Stormtalon Gunship

[LeonDeclis]

This was elsewhere, I thought it would fit nicely here.

 

Stormtalon Digest- Primarch Battlewagon

 

Well, GW has given the generic Space Marines a lovely new flier, and I like it. However, we’re not here to discuss it’s aesthetics nor fluff, we’re here to discuss how it can be used on the battlefield! On a personal note, I would have liked it to transport even 5 men, but what can you do?

 

My new little series about units in either the Space Marine, Dark Eldar, Orks and Gray Knights Codexes…

 

Overview:

 

The Stormtalon is a Fast Skimmer, with Armour values comparable to a Rhino. Ballistic Skill is average, and it comes in at slightly more than a Sternguard unit.

 

Wargear:

 

Ceramite Plating: With it’s Armour value, Melta poses a risk, as a Meltagun is penetrating half of the time. However, this will ignore the other d6, which means that some weaker Melta weapons (such as the Heat Lance) become useless, and makes the Meltagun spam that is so popular a bit less effective, as getting close gives you certain penetrate (even a Land Raider within 6” of a Meltagun is more likely to be penetrated than not) and your speed shall help keep you away anyway. So, a bit of a counter to Melta, I’d say.

 

Twin-Linked Heavy Bolter; Twin-Linked Assault Cannon: The Assault Cannon provides a good mix of anti-infantry, anti-tank and anti-elite infantry, although not quite anti-MC material. I hope you like it, because it’s non-negotiable. The Heavy Bolter, however, is firmly for the anti-infantry role. This can be changed or improved upon, but there is little else to say.

 

Special Rules:

 

Aerial Assault: Moving at Cruising Speed in the preceding Movement phase will let you fire all guns. A hint towards 6th, perhaps? For now, it’s a generic flier rule which allows you mobility whilst letting you fire your weapons. The point? If used correctly, you should be able to always be behind some sort of cover, or fly out and always get a shot at a weak point. With this armour value, but this much firepower, you need to think sneaky. Ambushy. Like a Dark Eldar player.

 

Supersonic: Allows you to move 36”, flat out. This will let you get to where it is needed, perhaps reinforce a unit which is sorely in need of it, a gung-ho attack behind the enemy lines so next turn you can start hurting them in the rear, allow you to try a refused flank by putting this on the “false” flank and then zooming it away into the night, or simply get the hell away. Not only that, but you can always try for a sneaky last-turn objective contest to win the game. Remember, sneaky.

 

Escort Craft: This is one of the things that is unique about the Stormtalon. The ability for a single Stormtalon to join any other unit arriving from Reserve (but not Deep Strike!) as they come on. Why is this useful? Well, other than generic units coming on from your table edge, here are some more interesting units:

 

Scouts

 

Land Speeder Storm

 

Scout Bikers

 

Entire Army led by Khan and his Outflank rule

 

Squad led by Shrike

 

All of the above can Outflank, and be ‘Escorted’ by the Stormtalon. Why is this good, you (I assume) ask? Because you have a unit which is instantly and definitely supported by a big, shooty thing. The largest current problem with Reserves is that fact you can never be sure of what is coming on when. It’s why re-rolls for them, Positional Relays, Drop-Pod Assault, Deathwing Assault, etc, are such a big thing, because they allow you control of when it will happen, and often who it will happen to.

 

The Stormtalon will always come on with this unit, everytime. Does it need to be a support unit? No. It may have a completely different role. But you can rest assured that neither unit is coming on alone, a single thing easily blown up. Now there are TWO small things to blow up (or large, perhaps an Outflanking Land Raider?) and that makes the task more difficult and the Outflanking Force more of a threat.

 

Combine it with an anti-tank unit (perhaps a Multi-Melta Land Speeder Storm and a Scout unit with Combi-Melta), and an anti-infantry Stormtalon, and you can ambush a tank near an objective, blow it up, shot the bugger out of the enemy unit in it, and then charge them with Scouts after that softening up OR move to capture the now bloody but free objective. There are a huge amount of combinations, especially with Khan or Shrike.

 

Hover Strike: Declare you’re not moving and you’re going to Hover, and you have a new bonus to shooting. Think of it as being similar to an Apache. What are the bonuses? Well, you’re now Ballistic Skill 5, so when combined with some weapons which aren’t Twin-Linked can help those rolls of 2, 1 and 2 being a complete failure to a mostly success. Basically, it cuts your chances of failure to hit by half, which can only be good for when you MUST hit.

