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I'm planning a new Farseer model build with a Long Rifle (just to build it because it looks cool) but I'm not certain if I'll ever end up fielding it. The rough plan is a Farseer to hang with a unit of Rangers in a deployment zone objective, throwing Prescience on the Rangers and Guide on another long-ranged shooty unit (such as Reapers or a Wraithlord). The Rifle is so that he has something else to do other than casting powers and to be able to contribute to the Rangers' shooting. (The model could also be used as a Spiritseer with the rifle giving the Rangers shrouding, but that's less efficient than a double-guiding Farseer.)

While I appreciate the option for the rifle to be there, I'm just looking at it and my first thought is "that's all there is?" 120" range, AP3. The range really only seems relevant if you're making an HQ to go hide in a corner somewhere (which I do appreciate but it seems a waste of an Autarch and a Farseer needs to be near someone else to buff); the AP3 is a nice little bonus but with a single shot that can't insta-kill you're still just doing one wound with it.

Is there something about the ULR that I'm missing, that makes it definitely worth using rather than allying in a Haemonculus with a Hexrifle (other than the fact that my Haemie has caused a total of zero unsaved wounds in its lifetime )?

Nope, just bad. For some reason, sniper weapon can NEVER be effective bar crons who have rapid fire snipers (oh Ward...). 25 points is better spend just about anywhere. 4+ to wound is just way to unreliable for ROF 1 weapons.

1 shot that wounds on 4s is nearly useless.

Something else fun and spiffy?? not that I can find

its just a reliable sniper rifle that can be used in a farseer's mostly useless Shooting phase.

its is funny to use on a trigon

 zephoid wrote:
Nope, just bad. For some reason, sniper weapon can NEVER be effective bar crons who have rapid fire snipers (oh Ward...). 25 points is better spend just about anywhere. 4+ to wound is just way to unreliable for ROF 1 weapons.

This really does seem to be the truth, doesn't it? Deathmarks are really the only good snipers in the game it seems like. Don't get me wrong, Rangers aren't bad, but they are no Deathmarks.


Yeah, the Long rifle just isn't that good, just like Voidbringer isn't that good either. It's really a shame.

 Sasori wrote:

 zephoid wrote:
Nope, just bad. For some reason, sniper weapon can NEVER be effective bar crons who have rapid fire snipers (oh Ward...). 25 points is better spend just about anywhere. 4+ to wound is just way to unreliable for ROF 1 weapons.

This really does seem to be the truth, doesn't it? Deathmarks are really the only good snipers in the game it seems like. Don't get me wrong, Rangers aren't bad, but they are no Deathmarks.


Yeah, the Long rifle just isn't that good, just like Voidbringer isn't that good either. It's really a shame.

Kroot aren't bad against the right enemies.

That's more to do with the 2+ to wound than the rapid fire rifles, imo. If sniper rifles wounded on 2+ by default, you'd see a lot more of them. But then you'd have to make HfH wound automatically to compensate

I've used sniper rifles on an IG CCS which was going to be static anyway. For 5 pts on a BS4 guardsman its not a bad option. Killed a hive tyrant with them one game. Really depends on your list and army I guess.

Could be fun for a Jetseer?

The only salvation I can see for this item is Precision Shots where you have a 1/6 chance to have a 50% chance to remove a higher priority target (as long as it's not multi-wound). If you were absolutely determined to take this item then you could shoot it at a tac squad to have a chance to remove their heavy bolter or whatever. Other than that it's probably less than mediocre unless you don't have anything else you could be doing in your shooting phase. It costs the same amount of points as a Pathfinder just to put it in context. I doubt it's worth taking on any HQ choice.

Spiritseer or Farseer paired with Reapers. Picks up Slow and Purposeful and can confer things like shrouded, 2+ armour or many great things from Divination and Runes of Fate.

It gives pinning on a wound, not that other long range elder weapons don't.

 Sasori wrote:

 zephoid wrote:
Nope, just bad. For some reason, sniper weapon can NEVER be effective bar crons who have rapid fire snipers (oh Ward...). 25 points is better spend just about anywhere. 4+ to wound is just way to unreliable for ROF 1 weapons.

This really does seem to be the truth, doesn't it? Deathmarks are really the only good snipers in the game it seems like. Don't get me wrong, Rangers aren't bad, but they are no Deathmarks.


Yeah, the Long rifle just isn't that good, just like Voidbringer isn't that good either. It's really a shame.

The Vindicaire would like to have a word with you.

As would Sergeant Telion...

 Super Ready wrote:
As would Sergeant Telion...

