Sponson Question

[dirtdiver06]

Hey everyone, I'm back yet again lol. I have a pretty straightforward question about multi-melta and plasma cannon sponsons on Russ's. Has anyone used them, and if so how did they work out? Multi-melta sponsons on a vehicle that can take a pretty good beating yet deliver those weapons within range to deal damage sounds awesome to me, but from what I understand, sponson weapons are best left on russes that sit still and act as area denial.

Another question, what Russ variant would one put Multi-Melta sponsons on? Plasma seems great on the demolisher, but Multi-melta sounds like such a great tank hunting weapon, i'm not sure which russ variant it would best go on,since that particular Russ would be mobile and hunting tanks. Perhaps an Exeterminator?

Thanks for any thoughts!

[macknight]

i have melta sponsons on my exterminator, when i take them with extra pts left over i have yet to use them in combat thus far..

[Ymmot (M.I.A)]

I almost always save the points spent on sponsons for other weapons. A tank could go up in flames with a single lucky shot but special weapons distributed among many different squads will take many shots to eliminate.

That said, I like to keep my tanks mid field and use them to draw fire and support my mech infantry. I like to keep them moving 6 inches a turn, so no sponsons lends to the role I use them for.

[WestRider]

I generally figure that if one of my Russes is in range to use Melta weapons, something has gone horribly wrong.

I run Plasma on my Demolishers and Executioners and Heavy Bolter Sponsons on everything else.

I do take a Heavy Flamer in the Hull Mount on my Executioners sometimes, but that's just when I don't want to spend the Points for the Lascannon, and need something to remind me not to fire it so I don't mix in some AP4 Wounds and give my opponent a chance to pull some WA tricks.

[egon]

I'm with westroder on this one. Melta sponsons is just asking for trouble. In the wrong way.

Plasma sponsons has their uses though. I tend not to use them on my demolishers (since I want them to be able to move and shoot lots) but when I field an Executioner I always give it plasma sponsons. I've even seen people field standard Russes with plasma sponsons. It works if you want to throw in some good range anti-TEQ with having to pay for cheap.

[Trickstick]

I don't like sponsons on any tank with a 24" range gun. I would rather move up and fire or keep moving to stay out of assault range.

However, they can be nice on the longer ranged tanks. I like the classic LRBT with lascannon and bolter sponsons. Probably the best generalist unit that the Guard can take, looks good and can hurt most things short of terminators and landraiders.

[spazmunke]

I love me my executioner with hull lascannon and plasma sponsons.

5 STR 7/AP 2, Small Blast, and 1 STR 9/AP 2 shot

Though it is a DAMN expensive tank.

[WestRider]

Jan 24, 2012 1:33:48 GMT -5 spazmunke said:

I love me my executioner with hull lascannon and plasma sponsons.

5 STR 7/AP 2, Small Blast, and 1 STR 9/AP 2 shot

Though it is a DAMN expensive tank.

It may be expensive, but just about nothing steps in front of it and lives. One of my favorite Units in the whole Game.

One of these days, I really do need to field all three of mine as a Squadron, just for maximum ridiculousity factor.

[Pyrotechnics]

Jan 24, 2012 2:21:01 GMT -5 WestRider said:

One of these days, I really do need to field nine of them in 3 Squadrons, just for maximum ridiculousity factor.

Fixed it for you. Although I say you should just run all executioners in an Apoc game.

[WestRider]

I only have 3, though

I do, however, have a 2K list written up with 9 Russ Hulls in it that I plan to take to a Tournament at some point. I think it was three Regular, 3 Exterminators, and 3 Executioners. Plus a couple Vet Squads and a Primaris Psyker to make it a legal list.

[bman]

Russes have "lumbering behemoth" so they should never have asponsons and always move every turn.

[WestRider]

Dude, it's worth sitting still occasionally with those Executioners. Anything short of AV12 or Hammernators just disappears. And even Hammernators are hurting afterward.

[martin74]

I run the multi melta sponsons with one of my demolishers. Works well, seeing as the range is the same. It seems to be a magnet for my opponents fire, but, it leaves my other tanks alone, so, it is good for that too.

[krasimirova]

LRMBT : Plasma sponsons (a better tank for the points compared to the Executioner, gives more targets and more redundancy)

Exterminator: HB sponsons (Fun, not super)

Demolisher: Plasma sponsons or multimelta (depending on the role the demolisher fits in your list)

Executioner: Plasma sponsons (fits the main gun)

----

Other than these you will be working against the actually role of the tank (Look at AP or BS in general), the Heavy bolter sponsons on LRMBT (as a example) won't do alot against de-meched MEQ targets (which you'd be stupid not to fire you battle cannon at), so you really have to look into your list and your local meta game to make sure you pick the right setup.. If you havn't got any MEQ players in your area, don't take LRMBT but take Eradicators instead.. Face alot of Wing-lists, then the Demolisher or Executioner would be a better option.. Face alot of Armour, don't buy a Vanquisher, get some Meltaveterans instead (save you the disappointment) and so forth..

[Empirespy]

I just want to mention, punisher, HB sponsons, Hull HB, Sitting still that's 29 S5 shots, 9 of which are AP4, and at 200p, that's not that bad,you can take 6 of them, a Tech priest, two mounted vets, with a few points to play around with at 1500, and that's a lot of shots, if you are moving 6" it's still 23 shots each, and in my opinion that is why punishers a worth taking, and sponsons work well.

Also on a non gaming point, I think russes look so much better with sponsons.