Relic Sicaran vs Baal Predator and other SM tanks. A tale of woeful underpricing.

My last post mentioned how I recently got my copy of Imperial Armour Vol II: Vehicles of the Adeptus Astartes. In this book are the rules for the Relic Sicaran tank to be used in 40k, not just 30k. I knew the Sicaran was good, just not how good it was especially for how little it costs. Now at 135 points you may say that is alot, but compare it to a Baal Predator and one can see serious advantages that should cost alot more IMO.

Let me break it down
SICARAN- 135 pts. 13/12/12. 3 Hull Points. Fast Tank. Hull mounted Heavy Bolter. Extra armour comes along with smoke and searchlight. And then there is the TL Accelerator Cannon. 48" S7 AP4 Heavy 6, Rending, No jink saves allowed. It can have Heavy Bolter and Lascannon Sponsons for the same cost as a predator.

BAAL PREDATOR- 115 pts. 13/11/10. 3 Hull Points. Fast Tank. Smoke and Searchlight. TL Assault Cannon. 24" S6, AP4 Heavy 4 Rending. May exchange Assault cannon for Flamestorm for free. Spons HB or Heavy Flamer for 20 ea.

And just for final comparison...
PREDATOR- 75pts. Same stats as Baal, except +10pts for fast. Autocannon main gun or TL Lascannon for +25. Same sponson options as Sicaran at the same cost. SO if we make this a fast vehicle like the other two and give it all lascannons it is 150 pts. To make it comprable to a basic Sicaran and Baal though, I will just say fast with a TL Lascannon, putting it at 110, 130 is you add HB to try and equal the volume of firepower of the other two.

SOOOOOOO I hope you can see just how Superior the Sicaran is. For only 20 points over the Baal it has 2 more points of armour on the sides and 3 on the rear. That alone is worth 20 points or more. BUT add to that Extra Armour Standard (a 10 point upgrade for regular tanks) and an extra Heavy Bolter (for comparison it costs only 15 pts to pintle mount a Heavy Bolter on an SM Superheavy). SO lets say a hull mounted HB costs 10 points since it can't swivel like a pintle. THAT ALONE would be a value of 20 points. So now we have accepted that the upgrades are already worth more, BUT IT DOES NOT STOP THERE. The Accelerator Cannon IS AMAZING. NO jink saves is death to bike or skimmer heavy armies (Eldar, DE, White Scars, DA) and add to that rending. Now consider it has 2 more shots than an assault cannon, at one point higher strength AT DOUBLE THE RANGE!!! Whaaaat?

The only reason to take a Baal over a Sicaran is to take the Flamestorm and Heavy Flamers for city fight or against MEQ armies with alot of 3+ Saves. If the BAAL still had Scout I would understand the point cost of it, but I feel like that rule was removed without considering how much it costed (remember a TL Las Fast Pred is only 110,  5 pts less than a Baal with a TL Assault Cannon, which should cost less than Las IMO).

None of the tanks in this are mine, but this is just awesome.

NOW for one more comparison. The Land Raider Crusader. I want to compare it to a Sicaran with Heavy Bolter Sponsons (155 pts). The LRC costs 250 with Hurricane Bolters and a TL Assault Cannon, 14 all round and 1 more hull point. So with WORSE and FEWER weapons (hurricane bolters can be debated since they are TL, how ever they are only more effective than a HB against light infantry) you are paying 95 points more for an extra point of armour on front and 2 on side/rear, 1 extra hull point and 16 model transport capacity. Now how do you price transport capacity. Well lets say the Drop Pod at 35 points w/ Deep Strike is equivalent to the Land Raider's built in cost of transport and assault vehicle (sure it is 16, but the ability to deep strike is makes up for the difference IMO). So take 35 from 95, and you still have a 60 point upcharge for the improved Armour and hull points on the Land Raider, given that the weapons are worse.

I think I have sufficiently proven the Sicaran is undercosted. I think 150 to 160 base would be better. I usually don't think FW rules are overpowered, however in this case I cannot help but admit it.