View source for Man-o-War Bombardiers

{{Khadbox2|{{PAGENAME}}
|{{Khador}} {{Man-o-War}} {{Unit}}
|Officer
|[[Command Attachment]] 
}} [[Category: Model]]
{{4P|Armored Korps}}

''Each Man-O-War bombardier is a self-contained mobile artillery unit able to devastate an opponent with explosive fire or tear them to pieces with the massive chain blade affixed to his cannon. Girded in steam-powered armor, bombardiers shrug off incoming fire that would cripple or kill a lesser soldier while the shrill, metallic whine of their chain blades announces inexorable destruction to the enemies of Khador.''

''The officers of the bombardier corps lead their soldiers to seize victory in the name of the Motherland. Each has spent a lifetime on the battlefield raining fiery death on the heads of the enemy. This wealth of experience lets the officers direct their units in cunning maneuvers, like slashing through thick underbrush with their steam-powered saws to flank an enemy emplacement before unleashing a hail of explosives with unrelenting precision.''

=Basic Info=
{{Infobox-Model
| name  = {{PAGENAME}}
| altname=Unit{{/}}Officer
| image = Bombardiers.png
| base  = Medium
| spd   = 4
| str   = 9
| mat   = 7{{/}}8
| rat   = 6{{/}}7
| def   = 10
| arm   = 16
| cmd   = 7{{/}}9
| hp    = 8
| size  = 3{{or}}5 +1&nbsp;CA
| cost  = 8{{or}}14 +3&nbsp;CA
| cost_note = 2.8 pts each 
| fa    = 3
}}

===Abilities=== 
* '''''Entire Unit
** {{CRA}}
** {{Repairable}}

* '''''Officer only
** He has a better statline
** {{Officer|Hide_Cat=}}
** '''[[Granted]]: [[Clear Cut]]''' - While this model is in formation, when advancing as part of a full advance, models in its unit that are in formation gain [[Pathfinder]]. <!--- Written out in full because it's worded slightly different to most Granted rules. juckto 2020.08 --->
** {{Support Fire|Hide_Cat=}}
** {{Tactics|Quick Work|Hide_Cat=|Hide_ability=}} (''{{Quick Work-alt|Hide_Cat=}}'')

===Weapons===
{| class="wikitable"
{{Ranged|Grenade Cannon|12|14|aoe=3|
* {{Arcing Fire}} }}
{{Melee|Chain Blade|1|4|13|
* {{Critical Shred}} }}
|}

===Theme Forces===
* '''''Khador
** {{Armored Korps}}. This unit gains [[Advance Move]] in this theme.

* '''''Other Factions
** '''[[Infernal]]''' players can use this unit in the {{Hearts of Darkness|notbold=}} theme, but only if [[Malakov2]] is leading the army.


=Thoughts on {{PAGENAME}}= 
[[File: Bombardier officer.jpg|thumb|Command Attachment]]
==={{PAGENAME}} in a Nutshell=== 
[[Man-o-War]] heavy infantry are elite combatants that trade mobility for heavy steam-powered armor. They are highly trained and equipped to deal with a wide range of threats, benefiting from a highly disciplined combined arms approach to achieve victory. Each of the three Man-o-War infantry units fills a distinct niche:

* [[Man-o-War Shocktroopers]] are the Man-o-War frontline infantry, capable of weathering tremendous punishment before they engage in close quarters combat with their heavy Shield Cannons and Annihilator Blades. They are an excellent screening unit that can do serious damage to almost anything they set their sights on.
* [[Man-o-War Demolition Corps]] are heavy hitters, outfitted to crack the toughest of targets with their Ice Maul hammers. When they connect with the appropriate targets they can do spectacular damage.
* [[Man-o-War Bombardiers]] are deadly combined arms combatants that excel at clearing out swathes of enemy combatants, opting for an overwhelming volume of attacks with the combination of Grenade Cannons and Chain Blades.

