Tacticals - Why don't we see more of these guys?

[LostAlone]

I totally agree that tacticals are almost totally terrible in a BA list. I just can't find a place for them.

 

Scouts are generally better at holding objectives, and sniper rifles are just great. Pinning is awesome, as is rending and the extra range is just gravy. Compared to them tacticals do look disinteresting. The only place where you could really get rocking with tacticals is inside 12inches but if you are at that range then a charge from even a regular assault marine squad will do way better.

 

The only way that basic weapons are really useful is in throwing enough dice at something to make it fall over just by pure bad luck, and with lasguns and similar where you just have vast numbers of dice, they can get the job done. But when you just don't have a whole lot of bolters the casualties just won't add up enough. Yes, you need to be able to thin the ranks before you charge, but that's a job way better done with practically anything else in the BA arsenal.

 

You don't have that many boots on the ground and so IMHO you want to be using as many of those guys as possible to play to your strengths. Razors, Predators, Vindicators, Attack Bikes, Landspeeders, Landraiders and Stormraves all offer you a lot of firepower to dump on to the bits of your opponents army that might give you a hard time. Tacticals just seem to be sitting around not doing enough.

 

As for the war on armageddon... Well remember that guns in 40k aren't as good as in the fluff... Bolters are mini rocket launchers that practically never miss and kill almost anything in one shot... Not accurately represented on the tabletop ;)