I'm all for the easiest personally, I think whilst the other suggestions would be interesting, I also think they'd go round development hell endlessly.

I agree the skimmer option would be interesting, but currently I have the option to either 'deep strike' (i.e. Teleport or Planetfall via Drop pod) my chosen formations, or I can stick them in Land Raiders (in which case I lose access to Obliterators, Dreadnoughts and am forced to take a flying Daemon Prince if I want one), this option would seem to give the best of both worlds (i.e, you get to Planetfall, and remain mobile whilst still having access to all of your nicer upgrades) and I can't help but think that it would require large amounts of playtesting to get right, as well as upset the balance of the list in general, having seen similar proposals go round and round before I am sceptical that this would be even a relatively quick change.

Would have to be substantially different to rhinos so didn't replace them. Something like 6+ save, move 20/25

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I agree it's very good.

That's because Dreadclaws are supposed to be Chaos' replacement for Thunderhawk Gunships / Transporters / Landing Craft.

They're supposed to be one of the integral parts of the Chaos Space Marine battle doctrine, not just a drop pod.


...and I can't help but think that it would require large amounts of playtesting to get right...

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And/Or cost a lot of points.

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Planetfall without Deathwind and without scatter would be the best way imho.

@GlynG: As manouverable as a Space Shuttle? Would suffice. The time you make visible contact the spaceship to be board it is easy not to miss it.
Manouverability in space is a lot easier then in the atmosphere where you have to coutner the gratvitic pull.

And your picture doesn't contradict my view of the Dreadclaw.
I see it similar to the Delta Clipper DC-X:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_DC-X
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzXcTFfV3Ls

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Found some better quality Dreadclaw pictures.



Dreadclaws approaching the planet's surface under controlled descent, (doomed!) Death Korps Trooper observing them in the foreground.

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I have yet to see pictures where Dreadclaws are performing manouvers other than landing to convince me for Skimmers.

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Berzerkers exiting a Dreadclaw.

Dreadclaw on the left is in the take off / landing position, other Dreadclaws have their struts raised to allow the troops to exit.

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now that's what I like to see!

E&C, what book are these pics from?

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Yep. Nice Wh40k versions of the Delta Clipper DC-X  

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For that we can only rely on the background text, which (I quote again) says:

"less manueverable in a planet's atmosphere than a purpose-designed aircraft, it can be used to effect re-deployment in the field..."

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Actually Skimmers are more manouverable than Aircrafts. Skimmers (read: Helicopters) can turn on the spot. Aircrafts can't. But Aircrafts are very much faster.

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So a Manta is more manueverable than a Thunderbolt Fighter?

Skimmer no more equates to "Helicopter" than Walker equates to "something with two legs".


More Khorne Berzerkers plus a Dreadnought exiting Dreadclaws. One Dreadclaw has canted over and likely will be unable to take off again.

Atmospheric entry trails can be see in the rear of the picture, which I posit to be further Dreadclaws approaching the ground at a non-vertical angle.

Possible orbital bombardment can be seen in the background (also possibly the local sun, every picture of Vraks tends to have a lurid sky regardless of whether it presents a battle or not)

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