Hunters?

[Kheldar]

I was musing over the idea of putting some hunters in my kroot army and honestly... i don't know!

They are very cheap snipers and they should be quite a nuisance to the enemy, but as Kroot are fairly (nay.. completely!) hand to hand oriented, wouldn't this break with the theme and leave them there like sitting ducks while all the rest of the army is tied up in combat?

So the question is: is it worth putting 10 hunters in your army, or you'd be better off getting some extra hand to hand models?

[Lord_Pizza]

I was musing over the idea of putting some hunters in my kroot army and honestly... i don't know!

They are very cheap snipers and they should be quite a nuisance to the enemy, but as Kroot are fairly (nay.. completely!) hand to hand oriented, wouldn't this break with the theme and leave them there like sitting ducks while all the rest of the army is tied up in combat?

So the question is: is it worth putting 10 hunters in your army, or you'd be better off getting some extra hand to hand models?

Kroot aren't COMPLETELY hand to hand orientated. Fairly yes, completely no. The Kroot rifle's special ability to be used as two hand weapons stinks of True Grit to me, so they could easily spew lead into the enemy and laugh if they're charged. If they were pure close combat they'd not have BS3 with those staff rifles.

Hunters are Snipers as you say. Against low LD armies (IG, Tau, Speed Freeks, Lost and the Damned) they can pin a unit down so Kroot can charge it with no difficulty, or even spend a turn spraying lead into it with impunity if you want.

I have a certain philosophy concerning any army that isn't totally close combat: Fire Support Is Good. Besides, there's certain things you don't WANT to fight *cough* Hive Tyrant *cough* Daemon Prince of Khorne *cough* AVATAR *cough* and sniper weapons will wound anything from a snivelling Gretchin to the Nightbringer himself on a 4+ so you'd best take advantage of it before said uber thing hits your lines.

[==Me==]

Lord_Pizza's got it right, Kroot can shoot if need be (never underestimate all that S4 fire).

Hunters are so inexpensive there's no reason not to take them. Set them up 7" into some woods and feel free to pick off anything you fancy. Typically go for stuff your normal kroot wouldn't want to tangle with (C'tan, Great Daemons, etc) or try to pin down units or finish off weakened ones.