Firestorm Redoubt

[RastlinD]

So I just picked up this fortification piece and with Stronghold assault book I think that it would make a pretty good addition to any army. For the point cost your get a bunker with firing point, 4 twin linked long rang lascannon shots that auto fire at flyers or the closer enemy model. Has any one had an experience with using this fortification piece yet? If so please give me some advice on it, thanks.

[Kilofix]

I asked about Fortifications in a separate post but since then have been field testing the FR on its own.

 

Here's my thoughts on it.

 

Not very good against ground forces for the points cost. Because said forces will usually hide from it, and while powerful, it only has a limited number of shots (relative to its point cost) that don't ignore cover. Maybe if you played on an open board or happen to have good LOS to a crucial objective it may make a difference, but then you could probably do better with other units anyway. It also doesn't help that your opponent can draw fire from it with an insignificant unit.

 

But, it is fantastic against flying units because, they usually can't hide from it and bringing down any flying unit is a big deal.

 

The other use I've found for it is to hide indirect fire Ordnance units behind it (because it is big enough to block LOS) and to equip it with at least one Punisher. The combo of Punisher, Las and whatever troops you can garrison in it will usually take care of whatever tries to get close enough to engage the Ordnance.

[Nusquam]

WHen stronghold came out I got that and a Redoubt. I've used it in 3 games so far and love it. The first game had sniper scouts in and on top of it. It did pretty well but wasn't amazing. An escape hatch got me an objective. The second game I had a lascannon dev squad inside and one on top. It did phenomenal. Magos Machine spirit and interceptor did work and those devs destroyed everything the looked at by the end of the game. Third game blew up a dread poised to multimelta it from interceptor. The first two games I had a voidshield generator with two TFC behind it. The third game I just bought barricades and wrapped it for a 4+ cover. The last two games I had an ammo store. Re-rolling 1's with lascannons was great.

 

A few things to note:

• Always buy a Magos Machine Spirit. Otherwise you're better off with VWB equipped with Quad-Icarus. BS3 is huge.
• Barricades for cheap defense, void shields for best defense. If you do take the generator position it behind the redoubt so the bubble is only milimeters from the front of the Redoubt. That way drop pod stern cant walk into the bubble.
• Escape hatches are devious. Place one close to an objective, or at least towards one, and zip over to it.
• There's not a lot of room up top. 5 tacs can barely fit on it.