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I am completely new to the 40K system and I have decided to play Blood Angels. I put together a 1.5K list (which seems to be the standard size game) that I would like for you all to brutally tear apart with your more experienced critique.

1.5K

HQ:
Chaplain; jump pack, plasma pistol

Troops:
10 Tactical Squad; Sgt w/ plasma pistol and melta bombs
5 Assault Squad; Sgt w/ melta bombs
5 Assault Squad; Sgt w/ melta bombs

Elites:
Furioso Dreadnought; Death Company upgrade
5 Terminators
5 Death Company; jump packs

Fast Attack:
3 Attack Bike Squadron

Heavy Support:
10 Devastators; BA Rhino w/ x-tra armor and hunter-killer missles
Whirlwind; hunter killer missiles

This list comes to 1495 points. I figured I would do an assault theme with the two Assault Squads and the Attack Bikes. I added an additional 5 to the Devastator Squad and gave them a Rhino to get them across the field, unload and use the rhino for protection, before they can unleash on a foe. The Whirlwind is there to provide some artillery support while my troops are trying to get to the enemy.

Devastators are by and large not worth it. Also you don't want them in rhinos, because using them wastes two turns of shooting.

Also for BA, generic Characters are pointless with their specials being so cheap and effective.

Other than that your list seems pretty solid, especially for a newbie. my take on that list is as such:

Also, Hunter Killer missiles are also kind of pointless, especially on a whirlwind. A whirlwinds job is to sit back out of LoS and murder infantry

My Take on your List would be:

HQ: Lemartes

Troops:
10 man Tactical Squad with Lascannon
5 Man Assault Squad
5 Man Assault Squad
5 Man Assault Squad

Elites:
5 Death Company, Jump Packs
5 Man terminator Squad with Cyclone Missile Launcher
Death Company Furioso Dreadnought with Extra Armour

Heavy Support:
Vindicator
Whirlwind

1500 Points on the dot

I would take Lemartes, give the tactical squad a rhino and combine the two five man assault squads into one unit... you can always combat squad them if need be. I would also switch out the Devs for a Baal... a Baal is basically Devs on treads really.

G

You can take two Baals for the cost of the one Dev squad.

G

Thanks for the input guys.

This is where my game ignorance comes readily apparent. I figured out why hunter-killer missiles are a point sink, as well as the melta bombs, but why are the Devastators frowned upon?

I see that by giving them the rhino I am losing at least two rounds of shooting, and by no upgrades of their weapons, I am taking an expensive tactical squad (those two issues will be addressed in the updated version of the list). But other then that their role on the battlefield seems fine.

i agree with GBF, or instead of baal's take vindi's or preds, both can fill the fire support role alot better than dev's.

if your going assault troop heavy then maybe dante in the list? at 200 points he is expensive, but not only will he cause crazy amounts of damage, he should draw most of the fire from the death company.
he should be able to weather a turn or 2 of shooting if he's in cover.

I did use Dev squad for free DC, although they can't move & fire. they are alright so far IMO, but depends on what the opportant had and what wargears with. i believe you had 2 Lascannon and 2 Missiles in Dev squad

Overall, just do it what you thing is coolest. no one demend you to change it, just a suggestion.

Devastators aren't bad by any measure, although I'm not sure what weapons you'd be giving them, if any. A ten man SM squad double tapping boltguns isn't something to frown upon, but ideally, this unit would be bringing the long arm of pain. Even with switching that unit out for a Baal or even regular Predator, you could buy the lost Death Company model without undue issue.

Try it out both ways, see if either works well or not, and go with it. =)

might even be worth dropping the dev's and trying to free up more points and take a LR.
some nice armour in the army helps out alot since most common armies struggle with high AV now.

also, it could act as a delivery system for the DC or termies.

I would rather have two Baals versus one landraider. To be honest termies don't really fit well into a solid BA list and all it takes is one melta shot to drop a dreadnaught.

G

Thank you everybody, you have given a me lot to consider; let the theoryhammer begin (again).