Unit Focus: Storm Speeders

[Khornestar]

This topic is a generic, all-chapters discussion of the various storm speeder units. I recently picked one up to add some quick armor to my Templars to zip around and shoot stuff.

 

Especially now after the Armor of Contempt rule, what do you think? Are you using it in your games? What are they best at? How does your chapter make best use of them? What rules combos help them most?

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

Bought one, but haven’t put it together either.

 

I don’t really have any AT in my army so I’m going with the BS2+ thunderstrike.

[Guest Triszin]

I really like them and want* to put them in a list. But I still feel they are over costed.

 

I have 2x hammer strikes, but haven't found a way to integrate them

 

 

The land speeder storm out performs it on points cost.

[Jorin Helm-splitter]

I have three 2 hammerstrikes and 1 thunderstrike. I don't run the anti-infantry because if I ever get a gladiator, I'd run the reaper. I don't run more than 2 at time, because they really rely on terrain, they need to shoot once at the bracket to really have a shot of paying for themselves. 

 

I've found the thunderstrike to be a decent finisher. The better BS really helps it, but it relies a lot on good damage rolls, so I tend to go after things with less than 10 wounds with it. The hammer strike is kinda of home run hitter, its either gonna do great or accomplish nothing before it dies. If I could make changes to stormspeeders the hammerstrike would gain BS 2, and the Thunderstrike's lascannon would go to 3 + D3 damage. Granted I'd prefer heavy weapons in general to be toned down, so maybe them staying the same and other options being put on their level would be better for the game. 

 

I can't really think of combos with them if I'm being honest. I will say that you shouldn't bother with them if there isn't a fair amount of obscuring terrain, I love them but they melt. 

[Marshal Mittens]

Hailstrike seems nearly useless at its points value.

 

Hammer Strike seems ok, still a bit over costed. Seems good for killing 1 vehicle before dying to return fire.

 

Thunderstrike is not as good, anti tank wise, but ok. It seems.

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

I plan on combining mine with my jump troops like SG and VGV, on opposite sides of the table. Either expose yourself to some heavy firepower or expose yourself to being charged by the choppiest of choppy bois.

[Khornestar]

The fragility seems to be a big issue, and agreed that the hailstrike is just weak compared to the other two. All that mobility but still kinda weak firepower to take out chaff.

 

BS2+ for the thunderstrike is so odd. It’s awesome, but really sets it apart from the other two.

 

It’s nice that there’s the strat to fall back and shoot, but it’s probably gonna get bracketed by almost almost anything that charges it.

 

Potential buffs as I think of them:

 

Techmarine can awaken their machine spirit for +1 BS during the command phase, so the hammerstrike could be buffed, zoom off, and hopefully nuke something.

Edited April 30, 2022 by Khornestar

[Viridovix]

I'd run a Thunderstrike, not in BT still. Dark Angels / Iron Hands, why not. The melta-likes weapons are nice, worse then Eradicators, but you get movements and lots of wounds. With a Techmarine you can do some tricks.

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

I'd run a Thunderstrike, not in BT still. Dark Angels / Iron Hands, why not. The melta-likes weapons are nice, worse then Eradicators, but you get movements and lots of wounds. With a Techmarine you can do some tricks.

thunderstrike is the las version

[Mandragola]

I’ve considered running a thunderstrike for my crimson fists. It ought to be able to line up shots on something worthwhile on turn one while under the effect of the super doctrine, which would potentially let it achieve something worthwhile.

 

But… meh. It doesn’t exactly sound amazing so I haven’t even got as far as buying one to sit in the pile of shame.

 

I quite like the model but the turret is silly. I’d want to convert it to get rid of that and I can’t be bothered.

 

In the end, like a lot of 40K right now for me, I’m waiting to see what 10th brings. Until then I’ve got Titanicus, bolt action and maybe heresy.

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

I think the best buff they can give the stormspeeder is the ability to squadron together, and maybe some sort of point reduction for each speeder in the squadron.

 

1- full price

2- -15

3- -30

 

And obviously cut their base price by at least 15 points each.

A thunderstrike in a full 3 boat squadron would be roughly 105pts that way and the others would be 100pts or less.

