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.

Hello and Salutations Dakkanauts!

I'm currently in the process of collecting an Armageddon Steel Legion Guard army, and I want to keep it nice and fluffy with lots of infantry in platoons in Chimeras.

I also realise Chimeras aren't exactly the most effective, but that's another discussion. So my question is this: what is the best turret weapon to take?

My gut instinct is the heavy bolter, due to the Multilaser not having AP making the heavy bolter more effective, and the heavy Flamer being too expensive and short range.
However, I'm seriously considering using the Gryphone pattern Chimera. It has either a Autocannon or twin heavy bolter. It's more pricey in points, but I've noticed its power level is still 5 compared to the vanilla Chimeras 6.

But, I'm seriously considering just running Gryphone pattern Chimeras, and leaving the vanilla. Your thoughts gentlemen?

Heavy Bolter, it still wounds most things on 3's, you get -1 AP, and it's cheaper with the same range as the multilaser.
If you plan on getting close, dual Heavy Flamer setup can be nasty, but is a bit too expensive for my taste.
Multilaser just seems to struggle in 8th.

 Dr. Mills wrote:

I'm seriously considering using the Gryphone pattern Chimera. It has either a Autocannon or twin heavy bolter.

Hang on a minute, I`m looking at the entry for the Gryphone in the Imperial Armour Index, I don`t see an option for adding an Autocannon..?
What am I doing wrong, send help pls.

It's somewhat situational, but right now my fav is

A) HB+HB, wounds most infantry on 3s, typical worst case target is wounding on 5's and the -1 armor can really come in handy. I put this on the chimeras with a TAC role, basically getting onto Maelstrom objectives. This is the cheapest option you can take and can still do some damage while keeping your squishy Obsec units safe.

or

B) HF+HF, which is for the forward objective takers or your Bullgryn transport. It's pretty pricey mind you, so unless you REALLY have something good to shove up field don't bother as it's basically the same cost as the much better Hellhound with a hull HF for a less effective role.

All mine are still kitted with Multilaser+hull HF sadly as this was the bees knees in 5th and was still decent in 7th. I just find that the S6 is kinda pointless as most vehicles are T7+ anyways, so I'd rather gain the -1 armor save of a HB.

If you're going FW then I agree the Gryphone is superior in all respects, just don't get caught in the trap of using them like gun turrets, you're paying too much for that, they really have to be moving onto objectives to make their points up.

 More Dakka wrote:
It's somewhat situational, but right now my fav is

A) HB+HB, wounds most infantry on 3s, typical worst case target is wounding on 5's and the -1 armor can really come in handy. I put this on the chimeras with a TAC role, basically getting onto Maelstrom objectives. This is the cheapest option you can take and can still do some damage while keeping your squishy Obsec units safe.

or

B) HF+HF, which is for the forward objective takers or your Bullgryn transport. It's pretty pricey mind you, so unless you REALLY have something good to shove up field don't bother as it's basically the same cost as the much better Hellhound with a hull HF for a less effective role.

All mine are still kitted with Multilaser+hull HF sadly as this was the bees knees in 5th and was still decent in 7th. I just find that the S6 is kinda pointless as most vehicles are T7+ anyways, so I'd rather gain the -1 armor save of a HB.

If you're going FW then I agree the Gryphone is superior in all respects, just don't get caught in the trap of using them like gun turrets, you're paying too much for that, they really have to be moving onto objectives to make their points up.

Sorry I failed trying to quote OP. I`ll try again using your post this time;
I am looking at the entry for the gryphone in the Imperial Armour index - I`m not seeing anything about the Autocannon.. please explain yourself?

 More Dakka wrote:
It's somewhat situational, but right now my fav is

A) HB+HB, wounds most infantry on 3s, typical worst case target is wounding on 5's and the -1 armor can really come in handy. I put this on the chimeras with a TAC role, basically getting onto Maelstrom objectives. This is the cheapest option you can take and can still do some damage while keeping your squishy Obsec units safe.

or

B) HF+HF, which is for the forward objective takers or your Bullgryn transport. It's pretty pricey mind you, so unless you REALLY have something good to shove up field don't bother as it's basically the same cost as the much better Hellhound with a hull HF for a less effective role.

All mine are still kitted with Multilaser+hull HF sadly as this was the bees knees in 5th and was still decent in 7th. I just find that the S6 is kinda pointless as most vehicles are T7+ anyways, so I'd rather gain the -1 armor save of a HB.

If you're going FW then I agree the Gryphone is superior in all respects, just don't get caught in the trap of using them like gun turrets, you're paying too much for that, they really have to be moving onto objectives to make their points up.

This analysis is pretty much spot on. The multilaster is is a profoundly niche weapon (the only time it out performs the heavy bolter is against T3, T5, and T6 models with only a 6+ or only an invulneralbe save. Even against Orks, the HB ignores the 6+, while wounding just as well. If it were 5pts, I'd say go for it for a really cheap option, but as it stands it's a very bad weapon.

The only thing I'd add is that there you should keep doctrines in mind when making your choice. If you're running catachans, the heavy flamers hit harder, and I think that tips the balance, especially since as they autohit, they're just a effective with one wound left as undamaged. On the flip side, if you are running Tallarn, heavy bolters moving and shooting aren't bad... but then again, the Taurox is pretty legit.

 Phobosftw wrote:

 More Dakka wrote:
It's somewhat situational, but right now my fav is

A) HB+HB, wounds most infantry on 3s, typical worst case target is wounding on 5's and the -1 armor can really come in handy. I put this on the chimeras with a TAC role, basically getting onto Maelstrom objectives. This is the cheapest option you can take and can still do some damage while keeping your squishy Obsec units safe.

or

B) HF+HF, which is for the forward objective takers or your Bullgryn transport. It's pretty pricey mind you, so unless you REALLY have something good to shove up field don't bother as it's basically the same cost as the much better Hellhound with a hull HF for a less effective role.

All mine are still kitted with Multilaser+hull HF sadly as this was the bees knees in 5th and was still decent in 7th. I just find that the S6 is kinda pointless as most vehicles are T7+ anyways, so I'd rather gain the -1 armor save of a HB.

If you're going FW then I agree the Gryphone is superior in all respects, just don't get caught in the trap of using them like gun turrets, you're paying too much for that, they really have to be moving onto objectives to make their points up.

Sorry I failed trying to quote OP. I`ll try again using your post this time;
I am looking at the entry for the gryphone in the Imperial Armour index - I`m not seeing anything about the Autocannon.. please explain yourself?

It was added in the 1st FAQ for the IA index https://whc-cdn.games-workshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/40K_8th_ed_Update_Imperial_Armour_Index_Forces_of_the_Astra_Militarum_ver_1.0.pdf

I've had some pretty good results with the Autocannon turret. It's no battlecannon, nor even a lascannon. However, it can provide decent-ish mid-range hitting power for taking out other transports at longer ranges.