I used to get quite a lot of information from the chaps over at boot camp. Prior to the release of the newest IG codex, it even seemed that most of it was good. Something about the 5th ed book has confused all the site's members greatly. Here's what I mean: "What is the Best Leman Russ Tank?"
Starry eyed Jack42494 has just awoken on a frosty, idyllic Christmas morning to find that Santa has left him money in his stocking hung above the hearth with care. He is chomping at the bit to put this towards a new tank. He's even smart enough to admit that he can't decide which tank he wants- we guard are spoiled for choice, after all. Unfortunately, he decides to ask his question on Boot Camp.
The first response pretty much sets the tone. Torquemoda, from Latvia, says that there is no best Leman Russ. Sadly, this may be the only response here with a modicum of truth to it. On the plus side, he challenges anyone that thinks the punisher is good to come to Latvia and fight him. Later in the thread someone offers to take him up on his offer and they get into a fantastic argument. It ends in Torquemada telling the other guy that in spite of being 100 pounds lighter, he will kick his ass since he was born in Soviet Russia (?)- in Soviet Russia post trolls you! The post is worth reading for that alone.
Anyhow, the thread goes on for 4 pages or so and nobody asks a single question of the poster, to figure out what kind of vehicle he really needs. Nobody asks if he is playing a mobile game, what other units he brings, if he needs a generalist tank or a specialized one, or any other questions. Instead everyone jumps up on their fucking soapbox to preach to him about why they vote for their favorite tank.
The consensus of the thread seems to be that the main battle tank variant is the superior, decked out with a lascannon and bolter sponsons no less. Yay points sinks. Yay for putting an expensive single shot, piece of shit lascannon on a WS3 unit. Most of the posters seem to think that it is the most generalized tank and therefore the best. It may be the most general, but it's genericness makes it ok at several things and good at nothing. Not the best use of points. It gets even worse when people start talking about how good the vanquisher is and that it's the best tank out there. So we go from the least to the most specialized tank...nice.
I believe that there is only one person who even mentions the Demolisher (my choice as best all around) and not a single person mentions flamers. So damn awful. Worse still, everyone seems to want to put sponsons on everything. OOh, my tank is now more expensive, is harder to get in cover, and encourages me not to move. Real win-win situation there. Hint, if you take a Demolisher with a heavy flamer and no sponsons it is cheap, will not tempt you to camp, and provides an answer to most threats.
The thing that really gets me is how bad some of Wodonthewargod's advice is. He's generally regarded as something of a tank guru over there and I can't figure out how the hell he got his reputation. See for yourselves, click that Leman Russ tactica link he gives. It's not all bad, but it's barely good.
I think I'll just be going to Boot Camp for their WiP and Gallery sections. Those are usually pretty high quality.
4 comments:
Honestly, Russes just CANNOT be taken without an eye towards the rest of your force.
About the only thing I'd default on would be the heavy flamer on the hull. There's only a few times I'd consider otherwise.
The Battle Cannon is reasonable for most tasks, but great at none. It hurts marines in cover; everyone else takes saves...I mean, it's a solid all-rounder with just a hull flamer, but you can get more mileage.
I'm honestly a bit partial to the Nova Cannon russ. You can get Vendettas/melta troops to cover tanks, and S6, AP4, no cover saves = most stuff dies on a 2+.
The Punisher cannon...I can see it in larger games, and the bright side is you're not reliant on scatter rolls to dole out the wounds.
Plasma Cannon Russ? As a fun toy with mad plasma sponsons, Pask, and an Ablative Leman Russ, maybe.
Overall, I'm just not sold on EVER slapping sponsons on a Russ, or the lascannon. Sure, it CAN do damage, but it's not reliable.
First off, if you are depending on LRs as tank killers, give up now. There's far too many units in the FOC that are much better at that job with the redundancy needed to get it done (read: meltavets, vendettas).
Eradicator LRs are nice (that's the one with the Nova Cannon, Raptor). Hull Flamer, no sponsons. Provides nice range with great anti-cover anti-infantry power. 160 points.
And the Executioner Russ (with plasma sponsons) with Pask? Brutal! BUT is a huge fire magnet for the punishment it deals plus the 280 points you pay.
But when it all bolis down to it...why take LRs anyway, when you can get Hydras and Manticores on the cheap?
Let the troop and vendettas fry heavy armor.
justin, sadly you're right about taking LRs at all. I love my tanks, but find myself grabbing manticores and hydras most of the time now, too.
I like the Demos and Erads best. Demos dish out the S10 AP2 at midfield, have AV11 rear armor, and sport the heavy flamer just in case. Erads blow away infantry, they even wound marines on a 2+, plus they're cheap and sport AV11 rears too.
Beyond that, meh, give me a Vendetta or artillery tank.
Not so much a dick move as ignorance born of noobishness, though the fistfight between 2 out of shape neackbeards over which toy tank is the best was an amusing thought.
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