Edited May 1, 2022 by Inquisitor_Lensoven

[WrathOfTheLion]

I rather like the model, I think it takes the grav look and really improves upon it, similar to the Gladiator tank.

 

But I haven't quite finished magnetizing the two I have over certain other projects. 40k Space Marines haven't quite kept my attention over other projects, such as Daemons, CSM or Eldar.

 

For my Dark Angels especially, I just don't see it displacing the lighter and cheaper firstborn Land Speeder variants. I'll look at finishing them sometime soon, but given its price is 2x that of a standard Land Speeder, it just becomes harder to justify fixed loadout like I might for the Land Speeder over magnetizing the kit.

 

I've really not been playing SM recently besides my Firstborn Space Wolves. Been playing more 1E 30k, Death Guard and Chaos Space Marines.

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

I rather like the model, I think it takes the grav look and really improves upon it, similar to the Gladiator tank.

 

But I haven't quite finished magnetizing the two I have over certain other projects. 40k Space Marines haven't quite kept my attention over other projects, such as Daemons, CSM or Eldar.

 

For my Dark Angels especially, I just don't see it displacing the lighter and cheaper firstborn Land Speeder variants. I'll look at finishing them sometime soon, but given its price is 2x that of a standard Land Speeder, it just becomes harder to justify fixed loadout like I might for the Land Speeder over magnetizing the kit.

 

I've really not been playing SM recently besides my Firstborn Space Wolves. Been playing more 1E 30k, Death Guard and Chaos Space Marines.

I love the look of the hailstrike, reminds me of a PBR with that stubber turret.

[DesuVult]

Cool looking models with shockingly poor damage output for the points they cost and flimsier on the table than expected. The thunderstrike is setup as a tank hunter but is still counting on d6 damage guns. If it is wounding on 3+ it is losing 1 shot and is looking at 2 wounds AP -3 and d6 damage. It costs 150 points and should not be expectated to knock out a carnifex or dreadnought. It's odds of killing a single blightlord terminator even aren't very good, those guys are 42 ppm.

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

Cool looking models with shockingly poor damage output for the points they cost and flimsier on the table than expected. The thunderstrike is setup as a tank hunter but is still counting on d6 damage guns. If it is wounding on 3+ it is losing 1 shot and is looking at 2 wounds AP -3 and d6 damage. It costs 150 points and should not be expectated to knock out a carnifex or dreadnought. It's odds of killing a single blightlord terminator even aren't very good, those guys are 42 ppm.

in general the random shots and random damage mechanics either need an overhaul or to be removed completely.

[DesuVult]

 

Cool looking models with shockingly poor damage output for the points they cost and flimsier on the table than expected. The thunderstrike is setup as a tank hunter but is still counting on d6 damage guns. If it is wounding on 3+ it is losing 1 shot and is looking at 2 wounds AP -3 and d6 damage. It costs 150 points and should not be expectated to knock out a carnifex or dreadnought. It's odds of killing a single blightlord terminator even aren't very good, those guys are 42 ppm.

in general the random shots and random damage mechanics either need an overhaul or to be removed completely.

d3 I feel must be moved to flat 2 and d6 must be moved to flat 4 for damage and most cases of shooting. In general I attempt to avoid saying what must be done in game design due to it being complex and instead talk about what I prefer or feel is right. In this case though we can see with glaring regularity the impact random shots and random damage has on the game. Into a plague marine a d6 damage gun has a 1 in 3 chance to fail to kill if the plague marine fails his save. With the state of game durability variable damage shots and damage is overwhelmingly punishing in most cases. Guns intended to be high lethality instead trend to low lethality due to generally low shot count and weakness against damage mitigation effects.

