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So I am re-thinking what I want to have Pedro Kantor drop down in. The core component is Pedro Kantor and a Librarian (ML2 + Bones of Osrak) in a Drop Pod. My two thoughts are as follows:

Honour Guard (245 pts with the Drop Pod):
Power Sword on the Champion
4x Power Maul HG (1x Chapter Banner)
2x Power Axe HG

The Librarian will likely go for Biomancy, hoping for Endurance to get some increased survivability, or Telepathy hoping for Invisibility. But they get something like 45 attacks, leading the whole squad to get nearly 60 attacks on the charge. There is a high probability of overkill. They also get their Boltguns and Bolt Pistols, for what that is worth.

My other option is the following, though it runs about 50 pts more:

Vanguard Veterans (302 pts with the Drop Pod):
Power Fist and Storm Shield on the Sergeant
2x Power Maul and Storm Shield
2x Power Axe and Storm Shield
3x Paired Lightning Claws

Significantly fewer attacks, but more expensive. Much more mobile due to their charge dice reroll and MUCH more survivable due to the Storm Shields. It also frees me up with the Librarian to grab different Disciplines. Since they will have to weather a Turn when the Drop Pod comes down, having those Storm Shields will be a godsend. I might switch the Axes to more Mauls since the Power Fist and Pedro's Power Fist will be able to smash in any stuff that needs an AP2.

So, which of these two seems like a better option. More Attacks+Shooting Capability, or Fewer Attacks+Better Survivability?

While the VVs are going to stand up better to AP2 shooting, the HG can deal with small arms without needing Kantor to tank for them on his 2+.

I do like the VV squad, but I’m not sure I like it 50 points more then the HG. Which, as the fluff bunny in me is yelling, should be the guys surrounding Kantor.

Use Centurions. They get the most out of Pedro's attack buff and makes him majority T5.

Slayer-Fan123 wrote:
Use Centurions. They get the most out of Pedro's attack buff and makes him majority T5.

Three Centurions in a Pod is not going to be all that survivable. And it kicks the Librarian out of the group.

2 pods, one with centurions and another with Kantor, the Libby and a generic squad. They can join the centurions by disembarking within 2 inches of them.

Why the emphasis on assault? IMHO the unit will get shot to death before it can do anything, or the enemy will retreat or bring overwhelming force against it. Even with 2+ armor or 3++ stormshields.

The best bodyguard for Kantor is numbers, after all his +1 bonus reaches out around him, correct? Drop down 1 sternguard squad for shooty killiness and a ton of tacticals. Quantity has a quality of its own. And that's really true in 40K these days, with the large number if high S attacks putting multiple wounds on units to create lots of rolls that kills power armored guys off.

Its not 3rd-5th edition anymore where a round of shooting might kill 1 or 2 guys off in a Marine squad.

The emphasis on Assault comes from Pedro's +1 Attack ability. I have plenty of shooting to go around (2x Sternguard Squads, 2x Bolter Scout Squads, among other things). I want to take best advantage of the bonus attacks. The Honour Guard definitely have the edge in terms of attacks, and the 2+ will probably be adequate amongst most shooting. The Vanguards have much better maneuverability and survivability. If I give the Honour Guard Endurance somehow, they will make up a lot of the difference with 4+ FNP (and gain Relentless for their Boltguns, for what that is worth). It would also get Pedro something his desperately needs, Eternal Warrior. But I am afraid that the Honour Guard Squad will have a tendency to Overkill anything they go after (the entire squad will have nearly 60 attacks, the majority of which are at I4).

Taking another Drop Pod just to get the Centurions the HQs attached seems like a huge points sink.

Centurions get better use of EW.

Slayer-Fan123 wrote:
Centurions get better use of EW.

absolutely since they havery multiple wounds. But in order to get them EW, I need two Drop Pods.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Maybe a squad of Grav Centurions to go in a Pod with Pedro might be a good option. He can tank the AP2, the Omniscope gives Split Fire so he can drop his Orbital Bombardment on a separate threat, and I will get a legitimate way to deal with a WK, SS, or Riptides. I won't have much for dedicated CC, but as others said here, that isn't the end of the world.

I would have to find a different home for my Librarian though.

Its only 35 points. The two SG you'd have to drop( if you are running 10 man squads) to fit Pedro and Libby in pays for it.

General Hobbs wrote:
Its only 35 points. The two SG you'd have to drop( if you are running 10 man squads) to fit Pedro and Libby in pays for it.

