Predator with no Sponsons

[Montuhotep]

Okay, this is a straight-forward enough question since I'm on about Codex predators here and not those of the red armoured speed freaks. :)

 

Is the autocannon useful enough, even on a front AV13 moving chassis to warrant a 60 point pop in an army or should it be a full dakka pred for only 25 points more in any case?

[Haranin]

the two lascannons upgrade is about as cheap as you can get 2 lascannons for.

 

Its pretty much a no brainer decision to go AC/LC. The full dakka could be useful against infantry... but will struggle against armor and flyers.

 

Just a turret weapon might be interesting in very low point games. But not that useful.

[DarkGuard]

The advantage the pred has over the Vindicator (apart from range), is that it has multiple guns enabling it to survive many weapon destroyed results. With a single gun that advantage is lost. The autocannon is also quite not as destructive as the demo cannon (understandable). Basically, when taking the pred play to its advantages, which will include taking more weapons.

[ShinyRhino]

The advantage the pred has over the Vindicator (apart from range), is that it has multiple guns enabling it to survive many weapon destroyed results. With a single gun that advantage is lost. The autocannon is also quite not as destructive as the demo cannon (understandable). Basically, when taking the pred play to its advantages, which will include taking more weapons.

 

It's important to note that a stock Vindicator has TWO guns, not one (stormbolter, Demolisher Cannon). A stock Predator has one gun (autocannon).

[Captain Juan Juarez]

The advantage the pred has over the Vindicator (apart from range), is that it has multiple guns enabling it to survive many weapon destroyed results. With a single gun that advantage is lost. The autocannon is also quite not as destructive as the demo cannon (understandable). Basically, when taking the pred play to its advantages, which will include taking more weapons.

 

It's important to note that a stock Vindicator has TWO guns, not one (stormbolter, Demolisher Cannon). A stock Predator has one gun (autocannon).

 

But who wants to drive a Vindicator around only being able to fire the Storm Bolter? ;)

[DarkGuard]

Exactly. The Vindicator has one gun that matters, the storm bolter is just weapon destroyed protection, now there's only a 50% chance of the gun going first.

 

It's also worth noting that a Pred with 3 guns will always be firing until it dies, as the last weapon destroyed result will also take its last Hull Point. Yet another advantage, a tank that's quite hard to silence.

[Captain Idaho]

Basically, never take a Predator without Sponsons since it won't acheive much. A single Autocannon will acheive very little.

[Muctar]

The only reason I could understand taking a predator without sponsons would be in lower point games where you want to spam them. At 1000 points and under three AV13 targets would be tough to take out.

 

Sponsons are normally the way to go. With lascannons adding AP2, high S, anti-vehicle, while heavy bolters add weight of fire for anti-infantry. Something that has not yet been mentioned is that the HBs can help glance AV10-11 targets to death. With this in mind, the dakka pred has become more useful and multi-purpose in 6e.

[Grey Mage]

Since the sponsons can now snap-fire on the move, its not quite so bad. For either weapon option.

[Emperors Immortals]

I had been running naked preds (2-3) as a mobile screen for assault squads and tacs.

 

However i think that bikes or pods might be better now.

[Kastor Krieg]

Exactly. The Vindicator has one gun that matters, the storm bolter is just weapon destroyed protection, now there's only a 50% chance of the gun going first.

33%, because you can take two storm bolters on it :huh:

[Iron Father Ferrum]

Exactly. The Vindicator has one gun that matters, the storm bolter is just weapon destroyed protection, now there's only a 50% chance of the gun going first.

33%, because you can take two storm bolters on it :D

 

25% chance -- you can also take an HK missile.

[DarkGuard]

Exactly. The Vindicator has one gun that matters, the storm bolter is just weapon destroyed protection, now there's only a 50% chance of the gun going first.

33%, because you can take two storm bolters on it ;)

 

25% chance -- you can also take an HK missile.

 

And sods law dictates that the demo cannon will still be the first to go each time. :P

[Koremu]

I've not got the books with me at present - does the HK still always fire at BS4?

[DarkGuard]

I've not got the books with me at present - does the HK still always fire at BS4?

 

It fires at the model's BS, which could mean it fires at BS1 if you snapfire.

[VoteForPedro]

At the very least the Heavy Bolter sponsons seem like a no brainer, it's only costing you 25 points a pop and it increases the fire output of a Predator quite dramatically. I love me some dakka Preds, they've yet to let me down and are surprisingly effective for their bargain basement points cost.