Thunderhawk Transporter

[Volth]

Has anyone ever made a Thunderhawk Transporter work? It is one of the few superheavies that would fit into a game of 2000 pts.

 

First thought would be two Demolishers or Predators as load. Get in from reserves, take punishment, next turn unload and do good damage. That's almost 700 points for the tanks getting wrecked probably in the next round. Seems pretty weak. Maybe a deathstar in a Spartan would rock ..leaving not much more minimal troops and HQ.

 

Is there any case the Thunderhawk ever had good use in a game up to 3000pts?

[Hesh Kadesh]

To paraphrase, no, nobody has, and nobody will. Not at that cost. 

[AlphariusOmegon108]

well, a buddy of mine owns one, and this is something I said while playing a 5000pts game against him 2 weeks ago:

"Did you really just drop a spartan full of 10 firedragon terminators, Vulkan AND a primus medicea in the middle of my army? Really? REALLY? *Removes Ferrus, 20 veterans and 20 medusan breachers the next turn because of the unexpected enemy spartan in the middle of my army*"

[Hesh Kadesh]

Where was your Strength D? It can't assault on the turn it arrives, doesn't arrive until Turn 2 anyway (so Turn 3 assaults) and if it's dropping in the middle of your army, at 5000 points, there should be around 2-3 S10 AP1 Large Blasts or Strength D knocking about there.

[WolfOfHorus]

LOL, your assuming Apocalypse battles are competitive.

[Hesh Kadesh]

*Looks at thread*

*Looks at section*

 

I'd have assumed that we're looking at getting more out of units than a beer and pretzels game where the result doesn't matter. Using a 5000pt game as an example into a units effectiveness is not particularly useful for tactics. 

 

"LOL"

[WolfOfHorus]

*Looks at thread*

*Looks at section*

 

I'd have assumed that we're looking at getting more out of units than a beer and pretzels game where the result doesn't matter. Using a 5000pt game as an example into a units effectiveness is not particularly useful for tactics.

 

"LOL"

Neither is wondering why someone doesn't have large amounts of AP2 Str 10 or Str D for a casual game like Apocalypse.

 

The Transporter is just another collectors piece, much like the Thunderhawk.

[Hesh Kadesh]

And hence, we come round full circle to the point at hand. Someone was able to make a use out of it, because they weren't bringing any powerful models capable of taking out a Spartan, Primarch and Firedrakes which is sat around for a turn.

 

I didn't realise that playing Apocalypse meant that you were instantly forced to choose units which were completely ineffectual? I like Apocalypse games because I can bring as much heavy guns as I want, and just removing swathes of enemies. Wondering why Typhons, Gravitons, and Plasma aren't available in a Legion list is like asking why an Eldar army is made up entirely of Storm Guardians.

 

In regards to "large amounts"; eh, at 2000pts, 6 Grav Shots, a Typhon and 3 Meltacannons are a typical baseline of most builts, and should be capable of taking out nearly 1200pts worth of models.

 

One thing I'm not a fan of on this site is the holier than thou attitude casual players or themed players (or even worse, the white knights for those players) seem to take when faced with people asking legitimate tactical questions in the specific gaming and tactical sections. There is not a problem with playing themed armies etc, but when a question comes regarding a units tactical validity in the tactical sections is asked, and then simultaneously answered by being a 400pt tax to Deep Strike a Land Raider in the same turn that it would normally be allowing units to assault had it just driven there, or answered by it being a 400pt tax to a pair of vehicles that can no longer shoot until 2nd turn at best, it is pretty self explanatory. 

 

Thanks.

[WolfOfHorus]

The game arguably falls apart balancing wise after 2000 points hence why they reccomend Apocalypse rules for 30k. That is why I call it casual.

 

I enjoy themed armies as long as it is not to the detriment of effectiveness of list itself. That said, you are spot on with observations about those two types of players, they either deliberately hamstring themselves with large mediocre units then complain on the internet why they can't win or simply use no tactics because they choose to rarely play and hence have no experience.

 

My question to you is you advocate those three different units in the majority of your posts, while I don't disagree with their effectiveness I personally would be bored of the usage of them.

[Slips]

Ill say that the only time I feel a TH transporter is a worthwhile investment -even in Apoc games- is when your playing on a VEEEERRRY large table and have no real set limit on the amoubts of turns; very much the uber casual game that you and your buddies would play over the course of a weekend.

 

And even then, youd probably want more than a Single Thunderhawk of any type so that when you do drop them in, its not the one TH and its cargo who WILL get vaped off the board instantly.

 

Were talking at least 2 Regular THs loaded up with peeps, probably a Loaded up Stormbird or two to boot and 2+ Transporters carrying loaded Spartans and/or other tanks; very much flying a whole army onto the board.

 

But, at that point, you run the risk of potentially being up against 2+ Warlords.

