Email in: 2500 Point 'Arrrrd Boyz List

What's up folks?  This is the beginning of me actually posting more than a couple scatter-brained posts a week.  This email has been in my inbox for much longer than it should have been, and I really have to apologize for how long it took to get to.  So, let's look at the email first:

The email:

I'm a big fan of your blog and have adapted several of your tactics (power fist over power swords is hugely successful). I am working up a list for Hard Boyz 2011 and was looking for some input. First a few disclaimers, I'm fanatically in love with drop pods and bikes, so this version has the pods. If you like I can send the other version that contains the bikes as well for comparison/contrast.

On to the list itself. Idea is to be prepared for taking second turn and using the pods/dreads to open up any castles. Dreads drop in first use grapples/frag cannons to peel out some light tanks from a flank (or annihilate an infantry screen) and follow up with lots of Descent of Angels pain. The third pod/stormraven provide some mid/late game distractions and punch if not dealt with. If given first, alpha striking with the raven and pods seems feasible. With Dante+2x Sang. Guard and 2x Assault sqauds, should be able to hold/take objectives without too much trouble as well. Priests do double duty hanging with/between an assault/sanguinary squad each.

Suggestions?

2500 Pts - Blood Angels Roster - 2500 pts, Guardians of the Blood, Strikeforce Hard Rain

Total Roster Cost: 2500

Troops: Sanguinary Guard (6#, 445 pts)

1 Commander Dante, 225 pts

1 Sanguinary Guard, 0 pts

   3 Sanguinary Guard, 120 pts = 3 * 40

   1 Sanguinary Guard, 50 pts = (base cost 40 + Infernus Pistol 10)

   1 Sanguinary Guard, 50 pts = (base cost 40 + Power Fist 10)

Troops: Death Company (7#, 295 pts)

1 Reclusiarch, 0 pts

   1 ...in Terminator Armour, 160 pts

1 Death Company, 0 pts

   5 Death Company, 100 pts = 5 * 20

   1 Drop Pod, 35 pts

Troops: Sanguinary Guard (5#, 245 pts)

1 Sanguinary Guard, 25 pts + Equip Unit with Death Masks 25

   3 Sanguinary Guard, 120 pts = 3 * 40

   1 Sanguinary Guard, 50 pts = (base cost 40 + Infernus Pistol 10)

   1 Sanguinary Guard, 50 pts = (base cost 40 + Power Fist 10)

Elite: Sanguinary Priest (2#, 150 pts)

1 Sanguinary Priest, 0 pts

   2 Sanguinary Priest in Power Armour, 150 pts = 2 * 75 (base cost 50 + Jump Pack 25)

Troops: Assault Squad (10#, 235 pts)

7 Assault Squad, 126 pts = 7 * 18

   1 Assault Marine with Meltagun, 28 pts = (base cost 18 + Meltagun 10)

   1 Assault Marine with Meltagun, 28 pts = (base cost 18 + Meltagun 10)

   1 Sergeant, 53 pts = (base cost 28) + Power Fist x1 25

Troops: Assault Squad (10#, 235 pts)

7 Assault Squad, 126 pts = 7 * 18

   1 Assault Marine with Meltagun, 28 pts = (base cost 18 + Meltagun 10)

   1 Assault Marine with Meltagun, 28 pts = (base cost 18 + Meltagun 10)

   1 Sergeant, 53 pts = (base cost 28) + Power Fist x1 25

Elite: Furioso Dreadnought (2#, 175 pts)

1 Furioso Dreadnought, 140 pts = (base cost 125) + Magna-grapple 15

   1 Drop Pod, 35 pts

Elite: Furioso Dreadnought (2#, 175 pts)

1 Furioso Dreadnought, 140 pts = (base cost 125) + Magna-grapple 15

   1 Drop Pod, 35 pts

Troops: Death Company Dreadnought (7#, 545 pts)

1 Stormraven Gunship, 200 pts

1 Honour Guard, 50 pts + Equip with Jump Packs 50

   1 Sanguinary Novitiate, 23 pts

   2 Honour Guard, 56 pts = 2 * 28 (base cost 23 + Flamer x1 5)

   2 Honour Guard, 76 pts = 2 * 38 (base cost 23 + Plasmagun x1 15)

1 Death Company Dreadnought, 140 pts = (base cost 125) + Magna-grapple 15

p.s. Feel free to put it up on the blog, that would actually be pretty awesome.

