have at least 1 and I agree with the formula laid out above.

 

Just one means you can allocate the odd invulnerable save onto the shield, this keeps the whole unit around for longer. The trick is to balance out the cost of the shield with the cost of the unit. Just having 1 guy being able to shrug off power weapons and plasma guns keeps everyone else around for longer if he keeps passing his saves.

 

And never on the special weapon wielding guy.

 

And yes, always have the fenrisian wolf screen for 4+ cover saves. Nothing would suck worse than the whole unit going poof under a demolisher shell.

[Ominous Anonymous]

I agree about Fenrisian Wolves being taken for the cover saves, but is it worth taking Saga of the Wolfkin on a Battle Leader to bump their leadership up? The Initiative would be a bonus if anything.

[Godhead]

I realize that fen wolves are cheaper, but why not a swiftclaw pack to screen for the TWC. Now if if they ignore the bikes in order to bomb the TWC, then bikes are absolutely a threat and will be up in the opponent's face quicker than the pack of fen wolves.

[Ominous Anonymous]

The wolves being cheap are a bonus when fielding a kitted-out TWC as the latter tends to become very expensive. Add in with the fact that both wolves and TWC have Fleet so it becomes easier to move them in tandem, especially if you want the Fenrisian wolves to tie up a unit the TWC needs to charge or would be shot at by in the ensuing turn.

[Godhead]

True they are cheaper, but I don't feel like fen wolves could effectively threaten something like a pred or a soulgrinder. If it's not infantry then those wolves can effectively be ignored, or gunned down by infantry armed with basic weapons. But they are cheap and move at the same speed so they will give a cover save for as long as you can keep them alive.

[Grey Mage]

1 for 3

2 for 4

3+ for units of 6 or bigger.

 

This, but an attendum: give the first Storm Shield to the one equipped with the special weapon, especially if it's a power fist or equivalent.

 

I respectfully and strongly disagree with this.

 

The guy holding the shield has ONE job...to soak hits that would otherwise kill the guy with the weapon. Keep your Storm Shields and your Power Weapons (whatever they may be) on separate models. Only after you've given everybody without an upgrade a storm shield do you consider giving people with upgrades storm shields. Remember that in the unit you can allocate wounds such that the ones that require an invuln go on a storm shield...so you don't lose somebody you otherwise would. Frankly, with units so small, it's probably not a bad idea to put SS on everybody.

Umm... you guys are nuts. You cant have 6+ Thunderwolf cavalry in a unit- there size is 1-5. :P

[Ominous Anonymous]

I think by 6+ he's referring to attached characters.

[the jeske]

yes [so WL with SS/TH means -1 SS on "normal" guys] . besides its nothing new[the 1 special per 3 till 4 and 2 specials per 2 from 4 up isnt my idea] its the same with a lot of gear . fist/ss in termi units etc .

SS are good because A they give you mixed arment[so they are like a mini unit of nobz] . B if you run in to something like a dread or ironclad it no longer means the cav is dead[str 10 DCCW instant kills them with I4] . they help against MC like DPs . its not fun when you hit wound with 4/5 and then find out its not an almost wiped unit , but 1 dead Wcav instead.

[Tracer Bullet]

Typically with my TWC I run a four man unit kitted out thus:

 

1: Powerfist (instant penetrates on most vehicles is totally worth it)

2: Melta Bombs

3: Storm Shield

4: Vanilla

 

This allows me to play the wound allocation shenanigans like Nob Bikers but also keeps the unit at a fairly reasonable cost. If I were to add a fifth I would probably toss in another SS just for safety.

 

Granted I normally play against Tau and don't have too much need for an invulnerable save in CC and I tend to close on his forces fast enough while presenting enough other threatening targets that he can't focus his AP 1 or 2 guns on the TWC very well.

[Billy Butcher]

Typically with my TWC I run a four man unit kitted out thus:

 

1: Powerfist (instant penetrates on most vehicles is totally worth it)

2: Melta Bombs

3: Storm Shield

4: Vanilla

 

This allows me to play the wound allocation shenanigans like Nob Bikers but also keeps the unit at a fairly reasonable cost. If I were to add a fifth I would probably toss in another SS just for safety.

 

Granted I normally play against Tau and don't have too much need for an invulnerable save in CC and I tend to close on his forces fast enough while presenting enough other threatening targets that he can't focus his AP 1 or 2 guns on the TWC very well.

 

A bit OT, but that must be hilarious when it hits his Tau lines :D