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The Wendigo began to see use roughly two centuries ago, after a regiment without access to functional Leman Russ tanks became in dire need of armored support. Having an overabundance of Chimeras, regimental command ordered that the vehicles be fitted with the still-working turrets of the larger tanks, and slightly heavier armor. The techpriests initially objected, but were silenced after being threatened with immediate execution should they continue to refuse. Though the result was a somewhat clumsy vehicle, owing to the increased weight, it still proved to be effective. Years later, the Wendigo became a grudgingly accepted vehicle, outfitted with a better engine and a smaller gun that is easier to carry for a vehicle of its size. Many a commander has come to respect its mobility and firepower. Occasionally, a regiment will convert existing Chimeras into Wendigos, which bear a close resemblance to the original vehicle.

Wendigo Squadron - 85 pts

BS F S R
3 12 12 10

Unit Type: Vehicle (Tank)

Unit Composition: 1 Wendigo Medium tank

Wargear: Light cannon: (AP Shell - R 36", S 8, AP 4, Heavy 1, Armourbane) (HE Shell - R 36", S 6, AP 5, Heavy 1, Large Blast), hull-mouned heavy bolter, Searchlight, Smoke Launchers

Options:
May include up to 2 additional Wendigo Medium Tanks - 85 pts/model

Any model may-

Replace the Light Cannon with a Whiteout Lascannon - 15 pts (Focused: R48", S9, AP2, Heavy 1, Lance, Gets Hot) (Pulse: R48", S6, AP6, Heavy 9)

Replace the hull-mounted heavy bolter with one of the following: lascannon - 10 pts/model, heavy flamer - 5 pts/model

Take reinforced armor - 15 pts/model (+ 1 to front armor value)

Take an auto-loader - 10 pts/model (Makes the Light Cannon Heavy 2 in both firing modes. Gives the Light Cannon the Auto-Loader special rule.)

Take range-finders - 15 pts/model (+ 1 ballistic skill)

Take items from the Astra Militarum Vehicle Equipment list.

Auto-loader - Roll a D3 immediately after declaring a shot with this weapon. On a roll of 1, the gun jams and no shot is fired. However, on a roll of 2 or higher, the shot is resolved as normal.

The Wendigo Medium Tank is a Fast Attack choice for Codex: Astra Militarum.

Sounds a lot like a Taurox Prime with Taurox missile launcher.

 TheSilo wrote:
Sounds a lot like a Taurox Prime with Taurox missile launcher.

This reminded me that I forgot to add something. Anyway, these two are very different vehicles. For starters, the Wendigo has heavier armor, and isn't as fast. The Wendigo also has no transport capacity, can come in greater numbers, and has more versatile weapons that are also more powerful depending on the situation.

I like that you went with the 'mythical creature' nomenclature.

I would make it 12 12 10 like a Hellhound. It seems strange to have a medium battle tank with lighter armour than a commonplace Fast Attack vehicle variant. That would also explain why it's not 'Fast' but still in the Fast Attack slot.

Auto-Loader seemed ridiculously cheap and auto-take until I read the amplifying info. Do you roll once per shot (as per Gets Hot!) or once per shooting phase?

DoW

 DogOfWar wrote:
I like that you went with the 'mythical creature' nomenclature.

I would make it 12 12 10 like a Hellhound. It seems strange to have a medium battle tank with lighter armour than a commonplace Fast Attack vehicle variant. That would also explain why it's not 'Fast' but still in the Fast Attack slot.

Auto-Loader seemed ridiculously cheap and auto-take until I read the amplifying info. Do you roll once per shot (as per Gets Hot!) or once per shooting phase?

DoW

I had previously thought about making it 12-12-10 as you suggested, but I wanted to see what others thought first. I originally had it in Heavy Support, but that didn't feel right, and that's already a heavily-contested spot. Part of the reason behind this unit's creation was to make a cheap, T-34-like tank that would be a level below a predator, but still effective. As for the Auto-loader special rule, yes, you roll once per shot. I originally had the auto-loader cause a glancing hit if it rolled a 1, but I couldn't justify that effect at the time. At the moment, I'm considering making a roll of 1 cause an automatic glancing hit, and a roll of 2 jam the gun, but I'm not sure if that's too much.

I appreciate the polite, constructive criticism.

My biggest problem with this vehicle is that it lacks purpose. Other than being cheap, it offers nothing other units in the codex can't do better. I think its main flaw is its weaksauce gun that is in fact a tank-sized grenade launcher: a weapon that's bad performance overshadows its versatility.

Maybe a stronger weapon would help this tank. Something like an overcharged lascannon that has an AT mode (R48", S9, AP2, Heavy 1, Lance, Gets Hot) and a multilaser-like anti-infantry mode (R48", S6, AP6, Heavy 9). Solid projectile weapons are boring anyway !

Otherwise, the idea is solid, and the rest of the vehicle is okay. I guess it is supposed to be a Devil Dog that sacrifices speed for range, and I like the idea, but that Light Cannon just won't cut it, not even with the upgrades.

Well if it's supposed to be a beefed up Chimera, why not mess with the Multilaser?

Gatling Multilaser

Rapid Fire - 36" S6 AP6, Heavy 6, Twin-Linked
Overcharged - 36" S8 AP4, Blast, Gets Hot!

Thoughts? Edits?

DoW

@AtoMaki

To be honest, I never intended for it to bring something new to the table besides being the IG's equivalent of a T-34. I just got to thinking one day "What if I don't like the Russ? What can I do about that?" It just went from there. It was never supposed to be Devil Dog, just some versatile fire-support that's cheaper than any Russ variant. Anyway, I really like your idea about the uber-lascannon, but what would it be called?

@DogOfWar

Interesting, but not quite what I'm going for. I intend for this vehicle to be able to efficiently deal with other tanks as well as infantry, but not so much that it overshadows other tanks.

 Ironmonger wrote:
To be honest, I never intended for it to bring something new to the table besides being the IG's equivalent of a T-34.

Funnily enough, the IG's equivalent of a T-34 is the Leman Russ.

 Ironmonger wrote:
Anyway, I really like your idea about the uber-lascannon, but what would it be called?

If you want to make it simple, then call it 'Wendigo Lascannon' and that's it. Or maybe 'Starfrost Lascannon' or 'Whitelight Lascannon', to go with the Wendigo theme.

@AtoMaki

Well, that's what the Russ is supposed to be, but to me it never actually seemed like that. Despite being a powerful tank, it seemed too expensive and a little too slow to be T-34-ish. It felt more like a mash-up of a Tiger and a T-34. The Wendigo is an attempt to get closer to that concept, and to make feasible an army that feels "soviet". In this case, an army that has more tanks and infantry than a guard army normally would, backed up by cheap artillery. It's an attempt at making a themed army that doesn't run into the pitfalls that a themed army normally would.

As for the name of the lascannon, what do you think of the name "Whiteout Lascannon"?