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So recently I was in my local gaming shop discussing my Khorne CSM list I have been working on, when the manager introduced me to the FW Storm Eagle Gunship. Its basically a small Thunderhawk; 20 transport capacity, lots of weapon options, 4 Hull Points, and its a Fast Attack choice. I was thinking of using it in one of two ways; either fill if up with Kharn and 19 Berzerkers, or Lord Zhufor and 9 Khorne Terminators. Now my list is an all Khorne list, but i am open to hear anyone's ideas on how to use them with any type of unit inside. I don't have the rules in front of me but I believe it started at 225pts.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
So Chaos Storm Eagle starts at 205, it doesn't have the Power of the Machine Spirit and cant take the Typhoon Missile Launcher, but it can still take 2 TL Lascannons or 4 Hellstrike Missiles, and it can replace the TL Heavy Bolters for a Reaper Autocannon for free or a Multi-Melta for the standard price.

Well its experimental and not yet sanctioned.
So you could only use this currnelty in casual games.
The potential it could bring though as a much needed assault veichle (although a tad expensive) is pretty sweet.
20 models in this thing. Kharn and friends would love this toy.

 L0rdF1end wrote:
Well its experimental and not yet sanctioned.
So you could only use this currnelty in casual games.
The potential it could bring though as a much needed assault veichle (although a tad expensive) is pretty sweet.
20 models in this thing. Kharn and friends would love this toy.

It hasn't been experimental in a long time; it's in IA Aeronautica. All it comes down to is whether where you play allows FW, and since the manager of his store showed it to him, I'd wager they do.

The important question is what exactly do you plan on using it to kill? The Storm Eagle suffers from the same problems as any other death star, sure it's nice that you have 20 transport capacity, but what are you facing that requires 20 transport capacity worth of troops to kill? The most likely scenario is that you spend 500+ points on this one unit, and all you do with it is overkill a Chimera or 5-man tactical squad. And of course that's assuming it doesn't get shot down and kill everything inside.

If you have a Heldrake or 2, then a Storm Eagle might have a better chance of getting to the front lines with a full compliment of troops. They're a bit of a gamble, especially if your opponents tend to have lots of Interceptors or skyfire units, but they might be worth trying out. At the very least, the model is awesome.

I face alot of Necrons, Eldar, Tyranids, and Dark Eldar. The Strom Eagle itself will be a good counter for Necron fliers and the mob of Berzerkers will hopefully be able to destroy any Warrior or Immortal squads. I don't think the TW Lascannons are worth 60 pts, I'm thinking just giving it a Multi-Melta for a total 220pts, still less than a Land Raider.

the storm eagle is great, as is the spartan assault tank. if they were legal i think every chaos player would consider them. although now the chaos FA is crowded.

Make sure your local place allows it.

That said, as mentioned above, you must be very careful with Skyfire and interceptor units. My buddy brought one the other day (he's CSM, I'm BT) filled with Lucius and a full squad of noise marines:
He comes in and stays just out of range of my Mortis contemptor's assault cannons, I shoot 2 kraks at him, 1 hit, with a glance (doesn't evade); then my ADL quad gun manned by my Termies (tank hunters) shoots, 3 hits, 2 glance, 1 pen, he evades and saves it, but now can only snap shoot (does nothing). My turn, 4 kraks from same Termies, 1 hit (on 6's), 1 pen (thank you tank hunter!), Stormeagle wrecked and Lucius is the sole survivor (made his 5++). Nearly 400pts gone in smoke before it could do anything.

Having multiple flyers helps but will be costly for marines...

Yeah I agree it's a cool idea, but for a small game of 40k it's too much eggs in one basket to put 20 dudes in a flying thing. You are better off with Land raider, or if we are talking FW, use the dreadclaw instead and have other planes for air support.

 Meade wrote:
Yeah I agree it's a cool idea, but for a small game of 40k it's too much eggs in one basket to put 20 dudes in a flying thing. You are better off with Land raider, or if we are talking FW, use the dreadclaw instead and have other planes for air support.

