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I run a blob squad list and I was wondering if I should get plasma guns or missle launchers/las cannonns?

I can't take both and I would like to know your opinions and experiences with these weapons to see which ones I should get. Thanks.

Get heavy weapons squads with a 2-1 autocannon/lascannon mix. Heavy weapons in blobs are worthless unless you are simply bubble wrapping a basilisk, only because they can't move and shoot.

Take plasma in the blob, or just go with more lasguns. Heavy weapon support from specialized squads is more practical, IMHO.

-cgmckenzie

Personally, I wouldn't advise mixing heavy weapons in Heavy Weapon Teams, especially Lascannons and Autocannons, as they have completely different targets.

The only weapon you should pay for in a blob are Meltaguns or Flamers. Plasma is too expensive, and Grenade Launchers just don't kill anything.

In general though, I would leave the heavy lifting to Russes or Artillery. HWT's are just way too fragile and pricey, and you want blobs to be mobile.

I have been having some success with autocannons in infantry squads. I used to be of the opinion that seperate heavy squads were better but a few things have changed my mind:

1. HWs in inf squads give the squad some ranged firepower. The enemy stayed away from my big squads one too many times and it is nice to be able to reach out and pop a transport or take some pot shots at a skimmer.

2. Kill points.

3. Resilience. If the HWSs are a threat to your opponent then they can very easily wipe them off the board. Two wounds force a LD check on a low LD unit, which is in all likelyhood close to your board edge. Adding things like a lord commissar or a banner is trying to fix a problem by throwing a lot of points at it.

4. If you pout them front and centre of your blob then more of your men can get into combat. You can fit a huge amount of Guardsmen within 2" of those large bases. they also can take a wound without you losing any attacks. It isn't much but still.

I love the firepower that an autocannon or lascannon squad can throw down but vehicles are a more reliable source of firepower. HWTs do make fore a nice upgrade for line squads though, as long as you are not going to run at the enemy.

I certainly would not mix heavy weapons with infantry squads. The HW need to stay put to fire, while the infantry squads need to be able to move to flame and charge incoming CC squads gaining +1 attack and denying the enemy its +1 attack.

A related question is why you need your HW. Have you filled up all the HS slots yet? Have you taken vendettas?

If you want AC to do some work on transports, etc., take hydras in squads - they are very cheap at 75 pts for 4 TL AC shots with targeting array and armor as bonus. You can spend the same 75 pts on a HWT 3x AC, which gives you 6 shots but no rerolls, no armor, and no advantage vs skimmers and jetbikes. So, usually hydras are better.

If you want LC goodness to bust LR etc., have you taken vendettas already? A HWT 3x LC costs 105 pts. You can pay 25 more and get yourself a vendetta with scout, extra armor, searchlight, transport capacity, and 3 TL LC. In most cases, vendetta looks like the smarter buy.

If you have already committed those HS and FA slots and/or want even more umph, then take squads of HWT 3x AC and HWT 3x LC and a platoon commander to make them twin-linked. Creed may be worth it in such a build, to make sure all get the TL.

I have taken the HWT and have generally had some success with them. However, they have not been particularly impressive because of limitations:
1) they are very dependent on terrain. If you cannot get them in a good firing position since get-go, they are half wasted
2) they die easily, so they need bubble wrapping. It is more efficient to use wrapping for tanks
3) they take a lot of space in the deployment zone. I'd rather park two tanks instead

A viable strategy is to stick them in parked chimeras. That way they get protection, become more compact, but can still shoot at full capacity through the turret hatch (difficult to imagine physically but rules allow it), and can still receive orders. However starting them in the chimera is not easy due to dedicated transport rules (only can do it easily with Lord Commissar). Also, a HWT 3x LC in chimera is 160 pts, while a vendetta is only 130 and an exterminator LR is 150.

I also second the statement that you should never mix LC and AC in the same HWT. LCs go for heavy armor and monstrous creatures, while AC go for light transports. Mixing them is a big waste.

So, consider HW only in HWT and only after you have loaded up the HS and FA slots.

If you lack anti-tank, go lascannons. If you're not sure, go ML's. If you've got AV13/14 taken care of, go plasma.

Necrontyr40k wrote:
A viable strategy is to stick them in parked chimeras. That way they get protection, become more compact, but can still shoot at full capacity through the turret hatch (difficult to imagine physically but rules allow it), and can still receive orders. However starting them in the chimera is not easy due to dedicated transport rules (only can do it easily with Lord Commissar). Also, a HWT 3x LC in chimera is 160 pts, while a vendetta is only 130 and an exterminator LR is 150.

Orders can't be issued to embarked units, they can be issued by an embarked command-squad using the "command vehicle"-rule... And the chimera couldn't move at all.

tracer wrote:
Orders can't be issued to embarked units, they can be issued by an embarked command-squad using the "command vehicle"-rule... And the chimera couldn't move at all.

Hmm, I have played it with orders from one chimera to another. Maybe I cheated inadvertently? I thought the command vehicle would allow the communication to proceed normally. Is the rule someplace in FAQ or in the codex?

Necrontyr40k wrote:

tracer wrote:
Orders can't be issued to embarked units, they can be issued by an embarked command-squad using the "command vehicle"-rule... And the chimera couldn't move at all.

Hmm, I have played it with orders from one chimera to another. Maybe I cheated inadvertently? I thought the command vehicle would allow the communication to proceed normally. Is the rule someplace in FAQ or in the codex?

Codex. Reread the command vehicle rule. All it does is allow you to issue orders from inside a chimera. It doesn't remove the restriction against receiving orders while embarked.