Telemon - Loadout and Viability

[Prot]

Hey folks,

 

I've been back and forth on my Telemons. Of course after I finished painting mine, GW hit them pretty hard with the 'we don't know what to do with this stuff' bat. 

 

I've had the odd game where they absorb a lot, but naturally with such a small army having something that simply absorbs firepower isn't cutting it. That said, he can absorb a lot, especially with a touch of luck.

 

Right now since the Caestus went down marginally, I've considered going Storm Cannon + Caestus. Typically I'm using dual Storm Cannon. 

 

Conversely I've been thinking this guy is the cost of about 3 Virtus Praetors. Kind of silly when you think about it, but totally acceptable if his shooting damage works out. 

 

What are your current experiences with the unit? Is it just a unit to avoid right now?

[Dark Legionnare]

I love the model. It's so "Custodes" it hurts. I run one fist, one storm cannon. Have swapped to the caliver sometimes for games against nids and Tau.

That said.  That many points in one model always sits kind of "bad" with me, especially one that tends to not make his effort back for me any time I've run him; feels very "Land Raidery."  Obviously, not as bad as the land raider, because 4++ and 6+++, but I get the vibe whenever I use him.

 

I find in my use of the unit that the most infuriating part about him, is that he is a heavy weapons platform (Like the Caladius, Coronus, Dropship, etc...) that get's the -1 to hit on heavy weapons. 3+ isn't 4+, sure. But it's still moving you from "Guaranteed re-rolls" with a wisdom strat or nearby HQ to having those ever-infuriating 2's that seem to crop up in huge numbers only when you become a 3+ BS.

I love the kit, but waddling across the board with him (using FGLTC for the Galatus, who is melee range only, and less durable, so he's the priority) tends to keep him from being effective too much.

My Coronus boating around my banner, termies, and a shield cap does more reliable damage (with a near similar weapon loadout outside plasma flamethrower range) because it doesn't get the Heavy penalty.  Meanwhile, it's giving me a huge force multiplier of non-gigantic-cost-flyer to cart lads around while being a bit less durable, and yet cheaper still.

I love him, but I feel like... if he was just near calladius cost, I'd feel less dejected every time I take him.  Coronus down to 200 would be a nice pipe dream too.

Edited March 4, 2020 by Dark Legionnare

[BaconCouch]

I have 2 Telemon drednoughts and generally use them both in some of my lists.
I run them in 1 of 2 configurations.
Twin Storm Cannon 
or
Storm Cannon and Fist

If I do run both, the twin cannon basically pops things that punching isn't efficient at opening, and the other moves up the board fist at the ready with my vexilla.

[Prot]

I love the model. It's so "Custodes" it hurts. I run one fist, one storm cannon. Have swapped to the caliver sometimes for games against nids and Tau.

 

My Coronus boating around my banner, termies, and a shield cap does more reliable damage (with a near similar weapon loadout outside plasma flamethrower range) because it doesn't get the Heavy penalty.  Meanwhile, it's giving me a huge force multiplier of non-gigantic-cost-flyer to cart lads around while being a bit less durable, and yet cheaper still.

 

I love him, but I feel like... if he was just near calladius cost, I'd feel less dejected every time I take him.  Coronus down to 200 would be a nice pipe dream too.

 

I completely agree on all counts. The model wreaks of that Custodes lifestyle.  Coronus is tempting, but I don't own one. Right now I survive on the Magnifica which gets a little more useless every codex release... ala Orks, or Chapter Master re rolls, etc. It's a tough run for sure.

 

That said, I do love the model as well. It's just one of those pieces I thoroughly enjoyed painting, but it's definitely one of the biggest point sinks I have and its return on that investment is certainly questionable.

 

I have 2 Telemon drednoughts and generally use them both in some of my lists.

I run them in 1 of 2 configurations.

Twin Storm Cannon 

or

Storm Cannon and Fist

 

If I do run both, the twin cannon basically pops things that punching isn't efficient at opening, and the other moves up the board fist at the ready with my vexilla.

 

I have two as well. Magnetized so I have some flexibility but I can't imagine running both anymore. I run one Caladius typically, so I think I'd have to remove it before hand.

 

I think tonight I am running Dual Storm Cannon, but I will walk him up with the Caladius as well so he will be protected by my core. (It depends what I'm playing against.)

 

If you run one, what's the preference?

 

I kind of like the idea of leaving the Telemon behind with a fist, and using Wisdom on him for himself and the Caladius, and with a Fist he can take on deep strikers. However that fist is a useless 45 points if I don't use it, where as the dual Storm Cannons is always going to get shot.

 

Preferences?

[BaconCouch]

If I do only run a single drednought, its 99% of the time twin storm cannon. Turn 1 usually involves following the vexilla and Trajann forward, parking on an objective, and holding it there,

[Prot]

So I took the dual storm cannon Telemon, and my Caladius with Illiastrus and I faced the heinous Gene Stealer Cult.

 

it was a massive roller coaster game. I gave him first turn and had to sit back and play conservative as he’s mostly in hiding.

 

of course in his turn a massive squad of bombs, hand flamers and rock saws come in firing away.

I felt I was done.

i hit back hard the bikes laced into his massed infantry..... but then the rock saws retaliate.... hard. I lose. It’s the bikes. I’m thin on the ground. 
 

then I use the banner ability to pull in my Allarus and they hit like a truck. He retaliated with Ridgerunners and a Leman Russ, and I have only one termie and various troops 

 

My Telemon takes down the Russ and my last Guardians clean up. A very tight win. 
 

actually my Saggitarum and Termies Inquisition unit were the lowest performers. 

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

Double fist is not bad but not good either. The Cannon got nerfed into oblivion.