Cost effectiveness of storm shields

[Wolf Guard Nostromo]

I've been musing as I've cruised around this and the Space Wolf army list forum about when storm shields are worth their hefty purchase price and thought I would share some thoughts and open it up to the floor.

 

My first simple question is: 1) Are storm shields worth the points investment?

 

This really then leads to: 2) Which units do you take them for, and Why?

 

I'll offer my thoughts first, then let everyone try to shoot them down

 

In answer to a) I say... no, with one fairly exclusive exception... they are on a character who is 130 points+, has no other invunerable save and has a weapon which means the storm shield means no loss of a bonus attack for having two complimentary combat weapons. Simple. In my army, this means two models who I now regularly consider and use have storm shields - my bike lord and thunder lord. I also have a lord with a jump pack and storm shield, but to be honest he usually only comes out to play in really big games (and is hilarious for the record). All have a thunder hammer in the other hand by the way...

 

To 2), my answer above is obviously leading. I now almost never take storm shields for wolf guard (PA and terminators), thunderwolf cavalry, lone wolves or pack leaders/ICs who already have an invunerable save/are under 130ish points. This may seem drastic, but let me briefly explain. On all these models, the cost of a storm shield is massive (often 1/3 or more of the cost of the model itself) and either shades another save (often 5++) or denies them an extra attack for having two ccw weapons. For me, I would almost always rather have an extra model or two than one model with a 1 in 3 save anyway. In many cases, for our 2 principle combat characters, the 4++ is an (my) alternative of choice. Doesn't cost a hand to use, compliments a 2+ or 3+ armour save well and costs less (though not much I admit).

 

Yes, storm shields look cool and fit the space wolf character beautifully, and that really does count for something, but the list builder in me says very few should get onto the gaming table based on the pricing in the space wolf codex.

 

Do you agree? All thoughts welcome!

[Br0ther Rafen]

Well, you ave basically hit the nail on the head. the only exception that i can think of would be very Elite units which need an Invuln (Thunder cavalry), like Vanguard Vets for vanilla, or Honour Guards in BA.

however, never, EVER have a whole unit armed with SS's, its just extremly expensive. What you do, is arm a few of the guys with SS's and bareones, and these guys act as meatshialds if plasma comes your way.

[Simo429]

Take them on thunder wolf cav and a thunder lord and nothing else.

[Starkhan Fellblade]

I would say also to take one for a squad of terminators. To defend them from las cannons and such.

[nurglez]

I use 1 in each of my terminator squads, in 1500 points i run 4 squads, plus also my lone wolf has one (though a single lone wolf at 1500 points isn't ideal for me so I'm phasing him out).

 

Some times they make their cost back and more. I keep the storm bolter, so my storm shield termies dont have power weapons, while some people find this weird, as my armies fire power is so small I prefer the addition, and also my storm shield guys have a habit of inflicting wounds on daemon princes, while the power weapon wounds bounce off their invulnerable save :rolleyes:

 

of course other times the storm shield dies at the first invulnerable save you assign to him, or even from rolling a 1 from a bolter wound, the dice gods are fickle but I do need the added security of my storm shields :)

 

If i ran a more grey hunter with wg attached list, i doubt i would have any storm shields in my army, but then I'd have vehicles to provide my guys with the survivability to engage the enemy.

[Wysten]

I would take it on units with 2/3 wounds, but thats more or less it.

 

Thunder Wolf, Wolf Lords and Lone Wolves are probably the best kind to take it, since that 3++ save is stetched over many wounds and the majority of the armour ignoring threats tend to be from meltaguns, rockets or special close combat weapons, all of which is abundent.

 

Single wounders, aside from Vanguard for the noteable exception of being able to lock up any unit in combat on landing, tends to be not worth it. All it takes is one failed save to make that shield vold. Never understood it on wolfguard and the like, though I could understand it on Hammer Assualt termies, the cost effectiveness of the combo is the only think making the stormsheilds worth taking in that squad, I could never justify it if it was costed properly to 63 points.

[WG Vrox]

Other than what was mentioned in the original post

 

I like a Storm Shield on a TDA Lone Wolf with MotW you end up with a nice unit for 75 points.

 

In a 5+ TDA WG unit having a SS/PW is nice to assign 2+ AV hits to, sure you can fail but I like my 1 in 3 odds.

[dragon950]

My favorite thing to do is to run a small WG unit, 4-5 of them, with SS and frost weapons with ragnar leading the squad. The squad is meant to get stuck in combat and excel in it. But for times when I don't have ragnar, I only have storm sheilds in a small WG squad thats meant to be attached to my melee HQ. The squad has the HQ and 3-4 WG.

 

It all depends on how many points I have and if I know ahead of time what I'm playing against.

[Durfast Spiritwolf]

Ok so you're often spending more than the points value of the figure or at least a substantial amount, but one SS means that you have a chance of saving a wound every time they are shoot at by an enemy unit - and this can be several times a turn if they are perceived as a major threat.

 

Even with bad luck, I find that a five-figure pack of TWC with two SS taking everything my opponent can throw at it will survive long enough to chew through several enemy units and keep my opponent's mind occupied whilst I get on with winning the game with the rest of the army.