I think the deal with 20 guys is that you put cheap guys inside it. A relatively cheap lord and 20 regular CSM with double weapon and VotlW is 320 points + lord upgrades. Yes that in a AV12 transport is risky but you also have a lot of bodies. Otherwise its 8-9 termiators and that is even more expensive.

 Exergy wrote:

 Meade wrote:
Yeah I agree it's a cool idea, but for a small game of 40k it's too much eggs in one basket to put 20 dudes in a flying thing. You are better off with Land raider, or if we are talking FW, use the dreadclaw instead and have other planes for air support.

I think the deal with 20 guys is that you put cheap guys inside it. A relatively cheap lord and 20 regular CSM with double weapon and VotlW is 320 points + lord upgrades. Yes that in a AV12 transport is risky but you also have a lot of bodies. Otherwise its 8-9 termiators and that is even more expensive.

So that's what... around 500 pts worth for the whole package with flier? And if the flier gets shot by a 50 pt. quad gun, and all the guys inside take strength 10 hits w/ no armor saves and die, in a normal 40k game, that's what, 1/3 to 1/4 of your army wasted before they can do anything?

 Meade wrote:

 Exergy wrote:

 Meade wrote:
Yeah I agree it's a cool idea, but for a small game of 40k it's too much eggs in one basket to put 20 dudes in a flying thing. You are better off with Land raider, or if we are talking FW, use the dreadclaw instead and have other planes for air support.

I think the deal with 20 guys is that you put cheap guys inside it. A relatively cheap lord and 20 regular CSM with double weapon and VotlW is 320 points + lord upgrades. Yes that in a AV12 transport is risky but you also have a lot of bodies. Otherwise its 8-9 termiators and that is even more expensive.

So that's what... around 500 pts worth for the whole package with flier? And if the flier gets shot by a 50 pt. quad gun, and all the guys inside take strength 10 hits w/ no armor saves and die, in a normal 40k game, that's what, 1/3 to 1/4 of your army wasted before they can do anything?

so come in behind some LOS blocking terrain. It is only 1 quad gun and it is unlikely to pen and once it does it is unlikely to wreck. Of course if it immoblizes it I suppose it is just as good.
Chaos doesnt have any other way to get decent assault vehicles. Their landraiders are small, have bad weapons and are overprices. I would still like to take 15-20 cheap marines than a SC and a bunch of expensive marines.

 Exergy wrote:

so come in behind some LOS blocking terrain. It is only 1 quad gun and it is unlikely to pen and once it does it is unlikely to wreck. Of course if it immoblizes it I suppose it is just as good.
Chaos doesnt have any other way to get decent assault vehicles. Their landraiders are small, have bad weapons and are overprices. I would still like to take 15-20 cheap marines than a SC and a bunch of expensive marines.

Well hey I could be wrong. In my experience though you can't rely on terrain to hide behind or being out of range of the quad, that and even if you do manage to fly the plane on and unload your dudes, you can't assault with them (because it's from reserves). most lists will have a way to shoot down one flyer.

Like I said, it's cool enough that I would consider doing it just because it's cool. But you have other options, namely using Huron to infiltrate the 20 man squad or using dreadclaws.

I'm planning on using it in 3,000-point games, it will be the only flier (atleast for now), but there will also be 2 Land Raiders, 2 Rhinos, and a Forgefiend. I will focus on taking out any dedicated anti-air first turn, then bring in the Storm Eagle. I'll have plenty of supporting firepower, plus 3 Berzerker Squads for a CC punch and 2 CSM Squads for support and holding objectives. Other than the Helbrute and Oblitertors (both slow), it's the only unit that can get a Multi-Melta and it can get it right where it needs to go to do some real damage. The Vengeance Launcher can can destroy hordes with 2 Large Blast S5 AP4 shots and the Berzerkers, lead by Kharn, can take out anything else. The large squad size means the Berzerkers can take a round of shooting once it's on the ground, so it won't get torn up after its first assault. Plus Kharn gives them Hatred and Blessing of the Blood God to counter Psykers. As long as I don't send it after TEQ they should be just fine.