I for one want to look at the lost forgotten gun of the Dark Eldar. The Distinegrator. 36" Range, Heavy 3 on your vehicles (like it matters), S5 Ap2.
I ran a quick calculation, and found something quite interesting. Against std marines, because we all fight marines more than anything else, two splinter cannons on average will kill 1.33 marines. Yes after all those 12 shots. I've done 0 many times. I have also killed more, but on average that is about what I kill. The disintegrator, kills 1.33 marines. When I have used them, you can kill more, but look, same statistic. You can check out the math, here at Heresy Combat Calculator.
So the question then becomes. What are the strengths of the Splinter Cannon that out ways its use.
Both have the same:
On fast vehicles, so every gun will get to fire (even multiple distegrators due to aerial assault)
Both have 36" range.
Both are good against infantry
Both available on Vehicles.
Dual Splinter Cannons (edited to make the Venom vs Raider decision)
12 shots. Equals a chance to kill more.
Light Infantry gets mowed down. Approx 4 per 12 shot volley
Available on Infantry (trueborn and scourges can load up with these)
Wounds monstrous creatures much easier
Disintegrator
3 shots
Better against heavy infantry
Beats feel no pain
Can take down light vehicles (armour 10 like ya know, Raiders, or Land Speeders.)
I for one have been using Disintegrators on Ravagers now for a while, and every time I have fielded them, I have been happy with their results. Its amazing that they are surviving longer than my lance gunships. Opponents will target any thing with that dark lance before a disintegrator. I know that the possibility of killing more light armor guys is important, but so is killing those mobs with feel no pain.
My question to people is, With all the options that can be placed on the Raider, shouldn't we be using more Disintegrators in our lists? I mean a splinter rifle has the ability to take down a monstrous creature quickly that comes into that 24" death range, so poison weaponry is not something we lack. Lances and Blasters provide that heavy hitting punch you are already putting in your lists. Heat Lances, do their job. It just seems that the Disintegrator has a bad rep even though it will stop all those feel no pain roles.
What do you think?
