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.

Got some of the scary velociraptor-mantis robots recently and have been wondering how best to use them, most especially with an eye to keeping a cortex controller with them given their fleet and scouting.

Also weapon loadouts and upgrades? I figure the biocorrosive rounds are a must and the irad cleanser as well, but what about grenades?

Grenades are a must for charging into cover, Bio rounds are also a pretty solid choice. I prefer the lightning gun to cleanser as with vorax you tend to be the one charging and from usually near the max charge range, so the cleansers rarely get many shots.

If you're running legio cybernetica then cortex range shouldn't be a problem. If not then a jet pack magos with some thallax can keep up pretty well, but even so, the only turn you'll be out of range is your first charge which doesn't matter too much

I'll agree that grenades are a must.

Bio corrosive rounds are also worth it IMO, S3 shooting in 30k is pretty useless, so poisoned earns it's money back.
While it cuts your range a lot, your better off being close anyway.
The blades are pretty useful.

I'm a fan of a cleanser though.
It's nice for mopping up units or weakening them ready for a charge.

I keep them cheap and just let them be that great big annoying wasp you can't afford to ignore. I usually just "fire and forget" with them, by pointing them at the enemy and letting them how, cortex range be damned. They tend to be rather marvellous at distracting at least a quarter of my opponent's army as a harassment unit.

And don't discount those rotor cannons. Three Vorax can put out quite a lot of shots that still kill a few marines on their way in.

Praevian.

HandofMars wrote:
Praevian.

How does the praevian keep up with them fleeting? (they were principally bought for my Dark Mech, but should I ever want to use them in my Alphas, advice is still welcome)

 MeanGreenStompa wrote:

HandofMars wrote:
Praevian.

How does the praevian keep up with them fleeting? (they were principally bought for my Dark Mech, but should I ever want to use them in my Alphas, advice is still welcome)

Can't a Praevian take a jump pack?

 Vector Strike wrote:

 MeanGreenStompa wrote:

HandofMars wrote:
Praevian.

How does the praevian keep up with them fleeting? (they were principally bought for my Dark Mech, but should I ever want to use them in my Alphas, advice is still welcome)

Can't a Praevian take a jump pack?

No. I believe there was some misprint scuffle about it, but it was clarified that although it said 'may not take jet pack' this included jump pack.

Fleet is just a re-roll to charge, the whole unit benefits much like a single model with a jump pack can grant you re-rolls on charging for the whole unit.

HandofMars wrote:
Fleet is just a re-roll to charge, the whole unit benefits much like a single model with a jump pack can grant you re-rolls on charging for the whole unit.

Not anymore. The 40k FAQ points out that only the model with jump pack can use the re-rolled distance, while the others must use the old roll. Fleet specifically says that the entire unit must have it for it to work.