Re: [Epic] Titan CC weapons (was: Question on Tyranid Biotitans)

From: David Lado <lado_at_...>
Date: Fri, 13 Jun 1997 22:57:38 -0400 (EDT)

> I was thinking about this the other night, and I'm
>not sure it's possible. Because WEs are so slow and just
>about all of them have good ranges, a titan-hunter is going
>to have to spend at least 1 turn inside it's target's gun
>ranges. Plus, you can pretty much count on there being
>other detachments nearby, probably on overwatch. Even if
>the hunter survives, chances are it's going to have problems
>moving thanks to suppresion.

Well, they do get to move twice per turn (30 cm) and chances are
other WEs will be moving forward as well. So around turn 3 there
is a reasonable chance of getting to an enemy WE. Also, if you
compare the CC weapon to a heavy weapons battery, it only gives up
4 fp. That is not much of a sacrifice to have the chance to auto-
destroy an enemy WE.

> And heck, all your opponent has to do is stick 1
>infantry stand in front of your target & your hunter would
>have to assault that first, giving him more time to shoot
>at you.

True, but don't forget that the WE (and any accompanying units) get
a chance to fire before the assault phase. It can use that fire
to blow a path through the enemy.

Also, just as his WEs will have infantry around, so should yours.
You can use that supporting force to engage units that block you
path, hopefully allowing your titan to maneuver through the hole
in the enemy line you made during the fire phase.

It wouldn't be easy. You would have to have a clear strategy and a
dedicated support force to go with the titan. But the potential
pay-off is enormous! In one blow you can reduce a completely
undamaged WE to a 200+ pt pile of smoking slag.

The mere sight of such a force might keep the opponents WEs cowering on
his back lines, trying to stay 30 cm away from your titan. That would
be a victory in it's self, both tactically by forcing the enemy to give
up ground without a shot, and psychologically, by putting him on the
defensive (instead of his WEs stomping over your troops, he's worried
about keeping them alive).

>> I'm assuming that
>> most folks take at least 1 detachment of WEs in a larger battle, of course.
>
> Which is not neccessarily the case. I hardly
>ever took titans (aside from the LoB) in 2nd edition and
>got along just fine without them... I think you could
>do OK without them in this edition as well.

I was the same way. I rarely fielded gargants in SM/TL. But I think
that they will be a common sight in my armies now. I think now they
are more worth the points than they used to be, they are easier to
field (you don't have to give up other special cards), you don't have
to make the big points investment to buy the company (or settle for a
truely overpriced single titan), and they offer fire support that is
simply not available else where (this is more true for the orks than
others I think). Also, the days of massed swarms of bikes wiping out
titans seem to be gone. Altogether, they are a much better deal, IMO.

David
Received on Sat Jun 14 1997 - 02:57:38 UTC