The Artillery Thread |
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vanvlak
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Post subject: The Artillery Thread  Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 12:32 pm |
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Hi all,
with the arrival of my two Goliath megacannon - something I'd been longing to get - and in view of the long Swordwind discussion, I set about wondering:
(1) what is the closest equivalent to the Goliath in EA ?
and
(2) what proportion of heavy, long range artillery would you use in an Epic army (granted, I'd expect an IG and Squat bias)?
and
(3) has anyone tried out or just designed a very artillery-heavy army, and if so what were the results? I'd expect some form of combat troops for protection, or maybe even sacrificial units for delaying the enemy...
and
(4) would you favour points spent on (1) artillery (2) bomber-type flyers or (3) L-4 doctrine (i.e. bombardment) Titans ?
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netepic
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Post subject: The Artillery Thread Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 1:23 pm |
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Check out the battle reports in the last two EZines.... Every game Dougs flyers massacre me  . Thankfully the boys in green normally get into CC fast enough to exact payback, but the Tau flyers inflict far more damage than there artillery.
The whirlwind is quite good at dropping rockets on infantry and crushing them - I always try to field a det. of 3 at least.
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Reaversbane
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Post subject: The Artillery Thread Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 2:26 pm |
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I found when i first started playing EA, artillery ruled our battlefields. I played a few games with two full artillery companies, which worked fatastically until the opponent (I played both with and against this, as all the models used for epic gaming in my area are mine  ) figured out how to use aircraft and fast striking units effectively. Quite memorably in one game against Eldar I lost both Artillery companies before they had fired a shot 
Artillery are very weak to assaults, so yeah, many units to protect them is good, along with solid AA cover. If I take artillery now, the only way I can keep them alive is to have an Inf platoon attached and an inf. company nearby, usually along with other 'stuff'. Its kinda put me off them due to the resources needed to protect them... 
OK, to answer the questions more directly (  ):
1) hmmm, dont know that one, wasnt really a Squat player in the old days...
2)I can live with 20%. Anything more than that, and essentially it would become an all arty army for me, as the rest of the points would go purely on defences for the artillery. Having the equivalent of 3 arty companies may be interesting, but I suspect very meta-game succeptable (ie, will win heavily against certain armies (ground punders...), and lose heavily against others (fast assault)). But could easily be proved wrong (usually quite easily ).
3)2 arty companies was my limit. Results stated above...
4)Hmmm. Good question. Id be tempted by an even mix of the three. One titan (for mobileish artillery), artillery company, and some bombers. It might be a slightly more balanced army then. Any other points spent on support for the above...
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Legion 4
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Post subject: The Artillery Thread Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 3:36 pm |
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nealhunt
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Post subject: The Artillery Thread Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 7:26 pm |
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(1) There really isn't anything close. The old Bombard stats had it as BP3 and I think that would have been good.
(2) Depends on style. Generally, I don't see more than ~1/3 at most.
(3) Lots of arty armies have been tried. The consensus opinion seems to be that batteries are much more flexible and (oddly enough) durable. The only thing they lack is a big, heavy punch. Yes, you do need lots of screening troops. Infantry companies are cheap and large, so that is a common choice. Also, Stormtrooper formations (still big, plus Scout ZoC) and Roughriders (for the counter-attack potential) are popular choices.
(4) Depends on the army. Usually arty, definitely with IG or Siege IG. SM is a toss-up. Ork - Fighta bommaz all the way because they don't have indirect fire at all. Titans outside the AMTL list don't have indirect fire and they really lend themselve sto spearheading attacks rather than sitting back for just fire support.
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Legion 4
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Post subject: The Artillery Thread Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 9:13 pm |
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Yes, the Bombard would be closest. We might just use the SM1 Heavy Off-board Barrage stats. ?And also with the intro of CAS(aircraft) in Epic, FA - under cover on the edge of the board, firing indirect, should have a "Flak"/AAA/ADA umbrella (Hunters, Hydras, etc.). ?Titans don't have to have to fire indirect to be use as bombardment weapons. They need to maneuver into position quickly, maybe "Hull Down" and blast away at the enemy Titan until it's destroyed ! ?So as the line units can maneuver and fire without being Titan targets. Deathstrikes would also be useful in supporting your Titan and "trashing" the enemie's. ?We use the SM1 standard of 25% of your Total Battle Force Level on Titans, Off-board Support, and now CAS ... More L4SoTR ... 
