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So after getting a good number of games with the Lost Brotherhood Strike Force under my belt, I decided it was time to try out one of the other ways to play in the Angel's Blade book. I don't feel like anyone has really "cracked the code" on the archangels yet, so I'm setting off to do exactly that. The special rules you get are undeniably powerful (red thirst, turn 1 reserves, reroll reserves, d6 less scatter, stubborn, zealot under 1/2 unit strength), but whether or not this makes up for a lack of OBSEC has yet to be seen. So here's the list.

Angel's Blade Strike Force

Leaders of the Angelic Host
-Sanguinary Priest
Angel's Wings

-Sanguinary Priest
Jump pack

Archangels Demi Company
-Terminator Captain
Veritas Vitae
Auspex

-Furioso Dreadnought
Frag cannon
Heavy flamer
Magna grapple
Drop pod

-Furioso Dreadnought
Frag cannon
Heavy flamer
Magna grapple
Drop pod

-5x Sternguard Veterans
3 combi gravs
Drop pod

-5x Assault Terminators
TH/SS

-5x Assault Terminators
TH/SS

-5x Vanguard Veterans
Jump packs
4 inferno pistols

-5x Vanguard Veterans
Jump packs
4 inferno pistols

10th Company Ambush Force
-5x Scouts
Shotguns
Melta bomb

-5x Scouts
Shotguns
Melta bomb

-5x Scouts
Combat blades
Melta bomb

-5x Scouts
Combat blades
Melta bomb

Updated because I apparently can't read rules. Went for a MSU strategy with a few more burly units. The priests drop in with the assault terminators to give them +1ws, fnp and psuedo fleet. Scouts are there for objectives and harass enemy units with str5 and init5.
Thoughts?

Your terminator captain can't have both slayers wrath and a hammer of Baal both being relics. I like it but I don't love it. I really want to see if there's a way to take the golden host as a command with Dante since the guard won't scatter from his warlord trait and detachment rules. Maybe the guard become the vet melta squads job, taking cheaper vet squads and vets rather than terminators. The captain would need to go with the strenguard as a high strength shield in combat?

BloodPigeons89B wrote:
Your terminator captain can't have both slayers wrath and a hammer of Baal both being relics. I like it but I don't love it. I really want to see if there's a way to take the golden host as a command with Dante since the guard won't scatter from his warlord trait and detachment rules. Maybe the guard become the vet melta squads job, taking cheaper vet squads and vets rather than terminators. The captain would need to go with the strenguard as a high strength shield in combat?

False, the hammer is NOT a relic, just an upgrade IIRC.

I tried REALLY hard to get the golden host in here, but the points just aren't there. And yes, the termie captain tags along with the sternguard so he can tank wounds.

Interesting. I'm really not a fan of Stormravens, though. How are they coming in turn 1? DFTS?

Martel732 wrote:
Interesting. I'm really not a fan of Stormravens, though. How are they coming in turn 1? DFTS?

The detachment rules. The Archangels Demi company lets you roll for reserves on turn 1.

I don't recall being able to put stormravens into that formation.

 th3maninblak wrote:

BloodPigeons89B wrote:
Your terminator captain can't have both slayers wrath and a hammer of Baal both being relics. I like it but I don't love it. I really want to see if there's a way to take the golden host as a command with Dante since the guard won't scatter from his warlord trait and detachment rules. Maybe the guard become the vet melta squads job, taking cheaper vet squads and vets rather than terminators. The captain would need to go with the strenguard as a high strength shield in combat?

False, the hammer is NOT a relic, just an upgrade IIRC.

The Hammer of Baal is on page 117 where its rules are under the heading Relic of Baal.

 th3maninblak wrote:

Martel732 wrote:
Interesting. I'm really not a fan of Stormravens, though. How are they coming in turn 1? DFTS?

The detachment rules. The Archangels Demi company lets you roll for reserves on turn 1.

The detachment is Angels Blade, the core formation is the Demi company. Only the Demi company get the turn one rolls.

Forget everything i said here. I was totally wrong about that rule. Back to the drawing board.

 th3maninblak wrote:
Forget everything i said here. I was totally wrong about that rule. Back to the drawing board.

Why not drop the ravens and pick up golden host and a cheaper auxillary?

Chapter Ancients is pretty good

Archangel demi company always adds up to be too many points for me. I think it's because I'm trying to use vanguard and their equipment is overcosted.

Martel732 wrote:
Archangel demi company always adds up to be too many points for me. I think it's because I'm trying to use vanguard and their equipment is overcosted.

Im reworking the list now. Cant fit the golden host in, unfortunately. But I dropped the ravens for the 10th company formation, 2 jump pack priests to give the termies fnp and reroll on charges, and 4 extra inferno pistols for the vanguard vets. Updated list to come shortly.

 th3maninblak wrote:

Martel732 wrote:
Archangel demi company always adds up to be too many points for me. I think it's because I'm trying to use vanguard and their equipment is overcosted.

