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I am about to send FW a large sum of money. Among various russ turrets and a Vulcan Macharius, I am planning on ordering another super heavy.

Here is my dilemma... Shadowsword or Stormblade?

I personally *love* the look of the stormblade.. I am a sucker for plasma, and that huge plasma blast gun is the sexy. However, in many of our mega games at the FLGS, the "good" side usually has a lack of "D" weapons... the shadowsword would come in handy there.. but I'm not a huge fan of how it looks, or the fact that it only uses a 5" blast.. but it would be nice to have a D weapon, especially at BS4 (I would also replace the sponsons with plates, to get AV14 sides).

Input or opinions?

Get the storm blade....then make one of the other "good" players get a shadowsword. you could always use it as a "counts as" and just say it's under cover.

I've got a shadowsword of my own, and have had some good results with it. However it is kind of disapointing that you can get a Baneblade varient with one of 2 of the Warhound weapons but the Shadowsword's gun is only half.

Because it is only one template shot you really have to make sure each shot counts so make sure you have a some good firing lines. A Nasty trick with it though is that the main gun can see completely over a Chimera so you can buy one and just park it sideways across the from to get a cover save, And without the Demolisher cannon that the banesblade have you don't lose any fire power.

Gabe,I like the plasma idea, but the strenght d is pretty good, but i like the plasma blast gun more, and imo it looks better.

Buy the shadowsword for the utility (and c'mon, anything FW looks great once you've got it in hand) and try proxying as a Stormblade to see if you want to marshal the cash for another BB variant. Nothing is worse than laying out the cash (and paint time) for a beautiful model just to find that it's pants on the field.

I'd say go for the shadowsword.
Especially since it has that pretty interior.

But you could always buy the stormblade, and convert up a shadowsword top for it.

If your intent is to play loads of APOC games then the Shadowsword is best. Strength D trumps everything. Being able to ignore smoke launchers, cover saves, etc. it too good. Everyone likes vitamin 'D'...LOL.

Capt K

Thanks for the input guys.

I won't be getting the solid resin shadowsword or stormblade... just the newer (and cheaper) hybrid plastic/resin kits.

At this point I am actually considering just buying both, and treating myself to a very imperial guard christmas... we'll see =)

In the end, I think the stormblade just looks cooler, so if I only get one, I think I will get that one. I can always get the shadowsword later.

Both both BOTH!! Then post pictures so that we can be jealous.

I kind of hate to say it but you might wan tto wait a few month's acording to the grape vine GW is going to be putting out a new Banesblade varient in all plastic, an dmost likely it will be either the new Stormlord or Shadowsword.

Also plastic Valkyries now thats sweet.

I would scratch built based on the plastic Baneblade.

Mainly because you then make the tank modular. Build up the rear chassis box with a socket into which you plug in an interchangeable plasma blkastgun or volcano cannon.

Get a pair of sideplates to interchange with the sponsons.

All done.

For a Shadowsword you want the Av14 sides. Reduced armament makes it a no brainer. For the Stormblade you get a choice.

Save money get both tanks; so long as you have reasonable plasticard skills, and this is relatively easy job.

I personaly think the other way around as for Shadowsword armaments. Since the main cannon has range and it doesn't have the weapon options to make it a front line tank it's sides will be fairly protected and since it only has one gun if you take off the side sponsens after 1 weapon destroyed result you'll start losing structure points. I've seen to many Bane'sblades sitting in the middle of the table with 2 structure points and 4 destroyed weapons.

For super heavies the number of weapons can be as important as sturcture points for survivability. In one of my Apoc games i've had a Warhound Titan destroyed without having ever had a lost a structure point role on it.

I say you go for the stormblade. The good side may lack str D weapons, but you don't really need any more titan killing ability with all drop guard melta madness. Since the stormblade is what you really want anyway, get it.

Besides, we don't need any more D weapons shooting at my stompa :p