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Template weapons are cool and all, especially with all the cover saves everywhere, but how useful is loading up on 2+ Flamers (or equivalents) in a single squad?

My thought is that it might be too much of a good thing, either stopping you from assaulting the remainder of the squad (since nothing is left but toasty bits) or it will be too hard to drop that many templates on a squad since they're probably camping in a transport.

I load up PCSs with 4. Netted me a few Ork mobs that got too close-and it's enough to really hurt MEQs as well.

they rock in PCS'

I'd gladly pay the 20 points to load a PCS up with them, definitely beats the amount of dakka you'd get out of them running bare.

And Ork Burna squads are all pure Flamer Templates. See several of Dashofpepper's battlereports to see how evil that is.

I think a good answer is: as many template weapons that you can consistently fire all of them.

for instance, most people take 3 flamers because its all you need, and when you start adding 4 or more you will struggle to place the template that doesn't touch one of your own models.

In a platoon command squad which is jumping out of a vehicle you can dismount and get all 4 to fire with little effort. Foot slogging is harder because you are locked into your movement rate.

DashofPepper uses a burna squad in a drive by effect to devastating effect. He only places one template then multiples by how many are left. I'm sure he'll tell you that once they get out of their ride, its hard to get them all to shoot their gun safely.

Having seen Dash play, and having a friend with a very similar Ork list...

It's not that bad if you plan for it. The trick is to make a semicircle around the target so you cover only enemy models.

And if some cannot flame proppa, then they all constitute as power weapons for those burna orks who did not use them that turn. Isn't that sick?

Dainty Twerp wrote: He only places one template then multiples by how many are left.

This Is How It Is Done By The Rules. One hits as many models from the target unit as possible and then assumes the remaining shots hit the same number(s) (if models from another squad are hit). Had enough of people trying to hit as many as possible from both squads and other such shenanagins

ChrisCP wrote:

Dainty Twerp wrote: He only places one template then multiples by how many are left.

This Is How It Is Done By The Rules. One hits as many models from the target unit as possible and then assumes the remaining shots hit the same number(s) (if models from another squad are hit). Had enough of people trying to hit as many as possible from both squads and other such shenanagins

All templates are fired at the same time. If they are in the vehicles, all you ned to do is place once, and multiply the number of flamers, as they can fire from any part of the hull (if open topped). It is the same a s a Wraithlord; you place one template and multiply times 2, since it has 2 flamers.

...Yes that's what I said.. is that what you were trying to say?
I was pointing out many people I have played with in the past, try to 'juggle' the flame templates into the best possible configuation for hitting guys from two squads etc, where one _must_ hit as many as possible from the squad being shot at and then as we've all said multiply the result.

Edit: Ah I see, I was folloing directly on from 'firing from a vehicle' not even thinging about foot squads then.

The downside to flamers is that they will reliably ruin any chance of assault you would otherwise have. If your opponent is on their game, and keeps his squads far enough from your units, they can easily deny follow-up assault by simply removing the models closest you.

This tends to be a bigger problem against large squads, as they can simply pull the foremost models, to deny the attack, providing the squad with a fallback formation.

With enough flamers you shouldn't have to worry about getting into assault, as the unit does it's job just fine without it. Vehicles with hatches, and open topped transports make this tactic much easier. Eldar Storm Guardians for instance, have a very hard time staying safe, as they have to exit the vehicle to fire. Heavy flamer Warlocks add enough punch to provide the squad the hard hitting power it needs, to make itself useful before dying.

2 flamers is more than enough to do moderate damage against most infantry. 3-4 flamers can annihilate a wide array of different units, and usually remain very affordable points wise. When you are talking about 10-15 flamers in one unit, it gets a bit ridiculous, but Burna Boys have the PW option, so it works out as a pretty well rounded unit in their case. Spamming Heavy flamers on a Seer council (Warlocks), is a decent tactic for a small squad, but an inefficient one for a large squad. If the Warlocks are close enough to fire flamers, there is more than likely to be a huge amount of small arms fire ready to shoot them into pieces, if they cannot get into combat.

It depends a lot on the specific units in question.

Five Sternguard in drop pod with two heavy flamers is excellent! The extra str and ap is great and you can rapid fire with the other three guys.

I've tried this with combi flamers but the five total templates are hard to use at once and are really overkill unless its a 30 boy mob or giant IG blob