Henchmen squads: specialise or not?

[Dr von Hohenheim]

Hello,

 

I'm planning a Coteaz army with four or so henchmen squads, but I can't decide on their composition. I was thinking of having one pure combat squad, with five or six each of death culists and crusaders, and then three squads of warrior acolytes with three meltaguns and the rest armed with hot-shot lasguns (I know the lasguns are expensive and not that great, but I want to use imperial guardsmen as warrior acolytes).

 

But it also occurs to me that I could split the combat guys up and distribute them amongst the shooting units. So I could have three squads composed like this:

 

2 death cult

2 crusaders

3 meltaguns

4 or 5 hot-shot lasguns

 

They would be able to deliver some close-range melta fire, and then fight reasonably well.

 

So, what would be better? Three melta/lasgun squads and one death cult/crusader squad, or three composite squads and one squad of something else?

 

 

I also wonder about adding just one psyker to each squad: he can still make a S3 large blast by himself (not bad for 10 points), and it's less risky than having a whole squad that can disappear into the warp after one bad dice roll.

 

 

Thanks in advance.

[number6]

I think you're on the money with the way you said you wanted to "specialize" the units. From the perspective of points cost and effective range, I would tend to prefer storm bolters over hotshot lasguns, but YMMV. :)

[Elric the Silvercoat]

The Hot-shot lasguns are good because of the Ap3 so good bye Power Armour with them but the Str 3 makes it harder to wound with them compared with the Storm Bolter at Str 4 but Ap 5 and I think they are both Assault 2. The Stormbolter is 24" and the Hot-shot Lasgun I think is 12" so there is the problem really.

[The Holy Heretic]

The storm bolter has better range, costs less and will perform better against anything but marines.

 

I like the single psyker idea, I personally like to have a mystic hang with my henchmen too, since I keep all my GK elements in reserve.

 

I also support the dedicated setup - this allows all your weaponry to perform according to its function.

[Drachnon]

They look like pretty good squads, personally I'm thinking about using 2 Jokaero and 10 acolytes with bolters.

120 points for a squad with good fire support and there is a decent chance of getting a bonus that will benefit the squad (best ones would be the extended range and/or rending).

 

It is pretty costly for 12 models so perhaps as alternative I might go with just 12 acolyters with bolters for 60 points.

These are squads that will be sitting on objectives most likely anyway so I'm not planning to put points into death cult assassins and crusaders for close combat protection. I most likely will field one assault unit consisting of 8 death cult assassins and 3 crusaders. Who are then joined by Coteaz and board a chimera.

[Dr von Hohenheim]

Thanks for the replies!

 

I realise that hot shot lasguns aren't the best choice, but I am stuck with them because of the models I am using.

 

 

I like the idea of Jokaero, but at 35 points each I don't see how I can afford to include them! I'm also using two very expensive squads of purifiers.

 

 

So I'll probably go for the three melta/lasgun squads, and one death cult/crusaders squad. I only have three chimeras though, so someone will be walking.

[breng77]

Henchman are not really good at walking unless they are Jokero with long range weapons. The squads lack durability to walk around on foot most of the time.