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So I've been taking a look through my buddies IG codex because I'm looking for some long range support for my BA. At fist glance it looks like my best option would be to take a squad of three Vanquisher Lemon Russ battle tanks. They'd be for popping armor as my Blood Angels should be able to handle hordes and elite infantry (I hope). I'm looking at 2500 point lists where 1500 points is devoted to my BA. So, in your opinion, is this a good way to go as far as long range support from IG? Or should I forget IG in favor of better long range support?

Of further note, my BA lists are all about getting into my opponents back line and reeking havoc, hopefully taking pressure off my back line support by giving my opponent more pressing issues.

Some like Vanquishers, some don't. I personally think they are pretty good in numbers.

Also, IG can spam Lascannons like no tomorrow! You take a platoon for Infantry you can bring literally 21, scoring Lascannons at max. IG are the best long range support army in my opinion

Hmmm, I like that spammy las cannon idea. The Platoon would also need to be able to protect itself, and the vanquishers, and that many las cannons should make anything nervous of approaching.

the manticore is also a popular choice. who doesn't want d3 str 10 ap4 large blasts every turn?

1000 Points
HQ
Company Command Squad + Lascannon + Officer of the Fleet

Troops
Platoon Command Squad+4 Flamers
2 Infantry Squads+ Lascannon + Commissar
3 Infantry Squads+ Lascannon + Commissar

Fast Attack
Vendetta

Heavy Support
Manticore + Camo Netting

Fortification
Aegis + Icarus Lascannon


Gives you 7 Lascannons, 6 of which will be TL against Vehicles/MCs, 3 more from the Vendetta with the PCS Flamer fun inside, and a Manticore raining down hate on the enemy, which'll be getting a 3+ Cover save behind the line.

This question will display my IG newbness as I've only looked through my buddies codex a couple times.

When it says to replace two guardsmen for a heavy weapons team, can you only do that once per Infantry squad/Platoon Command squad? Or could I have a Platoon Command squad with two heavy weapons teams?

Once per squad. If we could bring more I imagine we would spam them to hell.

^^^
Thanks

Yeah it's once per squad, in the list I posted it's that every squad gets a Lascannon and they split a Commissar, so when I said
3 Infantry Squads+ Lascannon + Commissar
I meant
Infantry Squad + Lascannon
Infantry Squad + Lascannon
Infantry Squad + Lascannon + Commissar
and then you blob them all together

So as long as I'm bored at work...here's what I've come up with based on suggestions:

HQ
Company Command Squad
Lord Commissar

Troop
Platoon Command Squad
2 Infantry Squad- Las Cannon
Heavy Weapons Squad- Las Cannons x3

Heavy Support
Lemon Russ Vanquisher x3- Las Cannon x3, Pask

Fortification
Aegis Line- Icarus Lascannon

So I'm not 100% sure of the points cost, especially the Aegis line, but from memory this should be about 1000 points. Remember, all I need the IG to do is to provide some long range support. My Blood Angels will be up and in their face taking care of hordes and elite infantry etc. What do you think?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
@felixander

Thank you for clarifying that for me

I'd say drop the HWS, they're just too squishy on their own, to be able to afford some SW on the IS's, LC on the PCS and toys on your BA.

You might also be interested in fitting multi-melta sponsons and a hull LC to the vanquishers due to them being able to fire all of them at full BS even when moving.

Surprised nobody has said this yet, but having 3 vanquishers in a single squadron just seems like ridiculous overkill. That's over 500pts in one unit, and it can only really kill a very narrow window of targets.

That massive point sink could be spread out and get you a ton more firepower, and get units that are better for that task than 3 squadded vanquishers.

 MrMoustaffa wrote:
Surprised nobody has said this yet, but having 3 vanquishers in a single squadron just seems like ridiculous overkill. That's over 500pts in one unit, and it can only really kill a very narrow window of targets.

That massive point sink could be spread out and get you a ton more firepower, and get units that are better for that task than 3 squadded vanquishers.

Agreed. Plus if you miss, you just miss. YES they are GREAT for anti-armor purposes if you can score a hit, but standard Russes have only 1 less str and ap (not entirely sure, I don't have my codex on hand, iir Vanq is 9-2 with extra armor damage, while Russes are 8-3 large blast ordnance) that comes in a large blast format with a good 72" range. Factor in 3 of those with 3x lascannons and the possible multi-meltas and it's cheaper than the Vanquishers and very able to kill more per shot...

As said vanqs are great IF YOU HIT but if you miss then balls all good it does you, whereas standard russ ordnance can still scatter and hit other things. Plus the lack of a center of blast and hull points in 6th edition means you can very easily whittle down plenty of vehicle squads by getting more than one hit per shot and glancing even the mighty Land Raider to death.

And finally, the Russ cannon, being 8-3 (iir) large blast is great for anti-meq work if need be. If you had all the vanquishers and they worked well at popping all the enemy armor, what good are they when there's no armor to shoot at? *BOOM* "Oh hey, look, the guy in the front is now a crater... Too bad it didn't hit any more of them!"

I don't mean to knock the Vanquisher, I just feel that its place is not as the only variant of tank on the field. They're great when part of an armored list, but I don't see a full squadron on their own working very well. Maybe take just 1 out of the 3 tanks you can have in the squad? 2 Russes and a Vanq sound good to me.

But hey, it's your army. Do what you want! That's just my two bits.

Hmmm, mixing up the tank squad seems like a good idea. Maybe just one vanquisher (with pask) and two Lemun Russ like you suggested. However, I'm a little concerned for my Blood Angels being hit by scatter since they'll be deep striking back behind enemy lines

 Phiasco II wrote:
Hmmm, mixing up the tank squad seems like a good idea. Maybe just one vanquisher (with pask) and two Lemun Russ like you suggested. However, I'm a little concerned for my Blood Angels being hit by scatter since they'll be deep striking back behind enemy lines

Mixed squadrons and maxed out squadrons both tend to be bad ideas. You just end up with far too much overkill. You said you were playing in the 2500 range right? That would mean that you would have access to double force org?

Just take two squadrons, each with just a tank or two. Gear the squadrons for specific targets, and you'll get more utility from them. If you absolutely want to one shot a tank every turn, I'd stick with two vanquishers in a single squadron TOPS, maybe give one Pask and of course, give them the lascannons. Other squadron could be whatever, but if I were you I'd look at Exectutioners, Punishers, Demolishers, and regular LRBT's. All of them are great tanks that fill different roles.

That'll require another troop and HQ tax on both the DA and IG if he's currently running single FOC and he's just wanting tanks and some lascannons.

If you're not against FW, I would recommand you the Armored Company
Then you can take 2 BS 4 (with co-axial stubbers) Vanquishers as separate units and still have room for extra tanks in troops / vehicles in FA / HS slots

Command Vanquisher + co-axial + LC + beast hunter (200)
Commissariat Vanquisher + co-axial + LC + beast hunter (200)
Leman Russ Squadron x2 (300)
Leman Russ Exterminator Squadron x2 + HB sponsons (340)

Here are you 1K points you can always pick some artillery as HS instead of some of the above