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I'm currently in the process of creating a Dark Angel army based off most of the models in the DV box set and a few extras. What I have so far is as follows:


Belial - Would probably use instead of the company master
1 Librarian
1 Interrogator Chaplain
5 Man Deathwing Terminator Squad with Assault Cannon
5 Company Veterans/Command squad
3 Ravenwing Bikes
2 Tactical Squads (Vet sergeant with Plasma Pistol, plasma gun and plasma cannon as loadouts in both)

Now I'm going to a couple of extra units/items to add to this list but I'm limiting myself to 2 purchases a) so I don't break the bank and b) so I actually get around to painting them. My initial thought is to buy a Devastator squad and load them out with 2 Lascannons and 2 Plasma Cannons (I love a bit of plasma) I figured I could interchange the Lascannons with my Tactical squads if need be for a bit of flexibility and then have an all plasma devastator squad!

I would take the Banner of Devastation if taking a command squad to give my tactical squads salvo abilities. From what I can gather this wouldn't apply to the storm bolters of the Deathwing. Though I've seen a few discussions get quite heated over whether this means a tactical marines boltgun or all bolt gun type weapons.

I digress here, but for my final purchase I am torn between an Assault squad to cover ground more quickly (I know I've got bikes and Terminators can teleport but I feel the army is quite static) and give the Sergeant melta bombs, a Vindicator tank to deal with enemy heavy armour, or an attack bike upgraded with a Multi Melta, again to move quickly and offer a bit of punch against armour. For what it's worth I mainly play against Chaos and Blood Angels. Both the Blood Angels guys have access to Rhinos, which I generally take care of with Plasma weapons, but my new devastator squad with Lascannons should help with this. One of them also has access to a Land Raider. Hence either the melta bombs or Vindicator. But then again the speed of the attack bike might get it close enough to the Land Raider to do extra damage as well as giving the Bike sergeant melta bombs for security. I fear the Vindicator might need to get too close and be wiped out before completing its task.

The other opponent is generally Chaos. He has a hellbrute as his main source of armour, though like me he's making some additional purchases. I don't know what yet, but I'm guessing he might get some terminators, but I feel he might get Khorne Bezerkers rather than more armour. This is where the assault squad might help, provided I don't all ready gun them down with 56 shots from Botlguns fired at salvo 4

Or do you think I should look at getting something else? Maybe even scrap the devastator squad.

For what it's worth I also have access to Azrael and 5 classic metal Deathwing Terminators with a Heavy Flamer.

thanks

Devastators would make a fine addition, but you want to try unifying the heavy weapons in a dev squad, so either mail-order some more lascannons (lovely anti-tank, with the changes to the vehicle damage table they are well worth the 5 points more than ML's) or couple the plasma cannons together and have lascannons in the tac squads (not my preferred option, but Prescience on the plas cannons will decrease the chances of "gets hot").

For the other purchase - more bikes. A unit of three won't last long, make it 6 with 2 meltaguns and a combi-melta on the sergeant and watch land raiders disappear.

Regarding the Standard of Devastation, in the 6th edition FAQ it was clarified that it only affects standard boltguns (including combi- weapons firing as boltguns), twin-boltguns on bikes and hurricane bolters. However, for some reason when editing the FAQ's for 7th, many entries (mostly "clarification" FAQ's rather than Errata or Amendments) disappeared, so that the current FAQ doesn't have any mention of it.

Banner of devastation is nasty if you can squeeze it in, especially with a massed bolter gunline, I've seen it take apart almost entire armies.

My main question though is why take Belial in a list with so few terminators.

You could easily run him as just a Company Master in TDA, saves about 50 points (you lose Termies as OS, Mastercrafted / Fleshbane, Teleport Homer, precision stormbolter, pinpoint deep strike and set warlord trait).

The main problem I find when running SoD with Tacticals is that any time you are forced to move (enemy out of sight / range, need to take an objective etc.) it's really painful. It's why it shines in Ravenwing armies.

I guess SoD is really dependent on your opponent against a cc orientated army it's really useful. Come against someone like Tau and your not really going to benefit from it in the same way.

Fantome wrote:
Banner of devastation is nasty if you can squeeze it in, especially with a massed bolter gunline, I've seen it take apart almost entire armies.

My main question though is why take Belial in a list with so few terminators.

Agreeing with this guy.
Beliel is a waste of points if you don't actuay need the terminators as troops.

Hi,

Thanks for all the replies. In terms of Belial it was more about being able to deep strike him in with the Deathwing Terminators where I need and making use of fleshbane on his sword to take on Mephiston as I know 2 of my opponents will have him. We're all relatively new to the hobby so armies are pretty much mainly what you get in box sets, so pretty rounded. But I think we're basically going to play unbounded (though due to the models we own there won't be any nasty surprises like someone just turning up with tanks). I guess my devastator could focus on Mephi after taking care of any armour.

If I got more bikes, would you recommend normal bikes or Black Knights? Or is a better idea keeping Belial and getting another squad of Deathwing and taking it up to 3? Then I could start with Belial and 1 squad on the table and deep strike the others directly to him as and when needed?

Sorry for all the questions, me and my friends are getting back into the hobby and I think me crushing them would be great for morale





Automatically Appended Next Post:
I guess the black knights would grant a teleport homer instead of Belial

drop pods. maybe an attack bike.

TommyBs wrote:
HI guess the black knights would grant a teleport homer instead of Belial

All Ravenwing bikes come with Teleport Homers (it's why they are so pricy). Black Knights are awesome, but I'd round out the existing bike squad first - units of three won't last long.

 Quanar wrote:

TommyBs wrote:
HI guess the black knights would grant a teleport homer instead of Belial

All Ravenwing bikes come with Teleport Homers (it's why they are so pricy). Black Knights are awesome, but I'd round out the existing bike squad first - units of three won't last long.

This is sound advice, extra bikers instead of Belial dropping teleport homers to deep strike your death wing right where you need it.

Ooh I didn't realise normal bikers get it as well. I ended up going for an attack bike and a squad of devastators for now. I think going forward I will invest in more bikes, but I'll see how the army performs first of all and what works well and what doesn't (though appreciate the bikes might not work well if it's such a small squad size)


Automatically Appended Next Post:
If I do get more bikers is it worth the extra points to take a command squad as a HQ choice or just take extra bikers?