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So I'm starting an IG army and I've got to choose my flyers. I want to use one of the Forge World flyers because its more fun to see them on the table top.

I really like the fluff and look of the Lightning. I picture them like spitfires. Deadly air-to-air.....but are they??



Would it be tactically wise to field 2 or maybe 3 of these?

Whats would be the best way to use these dinky planes in battle?

Rules can be found in;
Imperial Armour: Volume 1 - Page 222
Imperial Armour: Aeronautica - Page 12
Imperial Armour: Apocalypse II - Page 25

Thanks in advance for the help guys.

The Lightning is garbage. The only thing it's useful for is counting it as a Thunderbolt or Avenger.

Why: fragile, pathetic firepower, barely cheaper than the far superior alternatives.

 Peregrine wrote:
The Lightning is garbage. The only thing it's useful for is counting it as a Thunderbolt or Avenger.

Why: fragile, pathetic firepower, barely cheaper than the far superior alternatives.

That's what I was afraid of. How disappointing.

 legolooney wrote:

 Peregrine wrote:
The Lightning is garbage. The only thing it's useful for is counting it as a Thunderbolt or Avenger.

Why: fragile, pathetic firepower, barely cheaper than the far superior alternatives.

That's what I was afraid of. How disappointing.

Look on the Bright Side:

Avengers, Vultures, and Vendettas are awesome.

Also if using the FW flyers, you'll want to find out which is the current and most up to date rule set for them. I believe there is a list around somewhere, prehaps on Adepticon website?

As Peregrin said
it costs the same as a Nightwing and is worse in every aspect
I wouldn't consider the Thunderbolt good but it is at least decent :
- good firepower with 2 TL-AC and 1 TL-LC
- decent survivability with AV11 and 3HP
(never use the repair ability, it's crap)
it's only 35 more points than a Lightning, so instead of taking an expensive turd, take a slightly more expensive OK unit
And Thunderbolts looks great ! They are the true majestic beasts of the open-skies, with this lovely bulky square Imperial look, not ridiculous sleek eldar-like lines !

I personnaly love the look of the Avenger, but I'm dubious of its AV10 on the sides combined with 2HP, and if you pay extra to take more weapons, it's really expensive and one of them will have to snap-fire


Edit : Of course Vultures are very good, but if you want "planes" and not just "aircraft", it's either Lightning, Thunderbolt or Avenger

TanKoL wrote:
I personnaly love the look of the Avenger, but I'm dubious of its AV10 on the sides combined with 2HP, and if you pay extra to take more weapons, it's really expensive and one of them will have to snap-fire

Armor isn't really bad, usually you'll be pointing AV 12 at the biggest threat and if something can move to get into side armor there's a decent chance it can get into rear armor as well (where almost everyone's armor is the same). And look at this way: people are happy to use Medusas/Manticores/etc despite 12/10/10 armor, and those tanks get hit on normal BS. Add in the Avenger's awesome firepower and yes, it's a glass cannon, but it's a good one.

As for secondary weapons, take hellfury missiles. The other weapons aren't that great, and the hellfuries help a lot against hordes (who cares if you have to snap fire a worthless LC). For only 170 points you get a unit that murders marines, kills vehicles reasonably well, and murders hordes.

Thanks for all the advice guys, just what I needed.

Also, that is the old model for the lightning. I much prefer it over the new one, although I guess that the moulds were getting old. The Voss pattern is the one that they sell these days:

Lightnings are strictly WORSE than vendettas. If you don't like the codex flyers, then mock up your lightning as an avenger.