Imperial Guard heavy weapon options

[Bobman]

I'm trying a Guard army at the moment, only played a handful of games with them so far. But anyway.

I was wondering what weapon options people use, but more importantly where they use them? In squads or dedicated heavy weapon teams?

Bobman out

[MC Tic Tac]

In regular squads, they are all cheaper in regular squads too rather than the 6 man teams (except lascannons)

[DURENDIN]

Definately in the Squads!

Heavy Weapon teams are six (easy to wound) wounds to three weapons. I take six missile Launchers in six squads as standard. That spreads the effort and more importantly denies the enemy a prime target to single out.

[smacky]

I dunno for points wise I don't know if it makes that much of a difference.

I'd say 10man guardsmen squads are meant to attack other infantry/troops so why put a missle launcher in there to fire at enemy tanks..
I've done both, I'm not sure which I like better.

[×ÏVÏøøÐz×]

It is in my opinion (as un-tactical as I am...), that guardsmen squads are not meant to attack other infantry, they can, but the way I see it, they excel at destroying armour, while our own armour destroys infantry of all sorts (well...ok not terminators...but you get the idea. Battle cannons= dead things, excuding the multitude of cover 5th offers things...)

Massed lascannons or even missile launchers can prove successful in destroying armour, and when you have almost ten lascannons or missile launchers pointed at one vehicle, their bound to do something to it. And when all the vehicles are gone, you can take shots at expensive characters/monstrous creatures and damage them with your heavy weapons. Or, if your fighting against the ever growing populace of Space Marine players, why not shoot at his lovely tactical squad whos been standing there pot-shoting your infantry with a heavy bolter? Or his assualt squad over there trying to flank you. Against certain opponents, lascannons and plasma guns are excellent, but, as most guard players will probably tell you, your best bet against infantry is the humble, yet surprisingly destructive lasgun. As I already said, guardsmen can tackle infantry quite well through massive fire power, but the way I see it, an ordnance blast from a battle cannon is far superior in terms of killing infantry, than it is at killing a vehicle, so why spend points to pay for additional anti-infantry power when you've got (if your playing proper guard, which...uhm..I dont, but I still use alot of tanks) two to three ordnance blasts in your army a turn coming down? I say, guardsmen should be used as anti-vehicle squads, with lascannons galore. But it is, your personal preferance and opinion that matters most.

Heavy weapons should, as stated above, in other posts, placed in infantry squads, ten wound heavy weapons are far better than six wound ones, where you lose one heavy weapon for every two wounds caused.


*Moodz apologizes for this massed-ish wall of useless text. He did not know he was ranting on about how much he adores lascannons.*

[DURENDIN]

If I have one steel rule for my Guard it is never present an oppertunity or high profile target to your enemy unless its bait.

For me this means keeping an army as uniform as possible, lots of identical squads so one is of no higher value or priority (beyond its deployment or table position). This means I don't use Heavy Weapon Squads or other units like Ogryns (ugly as sin and expensive) etc.

The only exceptions are suicidal Special Weapons Squads with Demo-Charges and the odd Stormtrooper Squad infiltrated but keep in mind these are special cases for intimidation and distraction, not the standard.

[kingfig]

...

[ForlornAmour]

I love the autocannon.

Autocannon autocannon autocannon.

No, I won't justify it. I never have been able to. I just gave up and finally ran with it. Meltas for killing armor and termies. Autocannons for everything else. Okay, I will justify it. While I love the missile launcher's beautiful S8 instadeathing and AP3 marine-eating, the two high power shots just seem more flexible in my opinion.

I used to favor all Plasma/Missile Launcher. Now I'm leaning towards Melta/Autocannon as my favorites. Not mixed together though. Hmph.

[Bobman]

Like I say I've only used them in a handfull of games and I did the same, ie; heavy weapons in squads.

But with close combat being so brutal now and Guard excelling at it like they do I wondered if maybe heavy weapon teams may be better. Allowing for the squads to maneuver to rapid fire danger while leaving heavy weapons stationary to fire.

Bobman out

[LanceWarrior]

I'd say put them in the squads, myself.

As for what weapon - Missile Launchers + Autocannons and are decent all round weapons. Heavy Bolters are good weapons to have in Infantry Platoons. Although i'd never put Lascannons in Infantry Platoons because they are tank killers and HQ hunters - unlike Lasguns.

[IGplayer81]

i put them in squads to keep them alive. while the heavy weapons squad's have more firepower, they have only 6 bodies, and boy do they drop quick.
heavy bolters for infantry
lascannon for tanks.
nothing else

i use to use autocannons but i just like the third shot for the heavy bolter or that st. 9 shot from the lascannon. but try different types, see what works for you.