Bloat Drones and Plagueburst Crawlers

[Finkmilkana]

It seems a lot of people like bloat drones with plaguespitters, but I simply don’t understand why.

It seems a crawler with plaguespitters is just much better doing the same things. Sure, it has 1 less movement, no fly and worse meele. But it’s plaguespitters have one more strength, instead of 3 only somewhat good meele attacks it has 3 str 6, ap-2 shots that still hit on 5 if it moves. It is also tougher and costs 12 less.

Even with only that I would already say it is better, but then it also gets a battle cannon aquivalent to fire at some other target on top.

 

Have I missed something here? Sure, fly is nice, but not that nice, especially in an army that has lots of stuff that wants into meele.

The problem seems to be that the mortar costs 0, while the plague probe costs 25.

Edited January 9, 2018 by Finkmilkana

[Shockmaster]

Having fly means they can back out of close combat if charged and fire again assuming they survive the close combat which mine normally do.

 

I like both Drones & Crawlers but the Drones are much better if your facing lots of infantry.

[Finkmilkana]

Are you really getting stuck in meele with them that often? I mean unless you try to bait for getting overwatch (which might honestly be a redeeming factor for the drone now that I think about it). Either way, with an allied demon detachment and the tree the crawler might soon also be able to do exactly that.

[Shockmaster]

Are you really getting stuck in meele with them that often? I mean unless you try to bait for getting overwatch (which might honestly be a redeeming factor for the drone now that I think about it). Either way, with an allied demon detachment and the tree the crawler might soon also be able to do exactly that.

 

It happens in all my games but then my two most regular opponents play Orks & Nids, so I need the mobility and fly to be able to pick and choose my targets with ease.

[Kilofix]

I use Bloat Drones frequently to lock vehicles or other stuff I know can’t easily kill it. It’s not necessarily to win in CC but to prevent the other from firing. Things like opposing Predators etc.

 

Fly also allows the Drone to get over screens during movement.

 

You still can’t charge again after withdrawing wth a Flying unit but that’s why I use a pair of Drones to alternate.

 

The problem with the PBC with Spitters is getting it into range.

 

That said, the flying DP is also useful for the same reasons.

[SkimaskMohawk]

Well first off is availability. Most people bought DI (or 3) and have an abundance of drones kicking about. The plaguespitter is also the best weapon for it imo, ranged, auto hit, good amount of shots and strength, plague weapon, which all makes the DI model so good.

 

Then there's fly. It's very much overpowered in that you can move over intervening models in every phase, ignore every terrain restriction, assault dedicated flyers and most of all shoot after falling back.

 

Then there's the ballistic skill. It sucks on a 4 for both, but while the drone can move 10" plus advance, the tank has two other weapons you want to fire because that's the whole point in taking it. But you hit on 5s at best now so hopefully you do something.

 

And speed; if you don't run it then you're just moving 8 instead of the ~13.5 of the drone. You can deploy it up front to be close, but then you're vulnerable to deepstrike; if you bubble wrap you're now stuck behind them.

[DuskRaider]

Also the Bloat Drone has a much smaller footprint on the board, meaning it's easier to place it here and there. It all comes down to auto-hits and speed for me, as well as being able to do damage to flyers... something Death Guard otherwise sorely lack. The Plagueburst Crawler should be back at the board edge with Entropy Cannons IMO, since the army doesn't have much in the way of dedicated anti-tank. 

[Prot]

I've thought a lot about this thread as I posted my battle report in the forum and have strongly contemplated going to 2 Plagueburst Crawlers, OR none, and 2 Foetid Bloatdrones with Spitters.

 

It's a very interesting debate, but I think what draws me to the Crawler is simply the Entropy Cannon option. The indirect fire is nice, but if I'm moving or firing into a host of -1 to hit opponents, it's fairly difficult to use this vehicle. However those -4 AP/Damage D6 Entropy cannons, re-rolling 1's to wound are very useful in my games. (I don't use Preds with my Death Guard).

 

I think *IF* I personally had another source of lascannon type weaponry I'd get back into Foetid Bloat drones. I mean I really, really do miss them, but they are pricey. Heck they may even be better suited to my walking dead list (no transports and Blight Haulers for -AP shots).

[Kilofix]

My buddy was in a game the other day where he used 2 PBCs with Spitters. Was playing Maelstrom. He drove both right up to an objective and deleted the opposing infantry squad parked there. But next turn, the PBCs were locked down by an opposing Chimera that charged them.

 

I think getting locked in CC is a problem for them BUT the new Nurgle ‘Snail dude and Tree’ sort of solves that problem.

[Prot]

Yeesh. If you told me a few months ago that to get the most out of my Death Guard or even Plague Crawlers that I would have to use something called a ‘Snail Dude’ or a ‘Tree Man’, I never would have hopped aboard this crazy train. ;) Edited January 11, 2018 by Prot

[bozo69pd]

My buddy was in a game the other day where he used 2 PBCs with Spitters. Was playing Maelstrom. He drove both right up to an objective and deleted the opposing infantry squad parked there. But next turn, the PBCs were locked down by an opposing Chimera that charged them.

 

I think getting locked in CC is a problem for them BUT the new Nurgle ‘Snail dude and Tree’ sort of solves that problem.

They can just fall back and shoot though, they just can't charge.

 

Honestly both units are amazing, but it is a preference thing and depends on the rest of your army composition. I always roll with Mortarion, 3 daemon princes, and 3 drones. Play flight of the valkries as all your flyers just rush into the opponents board while nurglings infiltrate the forward objectives, and pox walkers hold the backfield objectives. If Mortarion doesn't fall turn 1 your opponent starts to sweat pretty good.

 

Basically drones are for flying up quickly using spitters, then charging to lock up opponents shooting (I often fight Eldar and charge them right into dark reapers) If they blow up in the middle of combat... GOOD! Especially if you were able to maneuver them to be within range of multiple units when they pop, a good way to hurt characters. I have had spitterdrones take out crimson hunters in 1 turn from shooting and charging with lucky dice. Then if they killed the enemy you can shoot and charge a different target next turn, or if they got locked up then they just fallback and shoot.

 

Crawlers are great too, but more for lumbering up the board shooting the whole time, and generally being more resilient. Simple.

 

So in the end its about what you want them to do and how much crazy tactics you are going to try to pull.