Phone call with GW pertaining to grounding tests

[wisdomseyes1]

Sept 14, 2012 17:01:46 GMT Jabberwocky said:

The problem there is, balancing for things like iron arm, 3+ armour and FnP, which FMCs have access to, to negate wounds.

If our FMC is immune to small arms, it makes them very, very powerful as they can't even be assaulted to tarpit.

I can see why they made it hits. A good compromise might have been similar to 'strikedown', whereby it triggers on saves made and failed. So they have to hit and wound, but we can still save/FnP. This will let some small arms through but not the low strength stuff.

Personally though, my FMCs aren't struggling with 3+ to stay aloft, even from hits.

As opposed to... vehicles... who cant stand small arms fire and totally arent ACTUALLY immune to it. And who can totally be tart pitted in the assault as well...

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Now despite the post I just made, I am going to have to agree with Jabber here, FMC are far more flexible than Fliers. They have a 360 arch of fire, the ability to assault, easy access to saves (armor/ cover/ Invuln thinking of Chaos). They can also, remember, be denial units unlike fliers.

I would have agreed with Nib 100% pre September FAQ when they didnt have access to skyfire. Because, honestly, they should have.

That said, while we may have flexibility, fliers have the firepower. That 360 arch of fire isnt nearly as threatening on a Lord of Change or Flyrant with dual devourers. The 3 Valkuries with 3 TL lascannons each (I believe that is the right number) has the volumes of fire to deal with TERMAGANTS, and similarly kill off TMC's. The only cost (beyond points) is that they have a firing arch and no way to move effectively.

FMC's are a lot easier to use, but there is no way I can justify saying one is better than the other. If the FMC's didnt have the grounded test though... I would still be inclined to say the same thing, but it would give some inclination toward FMC's. Because when you think about it, a FMC now has everything that a flier has plus some more extra stuff.

I am going to say this though... fliers are cheap comparatively. Dirt cheap. 240 points for a flying hive tyrant with no upgrades??? Thats the cost of 2 valkuries if I am not mistaken. But Monstrous creatures points cost compared to vehicles has always been somewhat of a joke... not something really new

[infornography]

You are thinking of Vendettas which cost 130 points each, can be taken in groups of up to 3 and for 10 more points can tack on a couple of heavy bolter sponsons to augment the 3 twin linked lascannons.
They are also 12/12/10 armor, can hover if the movement restrictions of zooming are a problem, and come with the extra armor upgrade by default.
They are kind of absurdly good.

for the cost of a basic dakka flyrant you can get two Vendettas. Or, also for less than the cost of the dakka flyrant you can get a grey knights stormraven with 4 mindstrike missiles, a twin linked assault cannon, a twin linked heavy bolter, two hurricane bolters, and psybolt ammo which increases the strength of all that by 1. Also it too can hover to deal with repositioning when needed. shrugs off melta, is armor 12 all around, is one of the best transports in any codex, and can use a psyker power to remove shaken and stunned. Plus it is a psyker so denies the witch like a boss.

[wisdomseyes1]

Valkyrie, vendetta, imperial abomination with guns and a flier base, tomato, tomato.

I was close in the name xD to this day I don't know the different between an assault and an auto cannon. Every time they fire I just say "is that the rending one?" because I am pro with marines and know that much of a difference

[Raven]

Sept 15, 2012 13:21:42 GMT coredump said:

I think he is talking about the Grounding test itself.

Ah ok, I was confused by the his language usage, "save against that hit" made me think he was talking about an armour save or something rather than the grounded test itself.