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For pure pods, I'd say the best bet is 10 men, dual specials, WG with combi-weapon. The best alpha strike potential comes from that build, and 10 men are more survivable than 6 even with TDA.

Also, don't forget 10 men, dual plasma, WG with combi-plas and a plasma pistol.

If you're running multiple plasma bombs, make sure at least one pod has Ulrik with his awesome Preferred Enemy bubble.

DaddyWarcrimes wrote:
If you're running multiple plasma bombs, make sure at least one pod has Ulrik with his awesome Preferred Enemy bubble.

Personally, I don't like Plasma bombs. Rapid firing and preventing charge doesn't really make sense for a cc oriented DP army, and then there's the possibility of killing your own models in crucial stages of the game (I guess Ulrik would mitigate it for one squad, but then you have to think about it for the others).

You can't charge the turn you come down anyways...

 pretre wrote:
You can't charge the turn you come down anyways...

But if you have meltas, you can fire the turn you come down, then fire the next turn when you charge.

 Random Dude wrote:

 pretre wrote:
You can't charge the turn you come down anyways...

But if you have meltas, you can fire the turn you come down, then fire the next turn when you charge.

Sure, but you've still fired the same number of AP2 shots. with both loadouts.

 pretre wrote:

 Random Dude wrote:

 pretre wrote:
You can't charge the turn you come down anyways...

But if you have meltas, you can fire the turn you come down, then fire the next turn when you charge.

Sure, but you've still fired the same number of AP2 shots. with both loadouts.

Melta guns are AP1, and they don't overheat. They're also 5 points cheaper.

 Random Dude wrote:

 pretre wrote:

 Random Dude wrote:

 pretre wrote:
You can't charge the turn you come down anyways...

But if you have meltas, you can fire the turn you come down, then fire the next turn when you charge.

Sure, but you've still fired the same number of AP2 shots. with both loadouts.

Melta guns are AP1, and they don't overheat. They're also 5 points cheaper.

I'm aware. Hence the smiley.

They are used for different targets and different uses. I usually run 1-2 melta GH squads, 1 - 2 flamer and a plasma.

In regards to the Plasma vs Melta drops... Consider that a single turn of Plasma stacks damage up front. You potentially kill off more enemies before they can attack you back. Also, why charge something when you could have a second round of plasma fire?

If my opponent drops down with Melta, I'll charge them to prevent a second round of fire before they can assault. If my opponent drops down with plasma, I'm confident that they won't assault the next turn, so might be more apt to try to drown them in fire.

When every unit with 6" of Ulrik reroll their 1s, you don't overheat.

 greatbigtree wrote:
In regards to the Plasma vs Melta drops... Consider that a single turn of Plasma stacks damage up front. You potentially kill off more enemies before they can attack you back. Also, why charge something when you could have a second round of plasma fire?

If my opponent drops down with Melta, I'll charge them to prevent a second round of fire before they can assault. If my opponent drops down with plasma, I'm confident that they won't assault the next turn, so might be more apt to try to drown them in fire.

Would you really charge a pack of 10 GH? They have counter attack, so they'd still be getting 30 attacks.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

DaddyWarcrimes wrote:
When every unit with 6" of Ulrik reroll their 1s, you don't overheat.

How many people place all their pods within 6 inches of each other?

I do it pretty regularly, using pods to move block against castled opponents.

 greatbigtree wrote:
In regards to the Plasma vs Melta drops... Consider that a single turn of Plasma stacks damage up front. You potentially kill off more enemies before they can attack you back. Also, why charge something when you could have a second round of plasma fire?

If my opponent drops down with Melta, I'll charge them to prevent a second round of fire before they can assault. If my opponent drops down with plasma, I'm confident that they won't assault the next turn, so might be more apt to try to drown them in fire.

These are Grey Hunters, not vanilla marines. You probably would be worse off charging them than taking a couple melta shots.

I love it when people charge at a full 10 man GH squad. It's like they want me to eat through a whole unit while they can't shoot at me. I run 10 man squads if purge the alien is a possibility. In tournaments and leagues that remove purge, I would go MSU spam with 6 pods. Take 1-2 locator beacons and drop your terms in next to them for a really good 1-2 punch.

What type of MSU spam is best for a pod list?

Well in the case of SW, where Drop Pods can be taken as fast attack choices without a unit, an empty pod is the fastest way to buff the number of pods you can bring in an Alpha Strike. For fun you could always add a Lone Wolf or some Wolf Guard Terminators to the pod.

Other than that, if you are going MSU, I'd go Grey Hunters first, then Wolf Guard and finally Blood Claws. Grey Hunters are a good cost effective choice and Wolf Guard can be buffed into a very nasty alpha strike even as a small unit. Blood Claws, with their lower BS and WS do better as a large group.

Stepping away from the MSU for a moment, I was thinking today about the possibilities offered by taking a drop pod army of Grey Hunters, Wolf Guard and/or Dreadnaughts supported by a squad or two of 15 Blood Claws in Stormwolves. The mobility of the Stormwolves means that the Blood Claws can be delivered into charge range within a turn or two of arrival and will be protected against most threats until its time to charge. Just make sure to bring down one of your drop pods right next to your enemy's AA battery in turn one so you can charge it before it has a chance to go after the Stormwolf.

