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loreweaver wrote:

However, as it stands today, I suspect you'd see better performance for less points out of any of the other 3 Fast Attack choices in the codex, also, all 3 would be able to fulfill the same role better (save the tomb blades vs AV 12+)

My problem with Destroyers, 40 points, 1 wound, 3+ save. My problem with Heavy Destroyers, 60pts, 1 wound, 3+ save. That's a lot of points for a 1 wound model. That unit gets expensive quickly, and dies embarrassingly to something as meager as bolter fire.

I certainly don't disagree with the notion that PE effecting shooting will make the Destroyers quite a bit secsier, but I think you severely under estimate the Destroyers resiliency. They're not 1 wound 3+ save, they are 1 wound T5 3+ save RP 5+. That's a massive difference. Die embarrassingly to bolter shots? It takes about 55 bolter shots to reliably kill 4 Destoryers, and if you don't kill all 5 33% of your fire power will be waisted. 55 Bolter shots is full rapid fire from the entire troop selection of most MSU lists. The only way they die embarrassingly to bolter shots is if your dice just hate you.

Incidentally that T5 3+ RP 5+ frame makes it strong, on a point for point basis, against just about any kind of fire, particularly strength 6 and lower. Scarabs on the other hand have a whole list of weapons that can render them quite insignificant.

Like I said before though I like both, and think both certainly have their uses, however I don't think a lot of people realise how strong the 5 man Destroyer teams are. They will still be popping tanks late in the game long after the scarabs have been wiped clean.

I see your points, but Scarabs, in most games, will pay for themselves by assaulting things on turn 2. Your opponent has one or two turns to do something about them, and are forced to react to them.

The Destroyer Teams can be dealt with much easier.

55 Bolter shots kills 4 destroyers, it also kills 8 Scarab Bases (assuming they don't get cover)

How often do you let 55 bolters shoot at your squad that you know dies to bulk small arms fire, moves like a jetpack, and shoots 24-36?

I'm not trying to digress this into "Decision: Destroyers" but I feel like it's already going there. They aren't terrible, they're finesse. They also happen to be pigeon hole'd, a little too expensive at the moment, and awkwardly organized (vs squad sizes and chart usage).

lets not argue scarab vs destroyer when talking about how cool tomb blades are!
Now how do the utilities and efficacy of the other FA options affect the decision to pick tomb blades? Does anyone have any experience with this?