I think all of the different LRBT are cool and all but for point for point use the standard LRBT and the Demolisher are still the 2 best LRBT in the game.
I just played my first game under the new codex. I didn't try out the other variants, but was pleased by my standard battle tank and Demolisher. The Lumbering Behemoth ability to fire all weapons when stationary was a big deal. I had an interesting duel between a Demolisher (with lascannon and 2 plasma cannon) and a regenerating carnifex.
The orders were very nice, but the 8 or less roll was more relevant than I anticipated. That is by no means automatic. The statistics suggest 72% chance of success, but I've never seen so many 10s and 11s come up. Grrrr... I might consider spending 50 points for the vox casters, except modeling them on my ladies would be problematic.
The odd dice roll of the night came against the winged hive tyrant. I expected the 3 lascannon to do at least one wound. The heavy bolter support squad adding another one wasn't too much of a surprise. The
coup de grâce coming from a double squad of 18 lasguns firing by ranks opened possibilities. I pulled my grenade launchers and rocket launchers from all 8 infantry squads to maximize the count of lasguns, then combined the two squads in each of four platoons into double squads. The platoon HQs stayed home by their double squads to issue the orders. Thus, all 72 lasgun had the potential to fire by ranks. Fear the flashlight!
This required very little reorganization from my prior force structure. I used to have 3 infantry platoons of 3, 3 and 2 squads, and a heavy platoon with four support weapon squads. The HQ also had three support weapon squads. The heavy platoon became an infantry platoon, while the support squads got spread around. Each infantry platoon now has a squad of heavy bolters backing it up, and three of them have an anti-tank squad. (I am getting more rocket launchers for the fourth platoon to finish balancing out the platoons as equals.)
Anyway, I'm pleased.
