[raven_jim]

I've always had really useful feedback from people in the past so thought I'd call upon the masses once again

I am starting a Salamanders list and I've nearly finished the army but I am in 2 minds about my HQ and how to run it. So here are my 2 options and reasons why I chose them, I would love peoples opinions:

1) Chapter master on bike with a bike mounted command squad
Reasons, the HQ is a tank and everyone loves an orbital strike, was even thinking of giving him +2 armour, the purpose of this squad is an elite close combat squad that would run at the enemy lines, the chapter master will soak a few hits before entering combat and the apothecary will hopefully save a few failed saves with FNP. Another plus is my 5 man bike squad in my army will be a troop choice

2) Vulkan He'stan with a 6 man sternguard vet squad in a drop pod
Reasons, its Vulkan... I have lots of melta's in my list and vulkan makes them all master crafted, also a drop pod of stern guard as his bodyguard with hell-fire rounds sounds scary.

I've always used a tactic of getting in the enemies face ASAP that way they react to you and you can stick to a plan with your main force, I think either option gives me that choice

 

[Iraqiel]

I like the bike option because it is so tough to deal with, is fast moving and can dish out some nasty surprises.

On the other hand... Vulkan...

 

[ntaw]

Both are exceptionally valid options, but the list that surrounds them could be the deciding factor. Care to share?

 

[raven_jim]

I'm happy to share the list, i've left out the models in the 2 options above obviously

TROOP

6 man Tac Squad
- Flamer, Sgt. powerfist
Razor Back with TL heavy Flamer

10 CC scouts

5 bikes
1 is an attack bike with MM, 1 melta and sgt with PW

ELITE

5 hammernators
1 stock Dreadnought in drop pod

HEAVY
Thunderfire Cannon
Landraider

I also have 500 points of inquisition but the SM list comes to 1500pts

 

[ntaw]

I have a somewhat strong dislike for standard Land Raiders. You're almost always going to be using PotMS to target different units with your TLLCs, and that lone TLHB is almost useless in conjunction with a S9 AP2 weapon. They just have such massively different purposes, not to mention that (it looks like) you're using it to transport an exclusively CC squad. Why not run a LRR/LRC?

I feel like in this list the Captain on a Bike is your better option, though I do love me a good Melta squad T1 to shake things up. I would use the Captain, drop the PF on the Tactical sergeant for the Venerable upgrade on your Dreadnought so he hits on a 2+ with that MM, and swap the LR for a LRR with a MM.

 

[Sethis]

I agree a Crusader would be better, and would also go with the Bikes in this option, as you can punch them forwards with the Land Raider for a decent "Smash the centre" option, or put them on opposite flanks and force the enemy to pick one.

 

[Vaz]

I have a somewhat strong dislike for standard Land Raiders. You're almost always going to be using PotMS to target different units with your TLLCs, and that lone TLHB is almost useless in conjunction with a S9 AP2 weapon. They just have such massively different purposes, not to mention that (it looks like) you're using it to transport an exclusively CC squad. Why not run a LRR/LRC?

Who buys a Land Raider for the heavy bolter. Or the lascannons for that matter? It's an assault vehicle with the firepower to crack anything that's protecting something squishy for the combat squad to kill.

Those heavy bolters can rack up the kills on their own, and help keep those Lascannons alive. What's a crusader going to do? It's going to fire its half dozen bolter shots, wound a couple, and watch them pass their armour/cover saves, or it's targeting a 4pt Guardsman.

The Crusader is for the purposes of pushing a 7man+IC Terminator Squad or a Crusader Squad onto an objective, where it can use its Frag Assault Launchers. A Redeemer is the only other option - but guess what, you're paying for an Assault Cannon you'll rarely use - similar to the Heavy Bolter.

Crusader's are utter shit, especially when SM are at a complete premium for anti-armour and Monstrous Creature. Redeemer or Lascannon are the way to run.

 

[ntaw]

Hey @Vaz, you saw I suggested a Redeemer and not a Crusader there right?

A Redeemer is the only other option - but guess what, you're paying for an Assault Cannon you'll rarely use - similar to the Heavy Bolter.

A 24" S6 AP4 Rending weapons suits a couple S6 AP3 template weapons a hell of a lot better than HBs suit LCs, and Infantry units are typically spread out wide enough that all three weapons can be brought to bear on them where a ton of tanks are just too small to get both Lascannons on with how wide the LR is. Plus they're ten points less and can carry more models.

I'll take a Redeemer over a LR any day of the week, and shed no thoughts on Crusaders.

 

[raven_jim]

The only reason i got the bog standard land raider was for the las cannons tbh, i just wanted some anti armour that is good at long distance. It also has the added bonus of being able to creep up the board protecting my termies from AP2 weapons

 

[fatmantis]

well you could easily run both..at different points levels...vulkan in smaller games realitvly cheap..then at say 1500pts but in the 2nd hq

 

[Sethis]

Using a Crusader, I tend to Machine Spirit the AssCannon T1 while moving as fast as possible forwards, then T2 am normally in Rapid Fire range with Hurricanes + AssCannon and can Machine Spirit the Multimelta at something worthwhile, as the Termies disembark and blow through whatever got softened up/cleared out by the torrent firepower. My anti-tank is elsewhere in the list (MM Attack Bikes, Typhoons, Storm Talons, ML/Lascannon Devs) and at the end of the day, Hammernators are pretty damn good anti-tank in themselves.