Jump to content

Beta Rules - Bolters


Brother Talarian

Recommended Posts

Brothers, as I’m sure you’ve seen, rapid fire bolter weapons have gotten a substantial buff in the beta rules.

 

I think starting a thread on this topic could be of use.

 

Do you think terminators will be viable?

Storm raven and the beloved LRC seem a lot more worth it now!

Sternguard?

Intercessors?

 

Having the fire storm WLT and the Master Swordsman warlord trait can make for some interesting combinations!

 

Let’s share our thoughts!

Link to comment
https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/353293-beta-rules-bolters/
Share on other sites

I’m thrilled to try it out on my land raider and it almost makes me want some sternguard. Overall it’s nothing game changing but at least shows us that GW is aware of the problems with marines and seeking a solution. I’m just glad Astartes bolters are finally distinguished from sister and guardsmen bolters.

Well to me at least this is the best place basic terminators have been since 4th ed.  With the CA 2018 points drop and now this update having their bolters working at full effect all the time is nice.  Now I don't think they are going to change the game or be a new constant but they will be a ok choice.

I think that’s a great aspect of this beta rule, it doesn’t make things OP or must haves, but it gives us the ability to take things we might want to take without it being a hindrance.

 

I myself am looking forward to fielding my LRC, it’s straight up better now and can maybe manage to make up its points before it blows up or get tied up :).

 

Sternguard are also a super sweet option, they also look super cool.

 

Intercessors now seem appealing to me, mixed with the indonitus crusade they can be pretty brutal.

After the points drop I would not consider it trash. And yes, it’s most definitely viable in my opinion. There’s a difference between viable and competitive.

 

Firing an extra 12 shots can certainly help. You can more reliably thin down a horde of orks while being out of charge range, and then fire again, or even move further away and fire again.

Honeslty I think one of the little things this will change for us. Is that 8-11 man Crusader Squads have a point. A 9 man Crusader HvyBolter/Plasma/Plasma is 141 or 130 points if only doing 3 Neo’s. While Faux Devi at 100 points is better for backfield duties. This 130 point squad can hold our flanks cheaply. And still be able to contribute to the battlefield.

Bit of extra ranged oomf for Ironclads stomping their way up the field as well.  Not a game changer, but seeing as they can quite easily spend most of a game chasing things, being able to reach out and touch someone a bit more effectively mitigates the problem.

I love this new rule, specially for our crusader squads with bolters, because they will have more presence in the table. Bikes gain some extra firepower too, alongside terminators and vehicles (Rhinos, LRC, and almost everything that isn't tank hunters).

 

 

Without it, a basic marine with bolter feels too underwhelming, just tax points for the special/heavy weapons. You could trade the bolters for cheerleader's pom-poms and you wouldn't notice it.

With this new rule, initiates with bolter, alongside bikes and terminators with stormbolter have a decent firepower, at least they would be noticed.

 

Call me a weirdo, but I've always included at least 1 or 2 (at 1250>= points) 8-10 man crusader squads with bolter+special weapon+heavy weapon for objective camp, because in my mind there has to be that unnegotiable minimum for objective capture and hold duty, plus another 10 man crusader squad with chainsword loadout for forward/enemy deployment area objectives, and maybe another 6 man depending on how many points the game is. Gotta use those troops.

Well to me at least this is the best place basic terminators have been since 4th ed.  With the CA 2018 points drop and now this update having their bolters working at full effect all the time is nice.  Now I don't think they are going to change the game or be a new constant but they will be a ok choice.

 

dont forget 5th edition

 

 

I think that’s a great aspect of this beta rule, it doesn’t make things OP or must haves, but it gives us the ability to take things we might want to take without it being a hindrance.

 

I myself am looking forward to fielding my LRC, it’s straight up better now and can maybe manage to make up its points before it blows up or get tied up :smile.:.

 

Sternguard are also a super sweet option, they also look super cool.

 

Intercessors now seem appealing to me, mixed with the indonitus crusade they can be pretty brutal.

 

not the shots but now we have a plattform which must not be into 12" of the enemy to get full potential - and being charged by the enemy. 

 

I dont think it will be that huge step - but its better then just 12 shots more

 

 

So, nobody's saying anything about 10/10 squads in a Black Tide list?

 

I used to do that in 6th and 7th because 20 bolters is a surprise to some armies. An unpleasant one.

 

Seems like a nice, not too OP change.

 

at least its a new option to hold a big squad back. Hiding the Cenobites in the back makes them both more durable.

but its a mini buff

Another thing I have thought of is that taking 10 sternguard with no upgrades is just 160 points and you can plunk them in the backfield and get 20 shots at AP -2 with a 30" range. Plus they have a nice strategem to increase their usefulness

 

Well to me at least this is the best place basic terminators have been since 4th ed.  With the CA 2018 points drop and now this update having their bolters working at full effect all the time is nice.  Now I don't think they are going to change the game or be a new constant but they will be a ok choice.

 

dont forget 5th edition

 

 

 

 

Very true! Two big things happened with 5th that killed the standard terminators to me. First point cost went down on many units making armies larger. The second thing is we had a newer style codex design starting with IG. GW took those old codexes and vastly increasing the volume for fire by x2 or x3. I still loved 5th but was a major change in direction in my point of view.

Bikes are probably the biggest winners. 3 bikes and a Storm Bolter on the Sword Bro is less than 75 points, and nets you 16 Bolter shots, a 14" move, T5, a 38" threat bubble. Bit miffed that Sword Brethren on bikes are so expensive, but 5 bikes with Storm Bolters and Storm Shields could be a thing anyway. That's 40 shots, 3++ saves, and the ability to use the Vigilus stratagems in a pinch.

I'm thinking of adding some sternguard to take advantage of the new beta bolters rules. I like the fact that they have longer range and they can now sit outside of charge range and fire twice if they don't move. I'm thinking I'd use them to camp midfield objectives or drop in back field to pick off and harass things before they get charged. Given those intended uses, how would you kit them out? Do I keep them small and cheap with their default bolters? Or do I go big with all the extras?

I'm thinking of adding some sternguard to take advantage of the new beta bolters rules. I like the fact that they have longer range and they can now sit outside of charge range and fire twice if they don't move. I'm thinking I'd use them to camp midfield objectives or drop in back field to pick off and harass things before they get charged. Given those intended uses, how would you kit them out? Do I keep them small and cheap with their default bolters? Or do I go big with all the extras?

 

 

I'd keep them cheap. The whole reason to take them is the Special Issues bolters. I'd probably run them 10 if you can fit it because its only 160 points for the squad. The only upgrade I would consider is a PF for the sgt. 

Is 10 sternguard possibly a good answer to eldar jet bikes?

 

I am unsure as of yet what to do against a large amount of Flyers.

A Stalker minces eldar jetbikes.

 

So, a Crusader Squad, 10/10, with 19 Bolters and a Storm Bolter, good or what?

 

I like @Firepower's point about Ironclads with Hurricane Bolters. No loss of shots or accuracy as wounds are lost. I only wish you could put the storm bolter on the other arm for 4 more shots.

 

So, Rhinos with 2 Storm Bolters are likely to show up more on the table top now. Cool.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.