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What are your thoughts and experience about using them? And which are used most and why?

Basilisks (inside of 36") and Medusae are direct fire and present a problem when engaging certain targets, as they leave themselves open to incoming fire, which an open topped artillery piece is not the most ideal place to be. Medusae are the best at busting tanks of all the artillery pieces with their bastion breacher shells. Often its best to enclose the crew compartments to prevent the vehicle from being Open Topped.

Colossus and Griffons are amazing. With their short blind spots and ability to barrage if their in a squadron, the pair are AMAZING and killing anything Horde and even exposed Space Marines. The best configuration for them would be 2 Colossus and a Griffon for the best chance at accuracy. Their really great and often ignored because of the lack of model for them.

None of them are used all that often. Single shot large blasts aren't as good as multi-shot direct fire weapons. When people reach for a vehicle to shoot down enemy vehicles, they reach for a vendetta, not a medusa.

Your opponent is able to determine how many models you are able to fit under a blast template by how much they spread out their models. Relying on the kindness of your opponent isn't a winning strategy.

Then, on top of that, there tends to be a fair amount of rules confusion with guard artillery. For example, some people still think that a basilisk can't fire directly, or move and shoot, when it never didn't have those options.

Vendettas provide better and cheaper AT than Medusas.

I used to like Medusas while I thought the BBS were a flexible option. But the flgs said it replaces standard ammo, so not so good.

I like colossi for the AP3 plus ignore cover. A wonderful way to blast MEQ out of cover!

Manticores have nice volume of fire but cannot be squaded.

I like the griffins but other heavy choices are better.

Frankly, the coveted heavy slots are best filled with squaded hydras and executioners and maybe a manticore.

When you have the Manticore, the other options just seem to be lacking. Its not so much the other options are bad, its that the Manticore is just such a good option that if you want an arty piece, there's no reason not to take it over the others. Two manticores and a pair of hydras will take care of most threats with relative ease.

Griffon is nice because its so cheap for a large blast. Colossus is a bit of a one trick pony, but AP3 ignore cover will always have a place considering half the codices are marines. I don't like the Medusa because its direct fire only, leaving it too vulnerable with open topped. Bassie can at least hide and lob a solid S9 AP3 plate.

The Manticore is good at everything; hordes, tanks, elite infantry. Sheer volume of fire and S10 will ensure no FnP rolls happen and ID's models on a failed save.

Blacksails wrote:When you have the Manticore, the other options just seem to be lacking. Its not so much the other options are bad, its that the Manticore is just such a good option that if you want an arty piece, there's no reason not to take it over the others. Two manticores and a pair of hydras will take care of most threats with relative ease.

Griffon is nice because its so cheap for a large blast. Colossus is a bit of a one trick pony, but AP3 ignore cover will always have a place considering half the codices are marines. I don't like the Medusa because its direct fire only, leaving it too vulnerable with open topped. Bassie can at least hide and lob a solid S9 AP3 plate.

The Manticore is good at everything; hordes, tanks, elite infantry. Sheer volume of fire and S10 will ensure no FnP rolls happen and ID's models on a failed save.

I agree with most of this ^, strongly. my one change is i've only run 1 Manticore and 2 Hydra. I run a Squadron of 2 Demolishers as my 3rd. gives me
STR 10 redundancy, almost always 2 shots a turn and draws heat away from other threats. Which are you going for, the AV 12 hiding in my back field,
the Vets armed to the teeth headed for you or the AV 14 grinding their way towards you. You get my point. not saying it's the best EVAR.

alarmingrick wrote:I agree with most of this ^, strongly. my one change is i've only run 1 Manticore and 2 Hydra. I run a Squadron of 2 Demolishers as my 3rd. gives me
STR 10 redundancy, almost always 2 shots a turn and draws heat away from other threats. Which are you going for, the AV 12 hiding in my back field,
the Vets armed to the teeth headed for you or the AV 14 grinding their way towards you. You get my point. not saying it's the best EVAR.

Unfortunately the more exciting units get overshadowed by the cheaper and more forgiving ones. That's why I strayed away from a-typical Guard and plan to create a themed Elysian Army list.

KplKeegan wrote:

alarmingrick wrote:I agree with most of this ^, strongly. my one change is i've only run 1 Manticore and 2 Hydra. I run a Squadron of 2 Demolishers as my 3rd. gives me
STR 10 redundancy, almost always 2 shots a turn and draws heat away from other threats. Which are you going for, the AV 12 hiding in my back field,
the Vets armed to the teeth headed for you or the AV 14 grinding their way towards you. You get my point. not saying it's the best EVAR.

