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So, i've played for the last year or so now, and my main issue is shaving points from one unit so that i can get another unit...so whatever

but now i'm in a quandary. in order to get my new Manticore on line, i need to pull from my (4) plasma vets.

so instead of 3x plasma guns, i have 2 plasma and 1 meltagun.

is this wrong??????

i was always told that you never mix your gun types (like liquor, and beer) which i have adhered to until now.

1. does this give me better utility against Dreads or larger vehicles?
2. when gunning at troops, i'm only missing 1 "deadly shot" for 5 points
3. melta and plasma kill meq/teq equally well (although range is an issue)

so help an old soldier out please and tell me what to do.

current list in case your curious (1863 Battle for Stones River, Murfreesboro, TN)



I had a 3rd Vendetta, but my reserve rolls are a thing of horror. (how can someone roll that many ones consecutively)

What you could do to shave points is remove one special weapon from a squad and you won't have to change the other squads loadout. Also, I would recommend removing the power axes to shave points more than anything. Basilisks are good, but they aren't the most competitive IG tank, I would swap for a Leman Russ or Griffons.

1. utility? just have dedicated squads, have 2 veteran squads with strictly meltas and the rest strictly plasmas. You dont need all of them to kill tanks. (your vendettas can help out too)
2. that 1 shot could kill a 35 point terminator, and you get multiple turns to use it.
3. Plasma is rapid fire, so they aren't equal, and melta gets +3 on the damage table

Range is a major factor why not to mix them as well. Consider my advice if you want to be competitive, what you are doing now is fine but if you want that extra edge specialized squads are much more effective.

I run a veteran squad with 2 meltas and 1 plasma gun. I think it works ok this way round as you're wanting to be close to max out the melta effectiveness and the plasma gun gives you a bit of a boost against anything other than heavy tanks. Of course I run them that way because I only have 2 melta models and the plasma gun helps out, but it doesn't change the logic

Sir Mammoth wrote:
What you could do to shave points is remove one special weapon from a squad and you won't have to change the other squads loadout. Also, I would recommend removing the power axes to shave points more than anything. Basilisks are good, but they aren't the most competitive IG tank, I would swap for a Leman Russ or Griffons.

1. utility? just have dedicated squads, have 2 veteran squads with strictly meltas and the rest strictly plasmas. You dont need all of them to kill tanks. (your vendettas can help out too)
2. that 1 shot could kill a 35 point terminator, and you get multiple turns to use it.
3. Plasma is rapid fire, so they aren't equal, and melta gets +3 on the damage table

Range is a major factor why not to mix them as well. Consider my advice if you want to be competitive, what you are doing now is fine but if you want that extra edge specialized squads are much more effective.

What this guy said, pretty much.

Except Melta only gets +2 on the damage table

Yeah, the +2 on the damage table and you also get another D6 armor pen

Never mix weapons unless you're in a situation where you have to change exactly one weapon in your list to cut a few points. Deliberately taking mixed squads just means you have units that don't have proper focus and will be less effective no matter what you use them against. A single melta gun doesn't make them a legitimate anti-tank unit, so all you're doing is trading some effectiveness in their primary role of killing heavy infantry for a mediocre upgrade to their effectiveness in a situation you don't want them to be in.

Since you're dealing with multiple weapons, the correct solution:

Vet plasma x3 chimera
Vet plasma x3 chimera
Vet meltagun x3 chimera
Vet plasma x2 meltagun chimera

Now you have minimized your use of mixed squads and concentrated your weapons properly. The single remaining mixed squad isn't ideal, but if you don't have an option to free up 5 points elsewhere there's no way around it.

Of course what you should do is drop the power axes (since they are a pointless upgrade) and upgrade all of your veteran squads to 3x plasma.

 Peregrine wrote:
Never mix weapons unless you're in a situation where you have to change exactly one weapon in your list to cut a few points. Deliberately taking mixed squads just means you have units that don't have proper focus and will be less effective no matter what you use them against. A single melta gun doesn't make them a legitimate anti-tank unit, so all you're doing is trading some effectiveness in their primary role of killing heavy infantry for a mediocre upgrade to their effectiveness in a situation you don't want them to be in.

Since you're dealing with multiple weapons, the correct solution:

Vet plasma x3 chimera
Vet plasma x3 chimera
Vet meltagun x3 chimera
Vet plasma x2 meltagun chimera

Now you have minimized your use of mixed squads and concentrated your weapons properly. The single remaining mixed squad isn't ideal, but if you don't have an option to free up 5 points elsewhere there's no way around it.

Of course what you should do is drop the power axes (since they are a pointless upgrade) and upgrade all of your veteran squads to 3x plasma.

Ooooor....
Vet plasma x3 chimera
Vet plasma x3 chimera
Vet meltagun x3 chimera
Vet meltagun x3 chimera

Your IG... you can't find a home for 5-10pts besides screwing over the synergy of a squad? Besides, you want your plasma within 12" to double fire, so really your shooting for the same range. Besides, melta guns at Str 8 AP1 (even at 6-12") wreck /alot/ of stuff. I will also point out Meltas don't have 'Gets Hot!' so in a way, specially on Guard 5+ armor saves, your Meltas will probably last you longer. Don't knock them man, they are still a solid weapon.

 Peregrine wrote:
Of course what you should do is drop the power axes (since they are a pointless upgrade) and upgrade all of your veteran squads to 3x plasma.

Bingo. Five man IG squads are just going to die like chumps before you even swing that thing. You would be better off with a Plasma pistol if your going to be spending the points. You would actually be better off with them in Chimeras and shooting 4x Special weapons with troops in the Vendettas for a quick cap and your other 2 troops following up your CCSs and using them to protect your troops by giving them a cover save. Apparently your giving up 'Slay the Warlord' points anyway, might as well make them useful.

I'd drop the power axes.

You never want to be in combat if you can help it. There are always going to be situations where you do end up in combat, but if it happens one power axe isn't going to save a 5 man squad.

In your case, what you're talking about isn't the worst possible thing you can do, but as others are pointing out, there are better ways to arrange things so that you don't have to mix things.