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.

Hey Dakka

I would like to hear everyone's opinion on taking heavy weapons in tactical squads.
Is it more effective to maintain mobility or not move and hit harder?

Also which heavy weapons does everyone find most effective?


Thanks


Matt

I’m an old fashioned Ultramarine, so I still field them. That said, I can understand the reluctance to pay points for them these days. But you aren’t always moving, and can combat squad if needed. With movement being by the model these days, you can have the heavy stay still while the rest of the squad wheels around. As an Ultramarine, 2/3rds of the CT doctrines help mitigate the snap firing even if you do need to move.

As for what one to take, that depends a lot on the list.

MMs are god for melta squads
HBs don’t cost a lot, and get 3 shots. Not a bad choice for a mobile squad.
MLs are mediocre at everything. I’m less enamored with them these days, but they are classic.
LCs good for popping tanks if you need more AV fire.
PCs are only if you plan on CS’ing or staying stationary, as they can’t snap fire.

It all depends how you are running them.

Personally I find combat squadding and leaving a HB with 4 bolter boys on an objective can work well with my Imperial Fists tactics, lets you lay down some firepower while holding onto an objective, the rest of the squad can trek forward in a Rhino with a special and combi weapon.

I have even done similar with a Lascannon from time to time, although the bolter shots end up wasted often it can be useful when I come up against a lot of armour and need the additional S9.

Combat squadding with the ability to take a special, heavy and additional combi on the sgt is what turns Tacticals from an average scoring unit into a versatile way of having a decent 3+ save unit holding objectives in cover and then a couple of meltas driving forwards in a Rhino (AKA mobile bunker!)

I rate Tactical squads despite what some people might think I find them really useful.

Generally I would advise against them. However, if you're drop podding you could pop devastator doctrine with the UM chapter tactic to do some real damage with MM.

I will run five-man Tactical Squads with one Heavy weapon as backfield/objective holders in my DA, but I usually have Black Knights and Deathwing up in the enemy's face so they don't draw as much fire as they might otherwise.

If you combat squad your tac marines, you can get stuff done with heavy weapons. Like what others have said earlier, just camp the heavy weapon combat squad on an objective. And whatever you do, don't take flakk missiles on a ML in a tac squad. I made that mistake once and realized first hand how silly it was to waste four other guys' fire just to take one potshot at a flyer...

I usually don't give my tac squads any heavy weapons. But if I do, it is usually a Heavy Bolter. You sometimes have tac squads just sitting on an objective, and you might as well shoot at enemy troops with your HB and regular bolters. There's some case to be made for a MM (to discourage enemy vehicles from approaching within 12" of your tac squad), but I generally find that a regular meltagun works better for that.

I still like giving full squads a lascannon. A 10 marine lascannon/plasma rifle squad still does decent damage to high toughness targets and provides good long and medium range support for the rest of the army. 10 marines are also distressingly hard to remove from an objective late in the game if your opponent hasn't had a chance to attrite them earlier. If you're only doing a five man squad, I'd stick to grabbing a special weapon only as it gives you more flexibility when picking whether to advance or sit in the backfield based on the situation.

I'm no super tactician, but I give my Battle Sister squads (a similar unit you must admit, but with different options and stuff) a Multi Melta just so the squad has some Anti tank. I am considering in bigger games where I have plenty of anti tank changing that to a Heavy Flamer, as she normally is not contributing to the shooting the unit is doing most of the time.

Depends how you run them. I would take a MM only in packs or in a Melta Squad. ML are pretty decent general use.

HBs I would never take, as they are not low enough AP to deny a lot of saves and their strength is meh. Unless you have a good Chapter Tactic that boosts it, I find HB are overpriced.

I started doing it because of the DV box and really enjoyed it. My DA army has plenty of toys and unless its kill the alien then I'll combat squad and secure that objective with the plasma cannon. That being said, I think I would enjoy a lascannon more but hey PC prevents something from Deepstriking near you.