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So what's the best way to field heavy weapons teams?

Would they be a good addition to a platoon? or should they be in their own platoon?

I'm gonna be pretty new to Guard soon, so I want to field what generally gets the job done nowadays.

Also, what kind of weapons should they field that are most effective?

I keep mine segregated rather than intergrated. So my squds never include havy weapons, i like to keep mobility and still be at full fire power and get the full benifit of my orders. So mine are attached to my platoons as their own squads.

But a definate rule is keep them all the same. I.E 3 lascannons or 3 mortars and so on. Keeps effeciancy up and looks better (well i think it does).

It has been a little while since i fielded then as squads but I usually put one in a vet (harkers) squad.
Autocannons and las cannons are big.I'm sure the math gurus will be here shortly to tell you what to take and how to play them. as I play for fun, I dont do the same thing every time and dont profess to be an 'expert".

A few tips to help you save some money and help you get more bang for your buck from thactual models though...This s what i did.
Got a bunch of extra horse bases, got a bunch of extra 60mm HW bases, got a bunch of extra 25mm round (infantry) bases, terminater bases and spare guys standing up along with rubble and other items about the height of the tripods.
1. I put themorters together and put them on terminater bases.
2. The missile launchers, i mounted onto spare guys standing up so that they are firing from the shoulder standing.
3. the tripods and rubble pieces, I mounted on the horse bases so that I could then glue the other heavy weapons onto them (autocannons, heavy bolters and las cannons). I did not attach the side batteries or ammo. Those i suck in my bitz box or added to objective counters.
4. I seperatedthe croching guys ito gunners and spotters. the spotters are pointing and the gunners I put together with the grips/riggers in their hands and stuck both on 25mm bases. the triggers, i conser to fire the guns remotely.
when i use a heavy weapon, i just stick whatever combo i need to use whatever weapon I need onto the empty 60m HW base. This will even let you field more at a time per box bought, if you mix in standing guys to use as gunners/spotters (sometimes good to do anyway as they stand higher and allow the team o see better.

autocannons seem to be the new "in" HW nowadays so likely you wont have many spares of those. In case you do get your hands on a bunch of extras, they can be converted into ripper guns to put onto fantasy ogres to make MUCH cheaper ogryns. I have pics of a unit of them plus instructions in my gallery.
Good luck and welcome aboard the guard train.

 Swastakowey wrote:
I keep mine segregated rather than intergrated. So my squds never include havy weapons, i like to keep mobility and still be at full fire power and get the full benifit of my orders. So mine are attached to my platoons as their own squads.

But a definate rule is keep them all the same. I.E 3 lascannons or 3 mortars and so on. Keeps effeciancy up and looks better (well i think it does).

So then you run platoons without them? Are they in their own Heavy platoons or individual squads?


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 EVIL INC wrote:
It has been a little while since i fielded then as squads but I usually put one in a vet (harkers) squad.
Autocannons and las cannons are big.I'm sure the math gurus will be here shortly to tell you what to take and how to play them. as I play for fun, I dont do the same thing every time and dont profess to be an 'expert".

A few tips to help you save some money and help you get more bang for your buck from thactual models though...This s what i did.
Got a bunch of extra horse bases, got a bunch of extra 60mm HW bases, got a bunch of extra 25mm round (infantry) bases, terminater bases and spare guys standing up along with rubble and other items about the height of the tripods.
1. I put themorters together and put them on terminater bases.
2. The missile launchers, i mounted onto spare guys standing up so that they are firing from the shoulder standing.
3. the tripods and rubble pieces, I mounted on the horse bases so that I could then glue the other heavy weapons onto them (autocannons, heavy bolters and las cannons). I did not attach the side batteries or ammo. Those i suck in my bitz box or added to objective counters.
4. I seperatedthe croching guys ito gunners and spotters. the spotters are pointing and the gunners I put together with the grips/riggers in their hands and stuck both on 25mm bases. the triggers, i conser to fire the guns remotely.
when i use a heavy weapon, i just stick whatever combo i need to use whatever weapon I need onto the empty 60m HW base. This will even let you field more at a time per box bought, if you mix in standing guys to use as gunners/spotters (sometimes good to do anyway as they stand higher and allow the team o see better.

autocannons seem to be the new "in" HW nowadays so likely you wont have many spares of those. In case you do get your hands on a bunch of extras, they can be converted into ripper guns to put onto fantasy ogres to make MUCH cheaper ogryns. I have pics of a unit of them plus instructions in my gallery.
Good luck and welcome aboard the guard train.

Thanks! Good advice!

Sorry didnt word that very well, i take them as part of the platoon in their squads of 3. I dont put them with my infantry squads (or command squds but thats actually a negative sometimes).

I would prefer them in squads. On their own they are so vulnerable. With all the str 6 and 7 shots of tau and eldar, all it takes is 3 unsaved wounds to ID the whole squad.

You can buy up to 5 squads per platoon. 3 teams per squad. Or, one team in another infantry squad mixed in.
Many players stagger them in and around each other to give themselves a 5+ cover save even out in the wide opt.
The trouble with them is low leadership, low toughness which makes instakilling them easy. Low BS.

 Big Blind Bill wrote:
I would prefer them in squads. On their own they are so vulnerable. With all the str 6 and 7 shots of tau and eldar, all it takes is 3 unsaved wounds to ID the whole squad.

Yes but they are so easy to hide, and so cheap. And if you go with mortars you dont even need LoS. Unless you keep your guard standing still and way back then yea i can see where you are coming from but other than that i think it works better keeping them seperate.

As said, if you got with heavy weapons squads, got with 3 of the same weapon; anything else lowers it's punching power, or dilute the shots.

I personally run them in squads (3 weapons) having rarely field them in Infantry squads, short of "special occasions' like when a certain squad is to sit there and gun away against a melee army that'll simply run toward me, or when I play a gimmic, like putting a lascannon or autocannon in a veteran squads, having them hold the line with Al'rahem outflanking.

I run platoons without hwt cause it's assault oriented with inquisitor and Tigurius. Even so, i'm thinking of adding ac in the fray.
If u're not running them mellee-oriented, a few heavy weapon teams for combined squad are good. Remember, you can start the game with them closer to the front and when you move your platoon - they remain still and continue shooting regular shots. Also, taking grenades for a few squads in platoons is a good thing to do. They're good vs mc.
Separate hwt squads are too fragile. A single wave serpent will shoot it down to pieces in 1 turn. Almost guaranteerly. And they require orders to increase effectiveness. There are better options in the dex like leman russes or stormtrooper melta-drop. They can be taken as mortair squads...but they're very dependant on meta. In most cases they'll be a point sink cause you allready got a ton of s3 shots to clear out infantry.