Aye, but the Vindicaire can pop tanks with an anti-materiel rifle more reliably than dedicated Tank destroyers.

 Kain wrote:

The Vindicaire would like to have a word with you.

And about 80% of GK lists these days dont bring him. Hes great at killing tanks(because thats what snipers do... sigh... Ward) , bad at being a sniper. 50% chance to wound for 2 wounds or a wound on 2+. Still paying 140 points for effectively 1 wound/ turn that still gives cover saves. He has no defensive ability and is very often just ID'd first turn. Sure, he has great potential, but in-game hes pretty bad. Not enough people bring AV13+ these days and with MCs being more and more common (and him being pretty ineffective vs them) hes not exactly cost effective. Only good use is firing a Icarus in which case hes not even firing a sniper rifle.

 zephoid wrote:

 Kain wrote:

The Vindicaire would like to have a word with you.

And about 80% of GK lists these days dont bring him. Hes great at killing tanks(because thats what snipers do... sigh... Ward) , bad at being a sniper.

Anti-tank rifles say hi.

A sniper is just someone who fires from a concealed position. That's the literal definition of sniper.

From FreeOnlineDictionart:

snip·er (snpr)
n.
1. A skilled military shooter detailed to spot and pick off enemy soldiers from a concealed place.
2. One who shoots at other people from a concealed place

snip•er (ˈsnaɪ pər)
n.
a person who shoots at individuals from a concealed or distant position.

sniper [ˈsnaɪpə]
n
(Military / Firearms, Gunnery, Ordnance & Artillery) a rifleman who fires from a concealed place, esp a military marksman who fires from cover usually at long ranges at individual enemy soldiers

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/sniper

 CthuluIsSpy wrote:

 zephoid wrote:

 Kain wrote:

The Vindicaire would like to have a word with you.

And about 80% of GK lists these days dont bring him. Hes great at killing tanks(because thats what snipers do... sigh... Ward) , bad at being a sniper.

Anti-tank rifles say hi.

and anti tank rifles have very little use when the tank is moving, the battle field is covered in smoke and there are explosions going off. In perfect still, with unubstructed vision, with all the time to set up a shot, against a static target a sniper can find a vulnerable spot to put a round that will do the most damage.

Anti-tank rifles have been out of use since WW2. Even then they werent effective. Anti-material rifles are rated to ~12-40mm penetration on steel at 1000m (M82 is rated to 19-22mm at 1500m). For comparison, a WW2 russian T34 had 45mm of armor all around and slightly sloped on most sides. The 20-30mm anti-tank rifles of WW2 saw ~40mm of penetration at 1000m and were generally ineffective at most ranges.


In 40k armor tech has outpaced penetration tech wherein the modern world its the opposite. So why do you imagine that snipers would be more effective than in modern era? The old Vindicare rolled 3d6 for pen with no additions until 5th. At 10.5 that accurately represents an AT rifle. 5th gave them +3 to all snipers. Rather than fix this, Ward decided to make it the best penetrating thing in the game for no real reason than he wanted to make GK as uber as possible.

And everyone has yet to mention that he can break your stomshield in half as GKTs are coming to clobber you...

...or that the FAQ stated that no Look out Sir can be declared against Vindicare shots.

Vindicare is definitely the best sniper if only for his utility.

Also, his exitus pistol can use the same rounds I believe...so 18" range if he needs to move.

12" if he needs to move. He can break one stormshield, but still only wounds on 4+. So essentially he gets an unsaved wound 50% of the time. Very few things in the game actually have an inv save worth breaking (Riptide, Dredknight maybe, some named HQs). Even then, is breaking that save worth 140 points? I have yet to see a game when he survives past turn 2. Turn 1 he is always shot to death or has to go to ground. If you go 2nd, well......

I personally can't hate him because I had one of the most bad ass moments ever...a highly unlikely moment but great nonetheless.

Stormraven comes on and starts peppering my infantry...Vindicare walks on the board...shoots the bird with his pistol...misses, reroll due to BS8, hits...turbo penetrates the bird into a firey explosion that lands a few millimeters in front of his feet...no surviving DCA left.

Vindicare is great for giving your character, who doesn't have a storm shield unless they're draigo...an edge up on those lysanders and crazy deldar archons.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
But regardless the Uldanorethi Rifle is ridiculously costed especially in comparison to the 10-15 pt hellrifle Inquisitors can take.

Erm, you realize BS8 doesnt allow rerolls vs fliers. You fire at BS1.

Ah well, still a fine moment in my 40k history.