Unfortunately the more exciting units get overshadowed by the cheaper and more forgiving ones. That's why I strayed away from a-typical Guard and plan to create a themed Elysian Army list.

The Elysian list in IA:8 is magical. Getting me an Elysian army when I un-broke myself.

Sadly, yes, a lot of the more 'themed' units get overshadowed by units like Vendettas and Manticores. Taking a battery of Bassies may look awesome, but its sadly underwhelming in game play. In fact, I can't think of a more awesome looking display of firepower than nine bassies, arrayed in perfect formation.

Sadly, such a list will be torn apart by turn 2 against most competent armies and players. Le sigh.

Granted, three manticores looks equally cool and is still very effective.

Blacksails wrote:

KplKeegan wrote:

alarmingrick wrote:I agree with most of this ^, strongly. my one change is i've only run 1 Manticore and 2 Hydra. I run a Squadron of 2 Demolishers as my 3rd. gives me
STR 10 redundancy, almost always 2 shots a turn and draws heat away from other threats. Which are you going for, the AV 12 hiding in my back field,
the Vets armed to the teeth headed for you or the AV 14 grinding their way towards you. You get my point. not saying it's the best EVAR.

Unfortunately the more exciting units get overshadowed by the cheaper and more forgiving ones. That's why I strayed away from a-typical Guard and plan to create a themed Elysian Army list.

The Elysian list in IA:8 is magical. Getting me an Elysian army when I un-broke myself.

Sadly, yes, a lot of the more 'themed' units get overshadowed by units like Vendettas and Manticores. Taking a battery of Bassies may look awesome, but its sadly underwhelming in game play. In fact, I can't think of a more awesome looking display of firepower than nine bassies, arrayed in perfect formation.

Sadly, such a list will be torn apart by turn 2 against most competent armies and players. Le sigh.

Granted, three manticores looks equally cool and is still very effective.

My problem is the KIACSS(Kid in a candy store syndrome). I can't just take 9 of 1 thing.
There's just too many pretty shiny things that go BOOM to settle on just one style of anything! But for the
visuals, 9 Bassies, Russes, Valks/Vendettas, etc... complettely rocks!

My upcoming newly born tourney fun list has 2 medusa's in a squadron. One has bastion breacher shells whilst the other doesnt. I reckon it'll run well. Aswell as having those two i have 2 LRBT in a squadron and an executioner by itself. I normally run basilisks, which i think are pretty cool in either corner with extra armour/Enclosed crew AND camo netting, it helps having artillary i think (although not just the only powerful IG tanks)

I've used a griffon twice and its pretty cool if you have 75 points spare. It makes for a small target that people wont put on the essential to kill list, plus it it rerolls scatter if you're an unlucky roller its a little edge.
The Collossus i havent played with but i imagine its a cool tank to play with. If you love tanks i'd also advise the fast attack section. Hell hound and its equivalents are just amazing. Im planning on using the devildog soon, i mean c'mon melta cannon/chem cannon/inferno cannon.

Honestly, I was thinking of making some Valhallan forces, with lots of some large-caliber artillery and waves of troops with sniper rifles, mortars and rocket launchers (true-soviet forces), but basilisks looked to me rather uncomfortable 'cause of 36' minimum range, and I never have played with medusa/colossus/griffon.

Basilisk is a fine artillery piece, IMO, the second most useful after the manticore. Able to handle anything except termies, it is very cheap for what it does. I have used one in several tourneys, and it is very useful, both as an anti-transport and anti-MEQ tool. Little is better than first wrecking a rhino, and then lobbing a basilsk shell on top of the poor marines that fell out.

You could always go with katjushka-style manticore if you want a soviet-looking force and want the generally most competitve option. Otherwise, you have forgeworld options for static artillery.

The others are just not good enough to take a heavy slot IMO. Griffon would have been great as an elite option, but it just can't compete in heavy support.

All artillery except the colossus can also dirfect fire, in which case it can move and fire. This is the reason I dislike the colossus: 24" min range is big radius wher emarines are safe.

Personally, I use an executioner for 5 plasma templates and a manticore becasue s10 is always good, especially with d3 templates. It's a terror weapon, and most people will go for it, leaving my vendetta alone. It also discourages parking lots .

