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The tactica says servitors are not worth it, but each servitor with a harness has an extra Str 8 AP 2 attack in close combat. Even at WS3, it takes 4 to hit and 2 to instant kill most things. For 10-15 points a pop, why aren't servitors being used? I can totally see having a techmarine and 5 servitors staying behind a land raider putting side way. Keep moving up and repairing and when the time is right, close in for the kill.

This sounds more like a tactics question.

Yup, I alerted the mod and it has been moved as such. Thank you for your kind note. Any comment on the topic?

Consider the following:

A Techmarine with 5 Servitors costs 125. You'll probably give him a Combi-Weapon of some sort, let's assume nothing else, so 135. This unit has 6 PF attacks and 6 regular CC attacks. Remember, you don't get the charge bonus for the Servo-Arm attacks.

Now, a unit of 5 Tactical Marines with a Power Fist/Combi-Weapon Sergeant costs 125. You get only 3 PF attacks on the charge, and 5 regular CC attacks. However, this unit also has Bolters, a much better profile, and critically, can score. The only other advantage the Techmarine squad has is the repair ability, which isn't that great, and Bolster Defenses. Moving up behind a Land Raider is only reliable if it moves 6" a turn, if it moves 12", the Techmarine can't keep up.

Furthermore, let's see how the Techmarine's squad does against a squishy target: 10 Guardsmen. You get 2 S4 attacks at I4, 10 S3 attacks at I3, and 6 PF attacks at I1. The Guardsmen get 12 S3 attacks at I3. The Techmarine averages about .8 dead Guardsmen at I4, let's assume he gets 1. The Servitors average 10/6 = 1.66 dead Guardsmen at I3, while the Guardsmen get 11 attacks back, which is 1.5 dead on the Techmarine's squad since the unit is majority WS3 and T3. You then get 1 WS4 PF attack and either 4 or 5 WS3 PF attacks, which is around 3 more dead Guardsmen. So, you've killed half a squad of Guardsmen, congrats! They run, and have a 50% chance to get away.

Now, Guardsmen aren't a very good target for PFs, so how about 5 Tactical Marines? Let's ignore the Techmarine's measly 2 attacks. The Tacs get 7 attacks, assuming BP+CS Sergeant. Since you're WS3 T3 majority, they average 8 hits and about 3.1 wounds, so let's say 2 Servitors are dead. You get 8 regular attacks and 4 PF attacks back, for an average of about 1 regular wound and 1.8 PF wounds. So, you've roughly drawn combat. Next round, it just gets worse for the Servitors, etc.

So, this squad can't even beat up 5 Tactical Marines reliably (in a configuarion that only costs 90 points), and doesn't compare very well to them in other respects. Now, please note that my comparison squad of 5 Tactical Marines is a pretty bad unit. Even 10 man Tactical Squads are not great units. I think this is why nobody does what you suggest.

I see some reasonable explanation in your post.

But I don't agree that TM + 5 Servitors will lose to 5-man tac squad w/ BP+CS. They will definitely lose to a 5-man tac squad with Powerfist though.

On second thought, it looks like that 125 pts of Techmarine w/ servitors can be spent on plenty of other good things. Like a AC/TLLC predator.

I have tried to run them but they can't hit anything, die too easy, are too expensive and isn't even fun to play in casual games.
Never had an opportunity to try the repair rolls.

I want too use some servitors as extra wounds for my MOTF with conversion beamer... If there only was an option to take very cheap servitors without servo arms.

Isn't MOTF an independent character? Can't you deploy him with a tactical squad in the back with a lascannon and a meltagun?

Or just put him on a bike, give him a conversion beamer and he'll stay out or range of most things. And 2+ save makes it hard to kill him.

My fear with putting MOTF on a bike with conversion beamer is outflanking genestealers. :|

Nom nom nom nom 170 pts of stuff = not fun.

Yes.. I usually put him with a missile launcher combat squaded tactical squad or some devestators. A full tactical squad seems like a waste as only the missile or lascannon would ever shoot at the ranges he shoot at.

But I would like to use the servitors, if there was a cheap option. I wouldn't want to waste too many points on some extra wounds for this static unit.


I plan on putting him on a bike someday. But I still would like to have him in a squad. Maybe some scout bikes could keep him company.

leohart wrote:I see some reasonable explanation in your post.

But I don't agree that TM + 5 Servitors will lose to 5-man tac squad w/ BP+CS. They will definitely lose to a 5-man tac squad with Powerfist though.

On second thought, it looks like that 125 pts of Techmarine w/ servitors can be spent on plenty of other good things. Like a AC/TLLC predator.

The math suggests that TM + 5 Servitors is roughly an even match for 5 Tactical Marines, assuming the Servitors charge. Hence, my claim that they can't reliably beat up the Tacs. Some times they'll win big, of course, but losing to the Tacs should be a pretty common outcome.

It seems counter-intuitive, but the Tacs swinging at I4 against WS3 T3 ends up being pretty big.

Quite interesting, I'll consider trying this with my GK army.