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I've been debating with myself for a while over which bodyguard unit to use with my Inquisitor and I'd like some input from Dakkadakka.

About the Inquisitor:
He's an Ordo Xenos Inquisitor and uses a Conversion Beamer as his primary weapon.
He generally sits on top of tower of my FOR and snipes with the Beamer.

Now the choices I've been debating for bodyguard:

1. Acolytes x10 with bolters. 10 sacrificial bodies, costs 50 points, will probably never get to shoot unless everything goes to gak.
For the models, I would use -
2. Servitors x3 with Plasma cannons. 3 sacrificial bodies, costs 60 points, will be able to support the Inquisitor in shooting at medium range.
For the models, I'd use -

What do you guys think and why?

Well, being able to add 3 Plasma Blasts once the enemy get within 36" is a pretty decent way to mitigate the CB's loss of power at closer range, and can, especially if Prescienced, put the hurt on vehicles/MCs far better than a lone Beamer (which willmax at 1 Wound/HP per turn. However, the unit is pretty paper-thin and every wound is causing a loss in firepower.

With that in mind, I say go for something like this:

Inq, Conversion Beamer
3 PlasCannon Servitors
6 Acolytes with Storm Bolter (worth paying for the extra shots at 24")
1 Jokearo Weaponsmith, who adds a buff to the unit that can probably help it out a lot (imagine the PCs getting +6" range, or the SBs getting Rending), and also another Las/Melta shot.

Very shooty, a fair few bonus wounds, and still not hideously expensive.

Aren't plasma cannon servitors 20pts each? I'd personally go for a mix, perhaps 2 or 3 plasma cannon servitors with six bolter acolytes as ablative wounds. If you're investing the extra points in servitors you don't want them killed immediately

 Paradigm wrote:
Well, being able to add 3 Plasma Blasts once the enemy get within 36" is a pretty decent way to mitigate the CB's loss of power at closer range, and can, especially if Prescienced, put the hurt on vehicles/MCs far better than a lone Beamer (which willmax at 1 Wound/HP per turn. However, the unit is pretty paper-thin and every wound is causing a loss in firepower.

With that in mind, I say go for something like this:

Inq, Conversion Beamer
3 PlasCannon Servitors
6 Acolytes with Storm Bolter (worth paying for the extra shots at 24")
1 Jokearo Weaponsmith, who adds a buff to the unit that can probably help it out a lot (imagine the PCs getting +6" range, or the SBs getting Rending), and also another Las/Melta shot.

Very shooty, a fair few bonus wounds, and still not hideously expensive.

I generally don't like mixing things but what you've suggested sounds effective. You would definitely recommend the SB's over the B's though? They are three times as pricey but are they three times as good?

 DoomMouse wrote:
Aren't plasma cannon servitors 20pts each? I'd personally go for a mix, perhaps 2 or 3 plasma cannon servitors with six bolter acolytes as ablative wounds. If you're investing the extra points in servitors you don't want them killed immediately

Yeah, derp, corrected that. Both of you are suggesting a mix so I will consider it.

 Otto Weston wrote:

 Paradigm wrote:
Well, being able to add 3 Plasma Blasts once the enemy get within 36" is a pretty decent way to mitigate the CB's loss of power at closer range, and can, especially if Prescienced, put the hurt on vehicles/MCs far better than a lone Beamer (which willmax at 1 Wound/HP per turn. However, the unit is pretty paper-thin and every wound is causing a loss in firepower.

With that in mind, I say go for something like this:

Inq, Conversion Beamer
3 PlasCannon Servitors
6 Acolytes with Storm Bolter (worth paying for the extra shots at 24")
1 Jokearo Weaponsmith, who adds a buff to the unit that can probably help it out a lot (imagine the PCs getting +6" range, or the SBs getting Rending), and also another Las/Melta shot.

Very shooty, a fair few bonus wounds, and still not hideously expensive.

I generally don't like mixing things but what you've suggested sounds effective. You would definitely recommend the SB's over the B's though? They are three times as pricey but are they three times as good?

I agree in general that mixing within units is bad, but the Inq Retinue is pretty much the ultimate exception to that; with the option to take so many profile types to maximise effectiveness, you almost have to take it!

Unless you have a super-pressing need for 12 extra points elsewhere, then I don't see why you wouldn't take the SB. It's the difference between 6 shots and 12 at 24" (so makes the unit decent even against more spread-out infantry squads if you end up without other targets), and once you add in the Jokearo, those shots can have better range, be Rending, or whatever else you end up with. Cut them first if you do need extra points, but if you can afford it then it seems a no-brainer not to to me.

If you just want nothing but extra wounds, take LP/CCW Acolytes, but if you're giving them guns to meaningfully contribute, then I reckon SBs beat out Bolters for the cost.

 Paradigm wrote:

 Otto Weston wrote:

 Paradigm wrote:
Well, being able to add 3 Plasma Blasts once the enemy get within 36" is a pretty decent way to mitigate the CB's loss of power at closer range, and can, especially if Prescienced, put the hurt on vehicles/MCs far better than a lone Beamer (which willmax at 1 Wound/HP per turn. However, the unit is pretty paper-thin and every wound is causing a loss in firepower.

With that in mind, I say go for something like this:

Inq, Conversion Beamer
3 PlasCannon Servitors
6 Acolytes with Storm Bolter (worth paying for the extra shots at 24")
1 Jokearo Weaponsmith, who adds a buff to the unit that can probably help it out a lot (imagine the PCs getting +6" range, or the SBs getting Rending), and also another Las/Melta shot.

Very shooty, a fair few bonus wounds, and still not hideously expensive.

I generally don't like mixing things but what you've suggested sounds effective. You would definitely recommend the SB's over the B's though? They are three times as pricey but are they three times as good?

I agree in general that mixing within units is bad, but the Inq Retinue is pretty much the ultimate exception to that; with the option to take so many profile types to maximise effectiveness, you almost have to take it!

Unless you have a super-pressing need for 12 extra points elsewhere, then I don't see why you wouldn't take the SB. It's the difference between 6 shots and 12 at 24" (so makes the unit decent even against more spread-out infantry squads if you end up without other targets), and once you add in the Jokearo, those shots can have better range, be Rending, or whatever else you end up with. Cut them first if you do need extra points, but if you can afford it then it seems a no-brainer not to to me.

If you just want nothing but extra wounds, take LP/CCW Acolytes, but if you're giving them guns to meaningfully contribute, then I reckon SBs beat out Bolters for the cost.

Thank you. I do believe I'll follow your suggestion for a bodyguard unit then.

An alternative unit is 3 plasma cannon servitors, 1 jokearo, and 3-5 crusaders. The crusaders are very helpful if the building gets hit by a torrent or template weapon.

Otherwise 3 plasma servitors and henchmen is a good configuration.