Casteus Assault Ram

[henrywalker]

I'm getting an assault ram in a trade and i was wondering what sort of tactics you guys would use with it. I have a logan wing and a normal SW army

[Thunderhawk3015]

Between its ram, melta cannon, and transport capacity, its a decent multi purpose flyer in a higher points game IMO so I'd used it without resevation.  In smaller games I'd use it as an alternate for transporting a Loganwing unit or for special delivery of an assault unit in a normal force if it was reasonable to expect it to preform a function in that lists design. 

[Thornoo1]

If you are currently using a landraider in your list its an automatic switch. Av 13 flyers are almost non existent so have a great advantage as almost all AA is str 7. Being an assault vehicle is gravy as the melta can open almost any transport in the game before you hit them in assault. I'd go as far as saying its the best marine flyer around.

[henrywalker]

so just to be sure i've got the rules right in my head. It MUST start in reserves. then it comes on in term 2/3/4 but units can't disembark as its not hovering. then turn 3/4/5 the flyer can go into hover mode and the unit can disembark and assault. 

its not great that i definitely won't be in combat till turn three and they might not even be on the board till turn 5. But i guess it would be a good killing blow in a drop pod logan wing army. after two turns of 5 man squads coming down with drop pods and tying things up the ram (hopefully) comes down with logan and his deathstar to overrun the position. the flyer is then free to go and destroy any tanks or mech or pretty much anything it fancies. 

[Thunderhawk3015]

Must start in reserve unless you have the Stronghold Assault upgraded Skyshield in the list.  As for how it comes in, P81 of the rulebook bottom right corner, "...if the flyer arrives from reserve, you must declare which type of movement it is using ..."  It can come in hovering, counting as a fast skimmer, so its still got a lot of distance it can go.  Generally speaking on a 3+ to come in odds are it will be in on turn 2 thus letting it blow up stuff on turn of arrival, then whatever is in it will proceed to disembark and unload a beating.

[Thornoo1]

Must start in reserve unless you have the Stronghold Assault upgraded Skyshield in the list.  As for how it comes in, P81 of the rulebook bottom right corner, "...if the flyer arrives from reserve, you must declare which type of movement it is using ..."  It can come in hovering, counting as a fast skimmer, so its still got a lot of distance it can go.  Generally speaking on a 3+ to come in odds are it will be in on turn 2 thus letting it blow up stuff on turn of arrival, then whatever is in it will proceed to disembark and unload a beating.

 

You can not assault out of reserves.  So turn 3 it is.  But the mobility, and also the old WHFB concept of points denial makes up for this.

[Sohail187]

There is only one way of using the assault ram. Turn you arrive make sure you ram in the movement phase, as its a STR10 hit and u roll 2 dice and pick the highest for Arm pen. thenn melta a target. Turn 3 if you position your self correctly lower speed go for the most important unit or target disembark and charge! or multi charge. 

I normally have Logan + RP+ 4-5 termies if its a big game 8 termies. Disembark multi assault 2-3 units if possible with precience and that turn you use logans + attack to all models in 18 inch'es and watch the bodies hit the floor. 

[DanPesci]

There is only one way of using the assault ram. Turn you arrive make sure you ram in the movement phase, as its a STR10 hit and u roll 2 dice and pick the highest for Arm pen. thenn melta a target. 

 

can you fire after ramming? I didnt think you could. or is that a rule the caestus or flyers get in general?

[Sohail187]

well ramming is done in the movement phase, and if you check the tank shock / ram restrictions it does not say you cannot shoot. 

[Grey Mage]

Just... dont try to use it as an AA platform. Thats really its one failing.

[Sohail187]

I wanted to originally use my fireraptor to protect my ground troops, but now its released it does not have the quad auto cannons on the side sponsons! :( only heavy bolters which sucks :(

[Thunderhawk3015]

I wanted to originally use my fireraptor to protect my ground troops, but now its released it does not have the quad auto cannons on the side sponsons! :( only heavy bolters which sucks :(

Correct me f i'm wrong here but doesn't it have a twin linked avenger bolt cannon on the front and something s7+ in the missile department? I don't have the latest official FW marine book but if memory serves at least with the experimental rules the side batteries could be replaced with autocannon mounts.

 

Edit:

Upon review of the FW FAQ for IA2 2nd ed it appears there was an omission to the Fire Raptor entry they are allowed to take autocanons

[DanPesci]

well ramming is done in the movement phase, and if you check the tank shock / ram restrictions it does not say you cannot shoot. 

 

cool, not sure if that used to be different in older versions, or if im just getting confused in my old age :D 

[Rune_Priest_Rhapsody]

You got a C.A.R. in a trade??!! Where you offering your first born child in this transaction??!! ;)

Good for you henrywalker!! Nice score.

 

I will be using mine (if and when I get it) for plunging my Loganwing into the enemies heart. A list using drop pods, long fangs, and this thing bristling with angry space vikings with big guns and crackling weapons, is bound to ruin most anyone's day!! Perfection.

 

Good luck with it, I've heard they are also an absolute pain in the ass to assemble!!

 

End of Line

[Honda]

Re: Assembly - Actually, it's not that difficult a kit to put together. What is extremely important is that you pin the wings to the fuselage, otherwise you'll be gluing them back on every time you use it for the rest of your life.

 

I love mine to death and there are very few things that look cooler on the table than the Caestus.

 

I think you're going to like playing with it a lot.

 

Regarding whether or not you can shoot after ramming, short answer is "yes". I posed a question on this in AMICUS a little while back, because to my way of thinking, before you ram something, you'd like that awesome Magna-cannon to vapourize as much of the target as possible. However, that's not how the rules work, so ram first, back up a little and give them a big squirt of magma, then unload.

 

I primarily use my magma cannon to kill anything in front of my Caestus...and it does an excellent job of that. :)

[Rune_Priest_Rhapsody]

It's funny you bring that up, Honda. I had only heard through hearsay about it being this warped, clunky kit full of frustration. But after posting that last comment of mine, I went on youtube and watched multiple videos on it. Turns out, it's looks very simple and requires very little additional work.

 

Now if I only had an 'extra' $160 lying around...

 

End of Line

[Honda]

 

Now if I only had an 'extra' $160 lying around..

 

I would say that's the root cause for all the dissatisfaction in our hobby. :)

[skeletoro]

Hmm, the assault ram is showing up as out of stock on forge world's site. That is weird, I don't think I have ever seen that before.

[stinkenheim]

Don't think they used to advertise things as out of stock. I placed an order years back and had to wait a good month or so to get it, when I asked them about what was delaying the order they said that some of my items were currently out of stock.