Storm bolters + Prescience

[Gentlemanloser]

O. M. G. :P

 

I really hadn't realised just how good this combo could be, until last weekend.

 

When rolling and saying things like;

 

"20 shots, (after rerolling) 20 hits, 12 Storm bolter wounds."

 

We were literally blown away by how effective it is on Strike Squads. Sure, they still folded in CC, but I had a single Strike Squad (with Coteaz) dominate every game I played in.

 

Once again though, this has left me looking back at Space Wolves, after being reminded that Rune Priests also have access to Divination!

 

Instead of running 2 x Inquisitors (let's say 110 points each for Psycannon Goodness) attached to 20 Strikes, I could instead run;

 

2 x Rune Priests attached to 20 Storm Bolter Wolfguard for near enough the same points. Well, I could run three. :D (Obviously, Logan would be required to make them scoring... Which would also make any Terminators scoring as well.)

 

So why not?

 

But the better question, is why not run both? And in the process, utilise our far cheaper Prescience + SB combo. Henchmen.

 

Let's look at it both ways.

 

GK Main

Coteaz

INQ PML1

 

12 x Warrior Accolyte, 12 x SB

12 x Warrior Accolyte, 12 x SB

 

SW Ally

Rune Priest

 

10 x Wolfguard, 10 x SB

 

So three rerollable Pew Pew SB units o' doom.

 

Can we get more the other way round?

 

SW Main

Rune Priest

Rune Priest

Rune Priest

 

10 x Wolfguard, 10 x SB

10 x Wolfguard, 10 x SB

10 x Wolfguard, 10 x SB

 

GK Ally

Coteaz/INQ PML1

 

12 x Warrior Accolyte, 12 x SB

 

Using SW as the main army allows us more twin linked SB awesome-sauce. And rocks in at 1,114 base.

 

With that, we could squeeze in Logan (to make the marine SB squads scoring, and open us up to taking a few of the cheapest Imperial Terminators as well).

 

Maybe something like;

 

Logan

RP

RP

RP

 

WG x10, SB x10

WG x10, SB x10

WG x10, SB x10

WG x5, TDA x5

 

Coteaz

 

WA x12, SB x12

 

Total: 1,554

 

Leaving around 250/500 points for upgrades (got to kit the RP differently), Anti Tank and any other sundries. Like an NDK, or TLAC Dread, or Thunderwolves.

 

Logan would also give the Terminators a lesser version of Twin Linking, through Preferred Enemy.

 

Am I missing anything? Is there any better way to get a mass of rerollable Storm Bolters? I know things like RP/Inquisitors could be added to ML Long Fangs / Psycannon Purifiers/Purgation Squads, which could be another option.

 

How best can we, utilise, the potential of Presciences rerolls?

[Reclusiarch Darius]

Spamming storm bolter Acolytes. Wolf Guard and Strikes are both more expensive, although if you choose between them, Strikes are actually better ('Hammerhand', psycannon access, AP3 melee).

 

It is still just S4. I honestly find Servitors a better investment, the triple plasma cannon combo with Coteaz or a cheap Divination Inquisitor is just brutal. I have wiped half a Marine force in two rounds of shooting, and that was with one squad+Coteaz (he did have the 'Ignore Cover' power though lol).

 

I find the Acolytes work great with some plasma guns mixed in. Still very cheap, and the plasma gives you something when going up against vehicles or heavy infantry. Re-rolls on plasma guns in rapid-fire range is just nasty.

 

Ask any Ork player, spamming Shoota Boyz isn't that powerful. You still need Lootaz, and probably Allied anti-tank now they have that option (Tau and Necrons are great in that role).

[adamv6]

I would love to run more SB Henchmen, I just struggle with what model to use. How do you model yours? I have tried modding a standard SM storm bolter, but they look ridiculous on an IG model.

 

Prescience rolls are amazing, with Pysbolts you pretty much guarantee 10-15 wounds in a 10man strike squad, without the psycannons!

 

My personal favourite usage;

 

10 x Purifiers (4 psycannons)

1 x Xenos Inquisitor with Rad Grenades, Power Armour, Power Sword, Psyker Lvl1

 

Its insane, and after shooting them to pieces, you get to assault them and rerolls all the misses in combat as well!

[Reclusiarch Darius]

I've been proxying with Kroot, but I'm slowly getting enough with the new Chaos Cultists models+Space Wolf storm bolters I picked up cheap online (lel, no Wolf players actually use the bits). I'm using greenstuff to give them hoods and capes, to cover up the size issue. So it looks like they have funky cyborg parts linking the weapon to them, but hidden by red robes.

 

Haha yeah, when you cast it onto Purifiers, your opponent cries. That much re-rollable psycannon is just brutal, especially in Heavy mode. You just end things. Try it with plasma cannon servitors, you might lose friends but its endless joy. Especially when you tell people how cheap they are.