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

 

 

Cool looking models with shockingly poor damage output for the points they cost and flimsier on the table than expected. The thunderstrike is setup as a tank hunter but is still counting on d6 damage guns. If it is wounding on 3+ it is losing 1 shot and is looking at 2 wounds AP -3 and d6 damage. It costs 150 points and should not be expectated to knock out a carnifex or dreadnought. It's odds of killing a single blightlord terminator even aren't very good, those guys are 42 ppm.

in general the random shots and random damage mechanics either need an overhaul or to be removed completely.

d3 I feel must be moved to flat 2 and d6 must be moved to flat 4 for damage and most cases of shooting. In general I attempt to avoid saying what must be done in game design due to it being complex and instead talk about what I prefer or feel is right. In this case though we can see with glaring regularity the impact random shots and random damage has on the game. Into a plague marine a d6 damage gun has a 1 in 3 chance to fail to kill if the plague marine fails his save. With the state of game durability variable damage shots and damage is overwhelmingly punishing in most cases. Guns intended to be high lethality instead trend to low lethality due to generally low shot count and weakness against damage mitigation effects.

yep, dedicated AT weapons should not be doing only 1 damage base for any reason.

S8 AP-3 and D3 seems like it should be the minimum for a dedicated AT gun.

Edited May 1, 2022 by Inquisitor_Lensoven

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

There is a rumor that our vehicles will be much better in the 2.0 codex. Here’s to hoping.

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

There is a rumor that our vehicles will be much better in the 2.0 codex. Here’s to hoping.

i have still yet to see a source for any 2.0 rumors including the idea that we’ll even get one.

[Jacques Corbin]

Agreed! Sources!!!

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

It’s from one of the BT mods here… sheesh

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

It’s from one of the BT mods here… sheesh

so all this 2.0 talk is because some random dude on an Internet forum said so?

Does he at least claim to be an insider?

[Karhedron]

Valrak has listed a batch of forthcoming Marine units include a melta version of the Redemptor and some new Primaris infantry with bombardment-style weapons. We also have the revamped Gravis Captain who is currently dataslate only and the Primaris Champion who is Legends only.

 

Now all these units could be waiting for the 10th edition Marine codex but that is likely at least 18 months out at this point. It would be unusual to get such detailed rumours about such distant releases. This has led many people to speculate that we will get a 9th edition 2.0 Codex sooner rather than later.

 

Knight are coming soon with Chaos Marines not far behind. Votan likely dropping over the summer. This would potentially leave a window in late summer or early autumn for a new Marie codex. I don't think that any of the reliable rumour mongers have predicted a new Dex yet but several rumours added together have led a lot of people to make that leap.

 

I am not sure one way or the other but we should start hearing more concrete rumours once the CSM codex is out of the way.

[Marshal Mittens]

Valrak has listed a batch of forthcoming Marine units include a melta version of the Redemptor and some new Primaris infantry with bombardment-style weapons. We also have the revamped Gravis Captain who is currently dataslate only and the Primaris Champion who is Legends only.

 

Now all these units could be waiting for the 10th edition Marine codex but that is likely at least 18 months out at this point. It would be unusual to get such detailed rumours about such distant releases. This has led many people to speculate that we will get a 9th edition 2.0 Codex sooner rather than later.

 

Knight are coming soon with Chaos Marines not far behind. Votan likely dropping over the summer. This would potentially leave a window in late summer or early autumn for a new Marie codex. I don't think that any of the reliable rumour mongers have predicted a new Dex yet but several rumours added together have led a lot of people to make that leap.

 

I am not sure one way or the other but we should start hearing more concrete rumours once the CSM codex is out of the way.

I think we will get 2.0 this summer, early fall.

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

Valrak has listed a batch of forthcoming Marine units include a melta version of the Redemptor and some new Primaris infantry with bombardment-style weapons. We also have the revamped Gravis Captain who is currently dataslate only and the Primaris Champion who is Legends only.

 

Now all these units could be waiting for the 10th edition Marine codex but that is likely at least 18 months out at this point. It would be unusual to get such detailed rumours about such distant releases. This has led many people to speculate that we will get a 9th edition 2.0 Codex sooner rather than later.

 

Knight are coming soon with Chaos Marines not far behind. Votan likely dropping over the summer. This would potentially leave a window in late summer or early autumn for a new Marie codex. I don't think that any of the reliable rumour mongers have predicted a new Dex yet but several rumours added together have led a lot of people to make that leap.

 

I am not sure one way or the other but we should start hearing more concrete rumours once the CSM codex is out of the way.

im going to be furious if GW drops a second marine codex before we get a new guard codex.