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I play heresy-era word bearers, amongst other things. I tend to go for maxed out units of infantry, which naturally precludes them from using transports. My standard list looks something like this:

Praetor
Chaplain
Diabolist
10 Terminators
10 Ghal Vorbeck
10 Ashen Circle
20 Tacticals
20 Tacticals

The Ghal Vorbeck and Ashen Circle are both capable of deepstriking close to the enemy, so they don't suffer the travailsof footslogging across the battlefield. The problem I'm having is that my footslogging terminators are getting decimated by big guns before they get into combat (especially if I field Lorgar). To this end, I'm thinking of adding in a Spartan to transport the terminators across the battlefield.

However, this would mean that I have a single, high-priority armoured target on the field. This would give any anti-armour guns a big old target to shoot at. Sure, its AV 14, 5 hull points and can take upgrades to virtually ignore melta and blast weapons, but I'm worried that this would not be enough.

I could add a couple more armoured targets, or even another spartan to carry the Ghal Vorbeck (my poor wallet), but the word bearers ROW only allows of one heavy support; losing the ROW would strip all of my force of a delicious Prefered Enemy (Loyalists).

So what do you reckon, dakka? Is the spartan durable enough to go it alone or should my infantry horde gain some more armour?

I use a Spartan to transport two units of 10 chainaxes wielding World Eaters tactical marines + Kharn the Bloody and a Primus Medicae. I love the flare shields, they make it very resilent.

Personally, two seems like a killer on the wallet and a pretty big points sink to me. And you already have the point pricey Ghal Vorbak. I guess it would depend on the points size of the game.

 combat engineer wrote:
I use a Spartan to transport two units of 10 chainaxes wielding World Eaters tactical marines + Kharn the Bloody and a Primus Medicae. I love the flare shields, they make it very resilent.

Personally, two seems like a killer on the wallet and a pretty big points sink to me. And you already have the point pricey Ghal Vorbak. I guess it would depend on the points size of the game.

How many other armoured targets do you have on the field when you field the spartan? How often does it die before its done what it need to do?

 combat engineer wrote:
I use a Spartan to transport two units of 10 chainaxes wielding World Eaters tactical marines ...

The Spartan is not a superheavy; it can only transport a single unit (plus attached characters) at a time.

Anyway, one Spartan can be useful, but if it's the only tank you have, it will draw every big gun on the table to it. Sure, the ceramite stops the melta rules (but melta weapons can still glance it), and the flare shield protects the front of the tank, but it isn't invulnerable. Plus, when Spartans become common, the "Xerxes pattern" Lightning fighter becomes common, too (referred to as such because it feths up Spartans with the Kraken missiles).

I was not aware that it could not transport two separate units. I was under the impression that was for dedicated transports.

This will require some changes in squad size then. Thanks for that Tannhauser42, appreciate for setting me traight. Glad I ordered 15 more Mk III marines to bolster my tactical squads. I will have to go with larger tactical squad + ICs mounted.

Crystal-Maze, I have a Contemptor dreadnought with twin-linked autocannon, Havoc launcer and graviton gun, and Contemptor Mortis Dreadnought with two Kheres assault cannons and Havoc launcher in my 2000pt list. The Contemptor Mortis Dreadnought takes more fire than the Spartan. The two Kheres assault cannons can dish out some real hurt against everything.

What is the Xerxes pattern fighter? Is that a new, not yet published fighter for HH? I know the Primaris-Lightning Strike Fighter can be upgraded with Kraken Penetrator missiles. Effective, but expensive in points IMO.

Mat

 combat engineer wrote:


What is the Xerxes pattern fighter? Is that a new, not yet published fighter for HH? I know the Primaris-Lightning Strike Fighter can be upgraded with Kraken Penetrator missiles. Effective, but expensive in points IMO.

Maybe I wasn't clear in my own comment regarding it, but you did answer your own question with the very next sentence.

Ah, gottcha. Did not see the 300 reference there.