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I found this review of the new Forgeworld Flyer book:

http://skulkers-surprise.blogspot.com/2 ... utica.html

See what he says about the Dreadclaw:

"Worst unit – DreadClaw

It’s a drop pod, its not a drop pod, its a flyer, its a mess. It’s cheap, it lets you deep strike in a dreadnaught or a squad of chaos marines but I just don’t like it. The only benefit is it’s an assault vehicle. The mainly problems I have are its a fast attack choice, not a dedicated transport, it has no guns, not even a combi-bolter and it can mishap, no rules to prevent it from scattering like a marine drop pod. It just doesn’t seem to do what its meant to be doing. Just not for me."

How can this be the worst unit if it's a deepstriking assault vehicle, like a Lucius pattern drop pod for Chaos? Any input from people who have the book?

Is there a rules question you needed answered, or did you mean to put this in 40K general discussion?

so you're asking our opinion of someone else's opinion? I don't understand...

It isn't the worst unit (there are far worse, like the Remora), but the problem mentioned is a real one. It's an assault vehicle, but it doesn't give you any special rule allowing you to assault after arriving by deep strike (like deep striking BA Land Raiders). So you have to arrive on one turn, then go into hover mode and disembark the troops on the following turn (and then they're allowed to assault). Then maybe the drop pod can fly off again and possibly pick up another unit before the game ends. It's a slow process and it's questionable how much benefit you get compared to a standard Rhino.

 Lord Krungharr wrote:
I found this review of the new Forgeworld Flyer book:

http://skulkers-surprise.blogspot.com/2 ... utica.html

See what he says about the Dreadclaw:

"Worst unit – DreadClaw

It’s a drop pod, its not a drop pod, its a flyer, its a mess. It’s cheap, it lets you deep strike in a dreadnaught or a squad of chaos marines but I just don’t like it. The only benefit is it’s an assault vehicle. The mainly problems I have are its a fast attack choice, not a dedicated transport, it has no guns, not even a combi-bolter and it can mishap, no rules to prevent it from scattering like a marine drop pod. It just doesn’t seem to do what its meant to be doing. Just not for me."

How can this be the worst unit if it's a deepstriking assault vehicle, like a Lucius pattern drop pod for Chaos? Any input from people who have the book?

Because it's not. It's an Assault Vehicle that can deep-strike, but that doesn't give the occupants permission to assault after deep-striking.

So it's a Drop Pod that takes up a FOC slot, you can't assault out of it on the turn it arrives, it has no scatter reduction nor mishap prevention. The only advantage it has over a drop pod is that it's a flyer, and it doesn't force you to disembark. So it's occupants can try and sit safely inside it for a turn and then get limited ability to reposition and assault. I'm pretty sure that upside doesn't outweigh all the downsides it has over a basic drop pod.

Chrysis wrote:
I'm pretty sure that upside doesn't outweigh all the downsides it has over a basic drop pod.

Well, there's also the major upside that CSM can take Dreadclaws, while normal drop pods are something that only loyalists get.

 Peregrine wrote:

Chrysis wrote:
I'm pretty sure that upside doesn't outweigh all the downsides it has over a basic drop pod.

Well, there's also the major upside that CSM can take Dreadclaws, while normal drop pods are something that only loyalists get.

True. It's an upside, and realistically the only important one. It doesn't make it a good drop pod, it just makes it the only one available. It has it's uses, but as far as drop pods go it's the worst of the bunch. If you wanted Deep Striking assault vehicles you'd be better off taking a Chaos Storm Eagle. While it may be more expensive, it can do everything the Dreadclaw can and shoot things reasonably well.

Lucius has special rules that allow passengers charge after arriving from reserve or deep strike . Dreadclaw's passengers no way can charge after its deep strike or arriving from reserve, just after one turn.

Link in the OP is broken, so here's the fixed link for those who want to read it:

http://skulkers-surprise.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/review-imperial-armour-aeronautica.html

I don't think it's that bad. Not great, not terrible. Heck, I don't even think it's the worst FA choice in the new Chaos codex - Warp Talons still seem worse to me.

As others have said, it still has to wait until at least turn 3 before the unit inside can get the charge off, but that's not so bad when you consider that most assault units wouldn't reach combat until turn 3 anyway.

Regarding the mishap issue, don't forget that vehicles can still move Flat Out when they arrive from deep strike. This means that you can set it up in a safe position away from obstacles, and then make a 24" Flat Out move to get into a better position for the next turn, in which it moves 6" and the unit disembarks 2" (limited due to Dreadclaw's special disembarkation rules) before assaulting. Between the Hard To Hit rule for Flyers and the Jink special rule (because there's no point in not evading), it's pretty hard to knock out of the sky.

The fact that it takes up a valuable Fast Attack slot is by far its biggest disadvantage. I didn't mind doing this under the old codex (where the FA choices were horrendously bad), but with the new one you'd need to have a pretty solid plan for using it to justify the slot. If it could be taken as a dedicated transport, I think it'd be much more popular.

I'll be honest: I've been toying with the idea of using one to transport a unit of Mutilators and maybe a Dark Apostle. Not the most effective use of points, but it probably won't be expected.

I think the biggest problem is that it lacks Drop Pod Assault (as far as I'm aware). Spess Mehreen drop pods get to slam into your butt in the first turn and typically can't mishap, but this takes up a Fast Attack slot, might not come in, and aren't really all that spectacular.

Used 3 in the last 2 games in replacement of my Rhinos i'm happy with them.

No Shooting weapon?, yeah like a non-upgradeable combi-bolter could have done it any good...

Still Gets mishaps?, like said the thing is a flyer, you deep strike somewhere save, then you go Flat Out with 24" and even get a 4+ Jinks save.

Following turn, you move disembark, assault, once things are finished on the 4 turn you go back in, go in flyer mode and scoop over the battle to go get/contest Objectives in late game.

Or if you play 7 or 8 turns, you still can move, disembark , assault.

It also have a Frag launcher systeme, put Mutilators, Possesed or even Termies in it, they get to assault and count has having nades, heck having a CC Dread that count has having nades before assaulting something in cover is just plain awesome!!

Also its a AR slot?, yeah thats a bit of a bummer,...in 5th Ed..., do i need to remind you gentlemens that in 6th when you have 2000pts you double your Army slots?, so if you make a 2000pts list, you have not 3 AR slots, BUT 6 AR slots..., i think its more then enough to fit in a Heldrake, 1-2 Bikes squadrons, 1 Raptors and then 2 Dreadclaws.

Yes it doesn't come in turn one, that the biggest and for me the only flaw, the rest he is better then a regular pod, it as more maneuvrability, more speed, it doesnt become immobile, and its a AV 12 transport, so its more resilient then a regular rhino.

It was a real Pain in the A** for my foes and i'm happy with it.

The only thing a bit confusing is the line where it says that after arriving with DS, it can move normaly.

Does that mean that you DS and then move in the movement phase and then still go Flat out, or its just something to say that you can move normaly in following turns?