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I know that allot of people don't take them, but the more I think about it, the more I'm considering adding a bunch to my army.

While they might not be spectacular, their the cheapest walkers in the game, and the IG can take up to 9 of them and as any guard player knows, quantity has a quality all it's own.

They can be dirt cheap anti-tank for only 40pts for one with an autocannon and 50 for one with a lascannon. The more I think about it the more they seem like they'd be a great investment for most IG armies.

When you break down the points cost, they compete pretty well with other standard choices.

For example for only 5 more pts then a hydra, you could get two with autocannons. You'd loose the twin linked, AV12, and a heavy bolter, but you'd gain the ability to outflank for side shots, the ability to move and shoot, and even if the sentinels front armor is only 10, close combat attacks are made based on WS, and not whether you moved or not.

For a little more then a Vendetta, you can grab a squadron of 3 sentinels with lascannons. You'd loose out on the twin linked lascannons, the AV12, the and the ability to hold troops, but a squadron of three is probably going to survive longer then the high profile Vendetta.

The sentinels also offer more to a list then just their fire power. They can screen troops, add to vehicle saturation, and even be a counter attack unit. They also have the advantage of taking up a FA slot, which in most of my armies tends to be empty.

I can admit to having used sentinels a few times and to being disappointed with their performance. But usually that was with only 1 or 2 in a list, usually as added in as a after thought. But I'd be interested to see how they do in larger numbers, where they can take loses and still pack a punch. For a full set of 9 with autocannons, it's only 360pts, which I could fit into even small lists.

So am I mad to consider sentinels to be a competitive unit? And in the event that you do think I'm mad, maybe you'll let buy your unused sentinels for cheap.

Well I guess we were overdue a Sentinel thread weren't we? Thatguyoverthere, there are lots and lots and LOTS of threads about Sentinels on this forum. A quick gander of the search engine would reveal...

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/371039.page#2850891/url
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/370850.page#2839427/url
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/367501.page#2793341/url
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/365973.page#2759751/url
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/364943.page#2739711/url

...that many threads on this topic.

L. Wrex

But it's been two whole months!

And I was hoping to avoid thread necromancy and steer the conversation more towards how well sentinels stack up against more "competitive" units.

Since the topic has been done to death, should I delete this thread and keep my sentinel ravings to myself?

The issue is that this thread doesn't really address anything new. It's almost common knowledge that Sentinels are a fairly decent unit in and of themselves, but when compared to the other choices in the FA section, or anywhere else in the IG 'dex for that matter, other choices can do it better, for cheaper.

I'll take your example of 3 x Sentinels w/ lascannons compared to a Vendetta. Your unit has lower armour, is open topped, is slower, is less accurate, does not hold troops and is, to a certain extent, more vulnerable due to squadron rules. And you pay more points for it.

I know its not as cut and dry as that, cover obviously plays a part in keeping the Sentinels alive and kicking, but you can see why Sentinels get consistently overlooked in favour of other units.

The only real loadouts I would recommend would be Scout w/ autocannons/flamers for outflanking shots/charges. Or Armoured with p. cannons, as it is the only other place in the codex that IG can get hold of them, and only then if your local playgroup is heavy on MEQ w/out transports.

L. Wrex

I'm not sure how much good holding troops is for a Vendetta. Dropping off troops would require the Ven to do something outside of it's fire support role, which means you aren't firing as much as you normally would. It' might be nice for capping objectives later int he game, but since the Vendetta tends to be a low armored high priority target, it usually doesn't make it through to the end of the game.

I don't have my book with me but I think the entire squadron only costs 10 more then a Vendetta.

As for survivability, I could be wrong but I think they are more survivable then the Ven outside of cover, but I'd have to crunch numbers.

# Crunching

Strength 7 hit- 5/18 chance of destroying of a Sentinel 1/18 chance of destroying a Ven

Strength 8 hit- 1/2 chance of destroying of a Sentinel 1/9 chance of destroying a Ven

Strength 9 hit- 11/18 chance of destroying of a Sentinel 1/6 chance of destroying a Ven (Slightly better odds of Sentinel Squadron surviving 3+ hits)

All of these numbers rely on the Sentinels being in a squadron, i.e. 2 or more intact, and the Vendetta always being hit on the front armor. If the squadron was down to one sentinel or the vendetta was hit on the side armor, the chance of survival shifts.

Cover would also provide a major change in survival odds.

This also excludes weapon destroyed and mobilized results. A weapon destroyed result on the Ven would be as damaging as a destroyed result on a Sentinel Squadron for the purposes of shooting. And an immobilized result can be as highly damaging, if the sentinel lands in an area with a good fire lane.

Ok some people here really do not like them chicken walkers, but as a prev. horde ork player and now a hybrid i hate them....well i hate to see them. Autocannons can pop my trucks, buggies, kopters and hurt my ard boys and nobz. i all too late realized my error i ran a group of 30 boys and a pk nob up the field feeling pretty safe. he shot then charged i only lost 4 boys to the shooting and had 1 stomped into the dirt then with glee i picked up my 4 dice for my pk nob and while taunting my buddy rolled and got 4 hits 3 pens 1 imoblized and 2 went boom......with a mob of 24 orks near. i had 9 orks left after the 2 went up in smoke.

Long story short i think they are a great filler unit, in a static number crunching database they are soso but the options they give are just great to help the rest of your army. battle wagons do not like rear armor shots at str. 7 or 9.

And yes they can help bulk up the low AV swarm that IG does so well. chim. + sent can get alot of lower AV on the field.

just my 2 green cents.

As I have seen it, most players on dakka dislikes them because they are, in their oppinion, bad.

Personally I can't agree with them. I play with 3 scout sentinels w. multi lasers and 2 armoured w. autocannon and missile launcher, and they've been taking done hordes, MCs, most vehicles (havent met any monoliths or LR yet), marines, eldars and so on.

I guess that the oppinion on the sentinels (I love them) is depending on the Dice Gods.

As has been said, they aren't bad . . . just you can get the same weapons in your army more efficiently from other units.

danesk wrote:As I have seen it, most players on dakka dislikes them because they are, in their oppinion, bad.

No. Sentinels are disliked because they under-perform mathematically, are poor comparatively, and are situational in their use. None of this is opinion.

L. Wrex

They certainly aren't killing machines, especially compared to Vendettas or Hellhounds. But when maneuvered well, Armoured Sentinels are reasonably survivable, and can b ea good choice to grab more cheap Autocannons.

Armored Sentinels are also reasonably effective in combat, as anyone who isn't MEQ has to send in some sort of dedicated CC unit to get rid of the thing.

As with most things, though, it's up to you. Personally, I love them and have 4 of them in my Armored Battlegroup list.