Dozer Blades!

[Zhukov]

Hey,

 

This little thing has come into my mind already a couple of times. In previous codexes Dozer Blades were never worth it, as they only worked when you moved up to 6". However that limitation is gone.

 

The numbers are pretty easily. Without them you have a:

 

-1/6th or 16,67% of getting immobilized when driving into/through terrain.

 

With them that drops to:

-1/36th or 2,78%

 

I'm normally a Chaos player (where we have still the old sucky Dozer Blades), but recently started Space wolves. I think Space Wolves are using some of their transports fairly aggressive (Grey hunters work best within 12"). Should it not be worth the 5 points on each transport you are going to drive a lot with, to making it much saver driving into terrain? I know I sometimes go around it just to avoid that 1/6th chance of getting immobilized.

 

What are your opinions on this?

 

Also the strangest thing in the whole codex: the allmighty Land Raider tank, who can drive through almost everything according to the fluff hasnt even got an option for Dozer blades B)

[Ryzouken]

Here's why I don't run dozer blades:

1) Transports, as long as they've moved my guys further than they otherwise would have gotten, have completed their jobs and can bog as they like.

2) Dozer Blades only matter 16% of the time, if I enter terrain.

3) I dictate the movement of my Rhinos in virtually every scenario, meaning I can avoid driving into terrain

4) If my Rhino bogs, it can repair itself in later turns with a 16% chance each attempt

5) Dozer Blades cost points. Points that can be spent making my guys better in melee, shooting, or just plain looks (thunder hammer!)

6) An immobilized Rhino is still a stationary pillbox from which my troopers can fire while being immune to enemy fire. Or cover.

 

Dozer Blades are pretty meh, to be honest. Like searchlights were, before we started getting them for free.

[CainTheHunter]

Considering the front assault ramp, how do You imagine assaulting out of a LR with dozer? "Get'em! Chaaaarge.... Bang, bang.... Damn, driver, lift that stupid thing again!"

[Ryzouken]

In previous rules editions, when dozer blades were available on LR's, I saw them modeled to cover only the track sections, leaving a clear space in front of the ramp.

 

It was almost as silly as the Leman Russ track design, from a physical world point of view, as the blades (unless both were angled away from the central chassis only, and not chevron'd as in most configurations) would pile dirt up in between the tracks, resulting in any trailing Land Raiders grounding out on the raised dirt piles.

 

Oh, 40k. When will your vehicle designs ever appear to function in anything but flat concrete land?

 

 

At least, I'm pretty sure that'd be how it worked out... but then again, that tank does weigh a few tonnes... hmm...

[VorpalDoom]

Maybe the dozer blades are... gasp, just in front of the tracks.

 

Either way, if you have... say... 6 transports, that's 30 points tied up in something that will, as said before, only matter 16% of the time, IF you enter terrain. I'd rather have another power fist somewhere, and a melta bomb.

[stinkenheim]

i take them on any vehicles i have that can use them, but then i play cityfight almost excusively so it pay when almost all of your table is covered in terrain :D

[Simo429]

i put them on all my vehicles purely because i think they look cool

[Zhukov]

Maybe the dozer blades are... gasp, just in front of the tracks.

 

Either way, if you have... say... 6 transports, that's 30 points tied up in something that will, as said before, only matter 16% of the time, IF you enter terrain. I'd rather have another power fist somewhere, and a melta bomb.

Well its not like you have to put them on every transport you got.

 

Most list surely include squads like this:

-8 Grey hunters; MotW, Wstandard, meltagun

-1 WG; Pfist, combimelta

Mounted in a rhino.

 

If you have 3 of such squads its only costs you 15 points. That not much for something which can be really helpful. Yes its only a 17% chance each time. 2 times is already 30%...

But indeed its nowhere gamebreaking of course, maybe it depends on playstyle too. I like to drive my rhinos where I want them and thats often through terrain or in terrain.

 

I would not put in on Razorbacks which you are holding back of course.

 

Also the fact that Land Raiders dont have an option for Dozer Blades isnt really important, but maybe they should ignore terrain or include a special rule which functions the same as a dozer blade/siege shield.

Its just kinda silly that this: '....and even smash its way through the rockrete walls of a fortress without sustaining any major damage.' can get immobilized because he drove through some kinda of almost flat ruïn. But also outside of fluff: Its a heavy transport with AV14 allround which role is getting your troops where you want them.

[King Tiger]

I'd only take them depending on where I play, at the club where we actually use terrain there worth it, at a GW where a tree and a rock is considering a crowded board by most players I would never bother.