 

Also, your shooting is now Pinning, which won’t help much regarding vehicles, but if your Stormtalon is kitted out as anti-infantry, you can potentially stop them for a turn. More useful against some armies and targets than others. For example, against a Dark Eldar army, or Ork Lootas, this would be a killing blow, as Ld isn’t very high and you shut down a vital part of the enemy army for a turn if you score even a single casualty. Combine this with the fact that you can come on near the back the previous turn thanks to Escort, and you can shut down those Support Elements from shooting other things, like your army.

 

Alternate Equipment:

 

Twin-Linked Lascannons: The cheapest option here, making your Stormtalon as expensive as a naked Epistolary, provides the Stormtalon with the capabilities of better anti-tank and anti-MC, with respectable range to boot. Combined with the Assault Cannon can help make a transport hunter, a MC hunter, with the ability to still realistically hurt a Armour 13 or potentially an Armour 14 vehicle, but still with the 4 shots from the Assault Cannon helping with the infantry and keeping the vehicle flexible. The Twin-Linking makes it reliable to hit without needing to slow down the vehicle with Hover Strike.

 

Typhoon Missile Launcher: No Twin-Linking here, so you will miss a third of your shots unless you Hover Strike. Also, one of the more expensive making your Stormtalon the same price as a Legion of the Dead squad.

 

However, you create an extremely flexible craft, with the Assault Cannon, and either 2 Frag Missiles or 2 Krak Missiles. The Frag Missiles and Assault Cannon mean that you can rip unarmoured infantry hordes (such as Nids, Guard or Orks) in the open (and perhaps not) to pieces.

 

The 2 Krak Missiles, combined with the Assault Cannon, means that you can rip light vehicles to pieces as well as hitting that rear-armour and destroying some larger craft. Not only that, but you can use the AP3 of the Krak to try and use Hover Strike to force a Ld check on even Marine units, and you may get lucky and pin, for example, that Long Fang squad. Also, the Rending on the Assault Cannon will help against those armour saves. They also give you decent anti-MC missiles, but will have trouble hurting above Armour 12 often, unless you use your speed to get to the weak spot.

 

Skyhammer Missile Launcher: Same price as the Typhoon Missile Launcher, you trade a pip of AP and Strength for an extra shot and range of being able to hit from nearly anywhere on the battlefield. The Strength 7 of the Missiles, and the fact they are 3 shots, and you can remain out of danger when combined with your speed, means you can make a hit and run craft that snipes out of reach, and you can put decent wounds on MCs… however, the REAL treat for this is the soft transport vehicles and units of vehicles such as Killa Kans where the number of attacks can truly tear through them. If you’re thinking Leman Russ squads, then Outflank, get behind them, and potentially hurt ALL 3 with up to 7 Penetrating Hits (using your Assault Cannon as well) and wreck them!

 

Simply put, the Stormtalon has provided us with a new, different and extremely effective counter against a lot of the problem we encounter, and keeps with the reliability and teamwork the Space Marine Codex does so well already. A worthy addition indeed.

[daismith906]

Tried mine out for the 1st time last night, loaded it with typhoon missile launcher coming on via reserve on its own not escorting anything.

 

Managed to mow down half a squad of chaos space marines which failed its leadership test and ran away, only to be shot down by the running squad with a plasmagun :rolleyes: (did manage to save the shots from the meltagun.

 

Will have to try it coming on escorting something, maybe some scouts out flanking

 

IMO if its a fire support unit your after id stick the the landspeeder typhoon as for an extra 65pts i dont think the little perks are worth it, but that could change in the 6th Ed.

[WarriorFish]

Thanks for the blurb LeonDeclis, that's pretty much what I was pondering so I expect it to be useful.

 

I'm planning on running with a TML too as I think it'll make a great supporting unit. Having plenty of units that can support each other well is the strength of C:SM in my opinion, plus my mantra is mobility and fire power so the Stormtalon is right up my street :D

[DarkGuard]

The more I think about it, the more I think that the skyhammer is a near compulsory upgrade for Stormtalons with heavy bolters in armies with the points to spare. Same amount of attacks, same AP but a higher strength and range. The only thing is you lose the twin-linking effect, so you have the weigh twin-linked over increased strength. But the point is that the skyhammer will do a similar job against infantry that the heavy bolter will do.

 

So basically, take the Typhoon if you want it for your build and tactics, same with the lascannon. But strongly consider the skyhammer when not taking the latter and having available points.