 My Response:

Hey, thanks for the email, sorry it took so long to respond.  I've been painting up a storm lately, and though that doesn't really excuse my tardiness, it hopefully goes a little way toward explaining why I haven't done much on the blog itself lately.  I'm glad you like the blog though :)

So, on to the list.  I have to say first off that I'm not really a big fan of Drop Pods in general, since it leaves whatever is in them vulnerable to assault.  In short, it allows the enemy to dictate the tempo of the game (since usually they can charge you at will once you drop down).

That being said, you only really have a single squad that is hurt from that- the Death Company.  So, let's start there.  You're spending about 300 points for a unit that you can't control, and once they actually get into combat, they won't really hit very hard.  They can't even realistically kill a Rhino that moved if they charge it.  If they charged another squad that is worth 300 points, the other squad would very likely win combat handily.  I'd recommend either:  putting a couple power weapons (one of the few times that power weapons are better than claws due to the chaplain) on them or taking the Chaplain out of the squad.  As it is, that squad is somewhat useless from a gameplay perspective, besides enabling you to get the D-co dread.

I'll come back to the Death Company in a minute, since I have a good(ish) idea for them.  Let's talk about the Honor Guard next though.  They have 2x plasma and 2x flamer.  I would say take them all off, and give them melta instead.  I'm kind of a melta fanboi I realize, but your list really needs more tank-kill, and already has quite a bit of 'elite infantry/horde-kill' in it.  Assault squads kill hordes, and Sanguinary Guard absolutely butcher elites.  So, I recommend taking some melta.  If you absolutely need plasma, take 4 of them instead of just 2.  Two of them won't do much to your opponent, but 4 will really clean up a combat squad caught out in the open, and you'll have FNP to help protect against overheats.  Using 8 plasma shots on monstrous creatures is also an awesome benefit- far better than simply wounding it once or twice with only 4 shots, you have the opportunity to remove it from the table, or at least cause significant damage to it.

So, here's the plan for the D-co and HG:  swap their places.  Put the D-Co in the Raven, and the HG in a Pod.  That way, your melta/plasma/flamers/whatever can land and shoot something on the turn they land.  The Death Company can be hurled at something of your choosing with the Raven, instead of meandering aimlessly through the game.  Whereas the D-co can't really be used to alpha-strike very well, the HG for sure can. :)

One other suggestion:  if you do this, you can drop the Reclusiarch and add Lemartes, who is way better for his points.  You could also drop the Reclusiarch and add a Librarian, who can give them preferred enemy every turn instead of just the turn they charge.  Sure, they miss out on rerolls to wound, but consistent re-rolls to hit is generally pretty good.  You also then benefit from Psychic defense, which you'll need badly when the new GK book comes out.

For the Sanguinary Guard, I'd recommend that you take the Death Masks off, and instead trade it for the Standard of +1 attacks in the squad.  Putting Dante in there with them is somewhat crazy after that, and Dante already has a Death Mask.  More attacks are far more helpful in assault than making your opponent take a Ld. check on a good number.

The Furiosos are interesting- I don't think they're bad though.  They present a threat that if an opponent doesn't deal with them, they can really run rampant.  As to the magna-grapples- you should try them out and see how they work.  If they don't, just don't pay for them.  I haven't seen them used well yet, but I haven't really seen them used much, to be honest.

Othewise, the list looks good.  I love the Death Company Dread, though I'd take the grapple off it for more Blood Claw attacks.  It'll be for the best in the long run- trust me.  

One other random tweak I'd make is to put locator beacons on your Drop Pods.  Whereas DoA is a nice special rule for your jump troops, not scattering at all is even nicer.  It also makes the opponent waste shots trying to kill the Pods if he's worried about them.

Any other questions?  Glad I can help out, if this was the help you were hoping for :)

Anyone else can feel free to email me for list advice- I'm happy to help as much as I can.  And I'll try to be more prompt about it this time, lol!