Baal Predator; tactics and which version works best?

[evildrcheese]

I did not buy dozer blades, but will be in the future!

 

EDC

[Dont-Be-Haten]

As a general rule I stay away from terrain as I've immobilized my Land raider Turn 1, and lesson was learned.

[LutherMax]

Yeah to be honest that's the approach I take since it happen to me (albeit just a rhino). In my group we always make sure there is tank space between terrain. Opponents can still choose to block you, of course...

[Tyriks]

Isn't that what tank shock is for?

[LutherMax]

Ha! Yeah I guess!

[evildrcheese]

The trouble is that when you're up against mass multiple missile pods which auto hit side armour and don't require line of sight you need a cover save...

 

Also because of the mission (Big Guns Never Tire) my Baal would've given up a victory point if destroyed so giving it all the protection it can get was necessary.

 

EDC

[Bukimimaru]

I played against a Tyranid / Genestealer cult on Friday.

My Flamer Baal pred was my MVP by far. It took about about 3x 7-man squads of Genestealers and a whole mob of the cultists.

[Charlo]

Using AV against Nids just feels unfair but nice!

[Bukimimaru]

Using AV against Nids just feels unfair but nice!

Those guys can deploy within 2" of me and charge the turn they arrive! I'd be mad not to take drop pods and tanks. lol

[Dont-Be-Haten]

So what are we thinking as far as re-working gear. Are we thinking that dozer blades should be mandatory on the flame storm Variant? Or is this more of a generalized preference that all tanks should be upgraded with dozer blades?

[Bukimimaru]

I never pay the points for dozer blades, aside from Vindicators, who always get siege-shields.

[NTaW]

I play on a terrain heavy board every time and rarely pay the points for dozer blades. Pretty much never really. That being said it really matters what type of terrain there is and how much LoS it blocks vs. how much it makes you drive through it.

[Dont-Be-Haten]

I play on a terrain heavy board every time and rarely pay the points for dozer blades. Pretty much never really. That being said it really matters what type of terrain there is and how much LoS it blocks vs. how much it makes you drive through it.

My Cousin always pays for them on all his bawkses. He drives through the muck and always seems to grab 5+ minimum. We play with loads of trees and ruins, every-so-often we bring out the canyon and craters board with loads of LoS and impassable terrain. I'm leaning for a less biased roll here, one where I can go in blind and play a pick up game, not knowing the terrain in advance, or at least let it be random.

 

As I prefer heavy bolters so I can still flat out and shoot at something outside of 8.5" The dozer blades added on starts making those lovely Baal Preds get pricey. 

[NTaW]

Vehicles need to be obscured by the terrain, not necessarily in it. I've never really had a problem skirting cover and maintaining the save without having to take many terrain tests so for me I've always seen the points better spent elsewhere. If you're having trouble with terrain then by all means the few points it costs would be worth it in your lists.

[Jolemai]

You also need to take into account that tanks (more so Rhinos than Baals) are often used to grab Objectives and these are rarely out in the open.

[Dont-Be-Haten]

They don't have to be obscured in the citadel woods anymore, in the FAQ//questions; even if they  are not 100% in area terrain they gain the cover save. It has been like this for 2-3 editions now right? That's how it has been since 5th. Let me see if I can find it.


BRB pg. 184-191 all defining battlefield terrain give cover saves regardless if the model is 25% obscured or not.

Edit: The way we've always played it is if your model or tank is in area terrain they always benefit from a 5+ cover save unless otherwise measured. If the tank is not in area terrain but obscured behind a building//ruins// etc. it gains the cover save as per the rules given on page 77 of the BRB.

Double Edit: re-reading the second bullet overrules me. But we mostly play with citadel battlefield terrain and so the interpretation is off.

[NTaW]

You also need to take into account that tanks (more so Rhinos than Baals) are often used to grab Objectives and these are rarely out in the open.

 

They can be, but my lack of dozer blades have never stopped me from achieving such goals even of heavy terrain tables. Merely noting that they aren't always necessary. 

 

EDIT: confusing edit timing. Pg. 77 is the way and the light for vehicles and stops them from ever needing to be in terrain that's too small to actually cover them.