 

Also, in the C:SM 101, link found in my sig, is a new addition, the Stormtalon review. If anyone has anything to add please let me know. :blush:

[Brother Xeones]

Apologies if someone has already made this point...

 

When it first came out, I thought that the Typhoon launcher was hands-down the better missile option when compared to the Skyhammer, but now I've started to change my mind (at least a little)

 

All of these people seem to be talking about escorting an out-flanking unit and hitting side armor. If you are planning on using the Stormtalon to out-flank, you should seriously consider the skyhammers. Most side armor is AV10 or 11 and at those levels the skyhammer equals or exceeds the damage output of the TML. Plus, with its huge range, you're likely to be in range of your target of choice no matter which table side you end up getting with your outflank rolls. Obviously, you'll be unable to use Hover Strike on the turn you come it, but after that turn, if you do hover, the Skyhammer still outperforms the TML within the AV10/11 bracket. You still have solid anti-infantry with 3 shots (plus the TLAC) though power armor killing is admittedly reduced). Also, this is just speculation at this point, but most flyers also fall into the AV10/11 range so depending on the rules for fliers in 6th, a Stormtalon with Skyhammer missiles might be a good option for intercepting other fliers from across the board, and that might start to become an important consideration.

 

If you plan to just use the Stormtalon as fire-support unit, and have it pound away at your opponent from the backfield, you should probably go with the TML, but then again, why not save some points and go with a Landspeeder Typhoon instead?

 

For the relevant data on the Typhoon v Skyhammer, consult the following:

powered by the Heresy Combat Calculator

 

Typhoon (BS4)

 

TML v AV10 (BS4)

0.222 Glance

0.889 Pens

 

TML v AV11 (BS4)

0.222 Glance

0.667 Pens

 

Typhoon (BS5)

 

AV10

0.278 Glance

1.111 Pens

 

AV11

0.278 Glance

0.833 Pens

 

 

------------------

 

Skyhammer (BS4)

 

AV10

0.333 Glance

1 Pens

 

AV11

0.333 Glance

0.667 Pens

Skyhammer (BS5)

 

AV10

0.417 Glance

1.25 Pens

 

SHM v AV11

0.417 Glance

0.833 Pens

 

Anyway, food for thought...

[DerekLee688]

For me to use the skyhammer, there needs to be more targets for it. There has to be more AV10-11 because transports/light armor are getting harder to kill. GK blessed hull, IG valk's AV12, necron AV13 shields, etc. Except for space marines, our trasports are kinda crappy(DP, razorback, and rhino).

 

Extra shot and range is nice, but if in 6ed there aren't alot of fliers(meta), foot armies get easier to play, and mech gets toned down; I'll need AP3 to kill MEQ or double strength to get through FNP. Right now I'm using krak missiles and fast melta to kill armor. If I use Skyhammer's will I get by with less anti AV12?

 

One thing is for certain, the extra range will make hover mode easier to use and will be the unit to scratch that AV10-11 itch that bothers you.

[Brother Navaer Solaq]

I pre ordered 2 yesterday. I like the model, it reminds me if the battle copters in Advanced wars, and the ability to field something different is a plus too. ...

 

 

This was the same thought that ran through my head.

 

After reading the posts. It looks like the consensus is skyhammer on the stormtalon gunship

[Corvinvs]

I have one ST for my Ravenguard army and I realy like the model. But I absolutely breaking my midn how can I include it in my army for a battle not for a fun. It is FA slot, and it is great headashe, becouse I need FA for Assault Marines, for Stormeagle, for Scout Bikers etc. I think ST will only table model in my army, as LS:Storm, becouse I cannot find how can I include LSS for a battle too. :P

[Seneschal of the Seventh]

I played my ST for the first time Sunday, against a guard list.

 

I had it escort an outflanking MM-equipped LSS, which came on my desired board edge turn 2. The Scouts and Storm savaged a Colossus battery, and the Talon destroyed a hydra (it rolled well enough to destry both of them, but they weren't squadroned). They would have caused even more havoc, as they were now sitting with nice rear armor shots on the entire guard army, but unfortunately Al'Raheem's entire platoon outflanked right behind them at the bottom of turn 2, and that was that.

 

I was pretty pleased with the little skimmer's performance, and will definately be fielding it regularly in 6th, when it will have all the nice flier rules combined with reserve rolls just being a flat 3+.

