Gabryel Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 I am heavily flirting withe the Basilisk and Medusa artillery pieces Forgeworld is offering. I really like the models, but for ~70 GBP I need to know if they are viable to play too. I imagine them being quite effective, being cheaper than the Basilisk tank and also able of receive orders! Major backdraw is they are immobile. Anyone has experience using them? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/313830-are-fw-heavy-artillery-pieces-useful-in-game/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
spafe Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 Kinda off topic but I believe there are a number of places to get alternatives/guides to convert a basilisk into these to save you some cash. Obvs if your liking those models/need official ones ignore me Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/313830-are-fw-heavy-artillery-pieces-useful-in-game/#findComment-4174893 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucien Eilam Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 Immobile isn't much of a drawback. How often do you move artillery anyway? You can always take a Trojan if you really want to move them. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/313830-are-fw-heavy-artillery-pieces-useful-in-game/#findComment-4174894 Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorFish Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 Yeah compared to the advantages being immobile isn't a steep price. The real issue is getting the models but there are creative ways to solve that :P Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/313830-are-fw-heavy-artillery-pieces-useful-in-game/#findComment-4174904 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW1 Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 Not sure why you'd not buy 2 bas and scratch build the mount. You then have the main bits of the tank to convert into something else. ;) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/313830-are-fw-heavy-artillery-pieces-useful-in-game/#findComment-4174965 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucien Eilam Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 Because you care what it looks like? The Forge World models are way beyond the average hobbyist's scratch-building skills. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/313830-are-fw-heavy-artillery-pieces-useful-in-game/#findComment-4174982 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW1 Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 With the basilisk kit you slot in the earthshaker platform to the tank. So if you assemble and paint it separately and don't stick it into the tank you can quite easily make a platform for it to sit and rotate on. Actually thinking about it the earthshaker sits on a platform already so it's just the supporting structure you need to make. It would be one of the easier 'conversions' of someone new to scratch building to try. Compared to buying the FW kit, you can get 2 kits with just under £10 change which is enough to get some plastic L-Beam or H-Beam to take most of the work out of the fabrication of the support. You also end up with 2 chassis which can then be used to make salamanders or other vehicle. I'm not knocking the kit which is well detailed and aesthetically pleasing. Just giving the other options which also have merit. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/313830-are-fw-heavy-artillery-pieces-useful-in-game/#findComment-4175054 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Median Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 I've used one in a game playing as heretics....well I say one...I actually mean 9. And they were brutal. As artillery they are really hard to kill cause all shoot attacks are against the toughness of the gun (7 if I remember correctly) and you only need 1 crewman to work it. So you can put all bar one crewman in front of the gun and remove them as casualties before the gun even gets touched. I did stop using them after a while cause it made it a little easy. But if you really want to grind your enemy into the dirt then go ahead and use em. As for the price tag I ended up making mine out a two tubes slotted into each other on a foam Base and a cardboard gun shield thing. I didn't intend to spend £630 on them when I could make them all for less than £10 Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/313830-are-fw-heavy-artillery-pieces-useful-in-game/#findComment-4175068 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jolemai Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 I'm guessing you'd plant these in a corner, but do you castle up there or simply deploy it with bubblewrap and deploy the rest of the force elsewhere? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/313830-are-fw-heavy-artillery-pieces-useful-in-game/#findComment-4175081 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoffeeGrunt Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 Maxmini do very good Siege Gun models that suit the Medusa, and it's a doddle to add a little plasticard pipe to make them into Earthshakers. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/313830-are-fw-heavy-artillery-pieces-useful-in-game/#findComment-4175093 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW1 Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 Evergreen do plastic tubing the exact diameters the earthshaker is. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/313830-are-fw-heavy-artillery-pieces-useful-in-game/#findComment-4175143 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Median Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 I just deployed them in a long line along the back of my deployment zone. I was using a horde army with about 200 infantry so the entire deployment zone was rammed full lol. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/313830-are-fw-heavy-artillery-pieces-useful-in-game/#findComment-4175146 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW1 Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 I just deployed them in a long line along the back of my deployment zone. I was using a horde army with about 200 infantry so the entire deployment zone was rammed full lol. I'd love to see a pic of that. Sounds so ... Imperial Guard!!! :tu: Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/313830-are-fw-heavy-artillery-pieces-useful-in-game/#findComment-4175198 Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pounder Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 I never use my Krieg without them. I have 2 Medusas and 3 Earthshakers, also 3 Heavy Mortars and a single Quadlauncher (Thuddgun). I usually put the Medusas on either flank depending on cover and deployment type. As Median said you can really rain down the pain, your opponent will find it difficult for the first 2 turns while you pop transports and just about any target you choose! On the models themselves, they're a beautiful kit and easy to assemble, the only problem I had was with one of the Earthshakers, the gun barrel was like a banana! A dip in hot water soon sorted that! They're great in game and look imposing on the table, I'd say go for it! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/313830-are-fw-heavy-artillery-pieces-useful-in-game/#findComment-4175229 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Caine 24th Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 You're right, being able to receive orders, i.e. ignore cover, is a big deal. My understanding is that 'vehicles' have a 'firing arc' and artillery as a non-vehicle do not. This is a big question, call me on it if I'm wrong. Deployment could be severely affected. 36" range isn't great, 48" is good, and the basilisk doesn't worry about it. Rate of fire may be an issue with a large squad. If you went for several artillery pieces you may want to consider how you'll prevent deep strikers from getting too close while not risking templates on your own men. Artillery in general is just surprisingly good these days in terms of toughness against shooting. T7 with a bunch of wounds and maybe an aegis is really fairly nasty aside from a list dedicated against it. Inquisition could be a great ally with servo skulls to help slow down infiltrators and improve accuracy, along with shennanigans like a psyoculum for BS10 against psykers. Divination could always help too. They are a delicate model, perhaps even more of a display piece. You may want to consider that. I've been thinking about getting more too, I just have one medusa carriage "little hanzel." I've long saw artillery as a great new model opportunity for the GW design team but it never seems to happen. As far as GW alternatives my two cents would be searching 21st Century Toys howitzers on eBay. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/313830-are-fw-heavy-artillery-pieces-useful-in-game/#findComment-4175409 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucien Eilam Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 My understanding is that 'vehicles' have a 'firing arc' and artillery as a non-vehicle do not. This is a big question, call me on it if I'm wrong. That's correct, but vehicles can pivot on the spot for free, so it needn't affect their shooting. It may mean presenting their side/rear armour to an enemy unit though. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/313830-are-fw-heavy-artillery-pieces-useful-in-game/#findComment-4175501 Share on other sites More sharing options...
