Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I've got a couple hundred points yet to fill out to get my Slaanesh themed foot slogging Chaos Marine army up to 1500 points. The army is mostly set up with assault and other short range weapons (flamers, Vindicator as support) for shooting, with the idea of getting in close fast (running for first few turns if needed), with only a bit of long range fire support (Defiler).

I was debating between Choosen or Raptors and I think the Raptors have finally won out. Choosen could infiltrate and bring a lot of special toys to make them really powerful in assault, good for anti vehicle work (meltaguns ) or MEQ killers (lotsa plasma). They seamed a bit pricey for all that though. Raptors can also give me something the army lacks, a fast moving assault unit. I figure they will go well with my winged demon prince(ess).

So, with why I choose Raptors and having given an idea of how the rest of the army is generally kitted out, what do you think is a good way to equip the squad? I think it's stupid to bring small assault squads, and Chaos can bring BIG squads. I'm already running 12 man troop squads, so I was thinking of bringing 12-15 Raptors. More than that just seams to be overkill and not a good use of points. For weapons I was going for Meltaguns and a Power Fist. I don't have much anti-tank in the army, I've got flamers in my troop squads, and Plasma Rifles are not a good option for a squad that is going to be assaulting.

Now the big debate: What mark to use? The rest of the army all have Marks of Slaanesh, but I am not above including other Marks. Slaanesh continues the theme of the army and means I will probably be striking first, which increases the squads survivability (they can't kill you if they never get to strike back!). The downside is that doesn't help out the power fist much. Khorne will give me yet more attacks, making this unit even more vicious on the attack, but doesn't help their survivability. I've heard people say good things about Nurgle T5 assault Marines, but I just don't think it's quite the effect I am looking for here with this unit and I feel the first two Marks are better options. Tzeentch would have been good in the days of Las/Plas but we are moving away from that and you just can't count on a 5+ Invul. Thoughts?

if you want to take raptors you need them in big squads. 8+ is a good number. its the right call to give them meltas and a fist.

as far as marks go, nurgle is the best for raptors. your opponent will likely spend a large number of rescources trying to get rid of them in the early turns, so making them harder to kill is a boon. this will mean that your close range army will be much more able to position itself to deliver the killing blow.

if your determined not to you it (i suggest you play test it a bit to see what i mean) then i would say go your khorne. it means you can hunt MC and tanks a little better. slaanesh fits your fluff but is only any good against marines. other armies will either go before you or not care that you're going before them. you shouldnt even consider tzneetch. with 4+ cover saves everywhere its wasted points.

GW hates tzneetch, and 5th edition was the final nail in its coffin.

Thanks for the response.

My Demon Princess has wings and so is great for assaults but I also don't want to just suicide attack with her as I've seen many Chaos players do with their winged Demon Princess. I guess with her and the Raptors moving along with her, an obvious and very powerful assaulting force, when faced with this my opponent would like be directing their fire in at them. So I see your point with the Mark of Nurgle. I'll just have to try it and see, the way I make Icons swapping them is not too difficult.

GW hates tzneetch, and 5th edition was the final nail in its coffin.

I find this somewhat amusing because for the period between when the latest Chaos Codex came out and before 5ed I heard a lot of Chaos players and MEQ players going on about the AP3 of the Thousand Son's bolters and how great Tzneetchy armies would be. To bad though really, I loved those sorts of focused specialist armies...