Barrage Weapons - why wouldn't you now?

[Deleted]

Er, barrage weapons now rock. The simple addition of non-partial hits means that a squad of mortars at 80pts can hammer squads large and small. Watch out orks, imcoming!

[Deleted]

I was thinking the same thing when firing my support squad of missile launchers the other day. Mortars are looking very tasty now!!!

Do they still have to guess range when they can directly see the target?

[ssgtdude (M.I.A)]

guess range was removed from game play after 3rd edition.

[Sen.Kerry]

I never seem to kill anything with mortars. Not even hormaguants...

[fatuous]

love my mortars, they had a hiatus recently, but with a mate being v into his speed freaks and hiding em round the backs of the trucks when tehy get blown out of them, I think they will see a re-surgence

[newcomer]

mortars rule, especially with no more partials, can you say, KABOOM?

[Turtleboy(AWOL)]

wow yeah, no doubt! I may actually look into mortars for the first time in my life ^_^

I've always had a mortar for one of my command squads (I liked that mel gibson vietnam movie where he commanded the infantry batallion and had mortar positions all around his command point) - plus - what better way to babysit some heavy weapons than with a command squad who's actually contributing from a safe hidden spot!?

[Kassill]

guess range was removed? what you mean all those times my whirlwind missed was for nothing!?!?!?! ARGHGHG!! and yes i think illl be using mortars!! ;D

[Deleted]

Aren't mortars just bolters though? I don't really see the effective possibilities for mortars. Even against Horde armies I still use Heavy bolters. It always has worked fine for me. i did use Mortars for a time, but they were just about useless. Again, why use a bolter your chances of wounding and probably of hitting are much higher for heavy bolters and autocannons. Sure it's a little less expensive but... Plus the extra d6 if you indirect fire.

[Deleted]

yup, state line is the same. you no longer add a D6 for IF though. you just dont subtract your ballistic skill.

I've found that a single mortar suffers, while getting them into a mortar squad vastly improves their performance. The probability of the first template striking the intended target is less then a point weapon though (44.44% vs 50%). but if there are other guys in the unit around, the chances just to someplace between 51 and 61%. With the multiple barrage template, you further increase your chances (you dont roll 2D6 again), so long as the first shot was close enough.

They are just too fun and cheap not to take!

[Deleted]

yes i for see an increase of mortars at tournaments now.

[Kassill]

Jul 15, 2008 9:18:45 GMT -5 ssgtdude (M.I.A) said:

guess range was removed from game play after 3rd edition.

but SERIOUSLY guessing was taken out?

[ssgtdude (M.I.A)]

like a heart attack. There was no guessing rule in 4th ed.

[Kassill]

WOOOHOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
is it the same for 5th? srry dont have the new rulebook yet If so my mortars shall rain iron lead upon the enemies of the emporer!!!!!!!

[Sen.Kerry]

Yep, Its the same. Go nuts. Of course, My mortars always scatter maximum every time i play. So I no longer play them. Stupid voodoo curses...

[Deleted]

Yeah, instead of guessing the actual range, you just place the template, and it scatters 2D6 minus your BS. If you are firing indirectly though, it just scatters 2D6 inches.

[Turtleboy(AWOL)]

I absolutely agree that mortars are improved, however their uses are not as universal as I'd like - I'll explain.

LoS is easier to achieve since we can see through area terrain now. thus the frag missile is pretty good.

the benefit of the mortar round is that, with them, we can negate cover saves or saves for firing through intervening units.

this isn't a big deal, however, unless we're looking at targets with 5+ armor saves (or worse). this makes mortars the ideal weapon for sniping units like IG fire support squads or eldar guardian squads that aren't in area terrain.

so that, and the fact we can take pot shots at fully concealed units, is the benefit of the mortar.

now then, I would encourage a look at the brother to the mortar round - the frag missile.

as already mentioned, in 5th edition, we see the strengthening of the cover save AND of LoS. this means that the missile launcher probably should be the weapon of choice for attrition kills (forcing the opponent to throw endless saves and smile as he fails a few here, a few there - all it takes is one bad roll for him...) vs. opponents with 4+ armor saves or better.

vs. armies with 5+ armor or worse, the frag missile should probably be employed killing troops on the enemies front lines as they break from cover and move in a way where they forfeit their cover save.

of course, too, we have the krak missile which can be loaded into the tube as well, but that is a different matter.


so to return to my initial opinion - yes, I absolutely agree that the mortar is strengthened, and with the improvement of LoS it is simply made even better!!! it opens new opportunities to hit targets without taking the 'not in LoS' penalty (which is kinda painful).

[Deleted]

another advantage of mortars, they look cool,

plus they can be scary to your opponent. put them at the opposite corner of the table, there they can still hit most things, and who ever u are against hast to travel all the way over to the opposite corner to u just so he can kill 3 mortars, ive had units deep strike near there and fall of the table, or marine armies having to split there forces to kill these annoying things (even if they dont kill much)

[GuardsmanPatch]

Simply put, it's a harassment weapon. Lightly armoured troops in range will drift towards the nearest cover, get themselves bogged down in difficult terrain and constrict their lanes of fire. With a bit of luck, anyhow.

Plus, you can also whistle as the shells come down. Keep it up, you get slapped!

[Deleted]

mortars are key u can take 5sq of them thats 15mortars, all with the chance of pinning not to say it what the can do to troops in cover or trying to hide hq out of sight. Also at some rattling to hit units that were not tgt by mortars and u have one hell of a pinning force, or and enemy that went to ground to get a better save. Either way u can stop the enemy from trying to move to fast. Also two basilisk one w/indirect you have a force that will hammer any unit out in the open. Even with scatter you are going to hit something. I have always used mortars now with the new rules and the rules for sniper riffles thats one hell of pair. But i feel if when the new codex is out the point cost is going up for snipers and mortars. The enemy armour is no match for a basilisk hit the ordance hits the top/side armour so even a land raider needs to think twice.

[Deleted]

I must be psychic- I fitted my Guard squads out with Rocket (NEVER say the M-word, vets know of what I speak) and Grenade Launchers. So I can pot-shot a small pie plate at long ranges, then let loose with flashlights and two lovely pie plates when the enemy gets too close.

[ssgtdude (M.I.A)]

I'm still of the mind set that the frag grenade and missle have taken a hit in the gunny sack though. In fourth ed we rolled to hit and placed the template if we hit. Now we roll dice to scatter instead of rolling to hit and subtract our bs. While this is ok if you target the center of a large ork army, but when playing against smaller unit sizes it makes no sense to do this.

Most smart players will just use the full 2" placement to minimize the damage of a frag and you still are only hitting one or two. The Krak missle, grenade make more tactical sense.

The large barrage weapon like your Bassie is much more effective with the new rules for those instances when you need to use LOS firing, but those smaller templates aren't getting a fair shake with the new rule. This however, is just my opinion and it probably stinks just like anyone elses.

[Rolling Thunder]

You mean the 'miss'-ile launcher. (Shudders)

To speak such words is to invite the wrath of the lost gods of chance. And too miss the target as well-oh, damn! *eyeballs fall out.*

[ssgtdude (M.I.A)]

actually I was refering to krak grenades as opposed to the m word.
I just mis-spoke.

[Rolling Thunder]

SILENCE!