Questions from a Newbie

[Halfpint100]

Instead of making a new thread I hope Marius doesn't mind if I tag on some question here for relative noob to 8th and Guard. 

 

1) While digging out my Vostroyans, I discovered I have 12 heavy weapon teams: 4 lascannon, 4 HB, and 4 mortars. I know lascannons are good, but how are mortars? The stat line doesn't look amazing but has good range, potential for a good number of hits, and can shoot things outside LoS. If they're crap, I'll use the figures for something else. 

 

2) Another heavy weapon team question: It seems logical to me to take autocannons over HBs because while they I have 1 shot less and the same AP as HBs, they have longer range and do 2 wounds per shot, but then I have no practical experience and could be completely wrong like more shots is better because of mediocre BS. (I have thing for autocannons.)

 

3) Will it be a bigger benefit to do detachments of different regiments to play to the strengths of regimental doctrines (Catachan tanks, Steel Legion transports, etc), or better to stick to battle forged armies?

 

4) Is it worth equipping HQs or sergeants with melee weapons?

 

1. Mortars are 27 points for a squad and can easily get that back. They do not require LOS, so can hit whatever you want in the vostroyan range 54" mortars. As Tirak said, they are a cheap filler and can also be used to hide other heavy weapons in squads. e.g. 2 mortars and 1 lascannon so your opponent has to kill 4 wounds to get to your lascannon.

 

2. Since you are vostroyans. your heavy bolters are now 42" and autocannons are 54". I like both personally. HB are 8 points, while autocannons are 15, HB are anti horde, with autocannons can threaten anything; That D2 is very nice. 

 

3. Yes it is possible. I do not plan to, because my regiment is that. One regiments, so I don't want to be that guy who breaks my own narrative in order to get better rules, I have been doing well with just one regiment this edition and I will keep it that way. You could do it, but your CP would be low.

 

4. I usually have a couple of guys with power swords (that what the models have) floating around. Officers mainly, I would rarther give them ranged weapon upgrades than a melee upgrade. Plasma pistols are so nice! and can be fired in melee.   

[NatBrannigan]

I can't bring myself to give my Officers anything other than Power Swords... I know they're the worst choice but what kind of Officer lugs an axe around with him!? A damn dirty Catachan officer that's who!

[tychobi]

Instead of making a new thread I hope Marius doesn't mind if I tag on some question here for relative noob to 8th and Guard. 

 

1) While digging out my Vostroyans, I discovered I have 12 heavy weapon teams: 4 lascannon, 4 HB, and 4 mortars. I know lascannons are good, but how are mortars? The stat line doesn't look amazing but has good range, potential for a good number of hits, and can shoot things outside LoS. If they're crap, I'll use the figures for something else. 

 

2) Another heavy weapon team question: It seems logical to me to take autocannons over HBs because while they I have 1 shot less and the same AP as HBs, they have longer range and do 2 wounds per shot, but then I have no practical experience and could be completely wrong like more shots is better because of mediocre BS. (I have thing for autocannons.)

 

3) Will it be a bigger benefit to do detachments of different regiments to play to the strengths of regimental doctrines (Catachan tanks, Steel Legion transports, etc), or better to stick to battle forged armies?

 

4) Is it worth equipping HQs or sergeants with melee weapons?

1 all great choices.  use em all.  I think heavy bolters are hidden gems this ed as they can wound anything on 5+ and have ap1 that is gold for the price.

 

2 if u got a thing for autocannon get some.  they kinda fall in the grey zone between anti infantry and anti tank and do both pretty poorly.  if you are facing lots of primaris marines you might like em lots.  Proxy playtesting will give you insight into your own take on them.  Most opponents will have no problem letting you test stuff out as long as you are clear as to what you are fielding before the battle. 

 

3 battle forged all the way (all that means is you have chosen all models that share a keyword and they are all in legal detachments).  remember you can have multiple detachments in the same battle forged army each with its own doctrine.  im painting up a catachan spearhead of cyclops demo vehicles (scratch built) right now.. . . . tick tick tick tick kabooom!

 

4. no.  not really.  the chainsword is fine but throwing a few points at your weak melee phase problem is not going to change the fact that guard are pretty bad at close combat. If things are going well you never use it and if they are not a power fist sarge is not gonna save you.  put points down where it counts.  If you want to beat folks up in close combat bring bullgryns.  sweet mother they hit hard.

[Marius Septimus]

Hello again brothers,

 

as I am builiding my force, I am thinking about a kind of "hero" or leader unit for my army, what I thought would be nice is an inquisitor with two crusaders as his bodyguards. Can I field him like that? And what profits does an inquisitor provide? I thought about the model with the inferno pistol, because he has this badass hat :D

 

The Emperor protects

[NatBrannigan]

Inquisitors are in an odd place right now... Crusaders you can take in a Guard detachment without them negating your Regimental bonuses. I have no idea why this is!

 

Inquisitors though... If you put them in a Guard Detachment it means no Regimental Doctrine, orders, strategems etc for you. The best thing to do would be to take a separate Vanguard detachment for him. That's 1-2 HQ's and 3-6 Elites and you'd get a command point as well. You can then stick whatever you want with the Imperium Keyword in there. An Inquisitor as an HQ, maybe an Assassin? Some Death Cult Assassins? A Tech Priest? Squad of Death Watch, Sisters or some Grey Knights? They wouldn't gain any of the Chapter / Regiment / Forgeworld specific bonuses but that wouldn't be a big issue. You could make a fluffy little force depending on what flavour of Inquisitor you want. 

[duz_]

What Nat said

 

If you really want an inquisitor best take them in their detachment

However right now they're really provide no benefit. In 7th you got an extra WL trait out if it and they provide some minor buffs to your squads and or some psychic defence for a small price.

This edition they're a bit lack lusture. Particularly the generic ones.

[NatBrannigan]

Which is a damn shame! They're being slowly stripped of anything that made them special or even worthwhile and to me they're an iconic part of the Warhammer universe. I'm really hoping they're just being forgotten about until a codex they're included in comes out (Imperial agents would be spot on. You could just stick Inquisition, Sisters of Battle, Deathwatch, Assassins and Talons of the Emperor in there again. Worked well in 7th) rather than being phased out totally.

[PliskinAJ]

I would say make a company commander and model him to be like an inquisitor. You get the theme then and some useful orders. 

[Halfpint100]

Which is a damn shame! They're being slowly stripped of anything that made them special or even worthwhile and to me they're an iconic part of the Warhammer universe. I'm really hoping they're just being forgotten about until a codex they're included in comes out (Imperial agents would be spot on. You could just stick Inquisition, Sisters of Battle, Deathwatch, Assassins and Talons of the Emperor in there again. Worked well in 7th) rather than being phased out totally.

 

It would be great if inquisition, assassins and the talons all can be added to any imperial army without removing their chapter/ regiment  etc, etc bonuses.

[Marius Septimus]

Alright, thanks for the input guys :)