The Chain Blade is a fine melee weapon in its own right but Bombardiers exist to fire their devastating Grenade Cannons over the heads of a Shocktrooper screen. They are vulnerable for their points when exposed to enemy fire but as a second wave unit they devastate most enemy warriors, clearing the field for your formation. Combined Ranged Attack lets them place attacks exactly where they need to be and when things turn close and personal they can mop up with their Chain Blades. They have an effective base range of 16" on their Grenade Cannons if they walk and do well by just moving up steadily and lobbing POW 14 blasts across the field from a safe position. They hold their own in melee combat as well and their Critical Shred will occasionally let you double tap a multiple HP warrior where it would otherwise survive, or attempt to force a failed [[Tough]] roll.

Bombardiers are great for Armored Corps lists that can take advantage of their volume of attacks. But there aren't any particular synergies that benefit Bombardiers in particular, and they benefit the least from buffs handed out by [[Man-o-War Kovnik]]s and [[Kommandant Atanas Arconovich]] when compared to their peers. They are, however, an excellent flexible unit that can safely lob grenades from behind a [[Shield Wall]] of Shocktroopers and be effective against a wide range of threats.

===Thoughts on the Command Attachment===
The Bombardier Officer is an amazing addition for the Bombardier unit and you will typically want to lead your units with them. Between [[Support Fire]] and [[Quick Work]] the Officer supercharges the volume of attacks your Bombardiers can pump out, doubling their attack output on the turns where it matters. Without their Officer the Bombardiers' maximum five shots per round can seem a bit anemic from time to time, paying 3 more points for a turn where they can generate up to twelve instead will ensure you can reliably clear out jamming units or put serious dents into hard targets.

All this said, it can be hard to leverage the extra shots due to how situational their triggers are:
* Quick Work requires the bombardiers to close with the enemy, destroy them, then be unengaged by anyone else afterwards. This can be difficult against some units due to the merely "ok" unbuffed melee output and lower range of the chain blades.  
* Dual Shot will come up less often than you'd hope, as an opponent is unlikely to walk within range of aiming Bombardiers without also engaging your other units, or worse, engaging the Bombardiers directly. That said, if the enemy has engaged your frontlines, you can potentially use arcing fire to wipe out anything behind the first rank of enemies. 

Large CRAs are better used vs heavier targets where you'll appreciate the CRA's damage bonus: the sweetspot for unbuffed Bombardiers is ARM 21, where any combination of CRA's will result in the same average damage across the attacks. Below 21, many 2-man CRA's have the best outcome assuming all shots hit the target. Above 21, 6-man CRA's are best. Without Support Fire and the extra gun this is scratch damage at best, but the CA creates a credible option to bang up a heavy if need be.       

Clear Cut allows the unit to keep its total threat range in any terrain conditions, which could allow them to take shots they otherwise wouldn't have gotten and project a lot of threat. It won't increase their mobility when charging or running however.

===Combos & Synergies===
{{Header|Warcasters}}

* [[Butcher1]]: The Butcher of Khardov's feat is a perfect match with the high volume of attacks each Bombardier can push out, and [[Iron Flesh]] is a great fixer for their relatively vulnerable frame. All their attacks and blast templates are boosted by the feat so-ironically for a melee warcaster-he loves blast damage on ranged attacks.
* [[Cylena Raefyll, Guardian of Nyssor|Cylena-1]] (''not tournament legal''): Bombardiers lay down an impressive amount of firepower under the effects of [[Shatter Storm]] and her feat.
* [[Strakhov2]]: The Assault Kommando warcaster does great with Man-o-War, and Bombardiers like having additional ARM from [[Inviolable Resolve]] and his feat, and SPD and DEF from [[Quicken]].
* [[Vladimir2]]: The Champ is a powerhouse warcaster with elite warriors and the Bombardiers make excellent use of his toolbox as well. His feat even buffs RAT so you can make the Bombardiers shockingly accurate for a turn.
* [[Malakov2]] - How do ranged RAT 8, POW 14 Backstabs that ignore intervening models and shields sound? Well that's what you get with his Throat Cutter Battle Plan and Discombobulate! Add in Tactical Supremacy so they can back up after shooting and you have yourself a very dangerous combination.
* [[Kozlov1]] - Fury makes Quick Work that much more likely to trigger and +2 ARM and SPD is great on anything Man-O-War. He also brings TacSup.
* [[Irusk2]] - Tough + Steady and Fire for Effect is hilarious on the leading model of a huge CRA. Battle Lust for Quick Work plays
* [[Irusk1]] - Battle Lust again and a Reposition Battle Plan.

