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Just looking through the codex i see the lascannons and plasma cannons are just soooooo expensive. I mean are they seriously worth all those points?

HBs and MLs are great just for 15 points a piece same for a MM but with a 24" range not that good.

I currently run a dev squad with either these weapons MM ( not sure but should i keep this ? ) 2 HBs, 1 LC and 1 PC

I aint sure now what to put these guys with. Opinions please.

First of all, this belongs in tactics.

Second, that seems ok, but it's far too varied for my liking. Missile Launchers, I believe, are best value.

Plasma cannons, generally not. Lascannons are good to take one of, and use your sergeant's signum for that shot every turn.

Heavy Bolters are, well, kinda crappy IMO, and Multimeltas aren't that bad, if you want to drop pod your dev squad and sacrifice a turn of shooting when they come in (although you'd soon be sacrificing your entire dev squad, so it's a risky maneuver).

Oops sorry didnt see that haha my bad. Some mod please put this to tactics (been posting much on gen discussion)

Only run them with missiles. Other choices are overprices and ineffective

Then again though if this is Vanilla marines then typhoon speeders and auto/las preds might be a better choice for long range anti tank support

Eh, consider the following:

4x Devastator Squad (3x ML, Lascannon)
- Devastator Sergeant
(145 points)

Predator (Autocannon/Lascannon sponsons)
(145 points)

Vindicator (Demolisher Cannon, Storm Bolter)
(145 points)

The 3ML/Las dev squad kind of outperforms the predator.
- 2 ML hits (S8 AP3)
- .83 Lascannon hit (with signum giving the firer BS5 at S9 AP2)
is better than
- 1.33 Lascannon hit (S9 AP2)
- 1.67 autocannon hits (S7 AP4)

Missile launchers are better than autocannons at popping armor, and BS5 is better than BS4 for lascannons - even with 2 of them. Either way, why waste the signum on a model firing a missile launcher? If you have the 15 points, one lascannon in a dev squad is a good buy IMO.

I changed the loadout with x2 HB 1 LC and 1 PC ill change the 1 HB for an extra ML i have. I put the MM on my tac squad with a melta (just for fun/killing rhinos) . Also whats a good list for orks? x2 PC and x2 ML? Our FLGS suddenly had a sale of orks/tyranids and everybody bought like a battleforce and an hq for like under 70 $

Missel Launchers are better than Plasma Cannons for killing orks. You have longer range, and no chance of killing yourself. If you need to Instakill Nobs then you can fire St8 shots into them,

The range and flexibility the Missle Launcher gives out ways the higher str of the blast from the Plasma Cannon in my opinion.

Now if you are facing a foot slogging Marine or Termie army, my opinion changes completely.

For me, a range of 48" is must.

Dev. squads are ok in the right list. MLs to keep them cheap and a lascannon which can use the signum, is a reasonable set up.

They fit well with thunderfire cannons and combat squads from razorbacks.

The main issue I have with them is actually DoW. All other times I should be able to get a good gun lane, somehow.
DoW not only means limited set up and losing a turn of shooting, it also means combat tactics will not help as you can run straight off the board.

MFletch wrote:The main issue I have with them is actually DoW. All other times I should be able to get a good gun lane, somehow.
DoW not only means limited set up and losing a turn of shooting, it also means combat tactics will not help as you can run straight off the board.

Completely agree. In a BA jumper/DoA style list, Devs hitting on Turn 1 and 2 is crucial while your other troops make there way into combat. Dawn of War screws it all up.

reps0l wrote:

MFletch wrote:The main issue I have with them is actually DoW. All other times I should be able to get a good gun lane, somehow.
DoW not only means limited set up and losing a turn of shooting, it also means combat tactics will not help as you can run straight off the board.

Completely agree. In a BA jumper/DoA style list, Devs hitting on Turn 1 and 2 is crucial while your other troops make there way into combat. Dawn of War screws it all up.

even more so in a BA army a missile launcher dev squad with a priest hanging around to give feel no pain makes the squad a pain to kill

I managed to scrounge together a dev squad from my bits box and somehow assembled a squad with 4 plasma cannons and a sarge with signum! not the most optimal loadout but for fun games this should be interesting as it'll be BA rules against BA rules. at least they all have the same distance! points wise it's not cheap but depending on your opponent you can use all kinds of differing squads just to keep it fresh, and who knows? you may just get a bunch of lucky dice rolls anyway!

The only devastator squad I would run is 4x ML, and even then it's 150 points. The only time I use that is as a way of taking an extra transport. Then it's 225 for 4x MLs, and a las/plas razorback. Not too shabby.

Space Marines do get shafted in the devastator squads and troops choices, but they have other strong points.

I love devastators in my BA armies. 4xML and 4xHB have worked really well for me.

In fact, I just played a 2,000 point game against Orks this weekend in which the Devs were the MVPs of the game... they just mooooooowed down Orks left and right. Was a thing of beauty. They literally won me the game.