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Hello once again everyone! Thanks to Unbound armies and the new Scion models I have been inspired to create an "ODST" themed army utilizing Scions mounted in Drop Pods. The basic fluff for my Scion Regiment is that they specialize in Boarding Actions and Orbital/Planetary Assault. Now with that in mind I have been trying to think of ways to put together an effective army list that is competitive but still remains true to the ODST theme. A few of the tactics I have been toying with:

-Spamming x5 man Scion squads with x2 Special Weapons each all in Drop Pods being able to target multiple enemies with a variety of weapons (primarily Plasma Guns and Melta Guns), with this idea I was able to put together a 2000pt. list with x15 Drop Pods!

-Condensing the Squads into x10 man Squads of Scions with x2 Special Weapons (primarily Plasma Guns and Melta Guns) to have less Drop Pods but much larger squads giving them more survivability

Beisdes that I am also debating dropping some Pods and Squads to bring in at least a single flyer for Air Support but the above dilemma is mainly what as me thinking. What I would love to hear from you guys are ideas, any ideas thoughts or comments that pertain to this list in order to make it more competitive, fluffy or even if you just want to throw your 2 cents in, its all encouraged. Lets see if we can get this Tactica thread up and running and thanks for posting!

It is destiny that you do this army. Think of the acronym.

Orbital
Drop
Storm
Trooper

Or this:

Orbital
Drop
Scion
Tempestus

If that isn't fate slapping you right in your motivation, I don't know what is.

dakkamasta wrote:
It is destiny that you do this army. Think of the acronym.

Orbital
Drop
Storm
Trooper

Or this:

Orbital
Drop
Scion
Tempestus

If that isn't fate slapping you right in your motivation, I don't know what is.

I didn't even notice that! Besides the awesome name coincidence, what you guys feeling in the way of tactics?

Add a few ogryn/bullgryn into some pods, let Nork lead them. He can be a warlord, any character.

Okay...I've been wanting to field Storm Troopers alongside my pods, but how are you putting them IN the pods? All pods are dedicated transports, and scions can't take them...

 Jimsolo wrote:
Okay...I've been wanting to field Storm Troopers alongside my pods, but how are you putting them IN the pods? All pods are dedicated transports, and scions can't take them...

"Unbound Armies" state you can take anything in your collection, which means if I take empty Drop Pods I should be able to put Scions into them according to my understanding, This is what it says under "Dedicated Transport" in the rulebook:

"The only Limitation of a Dedicated Transport is that when it is deployed it can only carry the unit it was selected with (plus any independent Characters that have joined it) . After the game begins it can then transport any friendly Infantry unit, subject to Transport Capacity and other special exclusions as explained in the vehicles entry."

So basically in that paragraph it states you cant but then states you can?...Vague writing at its finest.

It's perfectly legal under Unbound, as the pods are purchased as units, not as dedicated transports, and so any unit may embark inside them. It's an awesome concept by the way, and a "proper" use for the unbound concept.

It's not vague at all, "starting the game inside" and "can be transported once game begins" are two totally different concepts..
This belongs in YMDC for sure!

 jifel wrote:
It's perfectly legal under Unbound, as the pods are purchased as units, not as dedicated transports, and so any unit may embark inside them. It's an awesome concept by the way, and a "proper" use for the unbound concept.

 Inquisitor Bob wrote:
It's not vague at all, "starting the game inside" and "can be transported once game begins" are two totally different concepts..
This belongs in YMDC for sure!

It kind of seems like the first part of the paragraph was geared towards "Battleforged" armies while the second part was geard towards "Unbound" armies. Because "once the game begins" means after we have rolled the mission and finished deployment, and since Drop Pods start the game in reserve it would mean once the game starts they can be inside is how I understand it.

Now in regards to tactics (since this is a Tactica thread and dont want ti closed) I am heavily leaning towards x5 Man Drop Pod units so I can maximize the # of Special Weapons I can take, also toss in a Astra Militarium Command Squad with an Astropath to make my Reserves come in on a 2+ and x4 more Special Weapons! What are your guys thoughts?

I think that any unit inside the Pod has to be put there when deployments are done (at the beginning of the game). Even in an Unbound list, I don't think this will fly.

However, a legal tactic would revolve around using Salamanders and MT together. The Salamanders come down in their pods, and if you frontload the squads towards meltas and away from flamers, when the Scions arrive in subsequent turns, you'll be able to bring them in with the Locator Beacons you bought for your pods. This gives you dirt cheap, non-scattering AP3 weapons en masse, coupled with lightning-fast rerollable meltas. Sounds like a winning combo in my book.

This has the added advantage of being able to be fielded with a Battle Forged army, meaning you'd be more likely to be able to field it in competitive play.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
As requested, put a thread in YMDC on the topic.

ahh, soddit, in the spirit of unbound, this would TOTALLY fly.

That said, go for the bigger squads in less pods... because the logistics of building, painting, and transporting FIFTEEN FETHING DROPPODS is insane.

 McGibs wrote:
ahh, soddit, in the spirit of unbound, this would TOTALLY fly.

That said, go for the bigger squads in less pods... because the logistics of building, painting, and transporting FIFTEEN FETHING DROPPODS is insane.

+1 to this.

4 drop pods fills a small GW carry case - spam pods at your peril! I have 5 in my SM list, and it sucks to carry around. Make sure you find a case which is 6.5+ inches tall internally so you can stand them up, otherwise you're going to have a bad time [/southpark]

Let's how ypou have lots of room for box's in your car!

 martin74 wrote:
Add a few ogryn/bullgryn into some pods, let Nork lead them. He can be a warlord, any character.

