One army that's always interested me are the Deathwing and the Dark Angels in general. I've always wanted to do a pure Deathwing force, but the idea of not being able to use Mortis Dreadnoughts has always bothered me and the purist in me balked at the idea of using the Space Wolves book to represent the Sons of the Lion, so the idea was shelved.
That's until my friend handed me a copy of Imperial Armour Apocalypse Second Edition yesterday as an early Christmas present. One of the (many many) options in the book is to field a Mortis Pattern Contemptor - the godsend I was waiting for and that sparked off a melting pot of ideas in my mind
So here's the 1750 point list I've been working out whilst steadily working my way through a bottle of rum:
Azrael, Supreme Grand Master
Belial, Master of the Deathwing
Deathwing Squad Azrael
Heavy Flamer, 2 x Lightning claws, Apothecary, Standard Bearer with Chapter Banner
Deathwing Squad Retribution
Lightning Claws, TH/SS, Assault Cannon, Chainfist, Power Fist
Deathwing Squad Deliverance
TH/SS, Heavy Flamer, Chainfist, Lightning Claws, Power Fist
Deathwing Squad Heavenfall
Assault Cannon, Chainfist, Lightning Claws, TH/SS, Power Fist
Contemptor Brethren Azakion, Mortis Pattern
2 x Kheres Assault Cannon, Extra Armour, Searchlight, Cyclone Launcher
Revered Brother Raziel
Venerable Dreadnought, Multi-Melta
The aim behind the list was to use Squads Azrael and Deliverance, led by Azrael and Belial respectively to spearhead the charge, while the other two squads and the Dreads give fire support.
I deliberately steered away from the usual Interrogator Chaplain as my second HQ, instead i felt that Azraels combat skills and 4+ blanket save over a squad were a better choice, especially when combined with LC's, FnP and a Chapter Banner in the squad he leads.
What do you think?
I'd prob specialize your leads more. So once they hit home, they really hit. Assault cannons aren't really worth giving up LC attacks, or the 3+ inv for. as cool as they are.
ReplyDeleteBelial, prob with Claws.
Squad Deliverance
2x LC, 3X TH/SS, cyclone launcher
(Deep strike these as they turn up turn one anyway, ready to get stuck in)
Azrael, grand master
Squad Azrael
5xLC, Standard, Apothecary, Cyclone. (although I would be tempted to give this squad to Belial. It is after all the DW company standard they have to have. and the Grand Master already has the bubble)
Azraels personal Land Raider (no self respecting chapter master walks anywhere. and he can't deep strike. Also offers a far more enticing target to be shot at, protecting the dreads. I feel this should be a normal land raider, and yet the crusader has frag launchers, argh)
Squad Retribution
Cyclone launcher, and whatever else you like. To babysit home objectives. and offer fire support along with...
Azakion
Assault cannons, cyclone launcher
Raziel
Multi-melta
Comes to 1740 by my reckoning.
I've left out the Land Raider for now because I feel that the most important things in Deathwing armies are the amount of bodies on the ground and amount of shots they can dish out. I was saving the Land Raider for the expansion to 2000 points, as the cost of a Raider can buy me another DW scoring unit
ReplyDeleteAs for defending the Dreads, one's a Venerable, so quite survivable, whilst the other is Contemptor, so has a few nifty rules and higher armour to make it quite durable
You're right about the lead squads though, but I want to avoid going for all the same wargear in a squad, which goes against one of the few strengths DW have left. Also, Heavy Flamers are better anti-horde than Cyclones, while the two long range s8 shots they'd generate wouldn't do very much tbh.
I put Azrael in the command squad because he can benefit more from the upgrades, but thanks for pointing that out, as I was using the Chapter Banner, which costs more, but has the same effect as the DW Banner.
Belial's leading a different squad so both my lead squads can benefit from having a character attached
How's this?:
Belial with TH/SS (because a 5+ inv. save is just embarrassing for a SC)
Squad Belial
2 x TH/SS, 2 x LC's, Heavy Flamer
Azreal
Squad Azreal
2 x LC, Standard Bearer with LC's, Apothecary with LC's, Heavy Flamer
Squad Deliverance
Assault Cannon, TH/SS (to catch low ap shots), Chainfist
Squad Heavenfall
Assault Cannon, TH/SS, Chainfist
Mortis Contemptor Azakion
Twin Kheres, Cyclone (Included here as it can fire alongside the AC's)
Raziel
Multi-melta