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Made in us
Pyromaniac Hellhound Pilot






Maryland, USA

I think these models look neat. Evidently they're obsolete predecessors to the Russ, usually only seen on the field supporting Planetary Defense Forces.

For my AM's fluff, I was considering having them hail from one of those "forgotten" Imperial worlds, and either were still producing Malcadors when they were rediscovered a few thousand years ago, or had preserved foundries that could be fired up by the Adepts and still churn them out. They still field (and now produce) modern designs, but I was considering throwing in a squadron of these older style tanks in more casual games.

Would you think that would be weirdly out of place?

M.

Codex: Soyuzki - A fluffy guidebook to my Astra Militarum subfaction. Now version 0.6!
Another way would be to simply slide the landraider sideways like a big slowed hovercraft full of eels. -pismakron
Sometimes a little murder is necessary in this hobby. -necrontyrOG

Out-of-the-loop from November 2010 - November 2017 so please excuse my ignorance!
 
   
Made in au
Guard Heavy Weapon Crewman



Australia

Malcador Heavy Tanks are Gen 1 Baneblades. They are still widely used in Astra Militarum forces along side Leman Russ Battle Tanks. The Death Korp use them widely along with Macharius Heavy tanks which are Gen 2 Baneblades.

Fluff wise, it would fit if your force kept producing them from the local Forge World due to it being a preferred or revered tank.

Personally I love the Malcador and Marcharius and have a few Malcador tanks (Annihilator, Infernus and Valdor tanks) for my Solar Auxilia army in 30k. But in the end do what you want mate, it's your army and your hobbying experience.

30k:
Solar Auxilia: 3,500+
Space Wolves: 1,000+
40k:
Vostroyans: 2,000+
Deathwatch: Points Unknown. 
   
Made in us
Decrepit Dakkanaut






Springfield, VA

The Malcador is actually pretty awesome. I use 3 battle tanks in 30k, and 2 Infernuses and an Annihilator in 40k.

Knock yourself out - with the opening of the Cicatrix Maledictum, there's probably no such thing as an "obsolete tank." The Imperium is literally at the stage where, to paraphrase Eddie Izzard:

"Get the tanks! No tanks? Get the trucks.. yeah, the ice cream trucks. That'll show 'em!"

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2017/11/17 03:05:15


 
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut





North Carolina

 Infantryman wrote:
I think these models look neat. Evidently they're obsolete predecessors to the Russ, usually only seen on the field supporting Planetary Defense Forces.

For my AM's fluff, I was considering having them hail from one of those "forgotten" Imperial worlds, and either were still producing Malcadors when they were rediscovered a few thousand years ago, or had preserved foundries that could be fired up by the Adepts and still churn them out. They still field (and now produce) modern designs, but I was considering throwing in a squadron of these older style tanks in more casual games.

Would you think that would be weirdly out of place?

M.




Out of place? Not really.


While they are no longer common in the rank and file of the Imperial Guard, some regiments maintain a few out of a sense of tradition. Plus, they are common storage items in the Departmento Munitorum's strategic reserves, on Armoury Worlds in the Imperium (see: Vraks).

Some Forge Worlds still produce a few tanks and spare parts. M'Khand Secundus still produces Malcadors in large numbers, but this is a rare exception.

So, it's not a stretch for regiments outside of a PDF to field Malcadors. But even if it was fluff-wise, it's still your army, made up of your dudes. Go hog wild with Malcadors if that is what you want.

Proud Purveyor Of The Unconventional In 40k 
   
Made in no
Hurr! Ogryn Bone 'Ead!






I only own one Malcador, a Defender and it's an awesome tank to have, and it integrates flawlessly with my mostly infantry DKoK-army. When I decided to put together my DKoK-army, I knew I had to have a Defender, because visually it's the most WW1-looking tank available, and it really helps emphasize the Great War aesthetic.

I also own a Valdor Tank Hunter. You might call it a Malcador variant, since it's built on the same chassis. I bought it on impulse, after a friend kept telling me to get more Lascannons so I bought the biggest one I could get.

I might get a Malcador with a battle cannon somewhere down the line.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2017/11/17 09:43:25


 
   
Made in us
Pyromaniac Hellhound Pilot






Maryland, USA

 Zingraff wrote:
I only own one Malcador, a Defender and it's an awesome tank to have, and it integrates flawlessly with my mostly infantry DKoK-army. When I decided to put together my DKoK-army, I knew I had to have a Defender, because visually it's the most WW1-looking tank available, and it really helps emphasize the Great War aesthetic.

I also own a Valdor Tank Hunter. You might call it a Malcador variant, since it's built on the same chassis. I bought it on impulse, after a friend kept telling me to get more Lascannons so I bought the biggest one I could get.

I might get a Malcador with a battle cannon somewhere down the line.


How have you found them to play? It looks like at least the battle cannon one is overcosted in points a bit, compared to a Russ.

M.

Codex: Soyuzki - A fluffy guidebook to my Astra Militarum subfaction. Now version 0.6!
Another way would be to simply slide the landraider sideways like a big slowed hovercraft full of eels. -pismakron
Sometimes a little murder is necessary in this hobby. -necrontyrOG

Out-of-the-loop from November 2010 - November 2017 so please excuse my ignorance!
 