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Markconz
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Post subject: The Artillery Thread Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 1:13 am |
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On a related note what is peoples preferred IG arty - basilisk, manticore or bombard?
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dafrca
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Post subject: The Artillery Thread Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 1:31 am |
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| Quote (Markconz @ 25 2005 May,17:13) | | On a related note what is peoples preferred IG arty - basilisk, manticore or bombard? |
None of the above, Deathstrikes.
OK, in reality, if I had to pick just one, Basilisks.
dafrca
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Tas
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Post subject: The Artillery Thread Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 3:23 am |
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| Quote (Markconz @ 26 2005 May,10:13) | | On a related note what is peoples preferred IG arty - basilisk, manticore or bombard? |
It depends on the Mission, terrain and expected enemy type.
And you cant beat a Deathstrioke for a one shot uppercut witha difference. More than one Titan has been sucker-punched with them!
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Legion 4
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Post subject: The Artillery Thread Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 5:52 am |
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I agree with Tas, again ... Depends on mission, terrain, target, etc. And if he's got a Titan, you better bring a Deathstrike Det.
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dafrca
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Post subject: The Artillery Thread Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 6:18 am |
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| Quote (Tas @ 25 2005 May,19:23) | | Quote (Markconz @ 26 2005 May,10:13) | | On a related note what is peoples preferred IG arty - basilisk, manticore or bombard? |
It depends on the Mission, terrain and expected enemy type. |
Although I agree with you, I think the fun of the question is n thinking like; What if you could only have one. Then it makes you think.
Truth is, I like all of them because they give me the ability to mix and match my Artillery Needs with the weapons on hand.
Thus why I own all of them in number far in excess of a normal mans needs.
dafrca
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Legion 4
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Post subject: The Artillery Thread Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 6:21 am |
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Yep, I got them all, too, in all versions !
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vanvlak
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Post subject: The Artillery Thread Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 6:39 am |
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I'd go for the Deathstrike - because I love the model to bits (that can't be good, can it?) Oh well....
Thanks for the response, all, this is interesting.
Incidentally, how do the Squats load their Goliaths? Swing them down and breech load? Use a Titan - or a gyrocopter - to muzzle load?  And no highly imaginative answers, please, this may be the start of a weird conversion...
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Markconz
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Post subject: The Artillery Thread Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 10:39 am |
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| Quote (dafrca @ 26 2005 May,06:18) | | Quote (Tas @ 25 2005 May,19:23) | | Quote (Markconz @ 26 2005 May,10:13) | | On a related note what is peoples preferred IG arty - basilisk, manticore or bombard? |
It depends on the Mission, terrain and expected enemy type. |
Although I agree with you, I think the fun of the question is n thinking like; What if you could only have one. Then it makes you think.
Truth is, I like all of them because they give me the ability to mix and match my Artillery Needs with the weapons on hand.
Thus why I own all of them in number far in excess of a normal mans needs. ?
dafrca |
Ok so yes they all have their tactical uses - but which choice would people take to a tournament say, or use most often?
The impression I get with EA is that Manticores are the most popular...?
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Warmaster Nice
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Post subject: The Artillery Thread Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 11:06 am |
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Hmmm... Just a quick thought: The Goliath might be a cool Squatachan Deathstrike proxy. I think most targets would be in pretty bad shape after taking a direct hit with one of those shells (no matter how they are loaded). As for the precission: I guess there's a specially advanced ballistic targetting system which makes it as accurate as a deathstrike missile...
Just a thought...
Cheers!
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?CAS, teleportation, fast attack units like speeders, etc., can handle FA. It has to be shutdown early or you'll be under "steel rain" throughout the game - L4SoTR ?