I have to admit that I love Gun Carriages. They have so many uses, and some of them involves a Winter Guards lot here in life: dying. I also like the German approach to things, meaning backup, and a backup to the backup. This is also the reason I like the triple Marauder set-up, rather than a mix of 'jacks. Unfortunately, the Gun Carriage is FA:2, so no backup to the backup.
For the folks on this thread who are in to double Gun Carriages, can you give me some insight on when you’re dropping your Vlad 1 list in a tournament, what you’re pairing it with, and why you like two GCs?
So, why do I like double carriage? They are really fast. SPD 8 is tremendous in Khador world. They threaten 18" shooting, and a whooping 21" shooting if they can charge something; an enormous 23" shooting if Vlad put Boundless Charge on it. I alway run one on each flank. Have two ARM 20 things with 38 boxes projecting a 23" bubble of shooting and rough terrain from each flank really makes the opponent think. Having one, just doesn't really cut it as focused fire from many opponents will remove one.
Gun Carriages offers a huge scenario presence. When going second in "King of the hill", a Gun Carriage can be in each zone ready to be ready to score already in the first round. In "Bunkers" and "Spread the net" a carriage can also reach the opponents zone in the first round (when running) - not that it necessarily is a good idea. It is also fabulous at contesting, both zones and flags. Removing these 38 boxes (times two) takes effort.
I just had a game against Cygnar Hunter spam under Sloan, and I did loose both carriages pretty fast, but it took everything Sloan could throw at my army under her feat. Thus, all the rest of the army was left unharmed to clean up (I'll get round to writing it up shortly). Finally, just park a Gun Carriage somewhere near a flag or in a zone and you can contests forever. A bit of movement, knocking down and shooting, combined with Reposition will keep a carriage parked whilst still doing damage.
They are marvellous at knocking stuff down. I love the combination of Gun Carriages, two Field Guns, and Combo Smite from the Marauders. There is a huge number of knockdowns to be made in one turn. Obviously, shooting things that are already knocked down is easy, but it can also starve the opponent's focus pool; even without necessarily killing 'jacks or 'beasts. My personal record is currently 11 knockdowns on 'jacks against Butcher3 (
battle report here). That is a lot of (power-up focus) that needs to be spend.
In my current meta, that tends to includ large bases and fairly heavy armor (Rasheth double derps with a Supreme Guardian, Ret double space ticks, Crucible Guard in general).
In those matchups, I want more armor, guns, and large base killers. I don’t include the Gun Carriage because it lacks offensive output against high armor and large bases.
I have trouble with Retribution double lawn mover and Skorne double derps. In theory, the Marauders should be able to take care of the huge-bases. Unfortunately, I have never really managed to deal with them. I have a theory that I simply do not play my list good enough. The Marauders should be able to deal with the Tridents, as they threat more that the 13" that the Tridents do (10" shot + Reposition). The derps are just evil. Crucible Guards are kind of ok.
Gun Carriages really don't like seeing tough no-knockdown infantry (in particular Weapon Masters), such as Cinerators, and to some degree double Sentinels.
The Vlad, triple Marauders, double Gun Carriages and two Rifle Corps is my all-comers list, and the one I play absolutely the most. It works against most things. I can't get it to work against Retribution (mostly double Tridents) and Circle (all the Tharns). There is probably more that the list won't like (e.g. Cryx, all the ladies I guess?). But, in my meta it is double Cinerators, Tharn, double Storm Raptor, and probably some Skorne (double Immortals?) that Vlad doesn't like to see.
I'm currently running an Sorscha3 Armored Corps list as my second list. It can to a certain degree deal with Tharn. But, in general I'm not too happy about it. I am thinking about changing it, doing some sort of Jaws list, or perhaps even do another Winter Guard Kommand, just with Butcher3.
For completenes, my current list is:
[Theme] Winter Guard Kommand
[Vladimir 1]
Vladimir Tzepesci, the Dark Prince [+28]
- Marauder [11]
- Marauder [11]
- Marauder [11]
Kovnik Jozef Grigorovich [0(4)]
Winter Guard Artillery Kapitan [0(3)]
Winter Guard Artillery Kapitan [0(3)]
Winter Guard Field Gun Crew [4]
Winter Guard Field Gun Crew [4]
Winter Guard Mortar Crew [0(5)]
Winter Guard Rifle Corps (min) [8]
- Winter Guard Rocketeer (3) [6]
Winter Guard Rifle Corps (min) [8]
- Winter Guard Rocketeer (3) [6]
Winter Guard Gun Carriage [17]
Winter Guard Gun Carriage [17]
I think I would like to fit in an Adjunct. I might change the Mortar into one - but then I am missing a whole one point.
Sorry for turning this is to a very long homage to the humble Gun Carriage.
For the Motherland!