Should the Knight Gallant have a ranged attack of some kind?

[Imperator Deus]

After almost a year of off-and-on-again painting, I've just finished painting my first Knight (I have it magnetized to use all the options from the Warden kit), though I haven't played a game with it yet. I was supposed to give it a whirl this past weekend, but real life got in the way and my opponent had to cancel. Originally, I only bought the Knight because I liked the model, and thought it would be a cool option to supplement my Guard, Black Templar and AdMech armies in bigger games. After seeing the new Armigers and Dominus Knights though, I decided to start building a Knight army!

 

I recently bought the Renegade box and I've been debating how to build these two Knights. I don't want to go through the hassle of magnetizing any more Knights, lol, so I've decided to commit to a particular model for each. I still have my first Knight magnetized for all of the currently available options, so I think that'll be enough flexibility to cover my bases. Once the Preceptor comes out I'll probably buy a Las-Impulsor from a bits vendor and magnetize it so my Knight once again has all of the options. I can't see myself buying any more Questor Class Knights (never say never though!) My plan is to get a box of each of the Armiger kits and one of the Dominus models at some point. I'm leaning towards the Valliant, but I like the firepower on the Castellan too. I'm still undecided, but the Dominus will probably come last anyway, so I have plenty of time to mull it over.

 

At the moment I'm planning to build one of the new Knights as an Errant with Reaper Chainsword, and I was thinking of building the second one as a Gallant replacing the Heavy Stubber with a Meltagun and adding one of the Rocket Pod Carapace Weapons (haven't settled on which yet). The Renegade box comes with one Warden kit and one Errant/Paladin kit, so there's only one Rocket Pod between the two models. Would it be better to put the rocket pod on the Errant to maximize its firepower, or would it be better to give it to the Gallant so that it can at least shoot something while it closes into melee range? If it's better on the Gallant which of the Rocket Pods would you recommend? I painted my Knight in Hawkshroud livery if that somehow helps influence the decision.

[Finkmilkana]

Unless you are House Raven, putting carapace weapons on a Gallant is usually not worth it (unless you have points left over after equipping everyone else). Whenever you are not in range to easily get into meele, you will be advancing to get into meele and therefore unable to shoot. So the only turns you will be shooting are those where you or the enemy fell back.

 

The meltagun can be a good idea though, as you can shoot that after advancing.

[LordCommanderSamirus]

I built my Gallant last edition with the Stormspear Rocket Pod but since the new codex came out I've ripped off the Stormspear and gave it to an Errant. I did this for the reasons Finkmilkana mentioned. I also added a magnet to the top of the Gallant so if i have points left i could put an Icarus on it.

[Karhedron]

Yup, don't spend any more points on guns for the Gallant than necessary. A case could be made for the melta gun since it is an assault weapon and the Gallant will probably be in range to use it. Best advice for a Gallant is Landstrider to boost you advance/charge rolls and don't be afraid to use "Full Tilt" if it can get you a T1 charge.

 

I would say there is a case for running the Gallant and Warglaives as a Terryn Detachment so you can roll an extra D6 for your random movement and then drop the lowest. Then bundle the rest of your Knights into a Hawkshroud detachment if that is your preffered choice.

 

Incidentally, of the two Dominus classes, the Valiant does work especially well with Hawkshroud as you can take "Traitors Pyre" to allow you to reroll wounds for the Conflag cannon. Even vehicles will melt under that weight of fire. Plus you can use the Hawkshroud stratagem to fire overwatch at anyone charging friendly units within 12 of the Valiant. With 3D6 S7 auto-hits, rerolling to wound, you suddenly create a great big bubble of "NOPE!" around your Valiant.

[Imperator Deus]

Cool, thanks for the advice, guys!

[Charlo]

I quite like the Meltagun, for the sake of a few points (usually leftover in Knight list), the change to get an extra D6 damage on something you are about to charge/ nearby is pretty handy.

[jeffersonian000]

I’d advise magnetizing the Stubber/Melta, too. I’m a min-max’er when it comes to points, trying to get ever single point available in any given list, and being able to adjust points by swapping out the Stubber or even swapping back to the Stubber is gratifying when it nets you a better upgrade elsewhere or gets you right at the points limit.

 

On a Gallant, you never need to worry about a range attack; however, in an army that never has enough anti-Horde firepower, any extra gun has its place. I prefer House Raven for the Advance and Shoot benefit, which makes taking a Carapace Weapon on a Gallant worthwhile. For example, an Ironspear and the Stubber costs 20 points together, which makes meeting a set point limit much easier. On the flip side, running a Gallant as House Krast means the Melta and no Carapace Weapon make more sense.

 

SJ