I have a bassie in my mini cabinet, but I finds the open-toppedness and the single shot too much of a downer to use it on a regular basis. If you could get the bassie squadron rules from Apocalypse, I might consider for the improved accuracy. Till then, too unreliable IMO.

CommissarKhaine wrote:All artillery except the colossus can also dirfect fire, in which case it can move and fire. This is the reason I dislike the colossus: 24" min range is big radius wher emarines are safe.

You forgot the Griffon. They can't fire direct either.

I've used Basilisk and Griffons

Liked both, love the look of the bassie but have dropped it in recent lists as I find LRBT more durable and with lumbering Behemoth for only 25 points more.

Griffon are dirt cheap, and with S6 ordinance, hitting side armour it can kill transports. Mine did well against Orks and IG but again it's been dropped recently because of all the MEQ I face.

Arty was the reason I chose guard, that and horde of infantry.

The Griffons are great because of their special Accurate Bombardment rule, so you squadron one to a Colossus and presto, a re-rollable scatter barrage.

A pair of these in opposite corners can touch anything on the board.

An artillery themed Guard list can still be achieved, you just have to ignore the same diatribe of 'Why take anything else but a Vendetta' crap and 'Only take Manticores' crowd.

What's the range of the colossus agains?

It's a variant I always wanted to try but the lack of model (not including the forge world bombard) means I've never fielded it. It annoys me that the eradicator (LR equivalent) has the worse AP makes it pretty much worthless in my meta.

SpankHammer III wrote:What's the range of the colossus agains?

It's a variant I always wanted to try but the lack of model (not including the forge world bombard) means I've never fielded it. It annoys me that the eradicator (LR equivalent) has the worse AP makes it pretty much worthless in my meta.

240". So your table and the table across the room .

Eradicators are tricky in that their main strength falls into the 'Good against Hordes' catagory than 'Good Against Space Marines' (which you probably see more of the latter).

well S6 ain't bad, it's just one thing IG are not short of is AP4 and with all the MEQ players out there the eradicator loses appeal. Hellhounds do the same thing for cheaper, and heavy flamers are free so it fill a niche which isn't needed IMHO.

The colossus AP3 means kiss your Marines good by, even in cover.

Manticores are great...you're guaranteed one S10 pie plate and 2-3 if you're lucky (I never am). I've proxied in a Basi and I've had mixed success with it, direct fire is hysterically devastating...but I roll so bad with barrage I never hit anything, lol.

I rand my first Vendetta this past weekend and I can honestly say that I love'em. The three twin-linked LC's chalked up a LRC and an Ironclad dread. They make for amazing targets for anything with a missile launcher sadly, but if you field a squadron...well, I don't need to go any further.

Y'know, LRBT's haven't been the greatest heavy choice for me, so I can't speak to their amazingness, but I've seen Executioners stop MEQ armies by themselves.

Yeah none of them are very commonly taken. Probably the manticore has something to do with it, it's just more firepower and less fuss. With the others, you have to prioritize between high strength, indirect fire and min/max ranges. Manticores have it all, only with AP4 which isn't a huge deal for many.

Basilisk: feels like poor value when a manticore has d3 shots, no minimum range and is only slightly worse at killing marines (since they probably have cover).
Medusa: It's pretty much a cardboard demolisher unless you give it BB shells and then it's pretty much a cardboard vanquisher but better. It is super sassy though, I like it.
Colossus: Nothing wrong with this thing. It's not super deadly if the marines space out but it pretty much stops them from huddling up in cover like they do sometimes. I'm surprised so few take it.
Griffon: It's basically a whirlwind. I like whirlwinds, but usually you don't want to blow your HS slots on anti infantry. That's the only problem really, and the spacing thing.

I only have experience with the Medusa so far, but I always field one, and I have had so many good moments with it I even bought another one from FW. I never field mine with bastion breacher shells, as I want to field it as a fragile demolisher with longer range. The enclosed upgrade always pays off because so much fire get thrown towards it, and it easily makes its points back. If I can't find a suitable piece of cover for it, it use a Leman Russ tank or two, or a couple of chimeras to give it cover. The 36" range means that I can get a 1st turn shot off, where I woulden't be able to with a Demolisher. Even in emergency situations, STR 10 Ordnance isn't exactly useless against vehicles, so it is a decent all round vehicle, as long as you protect it.

The issue is they take up slots where IG have weapons that overshadow them. I take preference with LR Executioner cos of the amount of AP 2 fire it spits out. And it can deal with hordes too to a lesser degree