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Boltgun beta rule


mertbl

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Those that havent seen it it basically replaces rapid fire for all boltgun weapons and let's them double their number of attacks with the weapon if 1 of 3 conditions are met. A.unit hasn't moved B. Target is within half range C. Unit is terminator, bike, vehicle, centurion.

 

So a storm bolter at 24" on a rhino fires 4 times, centurion hurricane bolter fires 12 times, etc.

 

Does this bring the humble boltgun back to the table as more than just filler? Deathwatch and 1k sons seem to get an insane buff by this.

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Marines are a slightly more effective across the board which is excellent. Anything with Hurricane Bolters is substantially better at range and the Land Raider Crusader just jumped up in effectiveness whilst being the cheapest Land Raider.

 

Centurions are very interesting now also.

 

As for standard choices - Primaris are still going to be objective campers but now they have some competition believe it or not. 5 Tactical Marines with say a Lascannon can hang back and pump out 8 Bolter shots at range whilst firing the Lascannon at something important.

 

Yet the Intercessors also benefit so as a choice aren't relegated to the bin.

 

It's much more balanced and Marines can put crucial fire on things now. Plinking away wounds is going to be easier as is bringing multiple squads to bear on a single target from range.

Personally I'd like to have seen Bolters go up in strength within half range since a bolter is generally bigger (thus the calibre is larger) for Astartes than unenhanced folk.

 

Would encourage more forward aggressive play than hanging back and rapid firing.

 

But the the rule is still welcome very much so. Helps so many units.

Feels like Scout Bikes just became even more efficient.

 

Edit: just a shame the grenade launchers (the way I built mine in 5th) are just not useful.

 

Yeah, but at the same time I think the choice between Regular bikes and Scout bikes just got a lot more complicated.

 

Scouts still have the edge within 12" because of their shotguns, but with the change to Bolters regular bikes increased resilience makes them a better flanking harasser unit IMO.

18 point company vets (90 pts. total) can now put out 51 str. 4 attacks (5 storm bolters x 8 = 40 + 11 melee swings) with 3++.   That's 1.76 pts per Str. 4 attack. That's pretty saucy if you ask me. 

 

Storm Bolters only get 4 shots still, they can just do so from further away if they didn't move.

18 point company vets (90 pts. total) can now put out 51 str. 4 attacks (5 storm bolters x 8 = 40 + 11 melee swings) with 3++.   That's 1.76 pts per Str. 4 attack. That's pretty saucy if you ask me. 

 

No.

The maximum amount of shots doesn't change at all. Just the condition when you get those maximum shots got added on. 5 Stormbolters still result in only 20 shots.

But not for bikes. How on earth does a moving motorbike with fixed guns get bonus shots at range. I don't see how they can hit a barn door.

How...

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But seriously. They're superhumans with advanced tech to help as well as fancy genetic modifications. From a gaming point of view, Bikes don't need a -1, thank you very much, as they're already not actually good.

I like this rule.

 

But not for bikes. How on earth does a moving motorbike with fixed guns get bonus shots at range. I don't see how they can hit a barn door. I'd have gone the other way and slap a -1 to BS on bikes.

*That* is where your suspension of disbelief kicks in?

 

In other news, I like this change even if it isn't a massive game-changer. It makes Tacticals, the extra riflemen in Dev Squads, and Terminators a little bit better, and the bump to Hurricane bolters is also nothing to complain about.

It makes Primaris intercessors very good at guarding objectives and picking off light infantry from beyond the range of the enemy's guns.

 

2 Squads of 5 is now 20 shots at 30" range. Makes them better than Tau fire Warriors as 5 have the same number of shots as 10 Tau, but will better stats.

It makes Primaris intercessors very good at guarding objectives and picking off light infantry from beyond the range of the enemy's guns.

 

2 Squads of 5 is now 20 shots at 30" range. Makes them better than Tau fire Warriors as 5 have the same number of shots as 10 Tau, but will better stats.

 

At >15" they are slightly better, yes. Mostly due their T4 SV3+ though since 10 Firewarrior are still cheaper than 5 Intercessors and 10 W1 bodies is better than 5 W2 bodies. Also as soon as the Firewarriors have something to shoot at within 15" they are better again, especially with a Fireblade nearby. ^^

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