Combi-weapons on HQ

[bloodhound23]

What does everyone think of running combi-weapons as opposed to pistols with HQ?

 

I have a WL and can't decide whether I want to give him a combi-weapon or a plasma pistol. 

 

Is it worth being able to use his excellent 2+ to hit with a plasma pistol in CC, since that's where I'd like to get him?

 

Or should I worry about synergy since he will likely be running with a pack of GH, and try and equip him with something with more range?

 

 

 

 

Let me know what you think.

[TiguriusX]

I use wgbl and need the storm shield saves

 

But if i was going to use a ranged weapon on a lord i would strongly consider combi melta

[Yoyo ninja]

I have used a Wolf Lord with a combi plasma, it's good in smaller games, his 2+ to hit with a re-roll is useful for overcharged plasma. Also we have the true grit stratagem so you can fire the bolter portion of the weapon in combat. It's not as good as the plasma pistol, but it's got some uses

[Kasper_Hawser]

Combi-melta is potentially more damaging and with a or jump pack, a Wolf Lord is far likelier to get into magic range. 

 

Either combi-melta and combi-plasma is a good options for the HQs.

[Karhedron]

Normally I favour plasma over melta for consistency (provided I have some way to reroll 1s) but on expensive characters, melta comes out on top. BS2+ makes them more reliable for the single melta shot and I generally find overcharging too risky on an expensive character, even if it is fine on a 13 point mook.

[Gherrick]

Normally I favour plasma over melta for consistency (provided I have some way to reroll 1s) but on expensive characters, melta comes out on top. BS2+ makes them more reliable for the single melta shot and I generally find overcharging too risky on an expensive character, even if it is fine on a 13 point mook.

I still hope someday they will change plasma from instant death to something like d6 mortal wounds, just so characters (and some vehicles) have a chance to survive the overcharge, This is the main reason I favor melta over plasma in most cases, even with reroll 1's.

[Yoyo ninja]

Our vehicles only take limited mortal wounds in the index, they take heavy plasma cannons which have a differently worded overcharge rule.

But yea, i get the point about melta on characters

[Kasper_Hawser]

 

Normally I favour plasma over melta for consistency (provided I have some way to reroll 1s) but on expensive characters, melta comes out on top. BS2+ makes them more reliable for the single melta shot and I generally find overcharging too risky on an expensive character, even if it is fine on a 13 point mook.

I still hope someday they will change plasma from instant death to something like d6 mortal wounds, just so characters (and some vehicles) have a chance to survive the overcharge, This is the main reason I favor melta over plasma in most cases, even with reroll 1's.

 

 

Personally I enjoy this change of mechanics. It's fun and gives a tactical risk consideration. But to each his own. At least for Bjorn and dreadnoughts, the heavy plasma cannon is mortal wounds, not instant death.

[TiguriusX]

This thread inspired me to think of how best to use a Wolf Lord and bs2

 

i am going to test a biker wolf lord with combi melta and krakensword

 

Rapid firing 4 bolters on 2

Rapid firing 2 combi bolters on 3

Melta on 3

Rerolling 1s

 

If you need a hard target hit you drop the combi bolter shot and have a rerollable melta on 2

 

He is an infantry lawn mower in melee with kraken as well

[bloodhound23]

My WL will have a Thunderhammer and will be rolling with some GH, probably equipped with plasma.

 

Sounds like my best option is to just go full armor-hunter and equip him with the combi-melta, and if I need extra help should things get hairy, overcharge the PG's from the GH, since they are so much easier to stomach if I roll a 1.

[Ciler]

We used to give characters pistols for the extra attack, but as that does not apply anymore, giving a character a ranged weapon is all about damage output. I've had a couple of opportunities to run combis on HQs (hell, we get one by default on Helbrecht), and combi-melta has always delivered. Nothing softens a target before a charge like a melta does. Actually, in some cases you may be left with nothing to charge. In fact, baring cost, I fail to see a reason to give a HQ a pistol.

[Rune Priest Jbickb]

To be fair a pistol does still grant an extra attack in close combat as it is the only weapons type (strategem aside) that can be fired in close combat. So while it happens in a different phase it is an extra attack option.

[Karhedron]

Unfortunately pistols very rarely get fired in close combat. If one side is good in melee and the other is not, the bad side will normally withdraw before the pistols can be fired. If both sides are good in melee, the chances of both sides still being alive by the time the opportunity arises are slim. If I charge on my Turn 2, I don't normally expect my guys to still be in the same melee by my shooting phase on Turn 3. Maybe every once in a while but not regularly.

[PeteySödes]

Unfortunately pistols very rarely get fired in close combat. If one side is good in melee and the other is not, the bad side will normally withdraw before the pistols can be fired. If both sides are good in melee, the chances of both sides still being alive by the time the opportunity arises are slim. If I charge on my Turn 2, I don't normally expect my guys to still be in the same melee by my shooting phase on Turn 3. Maybe every once in a while but not regularly.

 

This has been my experience as well, I have yet to even have the opportunity to use true grit. My HQ's have largely been support bots though and i haven't lamented too much in that i run them pretty bare to keep cost down.

[Ciler]

To be fair a pistol does still grant an extra attack in close combat as it is the only weapons type (strategem aside) that can be fired in close combat. So while it happens in a different phase it is an extra attack option.

That is true. But unless it is a plasma pistol then it's a S4 AP0 attack which is usually vastly inferior to what the HQ's main weapon can dish out.

[The Saint Ragnar]

I really only run combi-melta on my HQs, primarily on my WL to benefit from his much better BS. I feel like it is the only place I really stick a melta as any other platform will die faster so those points go down the drain pretty quick unless they are on a character. 

 

Sometimes if I am running plasma of my GH and want some more anti-horde I will stick a combi-flamer on some characters just to make it a little more toasty for the big blobs.

 

But to be honest the majority of the time I run my HQs about as cheap as I can get them outside some upgardes for mobility like jump packs. I keep them around for the auras more than their firepower or attacks. Then again most of the meta around me is more competitive so when I do get games in that are more "for fun" is when combi-weapons and my old WL with jump pack, wolf claw, and power fist come out.