GHs how in pods I'm wondering. Only one special? Or that plus combi WG? Or TDA combi WG? What about plasma pistols? CC upgrades.

A WG pack leader in PA with a combi is 34 points. A WG pack leader in TDA with combi and a SS is 44 points. In a smaller GH squad the TDA WG is definitely the way to go.

Super Newb wrote:
GHs how in pods I'm wondering. Only one special? Or that plus combi WG? Or TDA combi WG? What about plasma pistols? CC upgrades.

A WG pack leader in PA with a combi is 34 points. A WG pack leader in TDA with combi and a SS is 44 points. In a smaller GH squad the TDA WG is definitely the way to go.

With pods you want to maximise alpha strike potential, and the best way to do that is to take dual specials and a combi weapon of the the same type. There's merit to msu, but I think that's the province of Razorback lists.

Is it worth it to have a 34 point combi, or would it turn out better to put those points into the next squad of hunters? I'm not sure.

A combi melta on a WG pack leader is just so expensive though. 34 points to pay for that in the GH squad. At least a combi plasma gets two shots rather than one. Or don't get a WG and get a plasma pistol instead, 5 points cheaper, fires only once on the drop but at least it can be used again.

Also, one pod at least can't be ten man, the HQ has to go somewhere. Wondering what the make up of the hq pod should be. GH? WG? TDA WG? Lot of options there.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 obsidiankatana wrote:
Is it worth it to have a 34 point combi, or would it turn out better to put those points into the next squad of hunters? I'm not sure.

For plasma I think it is worth it. For 20 points more than the GH, your squad gets 6 plasma shots on the drop rather than 4. A 50% increase.

A combi melta only gives one more shot for the same price. I'm leaning against that.

I still think the combi-melta is fair, you pay no more for it than Marine Vet Sergeants, and no one baulks at that. There's also the fact that at 34 points, if it kills any vehicle it's made is worth back.

For the HQ, assuming you're taking a beatstick Lord then Wolf Guard with SS and other toys are the obvious choice, protecting him and providing support in combat. Failing that, maybe Blood Claws? The cheapest ablative wounds and like him, want to be in combat.

If you're taking a Rune Priest, then you want whatever will make the most use if his powers (if you take buffing trees) or put him in the best position to attack (offensive trees)

I don't know man. The squad already has two meltas. And the combi plasma is the same price as the combi melta. Versus non-vehicles the combi plasma is a much better deal. Probably better versus light AV too.

As for the 'hq' pod. Since SS on TDA are 'free' that seems like a good bet to have a couple of those. TDA with combi and a SS still would give some alpha strike too. Of course no PW in that load out but the Hq will have one along with the other 1 or 2 TDA WG.

For alpha lists I'd stick with rune priests. They're guaranteed to st least have a 3 shot autocannon (vs armor).

But my point for the combis is that for the coat of three WG with combis you can get 5 hunters with a special. Less alpha oriented, more sustain focus, unless you count bolters and wound count.

It may be down to the fact i like matched specials and combis.

There might be something in a two-melta combi plasma pod. It do bikes your high power shots in the drop, is better against MCs and has a better glance potential against vehicles than three meltas. Might run some numbers on that.

Sounds like a good plan on the Lord pod. Cheap SS, even when you can't take PW with them, are great.

When I pod I usually don't hold much back.
>Pod filled with Plasma Hunters [Plasma Gun x2, Plasma Pistol and now Combi-Plasma]
>Pod filled with Plasma Hunters [Plasma Gun x2, Plasma Pistol and now Combi-Plasma]
>Pod filled with Melta Hunters [Melta Gun x2, Plasma Pistol and now Combi-Melta]
>Pod filled with Melta Hunters [Melta Gun x2, Plasma Pistol and now Combi-Melta]
>Pod with Dread [Now Venerable With Shield And Axe or Murderfang]

Depending on what I am facing depends on what comes done in turn one.
Unless I see Land Raiders it's Plasma Hunters and the Dread
Land Raiders, Melta Hunters and the Dread.
Lots of Vehicle/MCs, 2x Plasma Hunters and a Melta Hunter.

I'm still tentative on axe/shield dreads, if only because an immobalized one is as good as a dead one. Murderfang is cheaper and killier vs infantry and MCs, while dreads with at least a gun can still contribute.

 obsidiankatana wrote:
I'm still tentative on axe/shield dreads, if only because an immobalized one is as good as a dead one. Murderfang is cheaper and killier vs infantry and MCs, while dreads with at least a gun can still contribute.

Yes that is my only real concern.

 Paradigm wrote:
It may be down to the fact i like matched specials and combis.

There might be something in a two-melta combi plasma pod. It do bikes your high power shots in the drop, is better against MCs and has a better glance potential against vehicles than three meltas. Might run some numbers on that.

I would love to see the numbers on that. Obviously combi plasma would be better against non-vehicles and combi-melta better against land raiders... Wondering about other vehicles , hull point stripping, etc;