Spartan vs. Caestus...

[Tychii]

To me the Cestus is a great option for a second wave unit, like say a vet squad or equivilent. Due to it maybe not coming on, and two getting blown out of e sky is scary. Over personally never liked deathstars and prefer to split my combat units over multiple squads for multiple threats.

 

if I was going to pick one to buy, I'd go Spartan as it is realiable and fits into any list without as much issue as a cestus.

Both are great, but the cestus is a bit more niche

[MorgothNL]

I've been using a Storm Eagle in my EC army since the beginning. 

It isn't as rugged as the Caestus but I'd use it in the same way, and for me, it works like clockwork.

 

I have a Anvillus Droppod coming in T1, with Eidolon, command squad and apothecary. The rest of my army is usually able to put enough pressure on the enemy, to not have him 'able' to focus everything he has on just the anvillus and then on Eidolon when it's destroyed. Eidolon and his squad are then in the middle of his army T2, meltabombing the biggest armour. 

T2 will see the Storm Eagle arrive (carrying Fulgrim + 5 phoenix guard). If things turned out OKish with Eidolon and the pressure of the rest of my list, the opponent now doesn't have the luxury to focus on something that just came on off the board edge. The Eagle now offers the mobility to bring Fulgrim wherever the need be T3. Meaning that 99% of the time, T3 will see Fulgrim EXACTLY where he wants to be, and the game normally goes ill for my enemy from there.

 

The Storm Eagle is very venerable compared to a Spartan (the Caestus is better that way). So I'd say the Caestus would function the same or better. 

 

I'm a full supporter of the extra mobility the flyers offer compared to a Spartan. T3 assault isn't a bad thing, cause against many armies there isn't much to assault yet T2 anyways (unless you have an anti-armour unit).

 

I have not faced another list using the Storm Eagle or Caestus yet, but always face the Spartans.. and I like it. I've gotten used to outmaneuver them.

 

 

My advice: if you want to use a Caestus, just use it. You will find a way to make it work. But, unlike with a Spartan you need to build your list around it. Make sure it isn't the only ace up your sleeve, but make sure the rest of the army makes the Caestus the deathblow once it unloads it's package T3.

 

 

I don't always use the EC ROW btw, but I do always make sure I have either the Maru Skara ROW, or that I give Fulgrim the benefit to reserve rolls. You DON'T want it to arrive T3 or T4.

I also always use it in hover mode. My first 2 games using it, it crashed and burned and I lost everything inside...  I'll never have this happen again. This is the only thing that I find to really suck. The Eagle and Caestus are flyers, but I'd never risk them zooming while my units are still inside.