librisrouge Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 Vehicles, in general, have a lot of negatives that every comperable unit type, monstrous creatures and artillery, do not have. That being said, ARTILLERY ROCKS! It is cheaper and tougher than the open toppped AV12 platform they normally come on. Morale becomes an issue, unless you're playing DKoK. Ld7 doesn't quite cover it so you're going to have to get a Commissar Lord or keep a Regimental Standard close by, or some other method of keeping the unit from heading for the hills the second something looks at them nasty. Their firepower is both cheap and nuts. I recommend that you proxy and give rapiers, medusas, quad mortars, and earthshakers all a try. All of the are great and have a place in the IG arsenal. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/313830-are-fw-heavy-artillery-pieces-useful-in-game/#findComment-4175536 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Median Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 All the above is very true. Cos the artillery isn't a vehicle then it doesn't have a facing as such so it can fire in and direction. I found deploying in units of 3 worked well. One in each corner and one in the middle and used them to fire into the opposite corner. The medusas are also brutal. They have that nasty ap that make things explode and terminators cry. The rapiers are in the same boat as well, cheap as chips and pack and real brutal punch. I never realised that you can use orders with them, I can imagine that with ignore cover they'll be totally op lol. The only problem with an artillery army is its not very exciting, everything gets pounded into the floor without ever having to leave your deployment zone. Taking a couple of inquisitors is also a good edition to any army. With good placement of servo skulls you can completely cover your deployment zone and most of the no man's land in the middle to deny deepstriking armies. Also if you wanna experience being "that guy" take level 1 psykic powers and roll on demonology. In an apoc game (vs an alliance of tau and eldar so any cheap trick and tactic was valid) I took 20 inquisitors who all rolled on demonology. First turn we rolled out 3 bloodthirsters and a couple of units of bloodletters. The look on their faces were priceless :^) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/313830-are-fw-heavy-artillery-pieces-useful-in-game/#findComment-4175631 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indefragable Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Modelling is one thing. From a gameplay perspective I am going in the direction of the FW artillery carriages for sure. T7 w/ 4 Wounds is a heck of a lot more survivable than 3HP with AV12. Mobility is not a huge concern because as so many have pointed out, how often do you really move your arty? They are also WAY cheaper (points, not cash!!!) at 75pts/ea vs 125/ea for Basilisks. For a battery of 3 you are saving almost a whole Infantry Platoon's worth. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/313830-are-fw-heavy-artillery-pieces-useful-in-game/#findComment-4176971 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabryel Posted September 21, 2015 Author Share Posted September 21, 2015 All valid points. But since I want to use them in a Tournament (FW is allowed) I may need to crack open the savings account... Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/313830-are-fw-heavy-artillery-pieces-useful-in-game/#findComment-4177117 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamansky Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 I met some heretics with mass-artillery on the table. That was no fun in the begining. I wish i had more veterans in Chimeras. Because 4 squads seemed not enough. My artillery was unable to hit those T7 crewmen hard. But fun returned when two Chimeras crossed the table. Double tank shock leveled heavy cannons and the rest was made rubbish in hand to hand. So i'm not really impressed. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/313830-are-fw-heavy-artillery-pieces-useful-in-game/#findComment-4177133 Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgfield79 Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Artillery works great, especially if you give the other player something else to shoot at... without proper "bubble wrap," one deepstriking termie squad will rip through all those open topped vehicles in a second. I don't really like the FW ones... i have a Colossus/Imperial Bombard -- and its pretty cool.. but they're much better suited for Apoc games. On the other hand, the Wyvern is just dirty... dirt cheap.. just so good. Best unit in the codex. Take 2x2 of those... 2x2x2 if you're feeling froggy... the 42" range is plenty for a normal game... reroll to hit, to wound.. chain your barrage blasts together... snipe characters... its just the best. Even termies will feel the pain if you force 20+ armor saves on them each turn. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/313830-are-fw-heavy-artillery-pieces-useful-in-game/#findComment-4177165 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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