Have you seen this unit? part 19

I guess I’ll continue this series with another Ork heavy support option, the Big Guns. Now when people think 40K ork they think face punching mobs that shoot guns in the air instead of at targets. Well that is true, but there is a bit of ranged accuracy to be found and that is with the Gretchin/ Grots. They aren’t Astartes, but they do have BS 3 and for an Ork army that is incredible!

Big Guns are the Ork artillery batteries. They can be one of three weapons: Kannons, Lobbas or Zzap Guns. They each come with two Grot gunners and follow the artillery rules. They cost a base double decade per gun to start. They can also purchase additional crew, up to six for +3 points each. They can also grab up to three Ammo Runts (allow one re-roll on a missed to hit) for +3 points each. Finally they can also add a Runt Herder (Ork that keeps the Grots in line) for +  points. This unit can be a single  gun or a unit of up to three.

Kannon

These are basically missile launchers. They have a range of 36” and are S8 AP3 heavy 1. They can also fire a 36” S4 AP 5 heavy 1 blast. See they are a shorter ranged krak /frag missile launcher. They also are the basic choice and cost no additional points.

Lobba

The Lobba is a: G48” S5 AP 5 heavy 1 blast weapon. It is the Ork version of a mortar. Now these come at the cost of +5 points each. They are still very cheap for an indirectly firing weapon.

Zzap Gun

This is the weird orky lascannon. It is has a 36” range is S 2D6 AP 2 and heavy 1. You roll for the weapon strength before the gun is fired. One roll is used for the entire unit. The entire unit of Zzap guns will have the same strength. If an 11 or 12 is rolled the shot is resolved at S10, but a single Grot is killed in the process. It is removed with no saves. I guess they are melted while firing the gun. If a Zzap gun is fired at a vehicle it will automatically cause a Shaken result along with any other damage that occurs. These cost an additional +10 points per gun

A battery of Big Guns seems like it would function like an Imperial Guard heavy weapons team. It is a shame that it follows the artillery rules instead of just being a multi-wound unit. We all know the rules for artillery in 40K don’t we? Well... probably not since there is so little of it out there. Go look them up and then return. I’ll wait

You see, the artillery rules kind of blow right? A multi-wound unit seems a bit better than an artillery battery. This might be a reason this unit is passed upon.

They also are in competition with Battle Wagons, Killa Kans and Deff Dreads which are all a bit more popular with Ork players. The Battle Wagon is a beastly transport that usually outlasts the cheaper trucks. The Killa Kans are mobile Grot heavy weapons that can basically do what the Big Guns can. Finally the Deff Dread is the Ork Dreadnaught. It might be slower in combat, but can have more attacks at the same strength and has same armor value. These are all a bit more viable to Orks than a unit of stationary guns. Well it seems that is the reason.

Then there are the Lootas that can put out more fire than a unit of three Big Guns. Sure they are not as accurate and are S7, but the chance to have 30 autocannon  shots (in a 10 man squad) is just too good for Ork players to pass up.

I guess this is why the Big Guns are universally ignored by Ork players. A unit of three Kannons even with additional crew and ammo runts is under 100 points. This is not awful. Who dislikes having multiple krak missiles in a unit? Well mostly people on the receiving end. These are just so cheap it is hard to not understand why they are not used. I guess a missile launcher that hits on a 4+ is just poo, but an autocannon that hits on a 5+ is great? It must be the quantity or quality thing.

The Lobba is kind of a drek weapon. The indirect fire option can at least keep them safe and the S5 is nice. If they were a large blast template, then they would be a lot sexier, but G.W. would also have them at +40 points for a Lobba upgrade and then people still wouldn’t use them.

The Zzap gun is interesting. The AP 2 is fantastic! The automatic shaken result vs. armor is good, but the odds of getting a descent strength hit are not. They are a bit expensive for a lascannon though, a lascannon that comes with a random strength. Why random? When will G.W. learn that random does not equal fun or viable?

I guess the Big Guns need to be made better in their next reincarnation to get people to use them. I can’t see them getting any cheaper, since they are pretty dirt cheap now. That or maybe just exclude them completely. It doesn’t seem like they will be missed.