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So is the shear awesomeness of the D enough to get the Shadowsword over the line?
Which do you prefer?

Your thoughts are encourage and more than welcome!
Cheers,
BP

EDIT: this is for escalation btw

And yes it's in tactics for a reason - if I'd put in general discussion I would've got almost everyone saying the Baneblade (that may still be the case) just because of aesthetics and old times sake. So let's try and steer away from those types of argument

Shadowsword looks much cooler. Neither are particularly awesome, both are probably usable.

I think the baneblade will overall do more damage on average, but the shadowsword has more of a niche that the rest of the IG army struggles to fill.

Vote shadowsword for looks

Neither are particularly awesome

No? What is?
And I agree the shadow sword sword looks heaps cooler. Shame the hull-mounted cannon has ingame drawbacks (like no being able to blast the peeps shoving meltas up your backside)

Well, many of the baneblades are practically three russes taped together, and people generally agree that running three russes in a squadron is not very good.

I don`t remember every baneblade hull tank, but the one with the 10" S10 AP1 ignore cover gun is probably the best damage dealer of the lot. The one with giant transport capacity has a poor main gun, but you can do funny things with the ability to load lots of stuff inside it.

Looking outside baneblade hulls, the warhound looks pretty good, much better damage output against other superheavies, although he pays for it too, and he can be locked in close combat, so jury is still out.

The gorgon is probably also very usable, assault transport for an entire blob? Sounds pretty nice. Not totally up to date on rules and pts cost on that though.

Can't take the warlord in escalation games. I kinda missed that bit didn't I... It's for escalation.
Why have S10 AP1 when you can get S'D' AP2 from the Shadowsword?

Sure you can take a warhound (not a warlord), all FW and GW superheavies can be used as LoW, Forgeworld has posted a FAQ.

Because it is 10" big instead of 5". D is only really better against MC`s, superheavies and units relying on invulnerable saves, and the shadowsword doesn`t really put out enough D to threaten any of those seriously. So better to go for a giant blast that might as well be D against the vast majority of units

Shadowsword is cooler looking, Baneblade has a marginally cooler name.

 Ouze wrote:
Shadowsword is cooler looking, Baneblade has a marginally cooler name.

This is the reason the poll's not in general discussion. Try and keep it tactical please.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Illumini wrote:
Sure you can take a warhound (not a warlord), all FW and GW superheavies can be used as LoW, Forgeworld has posted a FAQ.

Because it is 10" big instead of 5". D is only really better against MC`s, superheavies and units relying on invulnerable saves, and the shadowsword doesn`t really put out enough D to threaten any of those seriously. So better to go for a giant blast that might as well be D against the vast majority of units

Dunno where Warlord came from...
And yeah fair point, the Stormsword is a tad more expensive (485 as opposed to 455) but yeah I can see it's merits. It's still ignores cover which is good.

So thanks, I think it's settled (you'll probably see a list pop up in the army lists section in about 5 minutes )

My bad.

 Ouze wrote:
My bad.

All good. It happens

But srsly the sword is better gamewise.

^^ What even...

Shadowsword, no question.

The only thing the Babeblade does better is put out more wounds due to a larger template.

Everything else considered, the Sword is a better; tank hunter, MC slayer, deathstar murderer, cover stripper, and can have better BS, because why not.

It also looks cooler.

I also believe its cheaper too.

 Blacksails wrote:
Shadowsword, no question.

The only thing the Babeblade does better is put out more wounds due to a larger template.

Everything else considered, the Sword is a better; tank hunter, MC slayer, deathstar murderer, cover stripper, and can have better BS, because why not.

It also looks cooler.

I also believe its cheaper too.

Yeah pretty much. I ended up going with no ether actually...
I went for the Stormsword - S10 AP1 ignore close 10" blast. I'm not complaining


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I've just had a look online and I can't find the kit Shadowsword/Stormlord kit that they brought out in '09 with the ork stompa. Any idea where it went?
I know there are the FW versions but I'd prefer not to have to pay obscene prices for resin if I can get plastic...

The baneblade kit can build all variants

They got merged? That's petty cool. Cheers

 Illumini wrote:
The baneblade kit can build all variants

Except the Stormblade, which is FW only.

Shadowsword is better, but you should still take a BB because

That was untill that Str 10 thunder hammer hit the rear armor and got 6x explodes on it.

Yes, the Shadowsword is generally better than the Baneblade for pretty much everything you'll be facing these days. I don't think the baneblade is necessarily a bad unit. It's a leman russ on crack and works as such.