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After putting together the first of my artillery, I realized something weird. Artillery normally work like this: the gun is t7 3+, while the crew have normal stat lines, be they grots, techmarines, guardians etc. The weird thing is that the second crewman is physically attached to the artillery piece. How does this work in game terms? Is the weapon operator part of the gun model itself and GW is skimping on my crew models? I'm baffled about how to use this unit.

Now please don't lecture me about how I shouldn't even use support weapons; I realize they are not optimal. I just am confused about how the mechanics of the unit work. Any thoughts?

That's a good point it looks like the Artillery section even shows this in the picture!?
The codex says two crewmen so I'd say you get two infantry on normal bases. I'd use a spare guardian. You can't be using them as well, you may as well give up in turn 1!

You get two infantry per gun as the rules state. They work like all other artillery. Yes one is modeled on the same base but eh. It's purely aesthetic and would be the last to be removed from the unit anyway.

The gun comes with two Guardians. 1 or both can be modeled on the Gun itself. Generally I have 3 Guardians per Gun when I use them: 1 physically seated on the gun (and doesn't count for anything) and 1 who fires the thing, and 1 who twiddles his thumbs till something gets within 12".

D-Cannons are awesome if you can find a good choke point to put them in.

Vibrocannons can be situationally useful.

Shadow Weavers are good only due to being cheap and great range (and no more guessing with premeasuring)

That being said, if you have a list that suits them they all can fit into your support slot but most lists will have trouble not putting other stuff in heavy support instead (like packs of 2 walkers)

Khalbrae, I really appreciate the comment, but I was looking more along the lines of the awkward unit composition, not really how to use it in game.

HappyJew, I was thinking about doing that, but I'm a little miffed that GW purposely made the model like that. They've tricked me into buying more models yet again..

So maybe put the one on the base, remove him as a casualty first, and when the gun takes two wounds, spit out the model that I previously removed in its place?

I was thinking about doing that, but I'm a little miffed that GW purposely made the model like that. They've tricked me into buying more models yet again..

Just as planned...

Why people have not yet realized that GW is actually a front for a Tzeentchian cult is beyond me.

You could even do up a couple custom Eldar units, like a modified color scheme, to indicate that these 2 schmos are usually gunner crews, but are now forced to schlep about.

 ghastli wrote:
HappyJew, I was thinking about doing that, but I'm a little miffed that GW purposely made the model like that. They've tricked me into buying more models yet again..

Much as I wouldn't put this kind of thing past GW - in this case, it's not deliberate. The model's existed a lot longer than the current ruleset...!
It'd take a bit of work, but if you have a spare base you could convert the 2nd model so it's not on the gun and can be used as the other crewman. Maybe sitting on a deckchair instead, or something.

FWIWl, the original metal models came with two Guardians and the Gun, all three were separate. Model the guardian on the gun, and have a couple of guardians painted up and ready. If the situation arises where you've lost more guns than guardians, swap out the gun model for a guardian. Probably won't happen much, but you're prepared. You could also mark the gun model with a counter, to show that the gun was destroyed, but the guardian is still plinking away.