[Iron Father Ferrum]

With the rules for flyers finally (mostly) revealed, I think we need to take a second look at the armament options for the Storm Talon. The number of weapons liable to get the Skyfire rule via FAQ is likely to be minimal for us Marines, which means our best defense against flyers is going to be other flyers. That being said, the most commonly seen flyers in the playerbase inventory are the Valkyrie/Vendetta and Storm Raven -- both of which are AV 12. This means that the twin-linked lascannon has now become the go-to armament for the Storm Talon.

 

It has range to reach enemy flyers across the board, it fires at BS against flyers, is twin-linked, is high enough strength to easily punch AV 12, and AP 2 grants a +1 bonus on the damage chart. And we still have the assault cannons for putting hits on the AV10 flyers that DE and orks have. I for one am going to rip the Skyhammers bits off of my ST and replace them with the lascannons.

 

Speculatory: from their description, Skyhammer Missiles may get the Concussive USR like thunder hammers have, which might alter the dynamic again in the future...

[Lucien Eilam]

If anything, I expect the Skyhammer to get Skyfire. It looks like the perfect AA weapon in all other respects - long range, S7 is decent against pretty much every flyer, plenty of shots. And in the new White Dwarf, Matt Hutson talks about it being "a fantastic interceptor" when equipped with Skyhammer missiles, able to deal with any other flyer.

 

I'd leave them on for now.

[Iron Father Ferrum]

If anything, I expect the Skyhammer to get Skyfire. It looks like the perfect AA weapon in all other respects - long range, S7 is decent against pretty much every flyer, plenty of shots. And in the new White Dwarf, Matt Hutson talks about it being "a fantastic interceptor" when equipped with Skyhammer missiles, able to deal with any other flyer.

 

I'd leave them on for now.

 

... except that Flyers hit other Flyers on BS already, so there's no point in giving a Flyer's weapon the Skyfire rule.

[DerekLee688]

Just keep in mind AV:12 front/side fliers when you are tooling your's up for AA duty. GK's will have blessed hull too.

[DarkGuard]

Just keep in mind AV:12 front/side fliers when you are tooling your's up for AA duty. GK's will have blessed hull too.

 

S7 can reliably glance AV12, which removes Hull Points, so they'll be gone quickly with enough accurate firepower. Blessed Hull only effects penetrating hits now as that's the only way to shake or stun a vehicle.

[Cmdr Shepard]

What configurations do you suggest for Stormtalon? Interceptor or Ground strike?

The Assault Cannon works perfectly in both roles but I wonder about the "secondary" weapon. Skyhammer seems a better "interceptor" weapon, Typhoon can deal with infatry delivering AoE attacks while TL las cannon would be a good choice for higher AV targets, with a +1 on damage rolls.

 

Currenlty I'm thinking to fill all the three Fast Support choices with Stormtalons and build an army around them. Any suggestion?

[Raphiel]

What configurations do you suggest for Stormtalon? Interceptor or Ground strike?

The Assault Cannon works perfectly in both roles but I wonder about the "secondary" weapon. Skyhammer seems a better "interceptor" weapon, Typhoon can deal with infatry delivering AoE attacks while TL las cannon would be a good choice for higher AV targets, with a +1 on damage rolls.

 

Currenlty I'm thinking to fill all the three Fast Support choices with Stormtalons and build an army around them. Any suggestion?

 

Why not go for both?

 

In my opinion, the TML still delivers on both fields. The krak missiles as 'interceptor' and the frag missiles as 'ground strike'. Str 8 should get you a long way in glancing/penetrating other fliers.

 

That being said, I'm coming around on the Skyhammer. I like the volume of fire (particularly to snap off hull points by glancing), but I am in doubt if the 3 shots make up for the fact that it has only Str 7 instead of 2 shots of Str 8 with the TML. On top of that, the Assault Cannons already bring you a great volume of fire to glance a vehicle to a wreck.

 

Luckily both TML and Skyhammer use the same pod on the model, so I'll just magnetize both missile options. I'm pretty sure I won't be using the HB/LC options very soon.

[Cmdr Shepard]

What configurations do you suggest for Stormtalon? Interceptor or Ground strike?

The Assault Cannon works perfectly in both roles but I wonder about the "secondary" weapon. Skyhammer seems a better "interceptor" weapon, Typhoon can deal with infatry delivering AoE attacks while TL las cannon would be a good choice for higher AV targets, with a +1 on damage rolls.

