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I've always had three problems with PC on armored sents.

1) They lose outflank, which is one of the largest advantes to sentinels in the IG codex.

2) The platform is over costed. Sentinels are way too expensive with better armor.

3) They are simply outdone by the plasma tank. Seriously.

Evil sentinels solve problems 2 (FRIGGIN CHEAP) & 3 (Evil IG heavy support is for arty), but can't take PC.

There aren't really any other sources in the IG codex I can think of. If gets hot didn't affect vehicle, as it shouldn't, a squad of 3x PC Armored Sents would be a little pricey, but a great way to fill a FA slot, especially in a foot slogger on mechanized infantry list.

On the whole I have had pretty good experiences with PCs in IG lists. The platoons kill masses of things and deny the enemy tough things room to spread out to negate the small blasts. Then the Sents, or plasma tanks, pound them.

Before you ask, no, I'm not worried about those blasts scattering onto my troops. They usually don't, but if they do, meh, they're Guardsmen.

Also before you say something, no, enemies can't hide in combat: I run MSU and anything worth shooting with PC will kill they whole squad off in the first assault.

Grav and Plasma cannons are designed to kill more or less the same thing, heavy infantry and can mess with vehicles. I'd say Grav is better at both. The rate of fire for grav cannons will almost always out perform against both. Does grav suffer against light infrantry, yes but that's what bolters are for and a marine army will have plenty of those. Grav Cannons are probably one of the best weapons in the game.

Seems like grav cannons are the default heavy weapon choice in most cases. Sure, it's a bit more spendy, but with the rerolls via the amps, and the ability to fire while moving, they are so much more reliable than plasma weapons. And they can't kill themselves. So more benefits with less risk... that just seems like common sense. Usually I have around 100 points or so to play with in a list anyway so I'd rather spend it on grav weapons than on a cheap throw-away unit.

My answer is: it depends. On Devastators, I'd usually rather take Plasma Cannons. On Tacticals and most other units, I'd rather take Gravcannons.

PCs might not be amazeballs, but for the cost, they are a nice all-rounder weapon - decent against pretty much anything, but not amazing against anything either (save maybe a very select few units).

 Kommissar Kel wrote:

Martel732 wrote:
Even with some clumping, the plasma cannon is very lack luster. Again, it's optimal targets are no longer the power units in the game. You can shoot TWC all day with plasma cannons and get nowhere.

And lots of people play with a lot of terrain that doesn't block LOS. Of course, adding a lot of LOS blocking terrain will make your plasma cannons garbage anyway.

Sorry, but I have to give you a sarcastic "boo-hoo" to complaints that plasma cannons are no good against TWC. You know what is good against TWC? Punisher gatling cannons, lasguns(to a lesser degree due to low s vs high T), bolters, shuricats, etc.

You don't need or want a big gun to take down the power units, fill them full of small holes and forced saves.

Which I always thought was a little backwards, imo.
One would expect that the powerful weapons are needed to kill the powerful units.

I run three plasma cannon servitors with an inquisitor and servo-skulls in my backfield next to my big artillery guns. Comes out to 94pts total (3servo skulls) and works amazingly against any deepstriking threats. Other than that, above arguments are valid

Yay. I run long fangs with PC and they make stuff disappear. So cheap too. All they have to do is kill most of a tactical squad and they have made back their points. Do you guys toting grav cannons even play or just sit on DakkaDakk math hammering everything? When I see grav I kill it before it can do much damage. Then all it is; is wasted points. My cheap ass long fangs are far from being the biggest threat in my list so if my opponent is putting resources into killing them, they are attacking the wrong thing. If they aren't, units are disappearing to multiple blasts wounding on a 2+.

Damage output for points.