by paulidale
The single major problem with extra-heavy weapons is they are move or fire but not both. Heavy weapons are slow enough (without suspensors), these are much much worse. A decent alien player loves the marines taking extra heavies. Runs their orks and gretchins around and kills them hand to hand often without the extra heavy getting off a shot. A targeted heavy is as good against everything except the really high armour aliens (i.e. dreadnaughts).Our experience with the tarantula is similar -- too hard to make good use of it in most scenarios and too easy for the controlling marine to be killed hand to hand. We never managed a row of tarantulas facing an alien frontal assault. Probably because the alien player was always too smart to do this. I imagine they'd come into their own in this situation however.
I very much doubt any number of extra bolter marines will make the hand to hand marine squad worthwhile. Again, as an alien player I love misguided fools who so equip. Hand to hand commanders rule, hand to hand squaddies are fodder.
- Pauli