New Player Advice - Mek Guns.

[MithrilForge]

Well me again!, before I finish up what I’ve got I have turned my mind to the next additions to my force...

Now I hear fraters like to take a few of these, but what do we arm them with ?!... I’m thinking I want consistent damage over “if it works it’s awesome” ...

so how many? And what type ?

What are people’s favourites and what will be a good 9th Ed choice?!...,

 

Again, any “good” advice is welcome...

 

Cheers, Mithril

[The_Chaplain]

Everytime ive seen mek guns on the table visiting tournaments (love people watching at tournies)--its been smasha gunz and I cant say I disagree.

 

While it doesnt have the auto hitting of the traktor kannon, it has more shots on average and hitting at improved grot ballistic skill helps. Also, wounding on 2d6 helps pad dice rolling and the fact they have the blast keyword now will help in those weird scenarios where orks fight hordes.

Edited August 14, 2020 by The_Chaplain

[toaae]

Yeah, it's basically always Smasha Guns. They are super cheap, have a great profile that fills the lack-of-AP problem Orks often have, and with 9th looking to be a more elite edition, gaining blast means they'll max out on shots more often against decent targets (think Aggressors, or other multi-wound, good save units that are taken in groups of 6-10).

Now, I haven't done the math based on the new costs (I will, at some point), but based on what was true in 8th, there's probably an argument to be made for the KMK and Traktor Kannon in niche situations. In 8th, the KMK was actually basically as efficient per point as the Smasha gun (being better vs. T8, worse vs. <T8), but since it was double the cost, that meant you had half as many wounds (again, per point). So it just didn't really have a spot, unless you were specifically looking to maximize the strength of individual mek guns. That may still be true.

Traktor Kannons were usually taken as 1 or 2 to supplement a bunch of Smasha Guns, the idea being that they could fire the last shot at enemy flyers and force them to crash and burn. This is a meta-choice; if you often face flyers, maybe consider it. Something to note was that in 8th, Traktor kannons became better (again, point-for-point) compared to the Smasha Gun when the enemy had a -2 to-hit (or better) buff; at -1, the Smasha Gun was still better. In 9th, you can't every be at worse than a -1, so, barring the math changing significantly, the Traktor Kannon cannot be better than the Smasha Gun in terms of just overall firepower.

Finally, the Bubblechukka. I so want this to be something, but sadly, it isn't. It's too variable to do much with, always has cost too many points, and doesn't actually fill a role the other guns can't do better. I wish they gave it extra range and out-of-Line-of-Sight shooting, as then it would have a unique purpose. Or at least give it the fun little mini-game it had in the index. As is, it just doesn't do anything you can't do better and cheaper with a Smasha Gun or KMK.

EDIT:

Ok, I couldn't help myself. Here's my results, figured as "damage done per point":

As you can see, the Smasha gun is still the general winner, though the KMK does pull head vs Knights (technically T7 targets as well, but it's so close and Smasha Guns can't do mortal wounds against themselves, so I think the Smasha Gun is the real winner there). In fact, I did some more quick math, and the KMK is the winner against targets with high toughness and invulnerables (like the Impulsor) or just high toughness (like the repulsor).

The Tractor kannon and bubblechukka just don't compare. So, either go with the Smasha Gun or the KMK.

Edited August 14, 2020 by toaae

[tychobi]

Smasha 100% is the most efficient choice. Cheap tough accurate fun. Always makes me smile when I imagine the actual effects of the weapon as well.

[MithrilForge]

Wow, very comprehensive post there toaae !, and unanimous votes from the rest ...thanks heaps for the info guys, really appreciate it.

So it’s smasha Gunz for the win... I’m sure I’ll get a couple of GW”s ones but I’ll seriously look at 3rd party bits and scratch building...I’d need to see my bank manager if I wanted to get the full 6 !!! , lol that’s only 12 power at the cost of an apocalypse boxset !

 

Again thanks for the feedback,

Cheers, Mithril

[Holier Than Thou]

Definitely worth scratch building if you can get away with it. I’ve got 6 Mek Gunz in my army, 3 Traktor Kannons and 3 Smasha Gunz, all scratch built from kids toys, cost me £10 for the lot.

[tychobi]

Yep build your own. A raid on your local dollar store can yield much loot! Toy, tool, and stationary sections are sure bets but make sure to let your inner mekboy off the leash and wander, never know what you can find!

[Kierdale]

I haven’t used any of the Mek Gunz so gave their entries and look at, and read the fluff section. It was a nice surprise to see mention of the hop-splat field gun, pulsa-rokkit and squig-katapult. I might scratchbuilt some and count them as current Mek Gunz.

[MithrilForge]

I got a mek gun kit the other day(my wife got it as an early fathers day gift  ) and I built my first Smasha Gun from it, all the added grots are so cool i think i want to keep them for conversion fodder   the guns are really well done and characterful.... and i have the other little parts to help me kit bash a KMK or Tractor kannon in the future...

 

@ kierdale - HAHA I look forward to seeing your crazy conversions....  a squig catapult would be right up your alley...

 

Mithril