Alright, it has been a busy week, but I have been reading on the latest and keeping up with things. So more confirmations of earlier rumors on orders came out and new models were leaked. Probably the most controversial besides the Taurox is this bad boy, the Wyvern. Its part of a dual kit, the other being the hydra. Now I don't think this looks that bad at all, but neither is it winning any model contests. So its the kit no one expected or asked for, but it is what we got.
And I like it. So run down it has the standard chimera chassis profile. Its opened topped and is armed with its storm shard mortars. Note it has two of them. They have 2 blast shots that are twin linked, ignore cover, barrage, shred and are S4 Ap6. At first this does not seem that great. Here is the thing, I love mortars, I have won so many games through the use of the little things plinking away and pinning infantry. So for 5 pts more than the current mortar squad, I get one more blast, rerolls to hit and wound, ignore cover, and if I need to I can move and fire two shots. Plus immune to most small arms fire, if not resistant to it.
Now they can be squadroned into 3s, its not completely clear whether they are their own choice or part of the artillery battery like the others are. Time will tell but lets assume for now they are their own choice. As they are they really don't replace any one artillery unit, as the griffon beats it on S and AP and Large blast, but lack ignores cover but with barrage this is not a huge issue. The other heavier artillery as well have their roles.
So where do I see these working, well its pretty obvious. They are here to rain the pain on infantry. Two will be throwing out 8 blasts for just over a buck twenty, three will throw out 12 and still be under 200pts. Its like they saw the Space Marines thunderfire and were all, oh thats cute, you think you have artillery, let me show you how its done.
Having ignores cover is actually very useful even with barrage. This works especially well against non marine bike units. With all the jink saves with bonuses that many bike units can get, the Wyvern is a great unit for piling on hits and wounds to these units. It also works well on scout equivalent units that want to be in cover and take advantage of stealth or shrouding to give them bonus. Also with night fighting this is a great way to get around that save and bonuses and give infantry an early bloody nose. With a searchlight you can light that unit up as long as you have LoS. Not a bad way to support your other units, spread small blasts every where to get hits and light up the board, but you take the risk of not having cover from return fire if your other units don't take the threats out.
All in all I like this unit, the kit is ok and looks to be easy to modify and magnetize so you can have access to hydras or wyverns depending on your fancy. The look is ok, nothing amazing but I am really liking the potential for damage it can do to infantry. I use mortars to great affect and will definitely be picking up a few of these. They are not going to be the end all be all of the artillery but another tool in the shed to use.
GG
My problem with the Wyvern has never been the rules, those kinda rock as you pointed out (Thunderfire Cannon...cute), its that we could have gotten something else for it plus I don't like the look of the model. I think that another anti-air kit would have been a more solid selection. Plus, it competes with my precious Russes, who already have to compete with Hydras, for Heavy Support slots.
ReplyDeleteIf I every field one (or three), which I might, I'll instead buy three basilisks and convert new guns onto them instead. The only other hope for me to field these is if I magnetize me some Hydras.
Was working on my own Wyvern article actually, freshly posted if anybody wants a read.
DeleteSo yeah, it competes in heavy . Atm I have a cheap exterminator, a pricey executioner and a manticore. Now if certain rumours are sound, I can squadron my 2 russes, make the executioner a tank commander to benfit from the exterminators protection while being able to split fire/ fire then smoke etc. This opens up a slot for me and one easily filled with a unit this cheap... It fills a role I lack in atm too but I feel AA may be the way to go
DeleteAre you sure the Wyvern has 2 stormshard mortars? Like the Hydra has 2 twin linked hydra autocanons? Because I can't find where is that stated.
ReplyDeleteI hope there is a drop in HWT points, because if they aren't a lot cheaper there will be almost no point in taking regular mortars (I know, they can hide better and are scoring).
Its in the new whitedwarf, they have 2 stormshard mortars.
DeleteI think this is a very ugly model, and obviously started with the thought of how they could make the hydra into a dual kit without adding extra sprues. It looks wrong for an artillery piece.
ReplyDeleteI'll stick the the colossus, unless it changes drastically. Better stats and still ignores cover, just less accurate. The Hydra does look cool though. But definitely trumps mortars. I might convert a Katyusha (spelling?) rocket style vehicle as its close enough to the idea.
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me of the manticore model
ReplyDeleteI for one think the model's OK, sure it's not the greatest but it's not a Taurox either.
