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.

So in building an Eldar Corsairs list as Allies for Craftworld Eldar, I've acquired some Corsair squads to use as mobile heavy weapons (2 specials and 2 heavy weapons per 10 models? Lovely). The question is; what about the grunts? Lasblasters are STR 3, AP -, range 24, Assault 2 and the shurikens are the standard Guardian model. Posts cost is the same between them.

Lasblasters:
longer range
lower STR, no AP

Shurikens:
Higher STR, better AP
shorter range means using this means that with JSJ, there's a greater risk of the squad being caught in assault

The major bonus I can think of for shurikens is that my Corsairs will often be DSing to pick off vehicles and isolated units, potentially putting them in close to enemy forces where the extra kick of catapults may come in handier. I'm leaning slightly towards the catapults for this reason.

And so, I query the elders of dakka: lasblasters or catapults?

Depends on what the unit is for. Because you are taking jet packs I'm guessing that its a unit of 5 with 2 special weapons (if your not, what ARE you doing???) then it depends on what special weapons. For example if you are using fusion guns then take shuri catapults because you will want to be in range anyway, but if you are using missile launchers then go las blasters for longer range.

But to be fair it wont matter much, since they are tiny units of 5, that's only 3 of each of those guns, neither of which are very good.

Corsairs get 1 Special and 1 Heavy per 5, not 2 of their choice per 5. If you are running them on foot/with jet packs then you will usually be running them as full 10 man units, 5 mans you usually run in vehicles.

Tbh this is really not a hard choice, Shuriken Catapults are terrible terrible weapons and the Lasblasters are actually pretty good. Corsairs are good fire support units, you really don't want to be Deep Striking them (just use the Corsair Prince special ability and Deep Strike in Fire Dragons if you want to kill vehicles). Use the heavy weapons as your main threat and the specials to finish things off (consider Flamers since they are cheaper). The extra range of the Lasblasters make a huge difference for them, you can start chipping away at things from turn 1 and unlike the Catapult you don't have to be inside rapid fire range (the melt if they are outside of cover) /assault range (since the jump back is the same as assault range now) to shoot things. The loss of strength is largely meaningless, the extra rounds of shooting you get easily make up for it and the AP change is also largely meaningless as MEQ doesn't care either way and Xenos have cover/numbers to not care either.

Powerguy wrote:
Corsairs get 1 Special and 1 Heavy per 5, not 2 of their choice per 5. If you are running them on foot/with jet packs then you will usually be running them as full 10 man units, 5 mans you usually run in vehicles.

Tbh this is really not a hard choice, Shuriken Catapults are terrible terrible weapons and the Lasblasters are actually pretty good. Corsairs are good fire support units, you really don't want to be Deep Striking them (just use the Corsair Prince special ability and Deep Strike in Fire Dragons if you want to kill vehicles). Use the heavy weapons as your main threat and the specials to finish things off (consider Flamers since they are cheaper). The extra range of the Lasblasters make a huge difference for them, you can start chipping away at things from turn 1 and unlike the Catapult you don't have to be inside rapid fire range (the melt if they are outside of cover) /assault range (since the jump back is the same as assault range now) to shoot things. The loss of strength is largely meaningless, the extra rounds of shooting you get easily make up for it and the AP change is also largely meaningless as MEQ doesn't care either way and Xenos have cover/numbers to not care either.

I actually agree 100% with this.

The only reason to take ShuCats is because you cannot afford/make the lasblasters.