Colossus Siege Mortar?

[agurus1]

Hey so I just got home from a game where I had knocked out all of my opponents Chaos Rhinos and his marines were huddling in the craters near his objective (Capture and Control). I couldn't help but think... "Man I wish I had a Siege Mortar for that S6 AP3 - ignores cover goodness." So anyway do any Guard Players out there own/use a Colossus? Do you only use them at certain points values? How effective/useful is it? Thanks in advance!

[Xandros]

I substitute one for my Krieg since the Bombard is so poor. It's absolutely deadly against any entrenched infantry that doesn't have a 2+ save. It's really nice, if much more specialized and expensive than griffon heavy mortars.

[Infidel]

A good friend of mine runs 2 Manticores and a squad of Medusa in his army and it was pretty scary, another variation of it is 2 Manticores and a squad of Hydra.

I feel that if you have good anti-mech through vandetta and infantry/sentinel mounted lascannons/autocannons, then having something to deal with anything that bailed out and attempting to hug cover is good.

But as noted, cost is its largest draw back, and as any barrage weapons ignores the cover from the majority of stuff not hugging terrain, we don't often see stuff taken for the express purpose of denying cover saves.

[agurus1]

I see your points, my thought was that is was pretty versatile, especially with the proficiency of cover this edition. My battlecannons could only accomplish so much against entrenched Marines, and while a Nova Cannon totting Leman Russ is an interesting option, the limited range and AP4 make it less valuable in my eyes. Lets put it this way, there aren't many games where the isn't an objective with a unit of troops hugging it in cover, and I can't see a game where I wouldn't get SOME use out of the Colossus.

@Xandros, what kind of use do you get out of it? Is it effective?

[tu33y]

i have one but I have not used it yet! i hope to get some hints from this...

[ColShaw]

In my opinion, a pair of Griffons will almost always be more effective, even against MEQ infantry due to much more accurate template placement. The Griffon is equivalent against vehicles, and superior against most infantry. I'd say the Colossus is a heavily specialized vehicle which falls short outside its narrow specialization.

[Xandros]

Assuming that two Heavy Mortars do thrice the wounds of a Colossus (We can assume at least twice, plus liberal one for increased accuracy).

Given a 4+ cover save the heavy mortars are still over by 50%.
Given a 3+ cover or armour save, the two weapons are equal.
Given a 2+ cover save, the Colossus scores twice as many kills as the heavy mortars' damage is cut by 1/6.

I don't know how accurate my assumption of 3x is, but given this I have cause to reconsider my use of the colossus. On the other hand,
-There is the psychological factor. It's very intimidating to receive no saves at all, no matter where you are on the board.
-The target will not try to go to ground. This may be good or bad.
-The Colossus is enclosed. Oops. No it isn't.

The dealbreaker will be the Colossus' much superior range. 48" is quite limiting for static artillery.

[Rhaivaen]

So, talking about artillery, I have to ask about other cannons

What are the thoughts on the Earthshaker? (I have a model 1/35 scale of a 21 cm Morser 18 lying about for that model)

[agurus1]

I've heard that the earthshaker is suprisingly good vs vehicles lol

[agurus1]

but if you are taking an earthshaker why not take a Leman Russ?

[Xandros]

Daft question, Agurus :P

Earthshakers are nice against armour, being s9 ordnance. You can direct fire on the move to hit the side you're facing and hit a single target more reliably if running a squadon (since direct fire won't use multiple barrage); OR you can fire a barrage to hit the side armour which is in most cases weaker than the front.

Against vehicles I'm partial to Manticore Rocket Launchers. Closed-top S10 multiple shots. Worse AP, but it's nearly sure to hurt any vehicle on a direct hit, and lighter vehicles, side and rear armour, is likely to be damaged regardless. This of course goes for any S10 ordnance, barrage in particular.

[DJ3]

Against vehicles I'm partial to Manticore Rocket Launchers. Closed-top S10 multiple shots. Worse AP, but it's nearly sure to hurt any vehicle on a direct hit, and lighter vehicles, side and rear armour, is likely to be damaged regardless. This of course goes for any S10 ordnance, barrage in particular.

At our recent GT, one of the top table games (fifth round, four remaining undefeated) was virtually decided by disgusting rolling from a Manticore. Destroyed two AV13/13/11 Ghost Arks with partial hits on the rear armor while firing at a different target.

S10 Ordnance is no joke, even on partials.

[agurus1]

I thought Ghost Arks were AV13 all around until they suffered a glance or pen?

I ordered a colossus, can't wait to get my hands on it and try it out!

[Infidel]

I thought Ghost Arks were AV13 all around until they suffered a glance or pen?

I ordered a colossus, can't wait to get my hands on it and try it out!

13/13/11

That's some serious luck to destroy 2 arks that way tho....S5 can only glance and then even with open topped it needs another 6 to.....

Yeah, what luck.

[agurus1]

damn thats some crazy rolling!

[Rhaivaen]

I thought Ghost Arks were AV13 all around until they suffered a glance or pen?

I ordered a colossus, can't wait to get my hands on it and try it out!

Which model did u actually buy to represent the Colossus? I see as far as I know Only Forge World sells it, in the form of the: IMPERIAL BOMBARD (product code : IA-GUA-T-134), or am I wrong?

[Xandros]

I have the FW Imperial Bombard. It has poor rules unfortunately. Isn't even armoured as a leman russ like the hull would suggest.

[agurus1]

I got the bombard because thats what is pictured in the IG codex (oddly lol)

[Xandros]

You'll notice what's pictured in the IG codex, while it looks like a bombard, is on a chimera chassis.

[Rhaivaen]

Interesting to see such a massive discrepancy in chassis.. hmmz