Massed Tank Warfare

[librisrouge]

I've been wondering about the viability of taking a guard list that only utilizes tanks. Something like:

 

Tank Commander

Demolisher x2

Exterminator x3

Rogal Dorn x3

Enginseer

 

All high toughness and 2+ saves for days, basically. I understand that this would be a low model count army but I think it can be made to work.

 

I wonder if anybody else has tried a similar list and has any advice or perspective to offer before I go painting treads.

[sairence]

I've run 2 TCs and 3 Russes last weekend. They're reasonably durable but probably won't survive as much as you'd like. 

 

The main issue is movement and line of sight, especially if you play on stuff like WTC boards.

[Emperor Ming]

and the oc difference between tanks and inf with command squads is rather alot

[sairence]

Have some more time to get into my thoughts on this style.

 

OC matters to some extent, but your plan is to blow the enemy off the objectives, not get into a numbers game with them.

 

Tonl paraphrase a certain drill sergeant: The enemy can't score, if you take away their models.

 

If you do want to run this I would definitely change your distribution though. Go all on the Demomishers, because you will get caught im CC, maybe even add some Eradicators with the same ability. You don't really need 3 Exterminators, you have decent AP on most guns anyway.

 

Personally, I would also include some Sentinels, as the scout move amd bodt blocking is essential. Also, you need at least one more TC, would recommend running all Plasma on those, probably also a second Enginseer if you're going this hard. 

 

And lastly, 2 Basilisks pair really well with this. They can stay back, hold your home objective, and slow done enemy infantry.

 

Regardless off all this, you will struggle to score actualy objectives. You don't really have the capacity for fixed secondaries, or the flexibility for tactical ones. Something like the Ghosts and a callidus go a long way to opening those up big time.

[Tokugawa]

Recent tournament lists shows Russ chassis is back on menu.

 

https://40kstats.goonhammer.com/#ft4-astra_militarum

[Emperor Ming]

3 hours ago, Tokugawa said:

Recent tournament lists shows Russ chassis is back on menu.

Nice to see, the only one I could rate atm is the demolisher, just so it can actually fire decently when its tagged in combat

 

200 is still a lot for bs4

 

I wish they had kept the previous edition for being tagged, all weapons suffering minus to hit is just

 

Only the main gun should be affected really

[casb1965]

On 10/25/2023 at 11:06 AM, Emperor Ming said:

 

I wish they had kept the previous edition for being tagged, all weapons suffering minus to hit is just

The minus 1 is negated by plus one for shooting heavy weapons when not moving though.

[Emperor Ming]

6 minutes ago, casb1965 said:

The minus 1 is negated by plus one for shooting heavy weapons when not moving though.

Most vehicle weapons that were heavy, are not heavy anymore....... 

[FashaTheDog]

If you hate painting infantry, but love the tanks I have to recommend you go with the models you like.  You will spend a lot of time prepping and painting them before they even hit the table.  What is competitive now will change in the future so you can play a few smaller games with tanks and see how they go for you.  You might want to add in some infantry as support or perhaps artillery or air support.  You might not.  I do not want to know how many hours I have spent working on my models to enjoy using them on the table so go start with what you like and adjust from there is always the best thing you can do.

[casb1965]

14 hours ago, Emperor Ming said:

Most vehicle weapons that were heavy, are not heavy anymore....... 

Hadn't noticed that the vehicle weapons were different to the infantry version.

[sairence]

1 hour ago, casb1965 said:

Hadn't noticed that the vehicle weapons were different to the infantry version.

 

For me, the logic they used here is pretty straightforward. 

 

If the weapon is narratively meant to be stationary when used, it gets heavy. So that's artillery, long range sniper style weapons, infantry support weapons that usually need set up, etc.

 

If it's mounted on a unit that meant to move, fill a linebreaker role or be agile, it doesn't get heavy, cause it's not expected to be stationary. That's most of your Leman Russes, transports, etc. 

 

The only gun I've come across that weirdly breaks this mold is the Sentinel missile launcher, for some reason.

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

Have you considered sentinels? 

[Hiroitchi]

I've been running Armored Company lists since 8th ed, still do albeit its now cavalry these days, so I think I have some skin in the game. All the points that @sairence have pointed are pretty spot on. I just dont run Basilisks and Sentinels in my lists even though they are great additions. I'm just holding out for the Guard Codex to come out to run my Russ' again. 

 

3x Tank Commanders /w Demolisher cannon; 1x with Grand Strategist

3x Leman Russ Battle Tanks

2x Leman Russ Vanquishers

2x Rogal Dorns

 

I choose the Tank Commanders with Battle Cannons because they are closer in points. Generally, the 2x Rogal dorns are enough for 3x more Russ chassis, but Rogal Dorns are way cool looking. Vanquishers are there because of nostalgic reasons. They were good with their 9th ed codex, but...theyre just okay since their turret has Heavy. So yeah.. play what you like man. 

 

Optimizing the list would be replacing the Vanquishers with Basilisks.. Removing 2x Tank Commanders in favor of Lord Solar, and fill the rest with Scout Sentinels.