Grots vs Kustom Field

[Steerpike]

Here's a thought.

Say I have a unit of 20 slugga boyz. I want to advance them up the table as part of a pretty standard ork army, which includes some faster and some armoured units (so they won't be the only things getting shot at). I intend to use the boyz to fight up close, and I have a smaller unit behind them for mobbing up and as a second wave to bolster my attack.

Standard procedure would be to stick a load of grots in front of them, to give them the 5+ cover save from enemy shooting through gretchin. However, I would need a lot of grots - 15 to 20, perhaps? - and they would soon add up in points.

I notice from the army list that a mek can take a kustom field for 20 points, which also gives a 5+ cover save. I could get 7 grots for 21 points. So, why not make the supporting unit burna boyz, give them a mek with a field (about 35pts in total to upgrade and equip), and put them behind the sluggaz so that the field covers both units?

I've never seen this done and, pie-plates aside, I wonder why not. Any thoughts, anyone?

[Bruiser117]

Grots not only provide a 5+ cover save to shots directed against the orks, they often get shot directly instead as a distraction. They also CAN do some damage and are a good speed bump for fast assault enemy units.

[lord opium]

i agree with bruiser117, use grots. they can also tie up dreads and big stuff too

[MouseC112]

Grot save does not apply to vehicles though which is often important. The KFF can be used very effectively by a unit behind a unit of Kans and for other units where's grots don't offer that protection.

[Bellum_Gerreo]

Yes, but he said he's using them to screen for troops. And if you think grots cost points and are gonna get shot up, it's vastly worse for burna boys, esp one with a KFF mek. However, put them behind the boyz with the mek in the front of his squad and form the boyz around him and you can shield both squads, each with the other. It'd take some finessing to get most of the slugga squad under the KFF, but you could shield a lot of them.

[Badruk the Mighty]

Why not take both (if you can afford the points)? Grots with a 5+ cover save are really annoying for your opponent.