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I would like to field a unit of 10 terminators. I like ridiculous units like that. But I can't decide between 2 assault cannons or two cyclone missile launchers. Which is the best decision?

The_HoFF wrote:I would like to field a unit of 10 terminators. I like ridiculous units like that. But I can't decide between 2 assault cannons or two cyclone missile launchers. Which is the best decision?

Some like the Cyclone for the S8 shot and that you can shoot it in addition to the storm bolter. Some like the Assault Cannons for the rending and amount of shots.

Me? I like the refreshing taste of Crystal Light.

You should probably ask a mod to move this to the tactics section, might get a few more replies there!

I think the better question is...
why haven't you jumped on the 10 TH/SS Assault Terminators yet?

Honestly, I think the assault cannon is better. Although I guess it depends what the rest of your army has.

MMMM yes TH/SS go great with Terminators... and Crystal Light.

More Dakka, go with the Assault Cannons!

Actually I would play a few games with your termies against friends who don't mind you testing out either Cyclones or Assault cannons. Just pick a non-permanent way to designate which two you're using as testbeds and let your opponent know which weapons they're using.

That way you can get a feel for the weapons and see if either ends up being more effective, or if they fit your style of play a little better.

What you should never do, however, is drink Crystal Light. When they harvest it from the oceans, thousands of dolphins are caught in their nets. Please, think of the dolphins.

DoW

Asscannons are the premium choice for me. Plenty of Dakka for killing pesky 4+ save units like Tau infantry and Nobz with 'eavy armour.

Assault Cannons. People are not going to shrug those shots off.

The_HoFF wrote:I would like to field a unit of 10 terminators. I like ridiculous units like that. But I can't decide between 2 assault cannons or two cyclone missile launchers. Which is the best decision?

Normally I'd say go with what you like best or whatever suits your fancy, but assault cannons are HOT.

Well I was thinking of heavy flamers, since I'm using homers to safely deep strike them behind the enemy army. But I will see so much rear armor that I think I would be realistic to take either the cyclon or the assault cannon.

punkisntdeadyet wrote:I think the better question is...
why haven't you jumped on the 10 TH/SS Assault Terminators yet?

QFT

Go with the CML. I like them because you are getting better range than the AC, you can ID Nobs and their equivalent, and you can reliably pop light armor. You also are not losing a couple of SBs like if you were taking the ACs. 10 Termies (w/2xCML), 20 SB shots, 4 S8 AP3 shots all at BS4, niceeee

Yeah...I do really like the cyclon, but the assault cannon can be so nasty.

I like the 'idea' of the Assault Cannon, but in reality it comes down to depending on those '6s' to wound (if you even roll a 6). A Cyclone Missile Launcher is money in the bank everytime. You know from the start you've got better range, Str 8 AP 3.

That's true and with two that is 4 blast markers coming from one unit, it's like have your own small dev. squad.

I agree with Barlio. I actually built out extra Terminators when they gave out the single Termie with the White Dwarf that time. I've tried all three weapons, and I can honestly say they're all awesome at times. A squad portable Heavy Flamer is the best thing I've ever found against Eldar Aspect warriors, the Assault Cannon makes a great all-comers can-opener, but the CML is my favorite. Last edition, it was a single lame missle, this edition, it's a 2 shot missle launcher. You can choose between Frag and Krak as needed, and don't loose a Storm Bolter. 5 with CML some massive output. Ten with 2xCML is almost rude, all the firepower of a RLx4 Dev Squad, plus it fires on the move, has greater resilience, and Assault 2 24" Bolters. Where's the downside?

I say just try them all out. The HF has the least all-around ability but is far from useless. The CML is probably the best all-around, but in certain situations where cover and range aren't an issue, the Assault Cannon has more bite.

However, for your intellectual consumption, think one step further. Ask not what ten Terminators with two Cyclone Missle Launchers can do... Ask what more it can do with a Terminator Librarian dedicated to porting them around with Gate of Infinity.

(Rear armor + (Missle x 4)) + OMGWTFBBQ = Greatness

As one of my favorite gaming sayings goes, "It does WHAT?"

