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I've just come into the posession of 3 basilisks. I'm in the process of stripping/disassembling them now, and I want advice on how to arm them when I put them back together. I'm pretty good at conversions, so I am considering arming them as:

bailisks
Griffons
Medusas
Colossi
Hydras
Manticore

What should I choose? I'm leanting toward 3 of the same thing (unless I choose a manticore), but I could be convinced otherwise.

As to background, they will accompany a mostly gunline force that right now consists of:
-7 Guard squads (AC/Plas)
-Two PCS (one 4xGL, one 4xflamer/comissar)
-CCS (MoO, CStandard, Medic, 2xplasma)
-Russ (3xHB)
-Demolisher (Las)

And will shortly have
3 Lascannon Squads
10 rattlings
Chimera
Chimera or Devil Dog

You want a Manticore - Because long-range str 10 large blasts will ruin tanks, hordes, and insta death Nob Bikers.
I wouldn't suggest more than one, mainly because each one uses up a heavy support choice. It's also fairly easy to convert from a Bassilsk (I just need to find some good missiles for mine)

As for the other two, I have no idea. You already seem pretty full in heavy support, so yes, you probably should leave them all one type. Perhaps 3 Medusas to advance behind your Russes?

A trio of basilisks is in practically every guard army I have run since the 5th ed codex came out. In every game they have performed amazingly well. Capable of dealing with every threat at every range (remember they can direct fire at ranges under 36" Because that rule is hidden in the main rulebook alot of people forget that) A trio of basilisks, hands down, no question

A couple other things I should mention.

1)As I've been taking them apart, it appears that It wouldn't be hard to make the Earthshaker cannon and platform removable.

1)I've got a line on a source for the block mount that would work as the base for manticores or hydra's.

Thus I could build 3 big gun platforms that could be switched out for something like a Manticore and two Hydra's.

First, I think you should use some more Chimerae. They're fantastic, and can be used to shield your squishy Platoon squads. Unless you plan on "Mobbing Up," in which case forget I said anything.

As to the question you actually ASKED, I would say the Manticore, or Medusa. Both provide some signficant Anti-Horde AND Anti-Mech, Although the Manticore is superior Anti-Horde and the Medusa is superior Anti-Mech if armed with BB shells.

Ultimately, its your call.

Manticores all the way. The conversion from Basilisk is easy-just grab a Whirlwind turret.

Why from Basilisk? wouldnt a Chimera turret swap be easier?

Definitely at least one manticore, they're just great. The rest depends on what points value you play at and the style of your army. I love a single Gryphon for when I've got a heavy support slot open and only a few points to play with. They're pretty much always solid, great for blasting infantry and causing pinning checks at -1 Ld to vulnerable units. 2 manticores works, especially firing as blasts instead of barrage, but you're typically going to want something with some decent AP in your heavy support section since you can't really get it elsewhere. Personally I like manticore/medusa/whatever as an artillery section. Possible multiple strength 10s from the manticore for killing vehicles and ability to barrage to deny cover saves for killing hordes. Medusa provides more strength 10 ordnance for dealing with vehicles and AP 2 for dealing with TEQs and MEQs. The whatever is often a gryphon to kill light tanks but mostly infantry, again denying anything but area cover due to barrage and causing pinning checks. I also like a demolisher or a basilisk in the free spot, possibly a colossus if you want to screw over marines but I find that's generally a little costly. A second manticore or colossus works too. If you want to keep your 2 russes, then 1 manticore for the cheap option, or 3 medusae or basilisks for a stronger but more expensive option. You don't really want to barrage with a unit of ordnance generally because it kills the accuracy of the shots (unless you're going to hit something no matter how far away the blasts end up.)

I'd probably do the switchable turret thing. The Forgeworld versions of the Hydra and Manticore are built on a basilisk, so you have the right model for it.

Why do you guys keep saying they are built from basilisk?

Its a chimera!

LunaHound wrote:Why do you guys keep saying they are built from basilisk?

