Templars & Flyers

[Brother Kraskor]

Hail honoured brothers,

 

I seek counsel. I know BT drop pods are fluffy, but what about flyers? Are they particularly known for a preference either way?

 

 

[Sword Brother Adelard]

Probably, the 4th ed Codex said we had two main preferences for combat. Death from above and Armoured Spearhead.

 

Death From Above relied on drop pods and Thunderhawks, as if was written pre-flyers, I imagine that would now include the flyers as well. The Raven is useful in such a regard.

[Brother Kraskor]

Ah ok so the aerial assault would include flyers yes, that makes sense. Do they perform well on the tabletop for us?

[SirJyo]

 

Ravens are ok, but there is only one flier I feel really says Black Templar, and that is the Caestus Assault ram. I call it the flying fork.

 

It's not points efficient or easy to obtain and it's probably gonna get thrown in legends when the new edition comes out.

It's got missiles, a big melta, and it can hold it's own in melee against other tanks. Not to forget a 10 model capacity, terminators only take up one spot.

Edited May 31, 2020 by SirJyo

[Brother Kraskor]

You are right that is cool. Hopefully we will get some sort of assault flyer come out with the new Primaris...!

[Captain Antargo]

It's never going to happen...

[Marshal Reinhard]

It's never going to happen...

Odd thing to state pessimistic certainty over. Or is your reasoning that with all repulsors type vehicles being flyers, there's no need to get an actual flyer? regarless, i'd wait and see until we know what the new land speeder will do

[Sword Brother Adelard]

I'd have thought it a certainty?

 

Flyers are set for big changes in 9th. So they be worth a new look at.

Edited May 31, 2020 by Brother Adelard

[Hymnblade]

Thematically, I don't see much reason for or against flyers. We canonically like drop pod and mechanized assaults, and air support could go with either of those but isn't a central part.

 

Mechanically, we don't do much of anything special for flyers. You could try to tuck them into the Aurillian Shroud bubble if you're clever with positioning.

[Brother Kraskor]

Thematically, I don't see much reason for or against flyers. We canonically like drop pod and mechanized assaults, and air support could go with either of those but isn't a central part.

 

Mechanically, we don't do much of anything special for flyers. You could try to tuck them into the Aurillian Shroud bubble if you're clever with positioning.

 

That would require them to hover right? Unless you put it on a Phobos character which could be very cheeky.

[Medjugorje]

Thematically, I don't see much reason for or against flyers. We canonically like drop pod and mechanized assaults, and air support could go with either of those but isn't a central part.

 

Mechanically, we don't do much of anything special for flyers. You could try to tuck them into the Aurillian Shroud bubble if you're clever with positioning.

As a fleet based chapter I think our chapter have many flyers and very good pilots. And the whole Imperial Fist Legion was very good in borderaction in space and used to have a very big fleet in comparison to other legions. And a big fleet include many flyers I think.

 

After our chapter havent got the attention for GW last years ( the time when flyers were introduced) there is no official explanation but its very likely that we have a very very strong affinity to this kind of warfare

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Ravens are ok, but there is only one flier I feel really says Black Templar, and that is the Caestus Assault ram.

I agree.

It's not points efficient or easy to obtain and it's probably gonna get thrown in legends when the new edition comes out.

It's got missiles, a big melta, and it can hold it's own in melee against other tanks. Not to forget a 10 model capacity, terminators only take up one spot.

That means it should fit Primaris Marines with minimal trouble, unless Games Workshop picks up another idiot ball.

 

My proposed replacement for the Caestus: A modified Thunderhawk with an armored cockpit replacing the Thunderhawk battle cannon, the magna-melta mounted in the original cockpit's location, and sponsons that retract into the hull to protect the sponson-mounted weapons when the flyer rams its target (the sponsons deploying afterwards to provide covering fire for the debarking Marines).

 

Using a modified Thunderhawk airframe should make the flyer easier to build and to logistically support. I thought of naming the flyer "Thunderfist," but that may be too derivative. Anyone have a better idea for a Caestus replacement?

[Medjugorje]

After Hit modifier are just -1 at best in 9th edition our Storm Ravens are the best by far. We still have 5+++ against MW and at the start of the game our flyer can have 4++ 5+++ and -1 to hit. No other chapter will have that.

[Hymnblade]

 

Thematically, I don't see much reason for or against flyers. We canonically like drop pod and mechanized assaults, and air support could go with either of those but isn't a central part.

 

Mechanically, we don't do much of anything special for flyers. You could try to tuck them into the Aurillian Shroud bubble if you're clever with positioning.

 

That would require them to hover right? Unless you put it on a Phobos character which could be very cheeky.

 

Or just planning ahead: put them at the back of your DZ, and the character ahead of them. If flyer movement is less demanding in 9e, this might get easier to use too.

 

Although, a forward-deployment castle with a Phobos chapter master, three Invictors, three flyers, and a bunch of scouts and Incursors would be delightful.

[Gendo]

I had a Stormhawk Interceptor and it was consistently one of if not my best unit on the table, it's good if you don't have any AA options but also hits the grounds well.

 

Very versatile and people tend to underestimate it especially when you have LRCs and other tanks on the ground so you just fly around and kill stuff and by moving a long way makes for a good diversion from your ground advance.

Edited May 31, 2020 by Gendo

[Sword Brother Adelard]

There was a lot of talk on that frontline gaming podcast about transports becoming much more viable, perhaps they've changed the disembarkment order or something?

[Medjugorje]

There was a lot of talk on that frontline gaming podcast about transports becoming much more viable, perhaps they've changed the disembarkment order or something?

I hope so. That was my question on the QandA but they didnt asnwer that.

[Link2edition]

I've tried a Fire Raptor+ 2x Stormtalons + 2x droppods templar build.

Playtested it a lot and it turned into my current planetfall list. They aren't bad for us, our resistance to mortal wounds actually helps them out a lot, but they aren't great either. Too many points in one model most of the time.

[SWORD BROTHER RYAN]

Personally, I have had great success in games where I introduced fliers. The entire range has benefits/drawbacks, but all in all, has been a massive force equalizer on the tabletop. I tend to try to take at least a stormtalon in every list I make.

[Medjugorje]

its like it always is for us. Take 4++ in first round and 5+++ on it. -1 to hit for free and you have a very tough unit. 

[Acebaur]

 

Thematically, I don't see much reason for or against flyers. We canonically like drop pod and mechanized assaults, and air support could go with either of those but isn't a central part.

 

Mechanically, we don't do much of anything special for flyers. You could try to tuck them into the Aurillian Shroud bubble if you're clever with positioning.

 

That would require them to hover right? Unless you put it on a Phobos character which could be very cheeky.

 

 

Not if you use it on the first turn. The Shroud is popped at the start of the battle round, so if you use it in the first battle round your flyer will still be in your deployment zone potentially within range of the shroud. 

 

 

I think with the new changes to vehicles and flyers we are going to see a resurgence of flyers again for SM. Stuff like the Storm Talon which was previously too expensive may now again be viable, especially when you consider that it will fly around all game hitting on a 2+ vs ground targets.