Earthshaker Battery worth?

[Zombs]

Hello, I'm a Space Marine player and was looking at some AM units to fulfill my anti-tank needs. Leman russes are cool, but get targeted easily in the first turn, artillery on the other hand can be hidden/put out of range.

 

So I looked at the forgeworld unit and saw this unit: Earthshaker Battery. Why should one not pick it? Yet I have never seen anyone use them.

 

80 points for the same weapon of the basilisk? Am I missing something, or did they already nerfed the cost? Sounds like a deal otherwise!

 

Anyway, I need something that can be put on table and survive turn one shooting. Do you have any other ideas?

 

Thanks for the tips!

[our_baz]

The cost has been nerfed now its 115pts. Better to get a bassy at 108pts.

[shandwen]

Also, the model is incredibly difficult to aquire.

[TheAlchemist]

You also have to pay for the crew. They cost as much as a standard guardsman but you have to take either 3 or 4 (can't remember) who get no upgrades and can't move. The biggest issue I have is that one would think you're opponent would have to kill these guys first before they can kill the gun, but in fact it's the other way around, and you get stuck with a unit of 3 or 4 regular guardsmen that won't do much for you.

I ran two full squads of earthshakers before the price hike, now I've converted them back into basilisk.

 

PS

If you want to give them a try, buy the basilisk kit and build it so you can slide the gun bit out. Don't put the ladder on it and there you go.

If you don't like it, just slide the gun back on.

[Harrowmaster]

You also have to pay for the crew. They cost as much as a standard guardsman but you have to take either 3 or 4 (can't remember) who get no upgrades and can't move. The biggest issue I have is that one would think you're opponent would have to kill these guys first before they can kill the gun, but in fact it's the other way around, and you get stuck with a unit of 3 or 4 regular guardsmen that won't do much for you.

I ran two full squads of earthshakers before the price hike, now I've converted them back into basilisk.

 

PS

If you want to give them a try, buy the basilisk kit and build it so you can slide the gun bit out. Don't put the ladder on it and there you go.

If you don't like it, just slide the gun back on.

 

The earthshaker carriage battery requires crew, the earthshaker platform battery doesn't

[Tallarn Commander]

For what it's worth, I'd say you can go with either a Basilisk or an Earthshaker Carriage. I've used 1-2 Bassies with my Tallarns many times this edition and I've used 1-3 Earthshaker Carriages with 4 crew many times with my Renegades and Heretics.

 

On paper, the Basilisk is superior. It's cheaper, it can move, it has more wounds, it has a 3+ save rather than a 4+save. It reality the points difference is negligible, if an enemy AT unit can see either unit (because your board lacks sufficient cover) then either unit will die, and I hardly ever move my Basilisk so the Carriage's immobility isn't a big deal.

 

I'd say you should base your decision on your armies' fluff, the aesthetics of each unit, and how fun you would find each unit. For example, my Tallarns use Bassies because they are supposed to be a rapid desert raiding force and they find self-propelled artillery to be a better fit. My Renegades and Heretics are a shambling slow force consisting of hordes of infantry backed up by battery upon battery of field artillery. In other words, one force is akin to the British WWII "Jock Columns" used in the North African desert and the other force is akin to the British and Commonwealth forces in the trenches in the Western Front and Gallipoli during WWI.

 

As Alchemist and Shandwen note, if you choose to go with Earthshaker Carriages you will have to be a bit creative in sourcing your model. But many people have implemented all sorts of creative Earthshaker carriage kitbashes and you won't have any problem finding an appropriate model. Personally, I bought 3 $8 toy kits from an online company called Toy Soldiers Depot. The kits were recasts of a 1960s toy from a company called Marx (I think) and Marx based their cast on the 155mm US "Long Tom" artillery piece.

 

Here are images of both my Renegade and Heretics Earthshaker Carriage and my Imperial Guard Tallarn Basilisk.

 

 

Traitor Earthshaker Carriage seen during the Chaos uprising on Xereus IV. This piece is believed to have belonged to a Chaos mercenary force, the Nostroman 9th, that was hired by the rebellious planetary governor. 

 

 

 

A Basilisk belonging to the Valhallan 166th Artillery Regiment fighting a heretical Blood Angel force during the campaign on the Donora's 3rd moon in the Elgin system. The  Valhallans were seconded to the Tallarn 23rd for the duration of the campaign. Consequently the Valhallans adopted Tallarn desert garb and colors before the Imperial Navy accidentally sent the Tallarns to the moon's artic rather than the desert region.

 

 

 

"Artillery adds dignity, to what would otherwise be an ugly brawl."

-Frederick the Great