Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hello all,

I had a question about how big to run a sniper squad for my Space Marine army?

Is it more beneficial to go with an upgraded 10 man squad with Telion or is it better to stay small?

Trying to consider my options before purchasing a 10 man sniper squad I might use half of.

There are a few ways to run them that work best.

First is a 5 man with missile launcher. Basic support and objective holding.

Second is 10 man with snipers. If you add camo cloaks and sit in reinforced ruins, you have a 2+, if you add telion it can get redundant but makes needing a ruin or reinforcing not necessary.

The primary question is, do you want a unit to hold an objective and nothing much else, or for a few more points defiantly hold that objective and make MC's and very elite infantry run and hide?

I see.

In the current list I'm running, having something that would pack more of a punch would be best.

Typically I'm fighting Eldar or DA, so an anti-MC/Elite team would work best for me.

I also like the fact I can target ICs now with 6e rules.

How would one go about positioning them on an objective? Get them in a ruin that is near it early game and hunker down?

I would suggest placing an objective in a ruin were it's around 24-30 inches from the enemy if they are the kind that come at you, otherwise use your best judgement in placement.

Then infiltrate in if your opponent doesn't have infiltrators, and scout move into position.

I personally run two squads of scouts with sniper rifles, a missile launcher, and camo cloaks. With the number of objectives that you get to place in most games, you can easily set them up in your deployment zone, cap the points, sit in cover, and terrorizes high value targets. I love it.

Telion is awesome, camocloaks are needed.
I would use 10 to get as many wounds for Telion as possible.
ML or heavy bolter or just a sniper is pretty all right.

I find bolster ruins is more theoryhammering then anything, it is hard to find 3+ cover by an objective somewhere with a good view for shooting. I find Telion+camo cloaks can go from 4+ to 2+ cover saves which is pretty awesome.

I'm guessing the range and versatility of snipers, I can easily use them to set up a "kill zone" on the board for any hapless infantry and ICs that come walking by, yes?

scrabblez wrote:I'm guessing the range and versatility of snipers, I can easily use them to set up a "kill zone" on the board for any hapless infantry and ICs that come walking by, yes?

No, they are unlikely to kill any Independent Characters.

Precision shots are unlikely, Rending is unlikely, and then it has to get through Look Out Sir. Basically, to wound an IC, your snipers need three sixes in a row (well 2 sixes and a one), then they have to beat whatever invulnerable save he has. And they have to do this a number of times equal to his Wounds.

Your absolute best case is removing non-character single wound models from low armor units that are toting a special weapon or ability.

Fun fact: Sergeant Telion provides Stealth, while camo-cloaks have been altered in the most recent FAQ to provide +1 cover to models wearing them. Therefore, a squad of Scouts with both Sergeant Telion and camo-cloaks gets +2 to their cover saves and thus receives a 2+ cover save in normal ruins (or behind an Aegis Defense Line). Not bad... just watch out for Heavy Flamers!

Well then, I've been convinced. Snipers are in the mail.