Editing Stormbird (section)

== Tabletop ==
Funnily enough, the reasons the Imperial Manta was mothballed in the fluff are also kind of represented in the crunch. The Stormbird is one of those units that could be tentatively referred to as Mega-Super-Heavies (like the Reaver, Warlord, and the actual Manta for instance). Units that are just so big and so expensive that outside of the very biggest games (as in, boards where Basilisks run out of range), they have close to zero practicality. In the case of the [[Stormbird]], a [[Thunderhawk]] probably ''would'' be a more economical option most of the time. With all that said, though, the Stormbird certainly delivers your points worth. The Stormbird has 14/13/12/ and 12 HP. It comes with five turreted Twin-linked [[Lascannon]]s (so right then and there, you got more laser [[dakka]] than a Terminus Ultra), six Dreadstrike Missiles (S10 AP2 Ordnance, small blast) which can be replaced with a single use 3D6 Apocalyptic Barrage that hits like a Battle cannon. It can buy an Orbital Strike, with Strength D AP1, Massive blast, Indirect fire only and '''multiple use''' for the low, low price of 150 pts. Its 2 Void Shields can become a 12" bubble if you go into hover mode, which is a safe idea since you also get Armoured ceramite and a 5++ invul. Transport capacity of 50 can carry pretty much everything including Dreadnoughts and (possibly fully loaded) Rhinos which take up 10/25 slots respectively. Good thing the Age of Darkness FoC limits you to 25% spending on LOWs and no one actually has the money to play Apoc with FW, right?


8E Sokar Pattern Stormbirds are different. ''2117'' points to put one on the field, though you are rewarded well. 40 wounds, T9, 3++ save and 5++ Invuln makes it a tanky bugger. Four twin [[Lascannon]]s, three twin [[Heavy Bolter]]s and a battery of [[Hellstrike Missile]]s add to the firepower of the thing, and it retains it's 50 Marine transport capacity, as well as it's expanding Void Shields. Power of the Machine Spirit allows the plane to fire all 32 of its shot even if it moved. Though most players won't even bother because it's better to have it camp at optimal Lascannon range. Though it lost its Orbital Strike capability.

While it can't kill Super Heavies as fast as a Turbolaser Thunderhawk like its HH counterpart. The Void Shields and two squads of Lascannon Devastators(4 cannons per squad plus the Sarge) should allow it to outlast anything smaller than a [[Warlord_Battle_Titan|Warlord]]. Airborne and a Move of 50" with an Advance of 20" allows it to scream across the map at a -1 to hit - and you really need all the dice you can with that T9 3++ save to begin with - and drop Assault Terminators right in your gunline.