Its a chimera!

i think because they are more similar in the assembly process to the Basilisk than the Chimera.
hope that makes sense!

But they use chimera kit not basilisk as basis o_o!

I run my IG Artillery army with 4 Bassies and 2 Griffons. It's pretty fun. I am working on making 3 Deathstrike missiles as well. Should be fun times.

I looked on forge world and it says that it comes with the extra bits and a basilisk kit.

Hmm i think you are right on that o_o
but which part does it use from basilisk that chimera doesnt have? ( because chimera is cheaper )

If you want to convert a manticore from a whirlwind turret, use a chimera base. If you have a back piece with turret to put on the basilisk shell, use a basilisk.

As to the base model. I'm looking at the bassies because that's what I have. A Chimera might be easier overall, but I've already removed the Earthshaker cannon and deck to check and I don't forsee any problems in making a new deck and a riser to bring the turret up to an appropriate height.

In the end, it will end up being a bit shorter than the official GW model, but that doesn't bother me at all.

I'll try to snap some pictures of my manticore conversions tonight and put them up here.

Basically I took a basilisk and removed the gun, then converted launch rails from some I-beam plastic and some "angle iron" plastic. Looks very much like a tracked Katyusha launcher for those of you aware of the old WWII Soviet missile launcher. Also looks a bit like the old Epic scale Manticore. I was able to pop some magnets into the rails and then a bit of paper clip glued onto the underside of the missile to allow them to be removed as fired.

Other than the cost of the basi and depending on what you can get your valk missiles for online, it costs under $10 for the entire conversion and you don't need any "turret".

If you are building a alpha strike army list,it makes sense to employ manticore and medusae. Static gunlines favor basilisks and Russes. But once your enemy got first strike, they would most likely take out the manti's and the medusa first, so do consider the purpose of the list and the luck of the draw

Thanks Shotgun,
That would be great!

Manticore.. its really quite hard to reach a vehicle that can sit back in the very-most corner, especially when its surrounded by vehicles or infantry. The AP4 is a let-down but it gives you range (and not needing LOS) to reach anything.

When you roll a D3 or/and good scatter dice, this weapon will really shine through. I found the medusa, while awesome, tried to do the job of a meltagun or long-range artillery and didnt have the resiliency or range to do either. But you can have 3, depends on your points. Field 2 bastion-breachers and you need-not other meltaguns in your army.

The manticore and medusa both kill monoliths good.

Manticore is the best artillery choice. D3 Strength 10 AP4 templates per turn is very versatile. Can kill land raiders and monoliths, insta kill nob bikers and thunder wolves. Good against hordes of orks, gaunts or guardsmen. Can shoot without line of sight. Can deny cover.

Yes you do get limited ammo but an average of 8 strength 10 ap4 templates is more then other vehicles put out over 6 turns and the game can only last 5 turns.

My manticore was converted from a basilisk kit, 4 valkyrie missles (who uses these anyway you either field a vendetta or use missle pods), plasticard, and some spare tank parts.

Here is a picture of it.

http://s64.photobucket.com/albums/h163/vinnypau/imperialguard/?action=view¤t=manticorefreya.jpg

The chimera actually is more difficult to do a conversion for because you have to plasticard a whole back part to hold the turret and replace the las gun emplacements in addition to making the turret and have an extra hatch peice or make one to put where the turret of the chimera would have been.

Hellstrike missles are awesome for manticores.

Here are some pics of my Manticores. If you notice, they are still convertable back to basilisks, I would just need a new "platform" to mount and slide back in.

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k324/shotgunlaw/IMG_1434.jpg

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k324/shotgunlaw/IMG_1435.jpg

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k324/shotgunlaw/IMG_1436.jpg

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k324/shotgunlaw/IMG_1438.jpg

As far as what the Basilisk and Chimera have as differences. The Chimera has a flat top part. The turret place would be at the front. The Basilisk has a flat top at the front and in the back comes down into a long platform. It also means that missiles put on turrets would have the missile exhaust not damage the vehicle.