 

Currenlty I'm thinking to fill all the three Fast Support choices with Stormtalons and build an army around them. Any suggestion?

 

Why not go for both?

 

In my opinion, the TML still delivers on both fields. The krak missiles as 'interceptor' and the frag missiles as 'ground strike'. Str 8 should get you a long way in glancing/penetrating other fliers.

 

That being said, I'm coming around on the Skyhammer. I like the volume of fire (particularly to snap off hull points by glancing), but I am in doubt if the 3 shots make up for the fact that it has only Str 7 instead of 2 shots of Str 8 with the TML. On top of that, the Assault Cannons already bring you a great volume of fire to glance a vehicle to a wreck.

 

Luckily both TML and Skyhammer use the same pod on the model, so I'll just magnetize both missile options. I'm pretty sure I won't be using the HB/LC options very soon.

 

Indeed :). Skyhammer should be better against AV10/AV11 flyers, while Typhoon is more versatile. I could go with a 2:1 ratio... now I have only to decide if use more skyhammers or more typhoons, in a "standard" list :)

[DerekLee688]

With allies, can you use talons to escort C:BA or C:GK StormRavens?

 

I've always wanted to make a space marine flying circus out of typhoon squadron, land speeder storm, storm tallon, and storm raven. I can drop pod, teleport, or scout the rest of the army.

[Iron Father Ferrum]

I stand by my assertion that the lascannons are the best weapon for a Storm Talon operating in an interceptor role. Let's look at the stats.

 

Twin-linked firing at full BS. Unless the dice gods hate you, you will hit.

 

S9. Most Flyers by type are AV10 or 11, so S9 may be strictly speaking a little more than you need. However, the most common Flyers in use are the Storm Raven and Valkyrie/Vendetta -- both of which are AV12. S9 gives you a 4+ to penetrate; stripping hull points is all well and good, but to score a kill, you need to get a roll on the damage chart.

 

AP2. Under the new rules, AP2 gives you a +1 on the damage chart, so you can knock an enemy bird out of the sky on a 5+.

[Raphiel]

I stand by my assertion that the lascannons are the best weapon for a Storm Talon operating in an interceptor role. Let's look at the stats.

 

Twin-linked firing at full BS. Unless the dice gods hate you, you will hit.

 

S9. Most Flyers by type are AV10 or 11, so S9 may be strictly speaking a little more than you need. However, the most common Flyers in use are the Storm Raven and Valkyrie/Vendetta -- both of which are AV12. S9 gives you a 4+ to penetrate; stripping hull points is all well and good, but to score a kill, you need to get a roll on the damage chart.

 

AP2. Under the new rules, AP2 gives you a +1 on the damage chart, so you can knock an enemy bird out of the sky on a 5+.

 

Going to play devil's advocate here:

 

Twin-linked -> The TML has 2 shots, the Skyhammer has 3. The Lascannon only has 1 shot. Volume of shots make up for the lack of a twin-linked weapon system. Also, in hover mode you can fire at BS 5, in which twin-linked will hardly be necessary.

 

Str 9 -> Str 8 weapons still have good odds against AV12. Also, the already mandatory twin-linked (!) Assault Cannons are able to rend AV12 (ie. when you glance, you'll penetrate AV12 due to rending). The Skyhammer may struggle, I'll agree.

 

AP2 -> 5+ is hardly a reliable chance. What I'm trying to say is, you can't rely on a 5+ to destroy the enemy flyer. I still think volume of fire (notice a trend here? :P) is the way to go for the Stormtalon.

[Iron Father Ferrum]

I stand by my assertion that the lascannons are the best weapon for a Storm Talon operating in an interceptor role. Let's look at the stats.

 

Twin-linked firing at full BS. Unless the dice gods hate you, you will hit.

 

S9. Most Flyers by type are AV10 or 11, so S9 may be strictly speaking a little more than you need. However, the most common Flyers in use are the Storm Raven and Valkyrie/Vendetta -- both of which are AV12. S9 gives you a 4+ to penetrate; stripping hull points is all well and good, but to score a kill, you need to get a roll on the damage chart.

 

AP2. Under the new rules, AP2 gives you a +1 on the damage chart, so you can knock an enemy bird out of the sky on a 5+.

 

Going to play devil's advocate here:

 

Twin-linked -> The TML has 2 shots, the Skyhammer has 3. The Lascannon only has 1 shot. Volume of shots make up for the lack of a twin-linked weapon system. Also, in hover mode you can fire at BS 5, in which twin-linked will hardly be necessary.

