Rifleman vs Plasma Dreadnought

[dothac83]

I've been using the Rifleman Dreadnought for my army for about a couple months now, and it's not getting the results I've been reading on forums (could also be attributed to bad dice rolls).

 

I was thinking of switching over to the Plasma Cannon/Heavy Flamer loadout and wondered if anyone has used that one with better or worse results?

[Kilofix]

I think the availability of Divination would have a some impact on that decision. Without it I tend to stick with AC but that's only because I've had some truely unlucky incidents with Plasma.

 

Also, btw Plasma blasts are not as 'large' as you'd think they would be.

Edit - More context to the above sentence: As in, Plasma usually doesn't hit as many models as I hope it would.

[Karack Blackstone]

Most enemies are going to be spread out if they see even a single PC on one of your models; that also said, the AC is up to four guarenteed hits, whereas a PC is possibly going to hit one, maybe two models most of the time.  Unless you're hunting something pretty much just deploying from a transport, which doesn't really happen any more, odds are not good of PC shots hitting that many models.

 

Also, there's the following:

 

PC:

 

- PC has the Gets Hot! USR (Universal Special Rule)

- PC is Str 7, AP2, will typically hit 2 models on average

- One shot, one chance, one scatter, albeit it is at full BS, usually 4

- Ven Dreads are pretty hard to upgrade to, and pretty much a requirement to have a reliable PC platform on a Dread of any type.

- Lose one HP on the above mentioned Gets Hot after a d6 check when firing; 1 in 6 chance of overheating, 3 of 6 chance of confirming the hit unless BS 6.

 

AC:

 

- 4 shots, Str 6, AP 4

- Average of 3 hits, better average than the PC

- Lower AP, however, Str 7 typically is not enough to push into Str 8, ID is not going to occur on MEQ forces in this case

- The gun will never jam in the current edition, and will not overheat

- Reliable, albeit not quite often enough is done with the AP 4, thus likely your question.

 

All in all, LF's with up to 5 PC's is the safer bet, despite losing a model if one overheats and fails their 3+; it's actually more likely to occur on the Dread or Ven Dread, oddly enough.

 

LF:

 

- 1 in 6 to OH

- 3+ to Save

 

Dread (both)

 

- 1 in 6 to OH

- 4+ to negate the HP damage

 

So, what's my advice?  The arm you want is more likely to be the one that fits the role of your Dread in the force.  Hunting things with a PC is hard, and takes quite some skill.  More adept opponents will spread out, effectively reducing the chance of a hit with the PC; that said, the AP 4 of an AC is also a pain.

 

Need a Dread to hunt flyers?  Dual TLAC all the way

Need something to pop tanks?  DP MM / DCCW should be a real pain for the foe to stop lightly

Troop killer?  Well, that's the thing, the rules rather nerfed the anti-MEQ Dreads

[DanPesci]

the only time i tend to take plasma dreads is against my housemates dark angels, as chances are at some point he is going to be deepstriking in termiators that are all going to stand in one big blob (think the best i managed was killing 5 deathwing with one shot).

 

The other way to use them would be to try and wreck transports first, causing things to disembark within the trasnports footprint, and THEN plasma cannon them. Good for rhino's filled with marines..not so goo for much else...

 

these days, id either go TLAC, or take MM/H.Flamer/Drop Pod

[Grey Mage]

Id disagree on that idea that Vendreads are needed to run Plasmacannons. As its a scatter weapon its going to hit 1/3 of the time, and then the BS 4 keeps it on target fairly often, keeping the scatter quite manageable... honestly, I wouldnt bother on the points investment for a vendread for a PC in fifth, and that certainly didnt change in 6th. 

Melta on the other hand....

 

*cough* Ahem, regardless, if I was going to be bringing a dread to the battle these days, itd be a MM and HF in a DP. Roast some infantry, eviscerate a vehicle, cause chaos and disarray in their backfield for a turn or two for about 150pts. 

For a PC Dread ... well, sure, if youre going to hide behind an aegis, Id certainly use it for a bit and see how it goes.... but I think its a poor investment compared to Long Fangs for a single plasmacannon shot. Thus Id be inclined to take the Rifleman over it, simply because it brings a different kind of firepower to the table than the old guys do... even so, its hard to justify based on the price anymore if youre gunlining it, and the rifleman has never done well as a DPing Dread.

 

For DPs I go AC+HF or MM+HF, every time.