Alternate to bullgryns

[Weaselfish]

For context, I'm (catachan) planning on running Straken, a priest, heirloom sword commander SW squad with plasma, and 3 bare guard squads; with 2 hellhounds and 2 chimeras from my battalion as a moble mini hammer.

 

I was thinking of stuffing straken, and the priest in one chimera with an infantry squad and piling the special weapon squad in the other with the second commande. Second commander would order the other 2 squads to run along from the chimera.

 

Now i WAS planning on bringing a 3 man bullgryn squad along for some extra lovin/bullet sponge. Problem is, they don't fit in the transport with the SW squad (meant to jump out after a move and soften up whatever I'm gonna charge, or go damaged monster vehicle hunting).

 

While playing around with points, i found as a replacement a vanguard with commisar lord (power axe), and 3 platoon commanders with shotgun/power fist takes up the same points as a 3man bullgryn squad. While they are a bit squishier (t4 5++ vs t5 4++), they hit harder (s/8 d3 dam vs s7 2 dam), can order each other to hit again if they are already engaged in shooting phase, are essentially immune to morale, need to be attacked individually, get free reroll ones with the vigillus infantry doc, and can split up.

 

Anyone think this is a viable option?

[HallofStovokor]

The power Fist doubles strength. On a SM it's S8 on a guardsman it S6. Add to that the fact that only you Lord Commissar can hit on 3+ with a power Fist, and you'll see why you don't want that.

[Weaselfish]

Catachan are st 4, so they are st 8 power fists. Also, the vigillus infantry platoon allows the commisar a 6" reroll 1 to hit bubble.

[HallofStovokor]

Fair enough.

[mertbl]

Platoon commanders will only hit on 4s(5s, i cant remember if they are 3+ WS)

 

The bullgryn will be miles ahead of the mini deathstar. T5 vs t3, 2+ vs 5+(or 4++ vs 5++)

[Weaselfish]

Platoon commanders will only hit on 4s(5s, i cant remember if they are 3+ WS)

 

The bullgryn will be miles ahead of the mini deathstar. T5 vs t3, 2+ vs 5+(or 4++ vs 5++)

They are 3+. Yes they are tougher, mitigated by the fact that they cant be targeted when behind a screen, attacks have to be split between them in close combat, they can cc instead of shooting for essentially double attacks, and one bodyguard can mitigate further (granted for more points), and take pressure off of my assassin. Probably going to try it in my next couple games, so I'll report back

[Halfpint100]

Let us know how it goes. Just remember, yes screens block them. But a 6 man SWS is no screen. You look at them and they die.

[tychobi]

This should work great as counter punch. Bullgryn offer bullet sponginess that characters lack. The chimera is the real screen. Take some more refined tactics. Heroic intervention is a factor in their favor. I predict success!