|
Land Speeder Basics
Land Speeders are Fast vehicles, meaning they can move up
to 24" and not attack or up to 12" and still fire
weapons. This phenomenal speed makes the Land Speeder the
fastest thing in the Space Marine arsenal short of the Thunderhawk.
Land Speeders are also Skimmers, making them the only vehicles
of that type in the Imperial arsenal. Able to ignore intervening
terrain, Skimmers can navigate even a crowded battlefield
with ease. This capability only adds to the Land Speeder's
already-potent manoeuvrability.
Land Speeders mount a single Heavy Weapon, able to choose
from the Heavy Bolter or Multi-Melta. The other variants of
the Land Speeder (see below) can mount more weapons of differing
varieties.
At a cost of only 50 points each, the basic Land Speeder
is an excellent buy. I normally like to field a Multi-Melta
Land Speeder to increase my force's anti-armour capability.
As you will see in the Battlefield Roles section, Land
Speeders armed with Multi-Meltas excel as tank-hunters
Land Speeder Variants
There are three main variants of the Land Speeder available
to the Space Marines. Each variant possesses a particular
advantage that the basic Land Speeder lacks.
|
|
| The Tornado variant mounts twice as many Heavy
Weapons as the basic Land Speeder. Because the
Tornado's points cost increases only moderately
(75 points for the standard Tornado), the extra
Heavy Weapons can become extremely effective.
It should be noted that for the cost of three
basic Land Speeders, you can get two Tornados
with a total of four Heavy Weapons! The Land Speeder
Tornado can also choose from a wider variety of
weapons, able to mount an Assault Cannon or a
Heavy Flamer. |
|
|
|
| My favourite variant, the Land Speeder Typhoon,
is extraordinary at antipersonnel actions
on the
battlefield. Costing 75 points just like the
Tornado, the Typhoon mounts a twin-linked
Typhoon Missile
Launcher. The Typhoon Missile inflicts a hard
hit with the blast template at long range
(up
to 48") and rarely misses since it is twin-linked.
The Typhoon variant's only real drawback is
its
lack of versatility – the Typhoon Missile
Launcher is excellent at destroying infantry
or
light vehicles, but nearly useless against even
medium armour such as the Eldar Falcon or Tau
Devilfish. |
|
|
|
| Don't forget that the Imperial armour Update
book has another variant known as the Tempest.
Sporting better armour, an Assault Cannon, and
a twin-linked Missile Launcher, the Tempest is
among the most feared versions of the Land Speeder.
The Tempest is a bit of a difficult combination
of weapons – the Assault Cannon has a 24"range
while the Missile Launcher fires out to 48".
Better frontal armour means that the Tempest can
usually get in close to troops without much worry.
However, I normally do not field any Tempests,
as they are not focused enough for my purposes
and cost more points than two basic Land Speeders!
However, the twin-linked firepower of the Tempest's
Missile Launcher and its increased armour make
the Tempest a force to be reckoned with. Maybe
next time if I have an open Fast Attack choice! |
|
A Quick Note...
Under the Trial Vehicle Rules, all three variants of Land
Speeder become much more deadly, able to move up to 12"
and fire both Heavy Weapons. Each Land Speeder is dangerous
with one Heavy Weapon – these variants are twice as deadly
with two!
Next:
Land Speeders In Battle
|