 

Str 9 -> Str 8 weapons still have good odds against AV12. Also, the already mandatory twin-linked (!) Assault Cannons are able to rend AV12 (ie. when you glance, you'll penetrate AV12 due to rending). The Skyhammer may struggle, I'll agree.

 

AP2 -> 5+ is hardly a reliable chance. What I'm trying to say is, you can't rely on a 5+ to destroy the enemy flyer. I still think volume of fire (notice a trend here? :)) is the way to go for the Stormtalon.

 

Allow me a rebuttal.

 

Hover mode isn't part of my argument; I specified "in an interceptor role," meaning shooting down other Flyers. And having played with a Talon under the 5th Edition rules, I can tell you that when you're rolling seven dice (AC and Skyhammers), you'd be amazed at the number of misses you might get. It might just be my dice, but I was only hitting about half-and-half with its guns even with twin-linked on the assault cannon.

 

S8 has "good odds against AV12" -- that's a 5+ to penetrate. Yet, in the next line down, you said that 5+ "is hardly a reliable chance." You can't play for both teams, my friend. S9 and AP2 combine to make the las superior in killing a vehicle than a TML ever could; at least to me.

[Raphiel]

Allow me a rebuttal.

 

Hover mode isn't part of my argument; I specified "in an interceptor role," meaning shooting down other Flyers. And having played with a Talon under the 5th Edition rules, I can tell you that when you're rolling seven dice (AC and Skyhammers), you'd be amazed at the number of misses you might get. It might just be my dice, but I was only hitting about half-and-half with its guns even with twin-linked on the assault cannon.

 

S8 has "good odds against AV12" -- that's a 5+ to penetrate. Yet, in the next line down, you said that 5+ "is hardly a reliable chance." You can't play for both teams, my friend. S9 and AP2 combine to make the las superior in killing a vehicle than a TML ever could; at least to me.

 

In my opinion, hover mode is a factor that mitigates the lack of re-rolls, so it is a part of my argument at least... ;)

 

With regards to the chance of a 5+, what I meant was: you can't determine the usefulness of a weapon by its chance to 'one shot' a target. A 5+ on the damage chart isn't exactly a big chance to one shot another unit. I agree with you that the AP2 helps, there is no denying in that, but it doesn't make the lascannon a no-brainer.

 

I'd say that the TL-Lascannons are on par with the TML when it comes to intercepting enemy flyers. The thing is though (and I know that is not a part of your argument, but it is a factor that is always in my head when assessing units), the TML offers you so much more versatility than the lascannons. And on top of that, the TML has better synergy with the Assault Cannons when picking other (ie. infantry) targets to engage.

[Seahawk]

Just so everyone knows, the Stormtalon doesn't have the normal Hover mode type and cannot go into being a Fast Skimmer...it has it's special hover mode where it can't move at all for +1 BS.

[WarriorFish]

I think that it comes down to personal preference, the fact both side can offer good (and constructive) arguments for their use is surely a good thing. I know I prefer a real choice over the "no brainer". I've got a TML Stormtalon so should I get a second I'll probably arm it with a LC to have the best of both!

 

I do wonder about the merits of the HB though. The AC is good of course as is keeping costs down but it feels like a wasted opportunity to not give such a fast moving platform heavier fire power, particularly to help deal with armour. It's not like we're hurting for anti-infantry weaponry, so other than sneaking some behind cover shots on dug in infantry I don't see it being used much. Any thoughts?

[Lord Falkor]

I think that it comes down to personal preference, the fact both side can offer good (and constructive) arguments for their use is surely a good thing. I know I prefer a real choice over the "no brainer". I've got a TML Stormtalon so should I get a second I'll probably arm it with a LC to have the best of both!

 

I do wonder about the merits of the HB though. The AC is good of course as is keeping costs down but it feels like a wasted opportunity to not give such a fast moving platform heavier fire power, particularly to help deal with armour. It's not like we're hurting for anti-infantry weaponry, so other than sneaking some behind cover shots on dug in infantry I don't see it being used much. Any thoughts?

 

im the same as you have mine with TML and second in building with skyhammers, but as for the HB option how many ork players do you know that will want a few of the new flyers 130pt dakka jet that has ace upgrade, thats when a twin linked heavy bolter and twin linked assault cannon will come in handy