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So I have a couple of Skitarii ranger squads in my initial 1850 list that I plan to use mainly as fire support to soften targets for my assault elements and perhaps as mid/backfield objective takers as opportunity presents itself in any given game.

Seems the alphas will be more synergistic with their unit if I leave them un-upgraded in terms of weaponry so they have the stock rifle: I feel I'd rather have the alpha firing with the unit rather then standing there with a pistol/ccw he might not use, and if they are assaulted something has probably gone wrong and that one cce isn't probably going to tip the balance…

Neither alpha will be my warlord.

Am I underestimating the tactical value of the pricey(in my opinion) weapon upgrades?


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Ok Thanks.

I don't use Rangers, but I do use Vanguard. Giving the alpha the haywire melee weapon can be very useful as it makes them surprisingly good at killing a vehicle they can't normally hurt. That's all predicated on having them close and in the thick of things (which is how I run my Vanguard), so I'm not sure how well that would work for your Rangers. I think you're probably good just leaving them stock as the upgrades are quite expensive.

DoW

I find an omniscope is the only upgrade worth having on the alpha that cover reducing is good for those precision shots. And an extra rifle is always useful.

In the Cohort formation, those upgrades are free, and he has access to Canticles, meaning that in conjunction with Doctrines he can hit with S6 at WS6. (Even with just Doctrines, in a pure Skitarii list, he can get WS6.)

But in general the question you're asking is "given that I plan to use a unit in a certain role, is it worth taking upgrades that do not match that role?" Well I would answer that that is a judgment call. These are contingency-plan purchases that will come into effect _if your plan does not work out_, something that you can't count on happening or not happening. _If_ some melee unit gets into the backfield, _if_ the Rangers for some reason have to move forward, _then_ it will matter. How wuch is that "if... then" worth? You can't quantify that.

So... maybe my post wasn't that helpful, except perhaps pointing out that you can get melee weapons for free in the Wra Cohort. l)

Alcibiades wrote:
In the Cohort formation, those upgrades are free, and he has access to Canticles, meaning that in conjunction with Doctrines he can hit with S6 at WS6. (Even with just Doctrines, in a pure Skitarii list, he can get WS6.)

But in general the question you're asking is "given that I plan to use a unit in a certain role, is it worth taking upgrades that do not match that role?" Well I would answer that that is a judgment call. These are contingency-plan purchases that will come into effect _if your plan does not work out_, something that you can't count on happening or not happening. _If_ some melee unit gets into the backfield, _if_ the Rangers for some reason have to move forward, _then_ it will matter. How wuch is that "if... then" worth? You can't quantify that.

So... maybe my post wasn't that helpful, except perhaps pointing out that you can get melee weapons for free in the Wra Cohort. l)

Just for clarification, I think you mean the Adeptus Mechanicus War Convocation. Unless I'm missing another formation that gives those bonuses.

 Bulldogging wrote:

Alcibiades wrote:
In the Cohort formation, those upgrades are free, and he has access to Canticles, meaning that in conjunction with Doctrines he can hit with S6 at WS6. (Even with just Doctrines, in a pure Skitarii list, he can get WS6.)

But in general the question you're asking is "given that I plan to use a unit in a certain role, is it worth taking upgrades that do not match that role?" Well I would answer that that is a judgment call. These are contingency-plan purchases that will come into effect _if your plan does not work out_, something that you can't count on happening or not happening. _If_ some melee unit gets into the backfield, _if_ the Rangers for some reason have to move forward, _then_ it will matter. How wuch is that "if... then" worth? You can't quantify that.

So... maybe my post wasn't that helpful, except perhaps pointing out that you can get melee weapons for free in the Wra Cohort. l)

Just for clarification, I think you mean the Adeptus Mechanicus War Convocation. Unless I'm missing another formation that gives those bonuses.

That's right , I confuse them because they both start with C.


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The Cohort is the one that gives everybody Canticles and Doctrines, plus special versions of them.


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Or is it Conclave? Another C word.

Mine is my warlord, and is bare bones. Not worth the upgrade, just holding objectives in the back. Only upgrades I normally throw on is a unit of rangers with 3 arc rifles, and then ill put the field with blind on the alpha.

On my vanguard veterans I never upgrade my alpha. I used to, giving him an extra arc pistol, but When I relized how squishy the skitarii are and how expensive that made the squad I quickly stopped. now I just run my vanguard Alpha bare bones.

I think it would be valid not to upgrade a ranger alpha, as their guns are fairly good as they are.

Depends on if you running the convocation or not.

If you are it'll usually be all you can give him to help out the squad if they do manage to get charged, (will still most likely lose but hey at least you could've dealt a little more hurt right?)

If not you'll most likely run him barebones or give him the Arkhans Divinator if you really want to get skyfire or something specific on the objective you're holding.