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Scout Salamanders take up a Fast Attack Slot and cost 55 points, they can carry searchlight, smoke launchers, and an autocannon/H. flamer/H. Bolter but more importantly they cannot carry any troops and they are open topped and only AV12, S10, R10.

I don't think the Surveyor (prevent enemy infiltrators within 40") is that useful, and Overcharged engines good for getting places and getting treated as a "fast vehicle" for the rest of the turn but does nothing to increase its firepower.

The Command Salamander is neat because it can spot for arty strikes, and give out orders but it can only carry a H. Bolter/H. Flamer

My point is, though what is it actually useful for? You need to kill enemy troops in 40k to win and Salamander's can't capture objectives since they can't carry troops.

What makes it more useful than a Chimera for example which costs the same could carry the same armament AND carry 12 troops.

Forgeworld units are about the flavor and story. They are detailed set pieces, not meant for competative play, but to set up an exciting narrative. In short, it may not be more useful, but it is more flavourful.

I agree, you could also just use it as a 'count as' Chimera for your army since it does look good. I've thought about being own myself. Went with the Trojan instead just because it would look good in group shots and maybe as an objective piece (escort mission: protect the Trojan). Actually you could do something like that with a Salamander.

This is ridiculous. So NO-one ever uses a Salamander for the actual unit?

Considering how expensive FW units are, its ridiculous to buy anything if you're not going to actually use them in battle.

Think Reaver Titan... mmhmm

The majority of people I know who've bought FW models have bought them because they look cool, not necessarily because their rules were good.

(Of course, these days, the FW vanquisher IS a better tank than the codex version - go co-ax heavy stubber).

It's better only by default. FW wasn't about to invalidate their own model, so kept their rules as is.

Anyway, I say just get the Salamander. It's a cool model and while it'll probably be a pain to put together (like all old FW conversion kits), at least it's a nifty little vehicle to have around. Doesn't have to be effective. Most of the FW stuff I own isn't.

I'm not sure if this thread should go in Tactics or Modelling, so I am going to leave it here in General Discussion.

The fact that you're not sure pretty much spells out that it's a 'general' discussion, don't'cha think KK?

DorianGray wrote:This is ridiculous. So NO-one ever uses a Salamander for the actual unit?

Considering how expensive FW units are, its ridiculous to buy anything if you're not going to actually use them in battle.

Think Reaver Titan... mmhmm

As a current non-recovering Forge World addict I can say it isn't about the playing with FW as much as it is the cool factor of fielding or just building something a little different than the standard GW version of things. Plus FW models tend to just look better in terms of design, at least to me.

I use this as a salamander. The rules portray it as a buggy, so I made it one:





Edit: apologies for bad pictures, I took these about two years ago when I was first starting with model photography.

It's worth every single point (and I was using the AC rules of 75 points). Everyone ignores it then it runs behind them and rear shots all their armor with the autocannon. For something so cheap, it's an excellent armor killer. It's a fast vehicle, which counts for something. I suppose it isn't better than a chimera (apart from the autocannon), but I didn't spend a billion dollars buying a landspeeder and wartrack and hwt to not use it.

DorianGray wrote:So NO-one ever uses a Salamander for the actual unit?

I wouldn't say 'no one'. What you have to remember is that most people automatically assume Forge World units are unbalanced and provide some sort of huge advantage. Truth is, most of the time it's the complete opposite. Oh, they're unbalanced - that much is true - but they're unbalanced against themselves, that is to say that they're either over-costed, underpowered, or both.

Still, people are afraid of what they don't understand, so you'll find that people will just go "No! I don't want to play against that, it'll destroy Nob Biker/Fatecrusher/VulkanMarine army in a single turn!" when, in truth, all the Salamander is (and most FW units are) is just a fancy piece of kit that, if you're lucky, you'll get some use out of. I have a Leman Russ Annihilator and frankly it's pretty much worthless, but I still like it, and in my fluff it leads my 'Reserve' armour Company as an odd-ball command tank. I don't really care that it's a bad unit.

Seriously - if you like the look of it, and it fits the style of your army, get one.

The salamander is an interesting piece. Scout armour is something completely lacking from the IG codex. That said, scout armour doesn't really have a place in a stand-up fight which is what the standard missions portray. In a more scenario-based game or campaign, fast armoured vehicles can be more useful. (there isn't really much reconnaisance/scouting taking place in a 40K battle).

Oh the other hand, in an armoured company list you can take squadrons of salamanders which makes them a little more attractive.

If you like FW models you just have to accept that the rules are generally slightly under-powered or over-costed. And people will still accuse you of cheese.


Hmm, now I'm thinking about an IG recon company - storm troopers, armoured fist squads, salamander squadrons, sentinels, artillery strikes and aircraft. That's workable.

Scott-S6 wrote:Hmm, now I'm thinking about an IG recon company - storm troopers, armoured fist squads, salamander squadrons, sentinels, artillery strikes and aircraft. That's workable.

Some would argue that the storm trooper bit isn't as they are overpriced, but it's a nicely thematic army. Edit: Oh, wait, AC rules, I forgot.

Storm troopers aren't great but one small squad deep striking with a couple of meltas or plasma has uses.

Well the Command Salamander giving out orders must be pretty decent right?

Also it can have 2 H. Bolters and 1 H. Stubber as a optional along with Camo netting and Smoke Launchers.

75 points, what do people think. It's better than a HQ squad in a Chimera running around that costs 100 points.

DorianGray wrote:It's better than a HQ squad in a Chimera running around that costs 100 points.

HQ Squad in a Chimera goes around with 4 Meltaguns and game-altering Advisors.

A Salamander does not.

True, but it's a cheap way to have a source of orders running about. As a 2nd HQ choice to hang back it might do well (leaving the expensive CCS to run with the offensive mechvets)

Fair enough.

I was under the impression that most people didn't bother with orders because MechVets don't need 'em.