Yea, a Str8 AP3 autocannon with the option of shooting frag is really scary when it can move and shoot. I have been leaning towards those more and more lately.

If your not using assault termies the cyclone missile launchers rule for reasons already stated.

You don't have to spend the points with the librarian, who can accidentally kill someone with the warp & deep strike. Instead get a land speeder storm and put 5 scouts in it with a teleport homer. Boost it with your free scout move on the flank. Then by turn two or three drop the terminators down and they should have a nice view off every vehicles rear armor.

It actual kiling power the two weapons are about the same. AC had the advantage it can actually penetrate AV 14 but the CML has more range.

If your Terminators are not in a Land Raider (which if they stay is a squad of 10 they can not be) then I would go with the CML just for the range.

You could always split the difference and go one each for flexibility. Personally, I'd go two assault cannon and deep striking along with some support stuff in a pod or dropping on a homer. AC wins out over the cyclone hands down against rear armor because of the rate of fire difference. Turn 1 drop 3 AC (or MM) dreads, turn 2 start rolling for deep strike on the terms and 2 units of sternguard in pods and start killing the daisy pickers in droves.

Going from H1 to H2 has made the cyclone a better choice all round. But I'm still going for Ass cannons because they look cooler IMO, and Cyclones would keep getting caught on low doorframes when your chasing genesneakers on a space hulk!

Oh yeah the Assault cannon is hands down the coolest looking upgrade you can give a unit. I'm kind of glad they took the 'lock up' rule out of the latest SM book. I only had it happen a couple of times, but that was enough to spook me before I rolled for it.

Cyclones all the way. In the previous SM codex I would have said assault cannons, but their days in the sun are over. At least until the next SM codex.

This is the set up to go with ;

10 Terms w/
4 ChainFists
2 CSM

Here are the points for CSM over Assault Cannon.

1. Its great against Monstrous targets, Wraithlords, Daemon Princes, Avatars, C'Tan.

2. Its Fantastic in CC as you can fire off 4 STR8 shots and still assault a Monstrous if you have to. This comes down to really fantastic when you consider it INSTAKILLS nobz.

3. Its incredible against Transports which is where most armies are going these days. STR8 against 12 is awesome.

4. It does not have penetration power for AV14 but honestly you should have Multimeltas and Melta guns for that.

5. Its completely and utterly brutal against horde armies, 4 Blast Templates plus 20 shots yes, please. That can wipe out a 30 man ork mob it the right positioning of markers.



Assault cannons are awesome but they just do not compare to that Hvy2. It barely just eeks by in my opinion.

Yeah I'm defiantly going with the cyclons now, they seem so much more...reliable.

But assault cannons with str. 6 and rending are more then enough to shred a land raider, with the right amount of luck!

You are still depending on luck. Against a LR let's say you shoot 2 assault cannons at it. I'll be generous, 8 shots at BS4, 6 hit. Roll for armor penetration, 4 - 5's or less and 2 - 6's so you have two rending hits. Roll 2 d3 for rending. Let's say you manage to roll a 3 and a 6 for one glancing hit and one penetrating hit.

Granted of course you can roll that well and of course you can only glance a LR with a CML, but as hollismason said you have melta and other things to deal with Armor 14.

Edit: 1000 posts baby. And it matches perfectly with my Avatar.

I dont know what the odds are but I think its.

You have to hit w/ the shots, which you get 4, then roll a six, then to pen you have to roll a 3+.

I am sure someone knows the odds of this happening.


Thats the reason I like the ten man term squad w/ 2 cyclones and 3 or 4 chainfists.

You can deepstrike them with in six of a drop pod then fire everything you need to and next turn start assaulting or whatever.

They also rule because you can fire 4 krak missiles into a squad to soften them up and assaut.

It's a shame I made my army for Dark Angels . . . with 4 squads of 5 termies all with AC . . . then they bring out the new codex with the awesome Cyclone rules . . . I almost cried, until I decided I would just use Land Speeder Typhoons instead =p