 

So one SS per three TWC/WG can pay for itself in a single turn and I use this ratio as my rule of thumb.

 

LWs - SS and TH is a useful option for LW; a tadge expensive, but cheaper than the monster its going toe to toe with.

 

ICs - sometimes, but rarely as they are generally surrounded by ablative packs members and the belt of Russ is pretty good. That said, my new incarnation has one for general wolfyness ;)

[Darkseer]

Take them on thunder wolf cav and a thunder lord and nothing else.

 

Agreed!

 

Arjack is quite tasty, but you get a storm shield with him anyway.

[Slopike]

Take them on thunder wolf cav and a thunder lord and nothing else.

 

Agreed!

 

Arjack is quite tasty, but you get a storm shield with him anyway.

 

 

Exactly, storm shields have saved my TWC on more than one occasion. They more than make their points back when a rail gun comes in that would otherwise instakill one. I usually run 2 stormshields with TWC to help absorb those insta kills and low ap shots that would normally whittle them down before they can make contact.

 

And when I do run a wolf lord on a thunder wolf it is nice having that 3++ save against those big nasties that he oftens tackles.

[Marshal Wilhelm]

Exactly, storm shields have saved my TWC on more than one occasion. They more than make their points back when a rail gun comes in that would otherwise instakill one. I usually run 2 stormshields with TWC to help absorb those insta kills and low ap shots that would normally whittle them down before they can make contact.

 

And when I do run a wolf lord on a thunder wolf it is nice having that 3++ save against those big nasties that he oftens tackles.

 

I agree. I am pro SS on TWC. Perhaps 2 per 5 TWC, for example.

 

All you need to do is make one 3+ save on an insta-kill wound and you have more than made your points back.

Two ap3 saves, which is plausible from three rolls, and you have saved a TWC and so made your points back.

 

Adding in an SS allows for wound allocation and you have added something meaningful to the unit, unlike, say, the bolter, which only adds wound allocation. By the time your hit the five man pack, you're running out of equipping to do that does not involve the SS.

 

Without adding SS, your foe has the no brainer choice of directing every ap3 weapon at your prize unit. With SS in the mix, he is much more discerning with his krak missiles and las cannon shots, which are now getting a better return by shooting your Rhinos.

No SS? Even the s8 battle cannon is a good bet on a TWC pack, whilst it is a no brainer for the s10 demolisher.

No SS? Dreads risk it and try to pop the TWC with their i4 DCCW

 

Lords, TWC, and Lone Wolves.

[Orphus]

I've been musing as I've cruised around this and the Space Wolf army list forum about when storm shields are worth their hefty purchase price and thought I would share some thoughts and open it up to the floor.

 

My first simple question is: 1) Are storm shields worth the points investment?

 

This really then leads to: 2) Which units do you take them for, and Why?

 

I'll offer my thoughts first, then let everyone try to shoot them down :)

 

In answer to a) I say... no, with one fairly exclusive exception... they are on a character who is 130 points+, has no other invunerable save and has a weapon which means the storm shield means no loss of a bonus attack for having two complimentary combat weapons. Simple. In my army, this means two models who I now regularly consider and use have storm shields - my bike lord and thunder lord. I also have a lord with a jump pack and storm shield, but to be honest he usually only comes out to play in really big games (and is hilarious for the record). All have a thunder hammer in the other hand by the way...

 

To 2), my answer above is obviously leading. I now almost never take storm shields for wolf guard (PA and terminators), thunderwolf cavalry, lone wolves or pack leaders/ICs who already have an invunerable save/are under 130ish points. This may seem drastic, but let me briefly explain. On all these models, the cost of a storm shield is massive (often 1/3 or more of the cost of the model itself) and either shades another save (often 5++) or denies them an extra attack for having two ccw weapons. For me, I would almost always rather have an extra model or two than one model with a 1 in 3 save anyway. In many cases, for our 2 principle combat characters, the 4++ is an (my) alternative of choice. Doesn't cost a hand to use, compliments a 2+ or 3+ armour save well and costs less (though not much I admit).

 

Yes, storm shields look cool and fit the space wolf character beautifully, and that really does count for something, but the list builder in me says very few should get onto the gaming table based on the pricing in the space wolf codex.

 

Do you agree? All thoughts welcome!

I can see where you are coming from but I guess I just would want some of my termies better protected so the points wouldn't be an issue.

[G. A. K.]

I may be in the minority here but I like to take them on just one or two of my many WG squad leaders, for the squads who really get stuck in. when your going into close combat against those really nasty folks which ingore saves, which happens a lot with wolves, I find it nice to ignore one of those auto deaths with the shield, if you should have lost your whole squad now you get to swing back with the fist/hammer to knock down that bady so your boys didn't die in vain. Mostly it works well to reduce wounds from fists on other sarges. I can't remember how many ties this technique has turned a lost or tied combat into a tie or a win. But thats just me. I've had these two models made for a while (since the good old days of 3+ inv for 5 pts :pinch: ) and I love to use them as much as possible, just for character.

 

G