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So I've got myself a new stormtalon, and considering getting a stormraven, and I'm wondering how to kit them out.

For the talon I've got assault cannons and skyhammers, which I feel is a decent loadout for the unit, allowing it to sit back and fire skyhammers or go forward and fire everything once enemy AAA is reduced. For the raven I'm not so sure, the idea I came up with was Assault cannon, Multimelta, hurricane bolters, gives it a bit of everything, hopefully not too unfocused though.

For people who use storm ravens what do you guys think?

My storm raven loadout is multimelta, tlac and hurricane bolters. If i take two but need to cut points, hurricane bolters are first to go.

The MM and Stormstrike missiles are enough AA i need from the ravens.

For the Talon, I have difficulties upgrading to anything besides the skyhammer due to the big point difference.
I've even considered running it stock.

My raven has an assault cannon, hurricane bolters and MM. Lets it do anti armor or anti infantry very well.

I run two Storm Talons normally, one with lascannon and one with sky hammers. I've found that the lascannon is much more reliable AA because of the higher strength and +1 to damage results.

You can kit them out with magnets

Talon - skyhammer + assault cannon
Raven - assault cannon + multimelta + optional hurricane bolters

Magnets for the turret and doors on the raven, the talon guns fit snuggly enough to not need magnets

Sorry for threadcromancy does anyone have suggestions on how to magnetise the raven? I have one and will build soon but been awhile since my last game in Feb so very rusty on 6th ed and ravens generally.

 EmilCrane wrote:
For people who use storm ravens what do you guys think?

That's how I see most storm ravens kitted out.

I wish the Talon's Lascannon and TML were more competitively priced, makes it hard to take them over the skyhammer.

The skyhammer is pretty good.

When going against other flyers, the ability for the AC to shoot in the rear is very helpful. You can strafe them and then shoot them in the rear arc. Sure your only getting the AC -- but you are hitting AV10.

This is very useful vs helldrakes, vendettas, etc..

 labmouse42 wrote:
The skyhammer is pretty good.

When going against other flyers, the ability for the AC to shoot in the rear is very helpful. You can strafe them and then shoot them in the rear arc. Sure your only getting the AC -- but you are hitting AV10.

This is very useful vs helldrakes, vendettas, etc..

I wonder how the numbers play out.
Is losing access to a gun worth firing at AV10 vs AV12?

Edit : Ran the numbers and lone TLAC is about 50% better than both weapons, surprising.

 minigun762 wrote:
I wonder how the numbers play out.
Is losing access to a gun worth firing at AV10 vs AV12?

Edit : Ran the numbers and lone TLAC is about 50% better than both weapons, surprising.

Here are the results. HP Dmg is hull points taken by the helldrake before saves. Effects are results rolled on damage table.

TL AC in AV10 rear
HP Dmg : 1.78
Effects : 1.18

TL AC + Skyhammer in AV12
HP Dmg : 1.26
Effects : 0.93

TL AC + TL LC in AV12
HP Dmg : 2.37
Effects : 1.92

The TL LC is hands down the most damaging to other flyers -- even more than a TL AC in the rear.
When armed with a skyhammer, the rear shot will do nearly 50% more hull points of damage and deliver more effects on the table.
When armed with a TL LC -- there is no need. Just go to town your forward facing guns.

Lab, I came up with 1.18 for TLAC and TLLC against AV12 before saves. Why is your result so much higher?

 minigun762 wrote:
Lab, I came up with 1.18 for TLAC and TLLC against AV12 before saves. Why is your result so much higher?

He has probably given it two shots. I get much closer to his number then.

Morale is, keep the talon cheap and cheerful with a skyhammer and assault cannon and fly behind that damn chicken every chance you get.

He's adding the TL AC and the TL LC results together, which is correct.

BS 4 TL LC vs AV 12 is doing 0.59 HP. Against a Heldrake (or anything else with a 5++) that drops to 0.40. The TL AC would do 0.59, 0.40 with a 5++. 1.18 HP as a whole against AV 12, before Evasion/Daemon is taken into account. The Skyhammer Missile Launcher will be doing 0.67 HP, or 0.44 when Daemon/Evasion is taken into account.

The TL AC + Skyhammer edges out the TL AC + TL LC in consistency for taking on AV 12, which is why you see it more in competitive lists. That said, the TL LC effectiveness edges out the Skyhammer IMO. AP 2 makes it more effective on the damage table should it penetrate, which its more likely to do. Not surprising; its why you even consider taking Lascannons really.

I'd still just take the Skyhammer and Assault Cannon myself. It isn't that hard to get on the rear armor of an enemy flyer with the Stormtalon. The multiple hits from the Skyhammer make it beat out the TL LC once you drop below AV 12 (Against AV10 the Skyhammer is 1.33 vs TLLC's 0.74; TLAC does 1.78). Factoring in Daemon and you get 2.08 HP total. With a TLLC that would have been only 1.68.