Leman Russ Allies

[L30n1d4s]

I keep looking at GK lists with IG allies and I keep coming back to this as one of the most lethal possibilities, as well as one which plugs a major "gap" in GK capability (i.e. long range anti-tank/anti-MEQ):

 

A Squadron of 2 bare-bones LRBTs cost 300 pts, has a range of 72", and fires 2 x S8 AP3 Pie Plates every turn. Obviously they ignore MEQ saves and worse and cause ID to anything T4. Additionally, being Ordnance, their S8 5" Blasts have a 66% chance of penetrating AV12 armor, making them a decent light-medium AT option.

 

Place them behind an Aegis line with Camo Netting (+40 points for both of them) and they get AV14 in the front with a 3+ cover save to boot. That means BS4 Lascannons fired at the front armor take over 13 shots, on average, to cause a single glancing hit, so they can be pretty survivable.

 

I think LRBTs really hit that "sweet spot" for GKs, giving them an asset that can deal with mass 3+ armor saves from Turn1, thereby freeing your Storm Bolters to either pulverize hordes of GEQs (a Strike Squad with Psybolts can kill an average of 11 GEQs per shooting phase, not taking cover into consideration) or torrent down small squads of TEQs (that same Psybolt Strike Squad can kill an average of 1-2 TEQs per shooting phase).

 

Combined with the aforementioned Aegis Line, you not only make your LRBTs much more surviveable, but you can put a 5 man GK Strike Squad to man the Icarus LC (solid AA platform) and activate Warp Quake, thereby deterring DSing melta squads that could really threaten your LRBTs (plus the Strike Knights are scoring, to help you hold that backfield objective).

 

I think the LRBT concept really synergizes well with an aggresive, "in-your-face" unit of either Terminators or Dreadknights.... even if the LRBT shots scatter, the AP3 won't hurt the TDA or DK armor and these units will absorb alot of the enemy attention, freeing the Leman Russes to use their terrific range and keep shooting all game long. Personally, my favorite option for this tactic is 2 DKs with Personal Teleporter and Greatsword.... Turn 1 they both shunt right into the enemy DZ and threaten critical enemy units while the LRBTs simultaneously drop Ordnance from afar.

 

A sample 2000 list using this concept might look like this:

 

HQ (180)

-Ordos Malleus Inquisitor with PML(1), PC, TDA

*Primaris Psyker

 

TR (600)

-10 GKSS with Psybolts, 2 Psycannon

-5 GKT with Psycannon

*10 IG Vets with 3 plasmas, 2 plasma pistols

 

FA (335)

-Stormraven

*Vendetta

 

HS (885)

-DK with PT, GS

-DK with PT, GS

*2 LRBTs with Camo Netting

-Aegis Line with Icarus LC

[Gentlemanloser]

IG. Best allies in 6th for *everyone*, and make everyones armies work.

 

Add a blob to the above and I think you've covered everything.

[IndigoJack]

I like the LRBT. It works well with mid field gun lines and leaves nowhere really safe for someone to hide. I don't fit one in every list, but I never regret it when I take one.

[Reclusiarch Darius]

Aye, IG are pretty baller as Allies. Leman Russes also cover something of a gap in our firepower, the 'long range blast of death' category. Nuking Marine squads isn't something we can't do with shooting, but a Russ can shell them from Turn 1 anywhere on the board, which is very nice.