Mech for Ultramarines

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

Mech is looking so enticing now. I’m really liking the new Gladiator grav tanks. Of course it’s still so early and we don’t know that much but I do know that editions seem to go through cycles. I’m loving only five turns it just seems more decisive to me.

[Captain Idaho]

I think you're on to something. Mech wars seems solid. Mechanised infantry seem really strong, hence why I'm intending to get my Tactical squads back in action with their plasma focus.

 

The Gladiator seems good though we need more information as to its worth. Predators and Razorbacks will still be strong - a couple Razorbacks with twin linked Assault Cannons and Gladiators with Twin linked Heavy Onslaught Cannons will give out a tremendous amount of firepower.

[Aspecti]

Luckily I still have all my old tanks and transports, stored away since the beginning of 8th edition with a few exceptions. 6 Rhinos, 3 Razorbacks, 3 Vindicators, 4 Whirlwinds, 4 Predators - all old school 2nd / 3rd edition models with chunky metal parts and also 5 Drop Pods that might finally be useful again.

[Ishagu]

I think the new tanks are very exciting. These fast moving, hopefully cheaper, flying tanks will be good to use around our characters.

 

The sooner they are released the better - I'll be getting two.

 

To be honest I'm having a hard time deciding which ones I'll be building. The Gladiator variant looks the best, and arguably it will be the most useful in 9th due to the smaller tables and it's ability to move around and fire unrestricted.

If the the long range variant does get 4 shots or similar, it might be best with Ultras thanks to our super doctrine?

Edited July 29, 2020 by Ishagu

[Paulinus]

Keep in mind, as things are early in this edition, that mech may see a bit of a resurgence but I suspect that will shift a bit as people adjust and bring more tank killing things.

 

Eradicators are just one indication and the rumoured heavy Intercessors are a thing. And what works against us right now is everyone is building to go against marines.

[Lemondish]

Keep in mind, as things are early in this edition, that mech may see a bit of a resurgence but I suspect that will shift a bit as people adjust and bring more tank killing things.

 

Eradicators are just one indication and the rumoured heavy Intercessors are a thing. And what works against us right now is everyone is building to go against marines.

Totally accurate, but what helps us the most right now is that quite an awful lot of Marine builds look viable. What you'd bring to counter vehicle spam Marines may not be very capable at handling a fast moving foot horde.

[Prot]

This may seem silly but what I don't like about all the new x-pulsor vehicles is you can't protect any infantry from LoS issues.

 

I can walk first born astride a landraider, rhino, razorback, predator, etc, and you can't shoot at them directly. 

 

Every semi-competitive game of X-pulsor units has my boys getting their ankles shot out from under them. It may seem like a small thing but if you are good at 'rhino' blocking, you get used to it as a strategy, and the new vehicles completely remove that as a tactic. 

[Godfrey]

I hate hoover tanks as a 40k concept. Dirty tank treads grinding the surface of a planet, and crushing inhabitants. Now that's grim dark 40k.

[Captain Idaho]

With Obscuring terrain it might not be the same issue, but it's definitely something to manage. Or perhaps more accurately the smaller sized Classic Marines can more easily hide under pressure.

[Ishagu]

They can fly over the terrain, and a lot of it is going to obscure shooting in 9th.

[Lemondish]

I hate hoover tanks as a 40k concept. Dirty tank treads grinding the surface of a planet, and crushing inhabitants. Now that's grim dark 40k.

So these aren't like hover tanks that float in the air gracefully. They "do not skim over the landscape in the manner of a Space Marine reconnaissance craft like the Land Speeder, but instead crushes the ground below it. The tank grinds forward with a deep bass thrum, reducing rock to gravel and fallen bodies to smears of gore and powdered bone."

 

Imagine something that is constantly generating a hammering downdraught of invisible force, enough to push back infantry, and that is the Repulsor tech in this vehicles. In an appropriately gruesome display of this vehicle's power in Dark Imperium showed, a heretic was pummeled completely flat by the backwash when run over.

 

The Repulsor doesn't just float. It punches the damn ground a dozen times a second to stay aloft. Anything caught underneath is completely obliterated.

 

I think that's sufficiently grim

Edited July 30, 2020 by Lemondish

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

Repulsor fields are as grim dark as it gets.

[mel_danes]

The description of the Repulsor effect is brutal, downright metal.

The physical effect would limit the vehicle in ways traditional anti-grav does not.

I consider the Repulsor based systems inverse-gravity, not true anti-grav. They do nothing to offset mass/weight, but instead push equally hard against the forces, balancing the mass, not reducing it. Without a hard surface to "push" against they don't work.

When we think of it like this, "floating" over soft material becomes a problem.

 

Space Marine Landspeeder glides over a lake, no problem.

 

Primaris Repulsor makes a huge splash, then plows under water kicking up mud on the bottom of the lake as it trudges along beneath the surface.

 

They mention low orbit dropping these things, but with the way they describe thier function, that seems like a quick way to destroy one. A low altitude deployment, couple dozen feet off the ground I could see.

Crank the field attenuation to max, everyone brace for impact and launch!

[Lemondish]

The description of the Repulsor effect is brutal, downright metal.

The physical effect would limit the vehicle in ways traditional anti-grav does not.

I consider the Repulsor based systems inverse-gravity, not true anti-grav. They do nothing to offset mass/weight, but instead push equally hard against the forces, balancing the mass, not reducing it. Without a hard surface to "push" against they don't work.

When we think of it like this, "floating" over soft material becomes a problem.

 

Space Marine Landspeeder glides over a lake, no problem.

 

Primaris Repulsor makes a huge splash, then plows under water kicking up mud on the bottom of the lake as it trudges along beneath the surface.

 

They mention low orbit dropping these things, but with the way they describe thier function, that seems like a quick way to destroy one. A low altitude deployment, couple dozen feet off the ground I could see.

Crank the field attenuation to max, everyone brace for impact and launch!

 

The codex also mentions a powerful turbine array at the rear, so its ability to "fly" is probably just a function of its high thrust. 

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

Black magic at its finest.

 

I think there is a lot of potential for the mech list this edition - just look how good drukhari was in eighth spamming venoms and ravagers... it would be great to beat them at their own game.

Edited July 30, 2020 by Black Blow Fly

[beefeb]

Yes very much so, lots of mechanised options and new kits (Gladiator) coming will add variety and the ability to run pure primaris mechanised.  Ive started a 5th company force for 9th and plan on them all being mounted up in repulsors and impulsors.  I love armour and the new primaris stuff is great fun.