ReplyDeleteSince I already have some of the ForgWorld Hydras (the enclosed compartment looks much better in my opinion) I'd be happy to get a pair of Wyverns. Great weapons profile for cheap.
Used the wyvern last night in a game, worked rather well, with shred being essential to get the wounds in. In WD it says it will regularly take out 5 to 6 marines, I found 3 to be about average.
ReplyDeleteWhile I found it good, not sure its better or worse than the griffin, against MEQ's its prob better, against eldar and tau I'd take the griffin though.
I'll be giving the Wyvern a miss for a while. In fact I'd rather invest in some Maticores first.... Still after I've got some more time and money on my hands, I'm sure I'll try a few, 'cos I'm greedy that way!
ReplyDeleteIf they give the Hydra interceptor, I will buy 3 of them! Otherwise, I will just get one for my collection.
ReplyDeleteits a really big Thud Gun. from way back when...
ReplyDeleteWe can like the look of the new Wyver or not, but the capacity of destruction of a squadron of three of these is impressive IMO, and cheap too. Shooting 12 small templates with Ignore Cover, Shred an Twin-linked will obliterate any unit of resistance 4 or under by pure saturation, no matter their armour save.
ReplyDeleteWe have to wait and see the rules and cost for the Griffon (his closer rival) in the new codex before saying nothing definite but i think that the Wyver will be a serious contender for the tittle of best anti-infantry tank in the Imperial Guard.
A Wyvern battery could be a real game changer against Eldar/Dark Eldar/Orks/Nids and other IG. Looking at the kit, with a bit of fiddling you should be able swap weapons.
ReplyDeleteShame the toy isn't cheap (£$) unlike the points cost!
Gather three batteries and that's 36 small twin linked blasts, however I think I ought to pay things like electricity & water bills rather than buy nine new toys
Damn, it seems Collossus, Griphon and Medusa are out of codex... which means without IA are Wyverns great anti-infantry addition. I simply like the pattern of saving rolls overload with three in squadron.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, its HS slot and maybe I will use two Basilisk...?:)
Well, it was foreseeable they wouldn't include half-a-dozen artillery kits to give us all variants listed in the current codex.
ReplyDeleteMy concern with the current leaks is - the guard seems to become far more static.
AlRahem is gone, Marbo is gone, stormtroopers can't outflank/infiltrate any more.
Seems the only scouts would be the scout sentinel and Creed's chosen.
As for the wyvern, I like the model and the rules, just the price is too high to field enough of 'em.
Luckily I won't need many other kits, Ogryns don't fit my army style, Taurox will take much time to convert (preventing me from buying more until it's done, yay).
One box of scions is enough to build 10 guys when using Cadian torsos/legs, that will come closer to my current Kasrkin and leave cool torsos for charakters.
I am looking forward to the codex release. While there are a few points issues, orgyns and chimeras spring to mind, i think on the whole, the IG are going to remain pretty much unchanged. There not going to challange Eldar or Tau at the top but will remain a solid mid table codex.
ReplyDeleteIt will take some adjusting to the new rules, but thats always the case with a new codex. My army will still be valid and run pretty much as before, although i'll have to re-think the vets in the valkyrie, and i'll be looking at the new MT/ST platoons. (Which i'm hoping will work the same way for reserves as the standard platoons)
I'll morn the loss of the Griffin though, and hope the wyvern can step up and show that its as good as it seems.
Moar rumors here: http://natfka.blogspot.de/2014/04/from-codex-astra-militarum.html
ReplyDeleteAnd cause you people like everything (knights, fugly vans, blah artillery), I guess you like the loss of 3 artillery pieces too (Griffon, Medusa, Colossos).
- BF Tabitha
We haven't lost those tanks, mate. They are available in IA 1 second edition for every imperial guard player who wants to use them ;P
DeleteSure, I'll buy a rule book for 100$ to field models which have been cost free for the last 5 years (as included in 5th ed dex). Or maybe I just wait for the next dataslate or 'codex' supplement. Yay!
Delete-BF Tabitha
You don't have to buy anything. If you have the current imperial guard codex you can still use the rules for all those missing tanks in the next codex. The rules in the Imperial Armour book are exactly the same as the codex ones :)
DeleteNo sweat, that's plan B.
Delete-BF Tabitha