[Hear da Lamentation]

I like them as well. It's great to put your rhino's inside cover if needed (forest etc) and not be too scared they are going to get stuck (he says after both my rhinos got stuck in 1 round and I'm now seriously put off risking it without a dozer).

[Spacefrisian]

I only put them on my vehicles if i have points left.

 

But i guess you know by now that i try to avoid terrain as much as possible and only enter it with my Rhino/ Razorback when i realy need to.

[DGC]

I use them. Have got two Rhinos and a Razorback kitted with dozerblades purely for that little extra when needed. My only issue with mine is they are glued on and I try as much as possible to play wysiwyg. And at 15pts, it's not really busting your army's pocket, especially at 1500pts and above so I recommend them

 

DGC

[Grimtooth]

I plan on tossing them on my Long Fangs Razorbacks. Simply because I know I am going to be going into cover almost all the time and do not want to be bogged down in it if I have to reembark and move my Long Fangs.

[Stormshrug]

I try to drive around difficult terrain anyway when possible. Dozer Blades might be worthwhile in cityfight, or something with lots of unavoidable rubble, but otherwise, going around is rarely a problem in my experience.

 

-Stormshrug

[lunchb0x]

I only put them on land raiders, vindicators, and predators...outside of that who cares.

[Hear da Lamentation]

it's nice to be able to enter cover like a forest (which we always seem to have on our tables) and use the cover bonus without panicking about getting stuck in there. The repair for a rhino is a nice add-on, but on average you are going to have to wait 6 turns to get the repair, in which case the game will be over.

[Ryzouken]

actually, on average, you'll wait roughly 3-4 turns for the repair to kick in. After 6 you'll have statistically guaranteed a repair, but by turn 3-4 the law of averages ought have rolled around and gotten you a repair.

 

15 points = another power weapon, plasma gun, or WG power fist. Or another Grey Hunter come to think of it.

 

I guess they could be useful kit in City Fight, if your streets are choked with rubble (as they should be!)

[sazzer]

Probability speaking, after 6 turns you have a 1-((5/6)^6) chance of being repaired after 6 turns, which is about 2/3 chance... There is a 51% chance of repair after 4 turns, and it doesn't pass 95% chance until 17 turns...

[Ryzouken]

50% is good enough for me.

 

But my other points still stand, dozer blades cost points, only matter if you enter terrain, and only then if you intend on moving the vehicle further.

[Silverwolf]

I don't tend to take them, only things I'd really bother with them on are the Razorback for my LFs, as having it survive moving through terrain is pretty important, and a Siege Shield on my Vindicator so it can ram it's way into a building and sit there lobbing shells out at people :D.

 

I never bother on my Rhinos as if they've made that initial 12", then well they've pretty much put the GHs within 12" of the enemy usually anyway.

[JCarter]

I find that if the cover is dense enough to give a cover bonus, my vehicles cannot physically enter the cover. Almost all terrain in my experience will only give cover if the vehicle is behind it. The 50% rule causes this effect. Therefore, I just drive around the terrain unless I'm desperate for time (Ask me for anything but time.)

[Grey Mage]

I use them... but only in cityfight campaigns or on vindicators... because a vindicator doesnt look right without the seige shield, and Ill shell out 5 pts for aesthetics.

 

Mostly its the WYSIWYG nature of most tournaments and my reluctance to potentially butcher a rhino while I figure out what to do to make it easily removable.

[Ryzouken]

Magnets. That's what I ended up doing to my Vindi to make the siege shield removable. Takes some fancy cuttin', but once you get everything lined up and working smooth, you've got a hot swappable dozer blade.

 

In retrospect, I ought not've bothered magnetizing the Vindi. Not having the shield doesn't bug me and I never pay the points for the thing.

[LoneSniperSG]

Considering the front assault ramp, how do You imagine assaulting out of a LR with dozer? "Get'em! Chaaaarge.... Bang, bang.... Damn, driver, lift that stupid thing again!"

 

.. It's easy. You cut the dozer blade in half and mount each half in front of the tracks.

 

 

I advocate the use of dozers, personally, especially the Vindi's siege shield. It's not a vindicator without that wall of steel on the front of it.

 

Every time I find I need them, I don't have them, so..

 

I will say, Razorbacks and rhinos don't deserve them. Preds, Raiders and Vindicators are the only ones that make real use of dozers.

[Zhukov]

I will say, Razorbacks and rhinos don't deserve them. Preds, Raiders and Vindicators are the only ones that make real use of dozers.

Preds? Preds function as more or less pillboxes in every codex, except the BA one. As soon as you move: you shoot only 1 weapon. If you get immobilez with a pred it doesnt matter that much, you'll probably be in position anyway more or less and you probably only move them 1 time in each game. Raiders cant take them as said.