Nork can only be taken as part of a CCS, I don't think unbound lets you get out of that restriction.

If you want to maximize the number of heavy weapons you can take then take more command squads. It's unbound so you can take as many as you want and it covers the lack of orders weakness that you often get with pure scions. I've never played ODST but I think background wise Valkyries can make an orbital insertion. So if I were rolling this I would go all scion command squads in vendettas and valks. Crunchier and fluffier.

Unbound still follows rules for unit coposition even though it says take anything you want.

Otherwise i could take 30 single sternguard sergeants /w combi-weapon and melta bombs in an 1100 point list.



You cannot even purchase regular drop pods, without them being dedicated so no, scions cant go in em. If your opponent wants to allow it for fun, then whatever, but its not legal, unbound or not.

Eihnlazer wrote:
Unbound still follows rules for unit coposition even though it says take anything you want.

Otherwise i could take 30 single sternguard sergeants /w combi-weapon and melta bombs in an 1100 point list.



You cannot even purchase regular drop pods, without them being dedicated so no, scions cant go in em. If your opponent wants to allow it for fun, then whatever, but its not legal, unbound or not.

Well aren't you just the ultimate killjoy. Let's put RESTRICTIONS on UNBOUND GAMES!

Yes, drop pods are only ever listed under "dedicated transport" in the codices, so its argueable they can't be anything else.


However, if it IS legal, it means we need to look for the real silly stuff to put in pods, not mere scions.
There has GOT to be something completely silly out there....

Best I've got is crusader/DCA/priest teams from inqusition.
If only it was 10 models, we could put centurions inside XD

Now with unbound people can take deamons with eldar and gk. This is far more ridiculous than putting scions in pods!
Scions in pods makes sense and I believe things like this is the real reason for unbound.
Besides - if someone is willing to play unbound, they will be a bit of a douche if they then try and stop you from putting scions in pods. In fact I would imagine they would be of the mentality to let it fly (or drop ;-)).


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also allows tyranids to use spore pods again...


Automatically Appended Next Post:
In regard to a silly unit inside... spe weapons squad with 3 demo charges?

Poly Ranger wrote:

Also allows tyranids to use spore pods again...

They have no rules

 CrownAxe wrote:

Poly Ranger wrote:

Also allows tyranids to use spore pods again...

They have no rules

My point exactly - they can now use drop pod rules to represent them.

Poly Ranger wrote:

 CrownAxe wrote:

Poly Ranger wrote:

Also allows tyranids to use spore pods again...

They have no rules

My point exactly - they can now use drop pod rules to represent them.

They can't get in the drop pod though

Even if Dedicated Transports DID allow units that didn't buy them to start in them, you STILL couldn't put bugs in a pod, since they aren't Battle Brothers with any pod-users, and even in an Unbound list you still have to abide by the rules for alliances between factions.

I love your idea.

Take a Marine Combined Arms Detachment with scouts as troops. Fill up your heavy support slots with Deathstorm drop pods modeled as regular drop pods with a squad of guys standing on the open doors, armed with rocket launchers or assault cannons.

Should work similar to how a SW army works these days, which is really effective. You can neuter a good chunk of your opponent turn 1 weather they like it or not.

Unfortunately, the YMDC response was pretty overwhelming. I think we'd be hard pressed to find an opponent that would allow this, and it's probably not a safe bet that any given opponent would let it fly.

No. Just no.

Unbound in my groups book is pretty much anything goes as long as it has a theme, so your idea would pass with flying colors. Now tournaments and such probably not since I understand just not agree with the wording vs. the spirit of unbound play. As long as you are playing friendly games then do GW proud and forge that narrative.

Amaznig idea, slightly offtop as not scions but I came up with this monstrosity:

Company Command Squad, 2x plasmagun, medi-pack, regimental standard, drop pod 150
Company Command Squad, 2x plasmagun, medi-pack, regimental standard, drop pod 150

Platoon Command Squad, 4x flamer, drop pod 90
Infantry Squad, flamer, drop pod 90
Infantry Squad, flamer, drop pod 90
Infantry Squad, flamer, drop pod 90
Infantry Squad, flamer, drop pod 90
Infantry Squad, flamer, drop pod 90
Special Weapon Squad, 3x grenade launcher, drop pod 80
Special Weapon Squad, 3x grenade launcher, drop pod 80

Platoon Command Squad, 4x flamer, drop pod 90
Infantry Squad, flamer, drop pod 90
Infantry Squad, flamer, drop pod 90
Infantry Squad, flamer, drop pod 90
Infantry Squad, flamer, drop pod 90
Infantry Squad, flamer, drop pod 90

Platoon Command Squad, 4x meltagun, drop pod 110
Infantry Squad, meltagun, drop pod 95
Infantry Squad, meltagun, drop pod 95
Infantry Squad, meltagun, drop pod 95
Infantry Squad, meltagun, drop pod 95

1850 points, 4 plasma guns, 6 grenade launchers, 8 meltaguns and 18 flamers. 177 infantry models in 21 drop pods.

As the YMDC thread points out, you have to be deployed in the pod to ride it down. It is bought with that unit, so scions can't start in them.

But...
If teleport homers help Scions that deep strike, get a squad-in-a-pod to drop where you wants your scions, and TH them in around it.
There are lots of ways to get TH or locator beacons.
Get a comms array or navy-boss to help with reserve rolls.

The OP's idea is good, but needs work.