Email in: 1250 Blood Angels

This email is from forever ago.  Not really sure how I didn't respond to it, I actually have a fully typed analysis for this email, but for some reason never posted it.  Before my thoughts, here's the email:

Greetings!

 

I think this is the second list I’ve submitted to you and you’ve always done wonders to help me work on it.  A bit of a status update on my clan first.  We are now about 6 people strong and trying to recruit new people in the Columbus Ohio area.  I set up a ‘paint’ night at my house on Thursdays and although it hit a rocky start it has been flourishing now.  It seems no one wants to play with an unpainted army (which I approve) so we aren't playing to much.  Anyway here is the list.

 

 

Unit	Name	Cost
HQ	Librarian	100
	(+) Fear of the Darkness	Free
	(+) Unleash Rage	Free
Troop	Assault Squad	100
	(+) Meltagun	10
	(-) Dedicated Transport	-35
Dedicated Transport	Razorback	55
	(+) Hunterkiller Missile	10
	(+) Lascannon / Plasma	35
Troop	Assault Squad	100
	(+) Meltagun	10
	(-) Dedicated Transport	-35
Dedicated Transport	Razorback	55
	(+) Hunterkiller Missile	10
	(+) Lascannon / Plasma	35
Heavy Support	Stormraven Gunship	200
	(+) Hurricane bolters	30
	(+) Multi-Melta	Free
	(+) Lascannon	Free
Elite	Chaplain	100
Fast Attack	Vanguard Veteran Squad	115
	(+) Additional Models (4)	80
	(+) Power Fist	10
	(+) Power Fist	25
Elite	Sanguinary Priest	50
	(+) Power Sword	15
Troop	Assault Squad	100
	(+) Meltagun	10
	(-) Dedicated Transport	-35
Dedicated Transport	Razorback	55
	(+) Hunterkiller Missile	10
	(+) Lascannon / Plasma	35
	Total	1250

 

Not much on the board just 3 Razorbacks and a Stormraven.  My overall strategy is this.  If I go first I turbo boost my Stormraven to the nearest high value vehicle (trying to place it so that the marines can assault next round too) and melta it.  The razorbacks will follow suit and provide lascannon fire destroying vehicles with their lascannons and hunterkillers.  My ‘deathstar’ is in the stormraven its 9 Veteran Vanguards (two powerfists) and 3 IC’s with them.  Let me know what you think as far as a 1250 Army.

 

 

My response:

 

Hey man, sorry it took so long for the response.  First I should tell you that I'm not extremely experienced with 1250 point levels- 1750 and up is more to my comfort level, since most tournaments are generally 1750 or more.  However, I think I can give you a few thoughts.

My first reaction is that this list would be a pain in the ass to deal with.  The Raven + 3 razors is pretty good- 3 scoring units and a nondependency on your 'big squad' to perform makes the list structured well (by nondependency I mean that if they die or fail to get into combat, you can still win the game through your ability to score, etc.)

The second reaction I have to it is this:  against a good general, if that Raven dies in turn 1 or 2, you might honestly be screwed.  At 1250, I think my wolf list would be as follows:

Rune Priest

Rune Priest

Grey Hunters in Rhino

Grey Hunters in Rhino

Grey Hunters in Rhino

Longfangs

Longfangs

Longfangs

That would give me more than enough firepower to take the Raven down in turn 1, and the rest of the army I could deal with later.  I think there are plenty of armies out there that could do so.  

I said earlier that you don't 'depend' on the Raven + Star to work in order to win, and to an extent that's true.  You can still somehow pull a win out, but it would be unlikely.  More likely would be a messy draw, if you're lucky.  It was, like I said earlier, a first reaction.

The thing is, this list is predicated on a single AV12 transport surviving for at least 1 turn of shooting (maybe 2) in order to win games.  If the vanguard don't make it into combat via the Raven, you aren't going to win against a skilled opponent, generally.  Um, here's a link to an article I wrote for Jawaballs a while ago.  It helps explain why one squad in a transport shouldn't be the entire basis of your army.  Lol, now that I just linked it, I see by the comments that you already read it.  Ah well, maybe someone else will find use from it :-p

If you want a Raven in this list, I'd go with something with less eggs in one basket.  Here's how I'd do it, most likely:

Librarian

5x Assault Termies

Sanguinary Priest w/ Power Claw (Claws are better than Power Weapons)

Sanguinary Priest w/ Jump Pack

5x Assault Marines w/ Melta, Las/Plas Razor

5x Assault Marines w/ Melta, Las/Plas Razor

10x Assault Marines w/ 2x Melta, Fist (note:  jump packs)

Storm Raven w/ EA

This would give you more of a balanced attack- two units advancing, the two razorbacks providing what cover fire they can while scoring.  The FNP Jump Marines are tough to deal with, and the FNP Termies hit pretty hard, with Preferred Enemy and such given by the Libby.  In the end, you want efficiency over raw hitting power- the Vanguard + 3 IC's is simply too many eggs in one fragile basket.  This way you at least have two eggs, and each is pretty tough to deal with by itself, much less next to the other.

Still not ideal, but without entirely restructuring your army, I think this is likely to be the best course of action.  Just enough ranged support along with some strong close combat presence should be alright in most 1250 games.  

Hope this helps :)

Any comments from anyone else?  Something I missed?