Thundertusk - dual warmachine

Reading through the thread about a TT and its shooting attacks, I got thinking a little more about the harpoon launcher. Our big elephant gets credited with the stone thrower attack, but nobody ever really mentions the ogres on its back, and the bolt thrower one of them is carrying.

Strength 6, D3 wounds is a bolt thrower shot. OK it won't pierce ranks, and doesn't ignore armour. But strength 6 punches through most armour anyway. It has a slightly reduced range, but it is mobile and so still has an effective range of 42". It doesn't suffer a modifier for moving either.

The drawback is BS3 and so it can be hit and miss (no pun intended) but it is a definite threat to lone characters, chariots, monsters etc. If you score a hit then it is a good strength to wound most things on 2 or 3+. Even the toughest critters on a 4. And there is little place to hide from LoS when the shooter is perched way up on top of a thunder tusk.

The benefits of the frost aura and stone thrower attack are well discussed. His combat potential becomes a whole lot nastier with a small bull gorger cast on him. 6 S5 attacks and 4 S7 with D6 S7 thunderstomps is going to hurt almost anything.

I really rate my thunder tusk, and whilst the Ironblaster might be king (and for good reason) I can't help feeling he is one of our most underrated choices for the sheer number of different threats he can pose to an enemy.

I will continue play testing with mine, and will endeavour to put up a few battle reports from my games. He's coming to a tournament with me next month, so I will report back on how he does in a competitive environment, or if he just becomes cannon fodder!

I think thundertusks are becoming more popular with the emergence of all the elf armies. The last two ogre armies I faced at tournaments both had thunder tusks, one of which was in favor of a second ironblaster. And these were 80 and 100 player GT's, not local store tourneys, so there's something to be said for their presence.

I've one shotted a flame cannon with the harpoon launcher from about 24" away once before. It was awesome 

Well, has it ever been clarified about the TTusk's targeting? As in, does it have to shoot all of its attacks at one target or if it can split shoot? (ie TTusk spits at one unit, the riders shoot at another)

Because the RAW is that since the unit doesn't have Sniper it has to pick one target for all of its attacks; but, it feels like you're going to waste the shots one way or the other (the spit is better at large infantry, the riders' attacks are better at solo characters/monsters/warmachines, etc.). However, I don't think they ever FAQ'd it.

That's been one of the big reasons why I don't take the TTusk. Besides the fact that I have to bother to re-glue it to its base... and paint it... lol

So, is that still an issue? Or has it been resolved? Or do most people not care?

Snarkhunter made a good, detailed case with page refs etc for the BS based shooting (chain trap and harpoon launcher) needing to fire on the same target, but the stone thrower having a different targeting mechanic and not being bound by those same rules. His posy is worth a read if you haven't seen it. It won't ever be confirmed in an FAQ now though, with 9th on the way.

I believe it was my topic questioning the thundertusks targetting rules you are referring to. Then I was working on theory.
I have since played a game (first game of fantasy in a decade borrowing the store managers beautiful ogre army.
I took 1 ironblaster and 1 thundertusk as my rares (gutstar, ogre dart, dual sabres, leads and mournfang as the rest)
Ironblaster misfired turn 1, cant fire until turn 3.
Misfired turn 3, cant fire until turn 5. Failed a charge on turn 5.....I was really not amused.

The thundertusk opens fire, hitting every turn. Massacreing about 15 tzeentch warriors of chaos over 3 rounds of shooting. Then taking a charge like a champ, holding so the gutstar and mournfang can hit the warriors in the back.

I was previously a fan. I'm now an enormous fan, its an absolutely gorgeous model and it has rocked it for me in the one game I've used.

Woohoo for anecdotal evidence.

This is where I've been thinking of going with my Swiss comp list, since the Ironblaster is so expensive. I think I can fit two Hunters on Stonehorns AND two Thundertusks into 2400 points.

I think I can fit two Hunters on Stonehorns AND two Thundertusks into 2400 points.

Good luck fielding a BSB with that list 

I love the Tusk for utility.  It makes Maneaters astronomically more deadly and serves as a low rent war machine.

Another option in place of a second iron blaster is a Hunter with Harpoon and Beast Hunter.  Not as deadly, but it won't misfire and has other applications when needed.