Well, if I decide to do a squad of Grav Centurions, I could put the Librarian with my squad of Lascannon Devastators. Additionally, I could take the Lascannon Devs and the Librarian out, I could put Pedro with a squad of Assault Centurions in a pod, get a Grav Centurion squad in a different Pod, and still have enough left over for a Rapier Quad Mortar. That almost seems like a better option.

Quad Mortars are stupid awesome. I highly recommend them.

Slayer-Fan123 wrote:
Quad Mortars are stupid awesome. I highly recommend them.

I can field three of them. At 60 pts each, they are a steal. As for Pedro, I think I am going to see about getting him some Grav Centurions. His boosted attack bonus will be largely wasted(though it does deter someone from charging them a little), but they are bound to get something done, and his 2+/4++/5+FNP will help keep them alive. But I wish there was a way to get that Librarian in the pod with them. Stupid Extra-Bulky. I suppose I *COULD* swap my Librarian for a Terminator Librarian, and have him Deep Strike next to the Drop Pod(which would have a Locator Beacon). He would bring more 2+ and a 5++ to the table. And it doesn't make me need to buy another Drop Pod kit! Yes, it would mean I would have to wait for the Librarian, but it could still be good. I would also take away the Devs and put in two Quad Mortars to pull it off.

I am left with the following army if I do the above:

HQ
Pedro Kantor (rides with the Grav Centurions) - 185 pts
Librarian (Terminator Armor, Force Staff, Storm Bolter, Bones of Osrak) - 145 pts

Elites
10-man Sternguard Squad (5 Combi-Gravs, Drop Pod) - 305 pts
10-man Sternguard Squad (5 Combi-Meltas, Drop Pod) - 305 pts

Troops
5-man Scout Squad (5x Boltguns, Melta Bombs, Land Speeder Storm) - 100 pts
5-man Scout Squad (5x Boltguns, Melta Bombs, Land Speeder Storm) - 100 pts

Fast Attack
Drop Pod (Locator Beacon) - 45 pts

Heavy Support
Centurion Devastator Squad (3x Grav Cannon w/ Grav Amp, Omniscope) - 250 pts
Rapier Quad Mortar - 60 pts
Rapier Quad Mortar - 60 pts

Raptor Wing
Land Speeder Squadron (1x Assault Cannon) - 65 pts
Stormtalon Gunship (Skyhammer Missile Launcher) - 115 pts
Stormtalon Gunship (Skyhammer Missile Launcher) - 115 pts

1850/1850 pts

IMO hammernators or fighty centurions are a good way to go. If you go centurions, bring 4 with Pedro and a chappy in a Crusader with seige Drills and hurricane bolters. 16 9/1 armorbane attacks are no joke. Especially when rerolling hits. That's not counting the chappy so attacks or Pedros fist either. It's a relatively cheap pseudo deathstar.

IMO Pedro in honorguards is some pretty serious overkill. Just give them the banner and they'll get the +1 anyway.


If you're feeling really sassy you could run all 3, Pedro with a chappy and the CC cents in a raider with extra armor, either put the hammernators in a raven or give the chappy a locator beacons so they can drop next to Pedro and the cents to benefit from Pedros bubble. Run the honor guard in a rhino and turbo boost em up as quickly as possible. That's a crazy amount of 2+ armor, with a crazy amount of attacks... but also a crazy amount of points. That said, I've been called a cheese-monger for running this in 2k, because if it works, you can delete a serious chunk of your opponent's battleline. If it doesn't (or God forbid you face grav spam) you more or less hand your opponent the game (if it's purge the alien).

I am not taking a Land Raider. Too many points in one spot. I am already looking at a high priority target sitting on the field.

I think the above setup is what I am going to try out. Pedro and the Centurions will drop alongside the Grav Sternguard wherever there is a high priority target, depending on what that target is. Definitely should have a better time dealing with big stuff like WK or SS.

Yea, I guess it depends what your meta is like. If the players are skilled, the 2+ armor CC Spam would probably not perform as well. Especially against lists like Tau or Eldar. It eats Furries Necrons and Admechs lunch all day long though.

The landraider gets a bad rap, especially in higher points games. Now I'll give you that bad rap is deserved against armies that can just smack it with the big ol D, but it can work if you don't fight a SS. Besides with all the plasma, high strength shooting and EWO
in my opinion pods are as risky, if not more so