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Post by webber13 on Nov 23, 2015 12:57:42 GMT -5
Hi guys,
Im looking for some advice here. I only play 500pts with my friends and they all run Space Marines (YAY). My usual list is all infantry with the exception of a Chimera mounted Vet Squad. I recently purchased a Leman Russ and want to try and incorporate it into my force, but having never played armour, I haven't got a clue where to start!
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Post by emptyhat on Nov 24, 2015 20:01:48 GMT -5
Is it built yet? If it isn't then it isn't too hard to keep the turret options and hull gun interchangeable, you can also magnetise the sponsons without too much trouble.
Fitting a LR into 500 points is a bit of a squeeze but pretty doable. If your space marine friends have the ability to quickly get into melta/meltabomb range then expect your Russ to evaporate quite quickly. If their marines are foot slogging then watch how much they have to cling to cover and laugh (not including the exterminator). If they are typically in transports then you'll struggle to stop them with a Russ (not including the exterminator) but if you can lascannon snipe the transports then land a battle cannon on top of the squad it will be hilarious.
Lets see, the codex has 7 Russ to chose from which is pretty daunting but some of these are going to be pretty bad for fighting marines at 500 points. Speaking of which at 500 points getting sponsons is pretty expensive and of dubious benefit (sometimes they'll be game savers but you can use those points elsewhere.)
Leman Russ Battle Tank: I use these guys a lot the St 8 AP 3 blast will make a mess out of Space Marines that don't have invulnerable saves. Getting ordnance means reliably dealing damage to armour but not being able to roll an explodes result reduces it to being a nuisance factor. If you just have the main gun and the heavy bolter it is probably the most efficient set-up, but a weapon destroyed result will turn it into a very expensive heavy bolter 50% of the time. If you get the lascannon then you'll be snap firing it when you fire the main gun. Sometimes it might be better to fire the lascannon and not the main gun since it can explode an enemy vehicle or hurt AV 14 a little more reliably. If you lose the main gun it becomes an AV14 lascannon which isn't too bad. The question here is can you get something better for those points?
LR Exterminator: I've only used this tank a couple of times because I hate the model I have for it. The Autocannons are great for maiming those rhino and laserback transports and spamming wounds on marines can work well too. It can also be used as somewhat unreliable anti-air. It's more tempting to stick heavy bolters on the sides of this one because then you can fire a whole bunch of guns at full ballistic skill and get those marines rolling lots of saves. Heavy bolters are pretty worthless against vehicles, well except landspeeders, they'll chew up those 2 hp models nicely.
LR Vanquisher: I had to double check this one because I've never used it. An anti-tank sniper. Nice in theory but probably the worst choice at this points level and a dubious one at any points.
LR Eradicator: Against space marines you'd be better off paying for the LR Battle Tank.
LR Demolisher: Str 10 AP2 gun, terminators and biker characters beware! But at 500 points are you seeing a lot of those? The 24" range and scatter die mean that you'll fire less and risk hitting yourself more. I actually use these tanks though because they are classic guard units unlike some of those hipster, wannabe Forgeworld, tanks above.
LR Punisher: Infamously the worst tank! Ironically this is the 'hipster' guard tank I use the most, I'm always trying to find a roll for it as the tank that hoses down Ork mobs or comes on from reserve to counter attack the enemy when they're too close to risk blast templates. Maybe it can spam shots on flyers? Mostly it lets me down. One day baby, you'll have a good dex entry with some sort of squadron bonus and I'll have nine of you on the board and laugh and laugh as I roll bag loads of dice into a a green tide. The 24" gun and St 5 Ap- BS3 is mostly punishing to your hopes. Still it is hilarious when you shoot a character with it (especially an Eldar character)
LR Executioner: The Terminator killer. This tank is really good at that. Are your enemies bringing lots of Terminators at 500 points? If yes then this is the tank for you. If not stick with the LRBT for now.
I'd say either go with the LRBT, maybe with a lascannon upgrade, or the exterminator with a bunch of bolters bolted on. With one of those an H.Q and two troops with a chimera you've used up a lot of your points. You're probably best spending what you've got left on making your squads tough or adding a sentinel or some such, I don't think any of the vehicle upgrades will be worth it (maybe fire barrels for the lulz?).
If you end up with an LRBT and several infantry teams with lascannons then the LRBT will look a lot scarier but the lascannons will probably do more work (except when that pie plate lands on 3+ marines without cover, which should cement its reputation as a scary thing.) Use the Russ as a draw and keep the teams firing.
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