{{Header|Non-casters}}

* [[Man-o-War Kovnik]]: All Man-o-War units can benefit from the Kovnik's [[Desperate Pace]].
* [[Battle Mechaniks]]: All Man-o-War models have the Repairable rule and Bombardiers are ideally placed to receive a repair or two.
* [[Kommandant Atanas Arconovich]]: All Man-o-War models can benefit from his [[Tactician]] ability and [[Heroic Call]] Battle Plan.
* [[Man-o-War Shocktroopers]]: These provide a perfect screen for your Bombardiers and they in turn prevent Shocktroopers from getting jammed up by cannon fodder.
* [[Colbie Sterling]]/[[Gobber Tinker]]/[[Raluk Moorclaw]]/[[Widget1]]: These four are [[Mechanikally Adept]], meaning they can [[Repair]] Khador models.
* [[Orin1]]: Ideal to clear jamming, light models, as well as providing protection from spells.

===Drawbacks & Downsides=== 
* Like all Man-o-War infantry, their base SPD and DEF are very low.
* They lack any defensive abilities which leaves them vulnerable for their cost.
* Their AOEs can be negated by good positioning.
* Doing a CRA improves your accuracy and damage, but decreases your AOE coverage.

===Tricks & Tips===
* It's best to use the Officer as the primary attacker for Combined Ranged Attacks so you can benefit from its increased RAT.
* For your CRAs and blast damage, remember to halve the damage ''first'', then add the CRA bonus. So, for instance, a 3-man CRA blast damage is a respectable POW 10! (14/2 + 3 = 10)
* Some opponents will assume Bombardiers are only good for shooting their Grenade Cannons and can be caught off guard by going on the offensive, after which you can make use of [[Quick Work]].
* For beginners, this unit can cause a lot of time management issues. Working out numerous AoE attacks (especially under minifeat), as well as extra attacks from critical shreds can eat up precious minutes on your deathclock. Practice accordingly.


=Other=
[[File: Bombardier Bombshell.jpg|thumb|Limited Edition sculpt.]]
===Trivia===
* The rules for the base unit were published in Forces of Warmachine: Khador (March 2010), but it took several years for the physical models to go into mass production.
* The CA was released in the Armored Corps CID (2018.02).
* The Unit Leader's insignia signify their rank as a Korporal. There is some confusion because the rest of the unit has the same emblem on their left shoulder plates as well, although the Unit Leader has an additional emblem on their chest.
* The Officer's insignia signify their rank as a Lieutenant.
* The Bombardier Bombshell exclusive model can be used as a trooper model.[[Category: Limited Edition Sculpt]]

===Other Khador models===
{{Index Khador}} 

===Rules Clarifications=== 
{{RC Arcing Fire}}
{{RC Shred}}
{{RC CRA}}
{{RC Repairable}}

{{RC Officer}}
{{RC Granted}}
{{RC Clear Cut}}
{{RC Support Fire}}
{{RC Quick Work}}

{{Edbox|To edit the CA's tagged abilities, [{{FULLURL: Man-o-War Bombardiers : Officer (CA)|action=edit}} Click here]}}