[Gentlemanloser]

I'd love to use more SB Accolytes, but we can only get 2 squads with rerolls.

 

It's Prescience's twin linking that does the job.

 

It's so good, it's unreal!

 

Personally, I've been using SM Scouts as Warrior Accolytes. I might look into the new Chaos Cultists, if they can be made to look less, well, unclean. ;)

 

Edit:

 

Oh for Battle Brothers.

 

If I could add Rune Priests to Strike Squads... Well. ;)

[saffo]

I'd love to use more SB Accolytes, but we can only get 2 squads with rerolls.

 

It's Prescience's twin linking that does the job.

 

It's so good, it's unreal!

 

Personally, I've been using SM Scouts as Warrior Accolytes. I might look into the new Chaos Cultists, if they can be made to look less, well, unclean. :wacko:

 

Edit:

 

Oh for Battle Brothers.

 

If I could add Rune Priests to Strike Squads... Well. ^_^

I play against a space marine player who does the drop pod melta/TH SS 10 man termie squad approach regularly. Because of Coteaz, he dropped outside 12 inches. By the time his terminator squad got close enough to do anything the "withering" fire of a 10 man strike squad (with coteaz/prescience and psybolts) effectively gutted his termies and nullified his melta capabilities from his drop marines. Even with 2+ saves, they fell pretty quickly. I only have 1 strike squad because I use GK as allies to my primary force, but it made a huge difference in dealing with a full squad of drop termies.

[Reclusiarch Darius]

I'd love to use more SB Accolytes, but we can only get 2 squads with rerolls.

 

I play a lot of 2k (it lets us field all our models, in my local group), so I'm used to having 4 HQ's available.

 

One thing to remember is that as they die off (which they will) you can leapfrog the Inquisitors to the not-dead squads and buff them instead. Done that in a few of my games, pretty effective.

 

If I could add Rune Priests to Strike Squads... Well.

 

Yeah haha, except for the Rune Priests blocking our powers :wacko:

 

I play against a space marine player who does the drop pod melta/TH SS 10 man termie squad approach regularly. Because of Coteaz, he dropped outside 12 inches. By the time his terminator squad got close enough to do anything the "withering" fire of a 10 man strike squad (with coteaz/prescience and psybolts) effectively gutted his termies and nullified his melta capabilities from his drop marines. Even with 2+ saves, they fell pretty quickly. I only have 1 strike squad because I use GK as allies to my primary force, but it made a huge difference in dealing with a full squad of drop termies.

 

Interesting. I'd still feel more comfortable giving re-rolls to a plasma servitor unit that storm bolters, against either unit (blasts produce more wounds, that go through all armour). Glad your dice work for you, I've had my storm bolters megafail (double 1's, I kid you not) or do next to no wounds on Terminators.

[Gentlemanloser]

I used to dislike Storm bolters.

 

They always seemed to not do enough for me, or be outperformed by my opponents more numerous Bolters.

 

I'd roll averagely, 20 shots, 12/13 hits, 6 wounds caused. No casualties.

 

:wacko:

 

I donno, it's just the rerolls to hit seemed to make them utterly devestating. Plus the ease now with premeasuring to keep me at 24" range.

 

They seemed to scythe down anything in thier path.

[saffo]

I'd love to use more SB Accolytes, but we can only get 2 squads with rerolls.

 

I play a lot of 2k (it lets us field all our models, in my local group), so I'm used to having 4 HQ's available.

 

One thing to remember is that as they die off (which they will) you can leapfrog the Inquisitors to the not-dead squads and buff them instead. Done that in a few of my games, pretty effective.

 

If I could add Rune Priests to Strike Squads... Well.

 

Yeah haha, except for the Rune Priests blocking our powers :wacko:

 

I play against a space marine player who does the drop pod melta/TH SS 10 man termie squad approach regularly. Because of Coteaz, he dropped outside 12 inches. By the time his terminator squad got close enough to do anything the "withering" fire of a 10 man strike squad (with coteaz/prescience and psybolts) effectively gutted his termies and nullified his melta capabilities from his drop marines. Even with 2+ saves, they fell pretty quickly. I only have 1 strike squad because I use GK as allies to my primary force, but it made a huge difference in dealing with a full squad of drop termies.

 

Interesting. I'd still feel more comfortable giving re-rolls to a plasma servitor unit that storm bolters, against either unit (blasts produce more wounds, that go through all armour). Glad your dice work for you, I've had my storm bolters megafail (double 1's, I kid you not) or do next to no wounds on Terminators.

Since my primary is Guard, I have plenty of plasma and certainly cant discount its massive value when going against heavy terminator based armies...or chaos space marines. Or anything really.

[Gentlemanloser]

Oh to be able to discuss Guard primaries.

 

Well, even allies at that. :wacko:

 

I play a lot of 2k (it lets us field all our models, in my local group), so I'm used to having 4 HQ's available.