 

As it stands, a single Transporter is pretty meh. Even a regular thunderhawk with a turbolaser is pretty meh in 1v1 non-apoc games since a Warhound would perform better for its points.

 

At 2k points, a transporter would essentially be a handicap more than anything.

[Marshal Loss]

I don't think Thunderhawk Transporters ever have a use. Even the non-transport version is pretty bad when you compare it to other super heavies for the cost

[Tychii]

Now, if I could transport two super heavys, 2 Spartans, or three land raiders, then we would be talkin ;")

[Dono1979]

The game arguably falls apart balancing wise after 2000 points hence why they reccomend Apocalypse rules for 30k. That is why I call it casual.

 

I enjoy themed armies as long as it is not to the detriment of effectiveness of list itself. That said, you are spot on with observations about those two types of players, they either deliberately hamstring themselves with large mediocre units then complain on the internet why they can't win or simply use no tactics because they choose to rarely play and hence have no experience.

 

My question to you is you advocate those three different units in the majority of your posts, while I don't disagree with their effectiveness I personally would be bored of the usage of them.

 

Well actually the game is quite stable at 2,000 points and beyond and they dont recommend Apocalypse rules until something like 3,500 points. In fact they dont recommend using the Dark Age rules UNTIL 2,000 points. 

[Theredknight]

I think one option it could be useful for, apart from dropping a spartan possibly. Is the ability to drop 2 rhino sized chassis.

Dropping 2 las vindis and setting up on good ground on a flank could be fairly good no?

I dunno, just grasping to see if it has an actual use..

That or a spartan with las destroyers full of quad mortars for optimal firing position?

2 melta preds or plasma preds?

Problem is you have to end your zooming turn where you want, as you have to be stationary on the turn you disembark, which Id imagine doesn't add up. They are on mag grapples, so would have a quick drop system like rl.

[Hesh Kadesh]

Not really.

 

Comes on turn 2 at best (requiring one of three options to not mitigate that, priced at between 70-100pts). A Sons of Horus one, carrying something like a centurion, or some other cheap squad can get a reroll of a 1, but that's not really a guarantee, but when that comes on, the Vindi TD coming on Turn 2 is deployed, and now can't properly shoot until Turn 3, because it otherwise only get a TL'd Lascannon shot. Not really worth it, for 2 Heavy Support Slots, your Lord of War, and some other reroll; let's call that 745 for a unit which can't shoot until Turn 3.

 

Having powerful units is only good when they're in play. Certain units do better in reserve, and that's because they're resilient as heck, and the longer they stay alive the more they do for your army. Units with high damage output need to get in play ASAP, especially when they're expensive.

[Theredknight]

Sorry, I thought we were talking about apocalypse, in a standard game they are way not worth it.

I'm talking 10k per side games, and even then, Id rather take a titan.

I agree with points on a board. Really it needs to be guaranteed t1. And able to hover to drop in normal drop rules, not those in the book.

If it could drop 2 sicarans maybe.

People play differently, maybe they would like to do that. Personally I wouldn't.

[Slips]

Maybe if you were playing Large, Multi-Table games where there are sections of Empty Space Between Tables, MAYBE a TH Transporter would be useful in a game then so that you can go over the void instead of around.

 

...but yeah, how many times does one play on such a Grandiose Apoc-Sized Table?

[Dono1979]

 

...but yeah, how many times does one play on such a Grandiose Apoc-Sized Table?

 

Once every month or two.... but then I am lucky, we have a big Apoc community.

[Slips]

 

 

...but yeah, how many times does one play on such a Grandiose Apoc-Sized Table?

 

Once every month or two.... but then I am lucky, we have a big Apoc community.

 

Yes you are :( I wished I was so lucky.

[ImpiousSmart]

It'd be interesting if certain units, such as this, had additional campaign rules which gave them uses in such.

 

I.e., airborne transports allowed additional reinforcements in subsequent battles (assuming they survive), as they could go between supply points in between skirmishes. Thus an army with a Thunderhawk Trasnport could say add a rhino chassis vehicle at X turn in the next battle.

 

I dunno, some more rules to give them some degree of usefulness.

[Jolemai]

So, I have a question. Is anyone going to miss it now it's no longer available? :(

 

It's one of those units that I've always wanted, but there's always been something else with a higher priority. As for what to do with it, loading it up and pressuring a flank with units that synergise well with each other is arguably the most mainstream usage for it.

[Dono1979]

So, I have a question. Is anyone going to miss it now it's no longer available?

It's one of those units that I've always wanted, but there's always been something else with a higher priority. As for what to do with it, loading it up and pressuring a flank with units that synergise well with each other is arguably the most mainstream usage for it.

Yeah I am pretty gutted that I missed it, I was saving up to buy two to run flanking my Gunship for the Apoc games