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Hey Dakka,

It's been a while. I'm here to ask for some advice regarding long range fire-support for mechanized IG. Currently(apart from Chimera multi-lasers) nothing in my army has a range greater than 24 inches. I've maxed troops out at 1300ish points, which means I have 1200 points to play around with. I want to add long range hitters, but am not sure what to use. I've considered deep-striking Melta stormies, but am not sure what heavy support to use. I am considering the following units:

Leman Russ Demolisher: High Power, high AV, but suffers from lack of range.
Medusa: Same strength as the Demolisher. Can get Bastion Breachers for cheap. Longer range, but very fragile chassis combined with direct fire only has its risks.
Manticore: Multiple pieplates, indirect fire enables it to hide. However, less than stellar AP means that MEq still get armor saves.
Basilisk: Long range, strong, and relatively cheap. Since it has indirect fire, it doesn't suffer from the same problems as the medusa does nearly as much, and it still deprives MEq of armor saves.

Alright, I present my case. I'm counting on you guys to give me some sage advice.

I can personally recommend both the Basilisk and the Manticore. The Manticore is awesome against hordes and vehicles, and the basilisk can really put fear into an MEQ player's heart.

Manticores are godly. Theat they are only ap4 is quickly overwritten by the fact that when they shoot theyput out 1d3 templates. If you somehow shoot all 4 ammo shots, you'll have put out 8 templates on average. And we're talking strength 10, so no feel no pain. It doesn't suck. On top of that, it can fire indirect, so cover is measure from the hole...so sad times for that rhino hiding behind the building.

I've been running 2 Medusae in my Mech list, and while they are a bit inaccurate, when they hit something, it dies.

The Manticore is definitely my runner up though.

3rd would go to the LR Demolisher, because all the other LR variants are way too expensive or too narrow IMO.

Ideally, you'd have something that is capable of shooting over your chimera wall without giving your opponents cover. This is why manticores and basilisks are so boss.

The only other thing that seems to be a regular staple is hydras, in which the sheer number of shots makes giving your opponent free cover saves mean less.

Yep, Hydra's are pretty sicknasty. I always run 2. For 150 points, its a no-brainer.

What about Colossi? Lower minimum range than 'Lisks, still wounds power-armored freaks on 2s, but ignores their armor AND their cover.

I've had great fun running Medua, manticores, hydras and even though their not in the heavy support slot vendettas, lascannons can sure come in handy for long range support considering thats most of the board.

Manticores and Vendettas for Long-Range anti-tank.

Colossus, Basilisks, and Leman Russ Battle Tanks for anti-MEQ infantry.

Griffons for very accurate anti-horde firepower, with a side of transport suppression/killing.

Hydras for popping transports and whittling down MCs.

I would be interested how people fare with the Colossus Heavy Mortar. In role of killing ANY kind of basic/heavy infantry short of Terminators on 2+, it seems enormously useful, but it is also the most expensive of the four ordnance weapons.

I imagine they would be terrifying in combination with a Vendetta.

1. Vendetta pops Rhino
2. 10 Marines either disembark clustered or have to sit in the exploded wreckage
3. Colossus lobs one shell over there, wounds 10 Marines on 2+
4. 8.33 dead Marines

The whole unit and their transport completely devastated. But I guess every MEQ player will target those things very early...maybe camo netting is in order?

The downside is, of course, the minimum range, which is a problem against fast armies. But for 310 points you get a Battery of two Colossi with camo-netting...two AV12 3+ cover save guns that kill everything, except for FNP and T4+ multiwound models. It seems tempting.