Kicking around an 1850 list idea centered around Dante and making assault work with Blood Angel Marines. I would have to rely on model and unit placement to diminish flyer presence, but, I think 50 marine bodies is probably the minimum to accomplish this (especially with the new bases LOL). I considered Archangels Sanguine Wing which offers around 400 points of free upgrades, but, I don't foresee this formation getting a pass at events b/c of those free points.
This list sacrifices obsec going all in for the formation rules to
bolster marines in assault. My goal is to include enough tools to burn
down and grind out an opponent's obsec units:
LOW:
Dante
220
HQ:
Priest w/VE, pistol, MB, JP
105
Elite:
Death Company (10) JPs, 2x Fists, 2x PWs, 2x Infernus Pistols
340
CS (5) 1x Power Swords, 1x P Fist, 2x SShields, 1x Melta Gun, MB, JPs
200
Troop:
Tac Squad (10) H Flamer, Flamer, MB, Drop Pod DWML,
210
Tac Squad (10) H Flamer, Flamer, MB, Drop Pod DWML,
210
Scout Squad (10); Shotguns, MB, Power Sword
130
Fast Attack:
Assault Marine (5) melta x2; combi melta, mb
Drop Pod, DWML
135
Assault Marine (5) melta x2; combi melta, mb
Drop Pod, DWML
135
Drop Pod, DWML
50
Heavy Support:
Devastator Squad (5) 4x MMeltas, MB
115
Dante is a LOW, but, he is such a beast now that he is EW and swings at initiative. Dante and Priest ride with Vanguard Vets for a precision drop: The command squad consists of a five man with a couple of stormshields to soak up wounds the turn they arrive. They are also armed with melta combined shooting with Dante to pop transports if needed. I armed the priest with the AP2 power sword relic. AP2 with that high initiative on the charge is freaking scary. Not to mention all vets sans McFister will swing at I5 on the charge giving the vet unit a leg up on the opposition. Ultimately, the command squad is just a delivery system for Dante and Priest so time will tell if divesting the unit of excess equipment is worthwhile.
Death Company are so cool now that they can score and contest. The combination of Rage and Relentless make bolters the default weapon choice in my opinion. I'm starting out light on the power weapons in favor of a couple of infernus pistols, giving the unit a tool against high AV outside of assault. Will see how I like this load out and if I need to tweak it...
Assault Squads; cheap throw-away melta units meant to threaten Knights and high AV tanks. What isn't to like? For a 115 points you get two meltas and a combi! For a 135 you get two meltas and two infernus pistols. I've ran the infernus loadout on an assault sgt (back when you got 1 melta per 5 bodies). It is devastating, but, I'd like to at least start out with the minimum investment on a toss away Sgt. If two meltas and combi don't perform well enough on the table, I'll defer to the gunslinger loadout. I purchased an additional pod to mix things up a bit; I can choose to drop the Dev squad as a melta distraction, or, the scout squad as a backfield distraction. Of course the scouts can just outflank the backfield, which may seem laughable on paper, but, FC combined with Red Thirst will give that unit some teeth.
Tactical squads with H flamer/ flamer combos to burn out any hiding infantry.
All of my drop pods have deathwind missile launchers. Just another annoying way to cause wounds on low armor OBSEC units.Pods give better flexibility allowing me to create threats as well as respond to an opponent's deployment.
------------------------------------------------
Jan 1st 2015
------------------------------------------------
Instead of clogging up the blog with posts to edit this list, I'll just keep updating this specific post. Juggling this list, I've changed it up a bit. It is a two CAD list that combines Baal Strikeforce with an standard CAD for obsec troops. Astorath, Death Company, Scouts, and Assault Squads comprise Baal Strikeforce. Librarian, Tactical Squads, and drop pod make up the standard CAD:
Drop Pod
1850
Astorath's point reduction in this latest codex makes him a strong consideration if you plan to field DC, as, Astorath is now the only way to get Liturgies of Blood. I played with Astorath in 5th and enjoyed the unit, but, he was pricey back then. I broke up the DC unit from my original list into two distinct harassing units. A 10 man unit of 3+ armor that can't combat squad is a lot of eggs in one basket. As much as I love the idea of a huge mob of DC relentlessly jumping around the battlefield, Its a unit begging to be clobbered by an opponent. Breaking it up into two gives me another target consideration to throw at my opponent (at the expense of an additional kill point). I also slimmed each squad down to one axe and one fist. That gives me punching power to deal with high toughness units, and high AV vehicles.
Scout squads fall into the Baal Strikeforce CAD. Since they are part of the strikeforce, I gave both units combat knives since I'll be hiding them in combat when I'm not hiding them in ruins. The extra drop pod gives me the freedom to surgically drop a unit of scouts where I may need them most: Late game contention, line breaker, or, denying line breaker. My standard CAD will be led by an epistolary Librarian whose job is to buff Dante, and Dante's unit. I gave him a standard staff rather than Gallian's. I will have to play test whether the 10 points is worth scrubbing an HP off a 2HP unit with 3+ save just to reroll a 1. The weapon's strength modifier will allow him to scratch things with his stick. 10 man Tac squads are meant to combat squad (CS) hence each unit's diversified weapons. That gives me a total of 6 obsec units when I include their drop pods. As I mentioned earlier the sole drop pod in this CAD can be utilized by a scout squad when convenient. Finally, I have four melta assault squads that straddle both CADs meant to neutralize Knights, high AV units, and the occasional fortress.
Overall, I think this list flows better than my initial list. It lacks the ability to address flyers directly, and will rely on it's footprint to mitigate flyer presence/performance.
