[Epic] SM2 -> E40k Orky injustice

From: Matthew J. Silvernail <msilver_at_...>
Date: Tue, 4 Nov 1997 11:03:04 -0600 (CST)

Hello all,
   I was just looking over some Space Marine 2nd ed.
books that I'm borrowing from a friend, and noticed
something pretty upsetting to me as an Ork player -
the comparison between SM2 stats for Stompers and
Land Raiders. Okay, here's the stat lines for each,
without bolters listed as weapons, since E40k works
them into figuring the CAF (although the stompa had
4 bolters, and the land raider had 1). Also, the
CAF/Assault value has been omitted, since I have
no gripes with the Stomper's close-combat ability.

Troop | Move | Save | CAF | Range | Dice | To-hit | Save mod
--------+------+-----+------+-------+------+--------+---------
Stomper | 10cm | 1+ | +8 | 50cm | 1 | 3+ | -4
LR | 20cm | 2+ | +3 | 75cm | 2 | 5+ | -2

The Stomper had the following special rule:
   Do not have to make morale checks and cannot be routed.
The Land Raider had: Transport(2)

And the E40k stats for each:

Troop | Speed | Range | FP | Armour | Special
-------+-------+-------+------+--------+--------
Stompa | 15cm | 45cm | 4 | 5+ |
LR | 20cm | 45cm | 2xAT | 6+ | Stubborn, Transport(2)

   Okay, let's take a summary of what's happened between
editions here. Stompa had: Better armor than LR, better
armor-piercing weapon (by far) than LR, and the equivalent
rule to E40k's stubborn ability. In E40k, Stompa has:
Worse armor than LR, no anti-tank shot, and has lost
stubborn while the LR has gained it. So what's wrong
with this picture?

   By the way, the reason I looked at this in the first
place is that I've noticed that Stompas just plain suck
on the battlefield in E40k. Now that I see how much
they've been downgraded without an equivalent decrease
in points cost, its obvious why they perform so poorly.

   Now, given the above, let me approximate what Stompas
should* be like in E40k:

Troop | Speed | Range | FP | Armor | Special
-------+-------+-------+------+-------+--------
Stompa | 15cm | 45cm | 1xAT | 6+ | Stubborn

   Although actually, with the to-hit number and save mod of
the SM2 Stomper Battle Cannon, its damned near a death ray,
at least compared to the LR's Lascannons. But I digress.

   Stompas should be able to form their own mobs,
or should be moved to the main force list of the Ork Mob
detachment, so that the stubborn ability can actually be
used. I would tend to think the point cost of the
modified stompa should remain the same, since it was
overcosted in the army list, but I'm sure some would
disagree since its obviously more powerfull in the
above fixed version. I'll be presenting this to my
local gamers group, but I'd like list feedback also.
Opinions anyone?

-- Matt Silvernail
Received on Tue Nov 04 1997 - 17:03:04 UTC