Im reworking the list now. Cant fit the golden host in, unfortunately. But I dropped the ravens for the 10th company formation, 2 jump pack priests to give the termies fnp and reroll on charges, and 4 extra inferno pistols for the vanguard vets. Updated list to come shortly.

The jump pack trick only works for that model now. Just be aware.

Martel732 wrote:

 th3maninblak wrote:

Martel732 wrote:
Archangel demi company always adds up to be too many points for me. I think it's because I'm trying to use vanguard and their equipment is overcosted.

Im reworking the list now. Cant fit the golden host in, unfortunately. But I dropped the ravens for the 10th company formation, 2 jump pack priests to give the termies fnp and reroll on charges, and 4 extra inferno pistols for the vanguard vets. Updated list to come shortly.

The jump pack trick only works for that model now. Just be aware.

Did they re-FAQ it?

Edit: just saw it. Still works, but he just has to be in front now and drag all his buddies into combat via consolidation.

It's just not as good. Very overwatch susceptible.

Martel732 wrote:
It's just not as good. Very overwatch susceptible.

Not if 2 models are equidistant from the target unit. That and the priest will have a 2+ Look out Sir to a bunch of guys with 2+/3++/5+++. It doesnt work nearly as well for all jump pack units, but it still works for mixed units like this.

Okay; fair enough.

Martel732 wrote:
Okay; fair enough.

What do you think of the new updated list? Model count went up significantly.

I think its as good as i've seen with archangel demi company.

 th3maninblak wrote:

10th Company Ambush Force
-5x Scouts
Shotguns
Melta bomb

-5x Scouts
Shotguns
Melta bomb

-5x Scouts
Combat blades
Melta bomb

-5x Scouts
Combat blades
Melta bomb

Updated because I apparently can't read rules. Went for a MSU strategy with a few more burly units. The priests drop in with the assault terminators to give them +1ws, fnp and psuedo fleet. Scouts are there for objectives and harass enemy units with str5 and init5.
Thoughts?

I've played the 10th company a few times and unless you're just using it to take bodies to throw at things it doesn't really do anything worth while

Really? They're kinda hard to shift without ignores cover, and in my experience have made excellent harassers with melta bombs. Plus shotguns with precision shots are HILARIOUS

Scouts are better than you think. Move through cover is $$, and 3 S5 attacks each on the charge = most vehicles dead.

Martel732 wrote:
Scouts are better than you think. Move through cover is $$, and 3 S5 attacks each on the charge = most vehicles dead.

I absolutely love my BA scouts, my shop tells me they are crap but they do more work than tacticals in combat. My point is the formation isn't self doesn't do all that much. Stealth let's them sit an objective but first round precision shots does hardly anything since snipers already have it and with anything else you'll either get a few shots or be out of range. I think they do better mincing squads or locking scary things up than sitting still which the formation encourages.

Snipers with precision shots are garbage. Bolters or shotguns? Now THOSE are pretty ok. And I like to think of the +1 cover until they move as being a nice little bonus to protect you from alpha strikes.

I don't have any shotgun scouts. I should probably fix that.

Anyhoo, the melee scouts with furious charge are quite good bullet catchers. They are key to my LBSF list.

Per the FAQ, since the priests from the command choice don't have turn 1 reserve rolls, they can't start the game joined to units that do.

This is part of why I'm annoyed at the AB. You can finally run a bunch of priests in a detachment and yet there's a ton of restrictions on what they can join. They can't join golden host because reserve timing, they can't join archangels because reserve timing...

 niv-mizzet wrote:
Per the FAQ, since the priests from the command choice don't have turn 1 reserve rolls, they can't start the game joined to units that do.

This is part of why I'm annoyed at the AB. You can finally run a bunch of priests in a detachment and yet there's a ton of restrictions on what they can join. They can't join golden host because reserve timing, they can't join archangels because reserve timing...

What part of the FAQ is this??

It's in there.

Well this army jist doesn't function. Sweet.

So I tried playing around with options and had some ideas. The terminator captain really wants a light night claw rather than storm bolter and wants to join a unit of assault terminators. Putting corbulo and a librarian in the unit makes it pretty gnarly. But the unit can't deep strike with them so put corbs and the librarian in a pod with 8 strenguard kitted to your preference, with a locator beacon. The pod comes down and the characters go to the edge of the squad, terminators come in and don't scatter grabbing the characters. Strenguard provide fire support until the unit can charge. 3 vanguard vet units also come in with packs a guy with dual inferno pistols and a guy with storm shield to tank ap 3 and better. Auxiliary 3 scout squads Sgt with melta bombs harass slow tanks or weak units