Snipers

[Gentlemanloser]

I'd like to add a very small squad of Snipers as Allies to my GK.  I don't mind where they come from (well Imperial Armies!).

 

Is there any Imperial HQ that has the option to take a Sniper Rifle?

 

I'm hoping to add one to a small Troop choice squad of Snipers (or IG with Sniper Rifles), but ideally I'd like every mini in the unit to be armed with a Sniper Rifle.

 

I can't think of one, but am hoping I've missed something! ;)

[knife&fork]

Either way you will have to take one unit without snipers, (or at least a few models) no way around it. The good news is that one of the best option is also the cheapest (as far as marines go).

 

Dark Angels get a good deal on both sniper scouts and the divination Librarian as your mandatory HQ. 

 

For 205 pts you get 10 scouts with camo cloaks and sniper rifles, as well as a ML1 librarian. Many of the divination powers (including the primaris) are good buffs for unit of sniper scouts. The librarian has some neat upgrades as well, like the infravisor. 

[Gentlemanloser]

Ah yes! Nice! Thanks, that's probably the best solution!

Edit: The infravisor reduces the targets cover save by 1, doesn't it?

A small unit of 5 Snipers is enough for me. So building something like;

HQ: Librarian

Troop: 5 x Snipers, 5 x Camo Cloaks

Would be awesome.

[knife&fork]

Ah yes! Nice! Thanks, that's probably the best solution!

Edit: The infravisor reduces the targets cover save by 1, doesn't it?

A small unit of 5 Snipers is enough for me. So building something like;

HQ: Librarian

Troop: 5 x Snipers, 5 x Camo Cloaks

Would be awesome.

The infravisor ignores nightfight. The Auspex reduces cover but only to a single enemy unit within 12"

I'd really advice to take more than 5 snipers though, you'll get better value from the librarian since he can't buff your GK units and with a full squad rerolling hits you'll start to see some results vs monstrous creatures.

[thade]

Another option to consider: the SM vanilla codex allows you to take a Divination Librarian with Sniper scouts, also allowing you to take Telion and even a single scout with the delicious hellfire-round packing heavy bolter. (Actually, I'm not certain whether the DA codex allows the hellfire heavy bolter or not; perhaps it does?) If you just want all snipers, this is probably unnecessary, but it affords some interesting flexibility.

[MayorDaley]

Have you considered taking an IG Vet sqd, with a Primaris?  (BS4 with re-rolls.)

[Gentlemanloser]

Primaris doesn't get access to Divination, so no rerolls. :(

 

Thade, 'nilla Libbies are twice the cost of Dangle ones, and thier Scouts are more expensive.  I'm not sure that's a better option. ;)

[thade]

Primaris doesn't get access to Divination, so no rerolls.

Thade, 'nilla Libbies are twice the cost of Dangle ones, and thier Scouts are more expensive. I'm not sure that's a better option.

Twice? I'm not very familiar with the DA codex; are their libbies substantially weaker in some other way from the vanilla Librarian? Scouts may be more expensive as you're paying for potential flexibility (and to a degree, probably some codex creep)...so if you use them at all it would be to get a hellfire bolter into the mix. And possibly Telion. Can DA Scouts take all of the options Vanilla can? Shotguns, a power fist, a combi, etc.? I wonder if you're paying for in the DA dex is cheaper because they're more pigeonholed? Less flexible? A silly choice in the light of other options? Competing for things other than tactical marines in the Troops slot?

A lot of stuff in each codex is priced in the context of what else you can buy along with it (not counting Allied shenanigans). The easiest example I can think of is that BA storm shields are more expensive than vanilla, because you can easily get them FNP and Furious Charge. This is the same reasoning that BA Captains can't get Artificer Armor. That's something to consider when weighing two codecies against one another.

[Gentlemanloser]

Well maybe not twice. ;)  Can't recall of hand the cost of a nilla libby, been ages since I read the dex.  But they're not 65 points. ;)

 

Ca't remember all the options for Scouts in either Dex, but as i'm only really after the Snipes (and I'm a little OCD and like my units to all have the same weapons...  where possible! :P), I'm not too worried about flexibility.

[thade]

Vanilla codex librarians are 100 points, vet stat lines but with +1wound and +1WS. Pretty sure that's it, along with their selection of powers. They can also take TDA w/ SS at 155...which can make for a fun surprise should anybody manage to get to them. My terminator libby has killed just under a dozen dreadnoughts in single combat. Good memories that.

 

I'm guessing the DA librarians are to Vanilla librarians what BA chaplains are to vanilla chaplains? Barring the elephant in the room: BA chaplains are Elites, not HQs. (Reclusiarchs are HQs.) I wonder what the difference is. Is there something like a "Reclusiarch" for DA libbies? Do DA Epistolaries have different stat lines from Codicers? That'd be an interesting throwback to older codecies. Like the way the Grand Master and Brother Captain were once listed, if memory serves.

[Gentlemanloser]

I have the stats on a spreadsheet at work. ;)

[Brother Maikel]

DA Libbies are HQ options and have the same stat line as C:SM or C:BA libbies.  They have more options for wargear (except they can't take Storm Shields), another Warlord table option, and every Psychic discipline except Biomancy.  ML2 is only +35pts.

 

DA Scouts have the same wargear options as BA Scouts (no Hellfire shells).  Missile Launchers are a little more expensive, Heavy bolter and camo cloaks are a little cheaper, you don't have to pay for veteran status for the sergeant, and even if you do the scouts themselves are a little cheaper.

 

@Thade, my guess is that the DA libbies are cheaper because they're priced for 6th edition, where offensive powers automatically grant a Deny the Witch, Psychic hoods aren't nearly as powerful, and psychic powers are random.  The scouts are probably cheaper because of the changes to cover, along with the general trend of making infantry models cheaper in 6ed codices.  Until C:SM gets a 6ed codex, and unless you want the C:SM libby powers, DA are just plain cheaper.

[thade]

What you say does make sense...but if it's true, it's a bummer, haha. :) Cheers for that analysis. It really is a staggering difference if the DA codex is otherwise better all around.

[Brother Bobert]

It all depends what you're looking for in snipers, IG can give you 3 units containing snipers, like 17 rifles in total for about 335. Everthing with cammo cloaks so relying on the cover.  At the same time scout sniper squads from DA are 20pts cheaper then from C:SM or BA

[Sigvard]

Dare I suggest you use the strained ties the Inquisitors of the Ordo Xenos have created and delve into a tenuous relationship with the Eldar. Their new HQ IIlic Nightspear and Eldar Rangers are an exceptional choice for Sniper troop?