Extra Armour or HB sponsons worth it?

[zebanash]

Hi guys,

 

Got 2 baals for my BA army i'm rebuilding (i've been away since early 4th edition) i was talking to a couple of my buddies and they are saying that they changed the strength value of defensive weapons to 4, does this mean when i scout move my baals first turn and get them in assault cannon range, i'm only gonna be able to shoot with the assault cannon?

 

pretty much, is it worth it to take heavy bolters if i'm gonna be moving the Baal over 6 inches every turn?

 

i've also noticed a lack of Extra Armor on most of the lists on here, is it not as usefull as it use to be?

[Jakobus]

If you plan on moving 6"+ every turn then I guess the sponsons aren't neccessary.

But if you use the Baals as a sweeper unit and move it 6" you can spit out 4 Str6, 6 Str 5 and 2 Str 4 shots at a single unit.

[Red Fury]

If you move just 6" then you can fire everything, and that is where the Baal shines pumping out ten shots a turn.

 

You CAN scout move, then move up to 6" in your turn and fire everything. The scout move is independent.

 

EA at 15 points is a lot of points and only rarely useful. I never have any extra points left over for the expensive insurance. Plus if you put EA on all your vehicles, now you are talking some big points.

 

Go with the asscannon + HB Baal, it won't disappoint. If you want to get close and use the BBQ Baal, then the side sponsons are not as useful.

[Chaplain Gunzhard]

Prior to 5th I put extra-armour on everything I could... now I only find it worthwhile on transports and dreads.

 

I like the HB sponsons when I use the TL-AC... but if I am flying and frying with the TL-FSC I don't use any sponsons and move 12" a turn.

[Chimaera2000]

The Heavy Bolter sponsons are well worth it on AC-equipped Predators that plan to hunt infantry; those extra half-dozen shots nearly double the Baal's firepower for only about a 30% increase in its cost. If you're equipped with a flamestorm cannon or you're using it primarily for assault cannon shots against side armor, then the sponsons won't be worthwhile.

 

In contrast, I have a difficult time imagining situations that 15 points couldn't be better spent elsewhere in a Blood Angels force than on Extra Armor for a Baal. Extra Armor only comes into play on 1/6 of damage results and in there'll be fewer situations still where the ability to move would allow you to save it. Don't get me wrong, having the option of a damaged Baal be able to move to contest an objective is good, but the extra 15 points you use to equip an extra power weapon means that you might not have had to contest that objective in the first place.

[Wildfire]

pretty much, is it worth it to take heavy bolters if i'm gonna be moving the Baal over 6 inches every turn?

 

Absolutely not, because you are unable to use them unless your assualt cannon blows off. However, I think it's very unlikely that you wil be moving your Baals more than 6 inches on most turns. So if what you're really asking is if I think you'll be moving more than 6" all the time, then the answer is no you probably won't be moving that much. So heavy bolters is a very nice buy. All of which is irrelevant if you use good sense and magnatize your weapons (including the assualt cannon!).

 

With the new vehicle damage rules and the heightened cost of EA, I don't think it's worth buying any more.

[Redo]

Like everyone else here I believe the Baal is best with the AC and HB sponsons. The only time I consider moving over 6" is when I am using the AC to take on Vehicles or it is time to get out of trouble due to rapidly advancing infantry.

 

Extra Armour...overpriced for every tank. Practically the only time EA is worth it is with supervaluable transports. ie Landraiders and Stormravens. These machines are equipped with POTMS and with EA it means that they can always move 12" and fire a weapon as well as ignoring all stunned results. I also find that these transports have the most valuable troops so it is imperative that they are not slowed down by stunned results.

[Grey Mage]

Even if you do plan on moving 18" often, Id still take the sponsons.

 

Why? Because a lucky 3 means youve got an expensive moving wall instead of a tank. The heavy bolters make it more survivable, and more viable when damaged, wich is just as important as the actual dakka itself.

[JamesI]

As others have said, the sponsons are almost always worth it. Extra armor is rarely worth it.

[zebanash]

Thanks guys, just what i was looking for :P

[MaleOpener]

There's no reason to move your Baal over 6 inches each turn.

 

You want to fire ALL of your weapons.

 

:}

[SamaNagol]

I put extra armour on everything.

 

Being able to contest any objective within 18" regardless is priceless