LOW:
Dante
220
HQ:
Priest w/VE, pistol, MB, JP
105
Elite:
Death Company (10) JPs, 2x Fists, 2x PWs, 2x Infernus Pistols
340
CS (5) 1x Power Swords, 1x P Fist, 2x SShields, 1x Melta Gun, MB, JPs
200
Troop:
Tac Squad (10) H Flamer, Flamer, MB, Drop Pod DWML,
210
Tac Squad (10) H Flamer, Flamer, MB, Drop Pod DWML,
210
Scout Squad (10); Shotguns, MB, Power Sword
130
Fast Attack:
Assault Marine (5) melta x2; combi melta, mb
Drop Pod, DWML
135
Assault Marine (5) melta x2; combi melta, mb
Drop Pod, DWML
135
Drop Pod, DWML
50
Heavy Support:
Devastator Squad (5) 4x MMeltas, MB
115
Dante is a LOW, but, he is such a beast now that he is EW and swings at initiative. Dante and Priest ride with Vanguard Vets for a precision drop: The command squad consists of a five man with a couple of stormshields to soak up wounds the turn they arrive. They are also armed with melta combined shooting with Dante to pop transports if needed. I armed the priest with the AP2 power sword relic. AP2 with that high initiative on the charge is freaking scary. Not to mention all vets sans McFister will swing at I5 on the charge giving the vet unit a leg up on the opposition. Ultimately, the command squad is just a delivery system for Dante and Priest so time will tell if divesting the unit of excess equipment is worthwhile.
Death Company are so cool now that they can score and contest. The combination of Rage and Relentless make bolters the default weapon choice in my opinion. I'm starting out light on the power weapons in favor of a couple of infernus pistols, giving the unit a tool against high AV outside of assault. Will see how I like this load out and if I need to tweak it...
Assault Squads; cheap throw-away melta units meant to threaten Knights and high AV tanks. What isn't to like? For a 115 points you get two meltas and a combi! For a 135 you get two meltas and two infernus pistols. I've ran the infernus loadout on an assault sgt (back when you got 1 melta per 5 bodies). It is devastating, but, I'd like to at least start out with the minimum investment on a toss away Sgt. If two meltas and combi don't perform well enough on the table, I'll defer to the gunslinger loadout. I purchased an additional pod to mix things up a bit; I can choose to drop the Dev squad as a melta distraction, or, the scout squad as a backfield distraction. Of course the scouts can just outflank the backfield, which may seem laughable on paper, but, FC combined with Red Thirst will give that unit some teeth.
Tactical squads with H flamer/ flamer combos to burn out any hiding infantry.
All of my drop pods have deathwind missile launchers. Just another annoying way to cause wounds on low armor OBSEC units.Pods give better flexibility allowing me to create threats as well as respond to an opponent's deployment.
------------------------------------------------
Jan 1st 2015
------------------------------------------------
Instead of clogging up the blog with posts to edit this list, I'll just keep updating this specific post. Juggling this list, I've changed it up a bit. It is a two CAD list that combines Baal Strikeforce with an standard CAD for obsec troops. Astorath, Death Company, Scouts, and Assault Squads comprise Baal Strikeforce. Librarian, Tactical Squads, and drop pod make up the standard CAD:
| Dante | |
| Astorath | |
| Librarian, Epistolary, JP | |
| Death Company (5); Bolters, Power Fist, Power Axe, JP | |
| Death Company (5); Bolters, Power Fist, Power Axe, JP | |
| Tactical Squad (10); H Flamer, Melta, Combi-Melta, MB, Drop Pod | |
| Tactical Squad (10); H Flamer, Melta, Combi-Melta, MB, Drop Pod | |
| Scout Squad (5); B Pistol, Combat Knife, MB | |
| Scout Squad (5); B Pistol, Combat Knife | |
| Assault Squad (5), Melta Gun x2, Combi-Melta, MB, DP | |
| Assault Squad (5), Melta Gun x2, Combi-Melta, MB, DP | |
| Assault Squad (5), Melta Gun x2, Combi-Melta, MB, DP | |
|
1850
Astorath's point reduction in this latest codex makes him a strong consideration if you plan to field DC, as, Astorath is now the only way to get Liturgies of Blood. I played with Astorath in 5th and enjoyed the unit, but, he was pricey back then. I broke up the DC unit from my original list into two distinct harassing units. A 10 man unit of 3+ armor that can't combat squad is a lot of eggs in one basket. As much as I love the idea of a huge mob of DC relentlessly jumping around the battlefield, Its a unit begging to be clobbered by an opponent. Breaking it up into two gives me another target consideration to throw at my opponent (at the expense of an additional kill point). I also slimmed each squad down to one axe and one fist. That gives me punching power to deal with high toughness units, and high AV vehicles.
Scout squads fall into the Baal Strikeforce CAD. Since they are part of the strikeforce, I gave both units combat knives since I'll be hiding them in combat when I'm not hiding them in ruins. The extra drop pod gives me the freedom to surgically drop a unit of scouts where I may need them most: Late game contention, line breaker, or, denying line breaker. My standard CAD will be led by an epistolary Librarian whose job is to buff Dante, and Dante's unit. I gave him a standard staff rather than Gallian's. I will have to play test whether the 10 points is worth scrubbing an HP off a 2HP unit with 3+ save just to reroll a 1. The weapon's strength modifier will allow him to scratch things with his stick. 10 man Tac squads are meant to combat squad (CS) hence each unit's diversified weapons. That gives me a total of 6 obsec units when I include their drop pods. As I mentioned earlier the sole drop pod in this CAD can be utilized by a scout squad when convenient. Finally, I have four melta assault squads that straddle both CADs meant to neutralize Knights, high AV units, and the occasional fortress.
Overall, I think this list flows better than my initial list. It lacks the ability to address flyers directly, and will rely on it's footprint to mitigate flyer presence/performance.