   
Made in no
Hurr! Ogryn Bone 'Ead!






 Infantryman wrote:
 Zingraff wrote:
I only own one Malcador, a Defender and it's an awesome tank to have, and it integrates flawlessly with my mostly infantry DKoK-army. When I decided to put together my DKoK-army, I knew I had to have a Defender, because visually it's the most WW1-looking tank available, and it really helps emphasize the Great War aesthetic.

I also own a Valdor Tank Hunter. You might call it a Malcador variant, since it's built on the same chassis. I bought it on impulse, after a friend kept telling me to get more Lascannons so I bought the biggest one I could get.

I might get a Malcador with a battle cannon somewhere down the line.


How have you found them to play? It looks like at least the battle cannon one is overcosted in points a bit, compared to a Russ.

M.


I haven't used the Valdor in ages, so I don't know how that will behave in the current edition.

The Defender on the other hand, I've used in both 7th and 8th edition, and under 8th ed. rules, it's become a lot more useful and a real threat to my opponent. Compared to 7th ed. when weapons were oriented to the facings of the model, and could only shoot in specific directions. Which meant you'd rarely be able to fire the backwards facing heavy bolter at anything, and most of the time you'd only really have the opportunity to fire half of the weapons the tank was equipped with. That meant you were at least paying for one heavy bolter you'd never use, in effect making the tank too points-inefficient. While the Defender was a Lord of War and able to split fire, that also meant it occupied that slot in the organisation chart. Under 7th edition the Defender wasn't great, it was expensive and impractical.

In 8th edition the situation is very different. It's cheaper now (or at least it seems to be, I do not have the old 7th edition IA at hand), you can expect to be able to shoot most of the weapons most of the time, making the tank very points efficient, and it's basically 5-7 heavy bolters housed in an nigh indestructible steel box. Heavy bolters have always complimented lasguns so they're useful to have at hand to throw at the same targets.

Also the Defender tend to draw much of the attention away from your other tanks, because of the anti-infantry weapons the Defender is equipped with, the sheer size of the tank and the large number of wounds. So your opponent will often aim most of his anti-tank weapons at the Defender, rather than directing them at your Leman Russ tanks, even though the Leman Russ tanks would be easier to dispose of and the Defender is only marginally bigger threat, so the Defender will likely improve the survivability of your other tanks. Unlike your Leman Russ tanks, the Defender can soak up a lot of damage and still survive the battle. Right now the Defender works really well and it's fun to build my army around.

I do not own a Malcador Battle Tank, but I expect it plays very similarly to the Leman Russ, seeing how the loadout is pretty much identical, with the added benefit of being nearly indestructible. So you might expect it to draw most of the anti-tank fire, which, as I pointed out earlier, is good.
   
Made in us
Pyromaniac Hellhound Pilot






Maryland, USA

Wait, is weapon facing (or LOS I guess that would be) not A Thing in 8th? All of those bolters can shoot in whatever direction - including through the tank?

M.

Codex: Soyuzki - A fluffy guidebook to my Astra Militarum subfaction. Now version 0.6!
Another way would be to simply slide the landraider sideways like a big slowed hovercraft full of eels. -pismakron
Sometimes a little murder is necessary in this hobby. -necrontyrOG

Out-of-the-loop from November 2010 - November 2017 so please excuse my ignorance!
 
   
Made in ca
Storm Trooper with Maglight




 Infantryman wrote:
Wait, is weapon facing (or LOS I guess that would be) not A Thing in 8th? All of those bolters can shoot in whatever direction - including through the tank?

M.


Exactly. That means the rear mounted weapons you see on some primaris vehicles are only positioned that way for looks despite primaris marines being made for 8th.

It doesnt make sense but its easier, so for most people it works.

123ply: Dataslate- 4/4/3/3/1/3/1/8/6+
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Made in no
Hurr! Ogryn Bone 'Ead!






 Infantryman wrote:
Wait, is weapon facing (or LOS I guess that would be) not A Thing in 8th? All of those bolters can shoot in whatever direction - including through the tank?

M.


Absolutely!

It radically changes the functionality of vehicles like the Defender, because as I've previously explained, the sheer ungainliness and size of the vehicle meant it was rarely point-effective, even though you were allowed to split fire, a clever opponent would know how to exploit your weakness and only advance at you from one side.

Personally, I still prefer the old way with the weapon facings, because it feels more realistic, I only wish all vehicles could have had split fire in 7th ed. and not just LoW-class vehicles, but on the other hand it really improves the usefulness of the tank and the cost seems more reasonable.
   
Made in us
Pyromaniac Hellhound Pilot






Maryland, USA

Wow...that's a dumb rule. So do units in general no longer need LOS, then? Can I just shoot through whatever?

M.

Codex: Soyuzki - A fluffy guidebook to my Astra Militarum subfaction. Now version 0.6!
Another way would be to simply slide the landraider sideways like a big slowed hovercraft full of eels. -pismakron
Sometimes a little murder is necessary in this hobby. -necrontyrOG

Out-of-the-loop from November 2010 - November 2017 so please excuse my ignorance!
 
   
Made in no
Hurr! Ogryn Bone 'Ead!






Line of sight is still there. The only real change from 7th ed. is the allowance for models with more than one weapon to pick different targets for their weapons.
   
 
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