 

I'm not a fan of second detachments. ^_^

[number6]

I've been attaching a psyker OM Inquisitor in TDA with a psycannon (and Prescience, obviously) to a combat squad of GKTs with 2 psycannons for most of 6th edition, and I have to say...

 

It is AWESOME. :) Definitely one of the most feared units in my arsenal. 12 twin-linked psycannon shots? Hells yeah! Even downs flyers with regularity. <_<

[spartan249]

._.;;

 

Welcome to the world of Grey Knights?

 

I personally like casting prescience on serious firepower to facilitate application of force. To me, storm bolters don't really qualify unless I'm up against a horde of perfectly spaced out boyz/gaunts, in which case they might be more effective.

[Gentlemanloser]

I face too much Eldar to usually use Psychic Powers. <_<

 

Bring on thier new codex! Now!

[Vash]

I've been attaching a psyker OM Inquisitor in TDA with a psycannon (and Prescience, obviously) to a combat squad of GKTs with 2 psycannons for most of 6th edition, and I have to say...

 

It is AWESOME. :) Definitely one of the most feared units in my arsenal. 12 twin-linked psycannon shots? Hells yeah! Even downs flyers with regularity. :lol:

I can second this setting. I favour the terminators, always have due to personal reasons, such as true GK in my eyes are clad in TDA.

I generally kill 8 3+ enemies each turn they fire. This is with psybolt ammunition though and 3 psycannons (inquisitor).

 

For my second unit that uses Prescience.

Henchmen with Coteaz. A really expensive unit really, but blows away a full unit of pretty much anything I target.

3 Acolytes with plasmaguns, 3 servitors with plasmacannons, 2 jokaeros, and 4 psykers (S6 AP3). With the aid of servo-skulls I usually get somthing within blasting range.

With this unit I usally get around 15 -17 hits on a full unit who doesnt clam together or sctter around with 2" to each other.

Problem with this unit is that it is my opponents main target. They usually die after 3 rounds. But by then the core of my army has reach the enemy gates.

[Brother Bobert]

I would love to run more SB Henchmen, I just struggle with what model to use. How do you model yours? I have tried modding a standard SM storm bolter, but they look ridiculous on an IG model.

 

Prescience rolls are amazing, with Pysbolts you pretty much guarantee 10-15 wounds in a 10man strike squad, without the psycannons!

 

My personal favourite usage;

 

10 x Purifiers (4 psycannons)

1 x Xenos Inquisitor with Rad Grenades, Power Armour, Power Sword, Psyker Lvl1

 

Its insane, and after shooting them to pieces, you get to assault them and rerolls all the misses in combat as well!

 

I've been up int he air for my SB henchmen. But I've found one build I like, the left model has a laspistol arm attached to two bolt pistols that have been shaved down together and greenstuffed. It ends up with a SB looking model that's the correct size for a IG sized dude. Guy on the right is an early attempt, just a GK wrist SB shaved down and put onto a lasgun arm.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/Ronnen/GEDC0842_zps69f7de7d.jpg

[Reclusiarch Darius]

Wow, nice work man. Mine look...less good than that haha

[Brother Bobert]

Wow, nice work man. Mine look...less good than that haha

Thanks, I tossed this little picture setup as a walk through. step 7 shows after some GS been added smoothing out the seam and rounding up the barrels.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/Ronnen/sbconvert_zps850e0dba.jpg

[saffo]

I love that kit bash! There is a similar one that I have seen that takes the space marine plasma and melta guns and fits it on the guardsman hand; I think you can buy them in packs for cheap directly from GW. They make great henchmen!

 

Not to digress to far from the original posters topic, I have a bunch of storm trooper models I want to use as henchmen with hot shot lasguns. Have any of you seen good success using prescience combined with hotshot lasguns in your henchmen squads? Is it noticeably better or just meh?

[Reclusiarch Darius]

The 18" range is a real problem. Not to mention you get half the raw shots output. AP3 is a nice touch but it takes a lot to get them into position and rapid-firing without dying first.

 

Storm bolters give you that extra stand-off range and more dakka, plus it is cheaper.

[sniperhavens]

How does Presience work with Coteaz' ''Ive been expecting you'' rule? Is he allowed to cast his power in the opponents turn?

[Brother Maikel]

How does Presience work with Coteaz' ''Ive been expecting you'' rule? Is he allowed to cast his power in the opponents turn?

 

He can't cast Prescience in the opponents' turn, but it lasts for a whole game turn so as long as he casts it in your turn it will still apply. So your stuck on the top of turn one if your opponent goes first, but otherwise you should have all the Prescience coverage you want.

[Reclusiarch Darius]

Yeah, the new psychic rules are a big help with all that 'who turn does it work in' circlejerks the internet loves. Blessings and Maledictions last entire game turns now, you just have to remember to keep casting in your turn to keep them up.