Topic: Sentinels vs. AT support Squads

[*Nosferatu*]

Okay, I'm working around an army list, and I'm just 220 points short of 1500. I have been torn between two decisions for my next purchase.

Option A:

2 AT Support Squads for my HQ.

Pros:
- 6 Lascannons can really put a hurt in enemy armor and MEQ.
- THERE ARE SIX OF EM!
- They allow the rest of my army to move while they provide cover.

Cons:
- It's easily killed.
- Can not move and shoot
- I can't roll for ampethamene parawhatever.

4 Sentinels (Which I've cutely named: Cassius, Brutus, Julius, and Mark Anthony)

Pros:
- Move and Fire
- Not as concentrated as they'll all travel individually.
- Can Search for targets.

Cons:
- Only 4 Lascannons as oppose to 6.
- AV10 is nothing to strut around.



Well, those are the two options that I have weighed and I'm leaning towards the Sentinels. But I want to know what your opinions are. Plus if I buy a Sentinel, does it give me the Flamer, Multilaser, and Lascannon, or do I have to purchase the Armageddon pattern?

[[dixon]]

Additionally, Sentinels are going to eat up your Fast Attack slots, while AT squads are part of the Command Platoon.

Sentinels only come with the Flamer and Multilaser, while the Cadian comes with the Multilaser and Autocannon, and the Armageddon comes with a Lascannon and Multilaser.

[eek 107]

Not so sure about the choice, seeing as how I've had no experience with AT squads, and little with Sentinels.  But the standard Sentinel box only gives a Heavy Flamer and Multi-laser.  I'd recommend buying that and a Lascannon seperately.  And use magnets so you can swap weapons and save a bundle on Sentinel boxes.

What else is in the list?  That might help figure out which of the two would have a better place in it.

[*Nosferatu*]

My 1500 pt. List as it stands right now is:

Doctrines
Iron Discipline
Close Order Drill
Veterans

HQ

HSO w/ Power Weapon, Iron Discipline, and Bolt Pistol

Veteran w/ Standard, Bolt Pistol

2x
AT Support Squad w/ 3 Lascannons

313 pt

Elites

2x
10 Veterans w/ 3 Meltaguns, Power Weapon for the Sergeant
         
240 pt

Troops

2x Infantry Platoons

Jr. Officer w/ Power Weapon, Iron Discipline

10 Guardsmen w/ Heavy Bolter, Plasma gun
                  
10 Guardsmen w/ Heavy Bolter, Plasma gun

420 pt

Heavy Support
         
2x
Leman Russ Battle tanks w/ Lascannon, Heavy Bolter sponsons

Leman Russ Demolisher w/ Lascannon, Plasma Cannon, and a Heavy Stubber (No reason, just feels it needs to there)

527 pt

In this list there are:

81 fleshy bodies
9 Lascannons
8 Heavy Bolters
6 Meltaguns
4 Plasma Guns   
2 Battle Cannons
1 Demolisher Cannons      

Well, this is a grand total of 1500 points, tell me what you guys think.
                  

[Ailaros]

take the sentinels, for sure.

For the loss of 3 fast attack slots and two lascannons, you gain:

- mobility
- the ability to block LOS (invaluable)
- always present during escelation
- ability to get into CC (esp. vs S3 targets)
- free scout move
- ability to take upgrades (why you'd want to, though...)
- ability to take doctrines (why you'd want to, though...)
- cheaper (both in money and time)
- 4 scoring units (rather than two which will never move)
- relative immunity to small arms fire

and I'm sure I'm missing some. Anyways, the +2 lascannons are great, don't get me wrong, but you have so many more options at your disposal. I mean, a lascannon squad isn't a vehicle that blocks LOS and has smoke grens to take fire off your tanks first turn. A lascannon squad needs to waste a turn of firing if it needs to redeploy it's guns. A lascannon squad is less able to present a threatening posture to enemy forces (while the rest of your army does the work). Etc. Etc.

So, unless you really need the fast attack slots (why, oh why must they compete with hellhounds...), I'd take the sents over the squads.

[Dr_Ruminahui]

I agree with Aliarios, and add one more point: versatilaty/eficiency.  With 3 lascannons in a squad, if you kill the target with the first one, the other 2 are wasted.  However, with 4 sentinels in seperate FOC slots, each gets to fire before the other, allowing you potentially harm 4 targets vs. 2 using support squads.

So, as long as you have FA choices to burn...

Inquisifor Psychologis Ruminahui

[*Nosferatu*]

Thanks for the help guys, now there is only one problem. Where the heck am I going to get Lascannon sentinels? I haven't found any of them on FRP and the GW main website.

[Valhalla114]

As is stands right now you have the three FA slots open and ready to be filled. And you have an additional  sentinel squadron available to the command squad. The point is that they count as 4 separate squads for shooting purposes, so effectively on a lucky turn you could wound/hit 4 different targets versus 2 like the =][= Ruminahui mentioned.

Plus sentinels are pretty bad-azz models in their own right. And the variety too cadian, catachan, vanilla, steel legion and the elysian version too. Your choice which you pick but it would add a lot of flavor and be rather sexy.

Lascannon sentinel bits: Battel Wagon use their Cadian weapons bits or Games Workshop link page 1 & 2

[Ailaros]

oh, right. I was supposed to post this in my last post.

What I do is use lascannons from heavy weapons teams as such:








The conversion is really easy, and looks decent to boot!

[Dr_Ruminahui]

Everything you do is more than decent looking, Alaros.

Inquisitor Psychologis Ruminahui

[*Nosferatu*]

I think I'm fairly competent enough to do the conversions, but the problem is that I can't find a fourth Lascannon anywhere. I think maybe if I don't find it I could just get creative with my spare Autocannons or the Multilaser on the Sentinels.

P.S. Good Job on the Sentinel there.

[Ailaros]

heh, that's actually a pretty easy one: just chop off the end piece from a multilaser and an autocannon. Attach the endpiece of the multilaser to the whole rest of the autocannon. The problem, of course, would be getting rid of that pesky round ammo thing, but I think you can figure it out.

[Prod]

I give my AT squads sharpshooters so they're more likely to hit.  Even with sharpshooters, I've had 2 AT squads miss completely in a single turn.  Thankfully I had 5 other Lascannons which did a good bit of damage.

I've never really had an issue with my AT squad survivability.  I'm almost always able to deploy in cover.  If I can't do that then I use Chimeras to block LOS initially incase I don't get the first turn, and then I maneuver the Chimeras so the Lascannons can only see one target at time, greatly limiting return fire.

By the way, overall I like the list you posted.  My only gripe is a formatting issue: the summary is a bit misleading because you included the secondary weapons on your heavy tanks.  In reality you have 6 Lascannons and 4 Heavy Bolters because you'll be firing the ordnance from your Russes, with the possible exception that the Demolisher is out of range.  (I was all excited when I saw 9 Lascannons because I thought I found a fellow Lascannon connoisseur, and then I realized that it didn't quite add up the way I initially thought )

[diluted]

would there be any wayyou could take one squad of AT and a couple of sentinals? so youve got some to sit back and shoot while the others move

[*Nosferatu*]

I could go with One AT Squad and two Sentinels, but I kind of want everything to be concentrated on one or the other.

And, yea, Guess, I shouldn't have added the extra Lascannon's from my tanks. But when targetting sv+ units, I just use the Lascannon and save my self the trouble of trying to hit and see him fail the armor save.

Well...time for school

[[dixon]]

One AT squad and 2 Sentinels would probably be the best option though.  Your opponent will do his best to keep his tanks out of LOS of the AT squads, and then the Sentinels can hunt them down.