Chimeras as light tanks instead of transports

[Comrade]

I have been toying with this idea, I am mainly a infantry person myself, but I see the potential of the Chimera as a light tank.

While I combine squads always, this doesn't stop me from taking chimeras right?

I just can't put troops in them.

A chimera is 55 pts for a tank with AV12 front (some armies tanks are equal to this) and AV10 sides. W/ a multi laser (which I am fond of) and a hvy bolter/flamer

I could either use them as a screen for my guardsmen providing a 4+ cover save,

Or I could create a 6 tank column that would attack a flank.

ideas? opinions? suggestions? think its stupid/great?

[sj]

Aug 8, 2011 14:11:16 GMT -5 Comrade said:

I have been toying with this idea, I am mainly a infantry person myself, but I see the potential of the Chimera as a light tank.

While I combine squads always, this doesn't stop me from taking chimeras right?

I just can't put troops in them.

A chimera is 55 pts for a tank with AV12 front (some armies tanks are equal to this) and AV10 sides. W/ a multi laser (which I am fond of) and a hvy bolter/flamer

I could either use them as a screen for my guardsmen providing a 4+ cover save,

Or I could create a 6 tank column that would attack a flank.

ideas? opinions? suggestions? think its stupid/great?

Don't forget that FW turret option that gives you an AC instead of multi laser.

[Machine Gun Kelly]

I like the idea. But it could be because I usually use mine in just that way. In my experience it works best when under 1000pts games and you are just using one or two of them.

[kirsten]

I do not field many chimeras myself, but I do think they are good in this role, you cannot ignore anything with two heavy weapons, and a few of them down a flank with multiple heavy bolters for example can be quite nasty. My chimeras use heavy bolters and autocannons because I play an IA1 list and they just look cool. If you have the points throw in a hunter-killer missile or two for side armour shots and make people think twice.

[Trooper One-Nine-Seven-Four]

I may have to give this a try...

[Empirespy]

ML, HB, HS, HK, that's four weapons which covers a wide range, from infantry to the chance of popping an AV 13 tank, all for 75points, it will make an excellent flank tank, anyone who doesn't care about a chimera on it's own will soon pay for they're mistake.

[mccaptain]

It's not a bad idea, especially if they're empty they may not attract a lot of attention which will let them get in place for side/rear armor shots. I would suggest still taking the heavy flame thrower so that you can still use them to dig enemies out of cover or deal with hordes. My experience has always been that I get far more use out of the flame than the bolter.

[Soap]

Iv got 8 chimeras so I might have to give this a try... 4 on each flank

[Rolling Thunder]

Forgeworld IA update: Autocannons.

[Laughing Man]

If i'm using my Chimera's as IFVs rather than APCs then i often go down the forgeworld route and pay 70 points for a chimera with a turret autocannon, hull heavy flamer and a dozer blade in order to manoeuvre into position more easily. I attack appropriate targets, either av 10/11/12 with the AC or hordes with the flamer, they still carry a squad which gets dropped off on the way to the chimera's be really annoying party.

[Makarova (M.I.A)]

I used the exact same setup as Laughing Man, which worked wonders. Massed autocannon fire isn't to be sniffed at (I used multiple Armoured Sentinels with autocannons for that role as well) and that heavy flamers will assure that anything you get close to and isn't a Marine, dies. Especially fun against expensive Veterans, ey RT?

[Laughing Man]

Autocannons make me happy.

[Rolling Thunder]

Aug 29, 2011 2:43:59 GMT -5 Makarova (M.I.A) said:

I used the exact same setup as Laughing Man, which worked wonders. Massed autocannon fire isn't to be sniffed at (I used multiple Armoured Sentinels with autocannons for that role as well) and that heavy flamers will assure that anything you get close to and isn't a Marine, dies. Especially fun against expensive Veterans, ey RT?

Note to self: Vulture Gunship.

[Genevaman]

This can be especially effective if you "bookend" your Chimeras with other vehicles that have decent side armour. i.e: Hellhounds.
This results in a pseudo-phalanx of AV12 that would be hard for any army to deal with. March your infantry safely behind and "Hey, presto!"

[Rolling Thunder]

Pff. Real men march their massed infantry in behind the armour of Malcador Battle Tanks!

[omit]

Also if your blob squads get whittled down to 12 members without completely dying you can jump them into an empty chimera and keep firing.

[missilemaster]

I'm curious, how exactly would this work? I seemed to have missed the entry in the codex about Chimera squads. I also didn't think they could mount ACs, did I completely overlook something or is my codex horribly outdated?

[Machine Gun Kelly]

Autocannons is IA from forge world.

You can´t have chimera squads as a choice only as a transport for a squad...but....
These squad doesn´t have to enter or start in the chimera. And they do not even have to start close to each other. So the chimeras can be used as light tanks rather than troop transports.

[StillANoob]

Chimers are a dedicatd transport, and as such don't take up and space on your FOC. Becasue you combine squads at the start of the game, you can purchase a chimera in your list, but once the game starts it is independent.
SaN

[missilemaster]

Ah, so basically I take a Chimera with a squad and then just leave the footsloggers behind, cool. Still, it says nothing about autocannons, but I assume it would cost the same as it does for a Sentinel to upgrade judging by Laughing Man's post? Would people female dog at me for rolling AC Chimeras when it's not listed directly black on white in the codex entry, or am I just plain blind and still missing something crucial?
Sorry for asking noob questions, but I am god-awful at this and merely hoping to downgrade to a simple awful instead.

[krasimirova]

There is no stupid questions Missilemaster..

About people letting you play with FW options.. I wouldn't allow it unless we agreed upon it beforehand, that we'd be able to use FW units.. If you came to the table and just assumed it was okay, then no..

[missilemaster]

Yeah, that's why I was asking, a lot of people like conversions but others follow the rules pretty strictly. I would prefer being able to stick ACs on, but oh well. I'll definitely keep in mind that I can roll them around more independently.

[alrahem]

The rules for using ACs on Chimeras are here (p.7)

www.forgeworld.co.uk/Downloads/Product/PDF/i/IA1update28AUG.pdf

for free from Forgeworld.

But like others have said, you need to ask your opponent permission to use them. I've never had anyone have a problem with me using mine but I always bring the ML turrets with me, when playing pickup games, just in case.

[missilemaster]

Sept 26, 2011 10:12:24 GMT -5 alrahem said:

The rules for using ACs on Chimeras are here (p.7)

www.forgeworld.co.uk/Downloads/Product/PDF/i/IA1update28AUG.pdf

for free from Forgeworld.

But like others have said, you need to ask your opponent permission to use them. I've never had anyone have a problem with me using mine but I always bring the ML turrets with me, when playing pickup games, just in case.

Yeah, I would just convert the standard turrets, making me unable to use them as anything else unless I go magnet crazy (not happening). I hope ACs make it into the codex sometime, that would be badass.

[alrahem]

Sept 26, 2011 19:52:03 GMT -5 missilemaster said:

Yeah, I would just convert the standard turrets, making me unable to use them as anything else unless I go magnet crazy (not happening). I hope ACs make it into the codex sometime, that would be badass.

if you got appropriately sized brass or plastic tubing you could cut a length to slide over the ML barrel, put a muzzle brake on it and make a passable removable AC barrel for your Chimeras.

I just use the FW turrets if I can & the Reg. ones if not.