http://us.games-workshop.com/games/warhamm...lame_cannon.htm

Well as that says the FC has been voted as the third best unit killer, would you agree?


For me I'd say yes. I have only used the FC once but it won the day, the S5 flame template is just sooooo good!! You'll cover at least five models with the shot and get lots more on the partical, with a -3 Sv mod only the most heavily armoured units will survive a blasting from this WM. But that's not the best part, panic. A single wound and panic ensues, this is a pure god sent when facing horde armies - skaven and grobi armies learn to fear this. Also it can be used to take down multiwound models, each wound causing D3 and its flaming, so no troll regen. ^_^

But every good has a bad, the FC suffers from lack of range. The max it can get with the best rolling possible (guess 12" + Art die 10 + Flame template [8"] ), so it is slightly limited. Also it takes up a vital rare slot and is join with the most expensive WM availble to us, so that often means a bit of juggling to fit it in or a decision of a Gyro or FC. The last down side is it cannot be runed, so you have to stick it out with the more volitile misfire chart.

In all... yay for the FC!!

KU

I was really impressed when I read the rules for the Flame Cannon. Its obviously especially efficiant in taking out multiple wound units, like ogres and trolls.

Against normal units, especially those with big bases, like orcs, it might not do as much damage as a direct hit by a stone thrower. But its chances of hitting are much higher than those of warmachines that require scatter dice. And with S5 and a -2 modifier (the -3 is for the Organ Gun) it will still do enough damage. That only one wound causes a panic test is a nice addition.



My main question would therefore not be IF the Flame Cannon is good. I think that it undoubtebly is. More interesting would be to compare it with the other rare formidable dwarven warmachine, the Organ Gun. It too can cause high damage to units. The advantage of hitting automatically is compensated by its shorter range.
Though is the range really that much shorter? We cant just compare the OG's 18" range with the maximum FC range of 32", because not only will the artillery dice not always roll as high as we want (which might even lead to our own units being partially under the template). The 8" we add from the flame template shows the end of the damage zone. If an enemy unit is 30" away, we therefore wont be wounding it much, even if we roll a 10 on the artillery dice.

If we want to get maximum damage with the FC, the enemy unit may not be further away than about 20" (guess 12" + average 6" + ~2" where the flame template starts to get scary). So the range hardly differs.

Basically I guess one can say that the FC is better against multiple wound units and units with small bases (to get more under the template). Against elves and goblins it would be wonderful, even more so because it negates their AS which is usually maximum 5+.
Against skirmishers, more heavily armoured troops and troops with big bases, the OG would be better. The OG also seems very good against heavy cav, because it will usually hit more of them than the FC and reduce their AS by a point more.

The chances of misfiring are annoying,but it is ultimately one of the best flank protector/unit repeller of all time.The fact that It guarantees to cause panic is great,I got a whole flank of greenskins reeling with 1 blast even though I only killed 7 goblins.Plus,its psychological effect is also as good as its physical effect.Your opponent will keep twitching nervously whenever you put your hand near it in the movement phase and will mova all his units away from it.