IG infantry platoon idea

[Hyphont]

Hello Bolter & Chainsword IG forum!

 

Some time ago (~4 years ago) I came into the ownership of some delightfully familiar old models to some of us more seasoned players; a picture for those who wonder what I'm refereeing too:

 

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i99/Zerhou/40k-General/squatswiththudgunampautocannon_zps3eccd216.jpghttp://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i99/Zerhou/40k-General/squatbikers_zpsbf3886e6.jpg

 

In short, 41 squats, 5 bikers, 1 trike, 1 commissar, one auto cannon, and a thud gun.

 

Now I was thinking of stripping there auto guns off, and making them into an IQ infantry platoon, or perhaps veteran squads, going to have to look at my old squat codex to see where they would better fit fluff wise, however I'm leaning more toward platoon because of the number of models I have.

 

The question I post to our fine community is that do you think that most gaming groups would have a problem with me fielding them as with the newer "true line of site" rules that players may think I have an unfair advantage with how short the squat models are, they are however not much shorter then the kneeling guardsmen models if I remember right, I should of thought to photo them next to said model.  They also may have issues seeing over some cover based terrain such as aegis defense lines.

 

Also do you think the thud gun could fill in for a hydra flak gun, I haven't seen actual thud guns get used to much in recent editions.

 

Thanks~

[Leonaides]

Use the Thud gun as a Thunderfire maybe for some SM allies? I think the height issue is a fairly even pro/con thing as you identify - easier coevr saves/harder to draw TLOS to your units, but your units will be unable to see over some terrain that a normal IG model would be fine with.

[WarriorFish]

Line of sight would be an issue but it's a simple matter to use a bit of common sense and calculate where a normal Guardsman model would stand. You should definitely confirm how you'll work it before the game with your opponent to prevent any complications just in case :)

 

Your collection of Squats is pretty nice, I like the collection of Lasguns you've got ready too. I used to have the same Chessex dice too but I retired them due to a disproportionate number of 1s rolled...

[Hyphont]

Line of sight would be an issue but it's a simple matter to use a bit of common sense and calculate where a normal Guardsman model would stand. You should definitely confirm how you'll work it before the game with your opponent to prevent any complications just in case

Your collection of Squats is pretty nice, I like the collection of Lasguns you've got ready too. I used to have the same Chessex dice too but I retired them due to a disproportionate number of 1s rolled...

I have too semi-retired that set of dice, I use them as "loaners" for the same exact reason. They also do OK at mass lasgun firing, as the oddly numinous 1's are not out of proportion with your normal hit rolls. basically I'll chuck 38 dice, 7-10 of them will be ones and about 16-20 usually hit. I had a pink and black Chessex dice set I used to match my Deathwing.... retired too... many ones on terminator armor saves.

[Grotsmasha]

For TLoS, model a comms guy in each squad with his antenna at the correct height for a guardsman, alternatively, have a LoS model on hand that is placed next to the unit whilst LoS is being determined.

 

Miss the squats, I do..... :'(

 

Cheers,

Jono

[dadieau]

Wow, I am amazed that that most of the response here is that you could figure out where the heads should be. I played in a tourney a few years back against a guy that used the Squats as vets in a Mech army. They were way cool looking. I don't think there is enough difference to worry about. I think anyone who says you are modeling for advantage is just looking for one themselves.

[Kierdale]

If I played against you I really wouldn't mind about the height issue.

As others have said you may be able to hide behind low cover easier but you won't be able to shoot over it.

Plus...minus...zero.

 

Very much looking forward to seeing these boys done!

I'm converting some Dwarves into Squat snipers as I don't like the current Ratling models myself.

[Hyphont]

Thanks for all the support.  I figured most people wouldn't mind, I just wanted to get a broader thought base before moving ahead with the slight conversion, may need to scrounge up a few more lasguns to finish.  I did take one more picture to show a squat next to a kneeling guardsmen for height comparison:
 
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i99/Zerhou/40k-General/squat2gaurd_zps9be5040e.jpg

 

Not to far off it seems.  I wont post the conversion process in this thread, as 1: I'm working on my DA army at the moment and that is consuming all my extra modeling time, and 2: wrong place for it, i'll drop it in the WIP/hall of honor sections when I get to it.

[Veteran Sergeant]

Squats are awesome. I feel like there is some legitimacy to an argument that it gives you an "advantage", but at the same time, anyone who argues against the sheer awesometasticity of Squats is a bad person anyway. And any cover advantage you get works against you in return for shooting back, technically.

My suggestion is to shorten the lasguns down somewhat so they will look more properly sized in the hands of the Squats.  Something like these, perhaps?  

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2010/2/19/84090_sm-Lasguns-plan.jpg

[FashaTheDog]

I use a Squat Adventurer as Marbo and his height has always been more of a disadvantage than boon.  The GW ruins completely block his line of sight so I have to have him pop out in the open or at best in "clear" area terrain for a 5+ cover save.  Not once have I ever been able to get a 4+ cover save on him because the terrain either blocks him completely or not at all, he's so short.  My other Squats typically suffer from the same problem, but on occasion they do find terrain low enough to peek their heads over for that 4+ cover they need.  So if your foe feels you are looking for an unfair advantage and complains point out how that Aegis Defense Line is too tall for your biker midgets to see over.  Either that or you can model up some boxes for your models to stand on, which would be hilarious when your opponent whines that you modeled for advantage only for you to break out a bunch of tiny boxes to bring them to Cadian height.

[dadieau]

I really like the idea of boxes (not that I think there is a need). But the thought of an army of Squats all standing on boxes tickles me pink!

[Hyphont]

I may just run with the box idea.  See if I can find some cheep battlefield extra bits, or scrounge some stuff out of the depths of my IG bit box.  I would magnetize them of course.  Just for the extra added hilarity of it.

 

"Your dudes are too short you meta gamer!"

 

*removes squat from base, places box down, squat on top*

 

"Happy now, power gamer?"

 

EDIT: I haven't looked very closly in a bit, but I remember the lasguns I have on hand, being about the same size as the autoguns they were normally equipped with.  However I think the Lascarbine (I have like 2) would look best on them.