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I've been doing some reading and got secondary equip's mostly figured out, but was wondering what 2 weapon systems I should run on a commander for smaller (1k-ish) and larger games (2k+)

Is the cyclic ion blaster worth taking? or should i stick to some combination of PR, MP, and BC?

Starting out, I'm probably only going to have 3 suits max, and mostly just wondering if the special issue weapon systems are worth taking at all, or if I should just stick to good ol' trusted loadouts like the fireknife?

I'm gonna say stick to the fireknife, because of its flexibility in dealing with both heavy infantry as well as transports. If you have a lot of guard or horde players in your area, i would suggest the CIB because it will be able to get more shots off that will do more damage than the plasma/MP against that kind of army. Remember, though, get Shas-el with TA instead of the Shas-o

Honestly, I like the CIB. A plasma rifle with 5 shot rending weapon can really put a lot of hurt on a unit with BS5. Of course, with no rends, it then just turns into a weak 5 shot gun. It works really good against things with T3 (swarms, Dark Eldar/Eldar, GEQs, ect).

I usually play a Shas'el Centurion (CIB + PR + TA + HWMT + DC w/ 2x SD) with 2 bodyguards of XV8 Fireknives with TA. Does make the squad 40 points more for +1 BS, a total of like 300 points or something (do not have my book on me).

The CIB isn't bad, but I wouldn't take it myself. Just kit him out the same as one of your units of XV8's on the board. That way he can join them and will actually be able to shoot.

Oh and magnets...

ork_smash wrote:I've been doing some reading and got secondary equip's mostly figured out, but was wondering what 2 weapon systems I should run on a commander for smaller (1k-ish) and larger games (2k+)

Is the cyclic ion blaster worth taking? or should i stick to some combination of PR, MP, and BC?

Starting out, I'm probably only going to have 3 suits max, and mostly just wondering if the special issue weapon systems are worth taking at all, or if I should just stick to good ol' trusted loadouts like the fireknife?

Airburst is great, but somewhat situational. It won't work great against all armies, but against some it can cause unbelievable carnage. CIB works OK against all sorts of infantry, but can't hurt vehicles or most MC's.

Generally speaking, don't put Flamers or Burst cannons on your Commander. BS5 is such a nice thing to have that you want to use it for high-end weapons. Fireknife is good loadout. Plasma-CIB is great for elite infantry killing. Missile-AFP is good against non-MEQs.

On the bandwagon:
Shas'el - PR/MP/Target Array hwMT, hwDC, 2 ShieldDs

One reason why I never bothered with the CiB of AfP, was the stupid metal bit.

Thanks for all the input gents (and perhaps ladies?). I'll probably avoid the CIB, simply because i face a lot of MEQ, but was curious of other's opinions.

my other bigger wonder atm - in larger point lists, would it be better to solo the commander and attach him to a 3 man squad, or give him 2 bodyguards to be able to put 4 teams (12 suits) on the table?

When I have only one it's a shasel with CIB and PR, but when I use two ive tried one with CIB, PR and the second as TL FB with Flamer to deep strike behind an enemy caravan and blast the transports. Basically a suicide charge, hopefully one that draws enemys out of their transports so that I can gun them down after.

Also im not totally convinced by the CIB yet, I still like to switch it off for the Burst Cannon at times. The CIB is great if you roll a 6 and gets more shots than the BC, but its strength is weaker. idk would you guys say the AP of the CIB is better than the strength of the BC?

ork_smash wrote:my other bigger wonder atm - in larger point lists, would it be better to solo the commander and attach him to a 3 man squad,

Basically, yes. but more ...

ork_smash wrote:or give him 2 bodyguards to be able to put 4 teams (12 suits) on the table?

I almost never use 'vre bodyguards as they cost more than a regular suit, for little gain; the option for the CiB or AfP . Instead, for protection, I would attach the HQ to another set of same load-out Crisis Suits. But not a big group, making for a 4 model unit. With so much mobility in the meta, that is, BA jumpers everywhere, more and more DE, TWC, etc, I think it's best to keep the units as small as possible, making them harder to catch.

Of Course, once you reach 1500+, and you have maxed out the Railguns, via HHs or XV88s, then it's time to pile in the Crisis Suits, and 'tis best to have as many XV8s as possible, 3 sets of 3 elites, 2 HQ suits and *if* you own more, *then* you start filling in the bodyguard positions. So, fill those spots last.

rockprime wrote:I'm gonna say stick to the fireknife, because of its flexibility in dealing with both heavy infantry as well as transports. If you have a lot of guard or horde players in your area, i would suggest the CIB because it will be able to get more shots off that will do more damage than the plasma/MP against that kind of army. Remember, though, get Shas-el with TA instead of the Shas-o

I tend to agree, however I prefer the shas'o with taking two shield drones and stimulant injector and using him to soak up a lot of damage, the iridium Armour is good in this combo also.

In my personal experience I have never found the CIB useful (but now, with the new DE codex and more people playing them, I guess it is more useful now than before) I reccommend taking a Shas'o Fireknife, The 25 point upgrade to the Shas'o is worth what you pay for, BS 5, WS 4 and the extra wound which definitely helps in CC if he does get charged or if he and his unit are being shot at alot. The Airbursting Fragmentation Launcher has proved quite useful to me, as the large blast can be used for a variety of things, it comes in handy when shooting at a unit such as daemons that have just deep striked, the large blast catching all of the unit most of the time and doing a fair bit of damage against the non-nurgle lessers.

If I were you I would take a Shas'o Fireknife then take a Crisis team leader, upgrade to shas'vre and get yourself a Frag Launcher, if you want stick in a targetting array so if you scatter you go an inch less and hopefully catching more models

Hope this helps =)

I'd never do the 'O upgrade for an HQ. You don't need the extra WS, or the extra wound. You're either going to get insta-squished, or lose CC regardless of your WS. Save 15pts and do an 'El with Target array. Iridium armor is a poor choice as well, having mobility and playing smart will save you more often than a +2 save will. The AFP is a decent choice on an elite choice team leader, but I wouldn't stick it on the HQ. CIB just isn't much good.

Lately, my HQ is either Plas/Fusion/TA/HWMT, with a pair of similar bodyguards, or Plas/Missile/TA/HWMT, and a pair of similar bodyguards. It depends on what weaponry my elite suits are packing. I personally like Bodyguards, solely because they can hard-wire their multitrackers so I can pick up some Target arrays. A lot of that depends on whether you take Markerlights or not (I rarely do), so having the TAs are the best way to get some accuracy in the list, aside from TL missiles.

I myself use the 'o for the extra hardpoint....it's nice to have that 1 back-up ML or FB on deck...

I say the best weapons would probably be a CIB and a fusion blaster. that way your commander will be able to deal with infantry as well as tanks.

I started out using the CIB, but moved on to using ABF with a Fusion blaster. this has been very useful for digging out IG or eldar in cover, or against any swarm. I like an AP 4 template that ignores line of sight and cover. Admittingly, I do run a skydiving suicide commander, but it usually pays off. I was never really big on the Jump shoot Jump style of play.

Have to echo the Fireknife call.

You need those weapons to stick, and a 'el with a Targeting Array packs a BS to make them count.

Unless you are dealing in a high enough point game that you have fully filled in the Elite slots, the bodyguards aren't worth it.

Basically all you'd get them for is to put Targeting Array's on them to bump them to BS 4. Which starts adding up, for not much else in benefit.