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Right, just got the new codex: Chaos Space Marines for my Bday and have written up a list as a possible army to get back into 40k with. I have taken some advice from a thread started in the 'Chaos' section of this, and other forums, (Titled: HELP! Can't write a Chaos Space Marine List!) thanks to all who contributed to that, I appreciate it, ironically this is the first Chaos 'dex that I haven't had any real trouble writting a list with! Any way way heres the list:

HQ - Daemon Prince - Wings
Mark of Khorne OR Doombolt 140

Elites - Chaos Terminators - 5 men
Terminator Chapion
Reaper Autocannon
Icon of Chaos Glory
2 Combi-Plasma
Lightning Claw (single)
2 Power Fist 240

Troops - Chaos Space Marines - 10 Men
Aspiring Chapion w/ Power Fist
2 Plasma Guns
Icon of Chaos Glory 230
Rhino APC - Extra Armour 50

Troops -Chaos Space Marines - 10 Men
Aspring Champion w/ Power Weapon
2 Plasma Guns
Icon of Chaos Glory 220
Rhino APC - Extra Armour 50

Troops - Khorne Bezerkers - 10 Men
Skull Champion w/ Power Weapon
2 Plasma Pistols
Personal Icon 275
Rhino APC - Extra Armour 50

Troops - Plague Marines - 10 Men
Plague Champion w/ Power Fist
2 Plasma Guns
Personal Icon 295
Rhino APC - Extra Armour 50

Heavy Support - Chaos Defiler - +1 CCW 150

TOTAL - 1750 POINTS

- This list pretty much includes/does exactly what I wanted it to but I am open to guidance/regomendations/advice if there are any stupid decisions/units in there made on my part that make the army poor (though note I don't want a beardy, kill-all army, just a strong capable force able to do well against any opponent). For example - Better equipment set-up for the treminators? Mark of Khorne or Doombolt - which wuld be better? stuff like that. Currently ooking at droppping the rhinos due to the ability to run in 5th - yay or nay?
- Looking at the list I guess you can tell why I nicknamed 'Plasma Boy'!

Thanks for any feedback.

My thoughts :

DP: one gets shot quickly when there is little else to shoot at. Two work best. Warptime and lash are better powers than doombolt. DP's should be tearing it up in hth so doombolt generally gets lost in the shuffle, but is still ok. Warptime makes him a monster(as he should be), and mark of Tzeench makes him survivable.

I use basic CSM squads alot, but they never really do well in a shooting roll for me. I usually rhino rush them if I go first or rhino wall their slower advance if I go second. They do well in close combat by racking up PF kills and just being marines that it takes a while to kill them. Chaos Glory is a lifesaver. I use melta guns since I never plan on standing and shooting, but thats a personal pref. on how I run them.

Berzerkers and Plague Marines havn't worked so well for me either ... I prefer noise marines. They shoot often and shoot well and can move with the rest of the army as it goes forward. However, I don't see anything wrong with your squads, other than the plague marines dont need a personal icon since you have no daemons(unless you go with the DS config on your terminators I recommend below).

Your terminator setup is fine for a footslogging unit, with the exception of the LC. They should have 1 PF as a backup, but should concentrate on long range fire.

If you want to DS them, then keep the PF's drop the LC and reaper and give them all combi-plas. It really is just a choice of what you want them to do. With only 5 models in the squad diversifying won't work and they will be anexpensive ineffective unit.

Defiler: Not the best choice when the only other threat is a demon prince. Armor 12 opens like butter to anti tank weapons. 5th will make this a little better since you can get cover saves ...

For the same 150 points you can have two oblits giving you two sltos of heavy deployment, two shots, and the diversity of anti tank weapons or anti troop weapons(plasma cannons against high armor troops).

If you want to use vehicles(I love them they just don't work that great in the current edition, and the defiler is just a cool model) then use multiples. Give them three targets to point their anti tank weapons at and some of your vehicles will live long enough to do their job. 2 defilers and two oblits work great. The enemy is usually more afraid of the oblit weapons and your defiles may live a turn or three to do something in.

Anyway, nice list, use or not use my input as you will. The most important thing is to have an army you like.


An example of what I do:

2 winged dp, one with lash and mos, one with mot and warptime.
Greater demon(cuz I bought the forgeworld keeper of secrets)
2 csm squads of 8 with pf, meltagun, Icon of glory, rhino
1 csm as above but no upgrades on champ (to summon GD)
1 Noise marine squad in rhino with sonic blasters and doom siren
2 oblits.

This gives the enemy a choice when shooting thier long range weapons on turn one : Stop the rhinos OR stop the princes OR stop the oblits from shooting thier armored goodies. If they stop Rhinos, the DPs get into assault and own. If they stop the dp's the rhinos get in their face and smoke and then I get into their army with 2-4 squads on turn two. If they focus on the Oblits, I laugh cuz both the princes and the squads get into their army on turn 2.

Anyway, not saying you should copy me, but just wanted to show the plan I use to have the units work together.


Meph

We'll start with the HQ choices as is customary. A single DP won't cut it. He will draw too much fire and giving him the mark of Khorne is a bad idea. A team of two DPs one with MoS, LoS, and the other with MoT, Doombolt, and Warptime is your best bet. They can manipulate the enemy. Shoot them up with accuracy and assault hard.

Your elite squad of 5 termies has a little too much going on. The Icon on a 5 man squad isn't worth it. I'd say only have one powerfist aswell. The single lightning claw isn't doing much either. Downgrade the champion aswell. The only thing that is giving you is an extra attack for 10 points. Those can be better spent elsewhere. This squad is needlessly sinking points for you. I'd say retool them to all basics with a Reaper Autocannon, a powerfist, and maybe some combi weapons.

Your troops also seem to be sinking a lot of points for nothing. I'd say don't run the basic CSMs. The Cult troops are a lot better, the only reason for that being that they are fearless. Noise Marines are great for shooting in squads of 6 with a blastmaster and sonic weapons. Zerkers are great in HtH especially when they get the charge. Every Squad doesn't need a Rhino, especially not one with extra armor. To simplify your troops I'd say go with 7 man teams of Plague Marines with plasma gun and a champ with a powerfist. They will be good at shooting and decent in HtH they are very survivable aswell. The Zerkers are good in their numbers keep them in Rhinos to rush them in. I'd say pick up two units of 6 Noise Marines with sonic weapons and blastmaster. They will be able to lay down heavy fire.

The defiler isn't so good as the other heavy support choices you have in Chaos, mainly Obliterators. Oblits are versatile and dangerous. I'd say squeeze in a few.

Don't give the DP MoK... the psychic powers are too good to forfeit. What weapon are you replacing on the Defiler? If it's going to be an assault unit, replace the AC imo. The flamer won't be affected by its crap BS.