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 have recently become infatuated with Deathwatch and really want to make a small insertion force for 1500 point games. I plan to represent Deathwatch units with sternguard so C:SM seems to be the natural choice but all input is appreciated.

I don't have my SM dex at hand ATM so the following less of a list more so ideas of what i think i would want in a list. Help me make it work!

HQ: For HQ I want Sicarius and a Terminator Libbi. Sicarius is included in order to make those sternguard units scoring. The libbi is always nice for the hood and it is fluffy for deathwatch to hang around with a psycher in their midst.

Elites: For elites I want stern (obviously) and, since this is supposed to be a force of veterans, I am entertaining the idea of vanguard. Trust me I know they are too pricey for what they offer. I am thinking assault troops would be good as a counter charge. The vanguard's extra attack plus the flexibility of their wargear is making them more attractive then regular jump troops. I was also thinking 2 or 3 dreads would be helpful and stay with the theme.

Heavy: I am considering drop podding three dreads with MM and heavy flamer to alpha strike any AV on the opposing side.

Troops: For troops I am thinking 2 or 3 squads of 10 Tac marines with plasma and Lascannon. Each would be mounted in Razorbacks. The Lascannon combat squad would sit on home objectives and help snipe light armor. The special weapon team would move up to mid-field and help with the fire fight.

The above would look something like this:

HQ:
Sicarius
Terminator Libbi with combat shield

Elite:
10x Stern w/ 4x combi-melta; Drop Pod
10x Stern w/ 4x combi-melta; Drop Pod

Troop:
10x Tac w/ Lascannon & plasma; Razor Back w/ Las/TL PLas
10x Tac w/ Lascannon & plasma; Razor Back w/ Las/TL PLas

Fast:
5x Assault Marines w/ some combination of lightning Claws and junk (HELP!)

Heavy:
Dread w/ MM, DCCW & HF; Drop Pod
Dread w/ MM, DCCW & HF; Drop Pod
Dread w/ MM, DCCW & HF; Drop Pod



C&C Please

First off, (i hope this isn't against forum rules) but its Pedro Kantor that makes sternguard scoring.
This would actually help you cause he's cheaper.

5x Assault Marines aren't going to do much, if you already own them (i'm super budget minded so i hate when people are like, get 90 extra dollars worth of stuff that you don't have) kit them out with nothing but a power fist and use them to attack devastator squads and equivalents.

I'm not a fan of plasma on the tactical squads unless going up against a ton of meq, i find melta or free flamer better for most things. Same story with lascannon, I prefer the free ML for the choice of frag and krak. This frees up points for use in other places.

I do like that you have some options for initial drop pod deployment, three dreads or 2 marine drop pods and a dread. That will give you some flexibility.

I don't like 2 HQs unless at 2000, and your lists looks to be in that ballpark, so i'll pass on that.

I can't help but feel this list would be better with vulkan, making all of those insta-dropped meltas and heavy flamers twin linked, doing much more reliable damage, but at the trade off of not having scoring sternguard.

Other than that, good luck!

You might wanna double check; Sic doesn't make SternGuard score. I believe that's another guy. (ninja'd!)

And, I suppose Las/Plas might still have a place in 5e, but I can't remember the last time I saw such a list in play. With the 5e changes of:

1. more transports in use (due to the rule changes that made them hardier)
2. and the 5e game mechanic that allows a unit to assault a destroyed transport's passengers

... meltaguns are the order of the day, not rapid-fire Plasmaguns.

LasCans? Not so much with 5e's Cover Saves aplenty. Most players are taking the other free heavy weps.

I think two HQs is too much, until you hit 2k in points.

Jumpers? 5 is too small. At 10 models, have a PFed sgt, and the flamers/plasma-pistols.

You guys are spot on about Pedro vs. Sicarius. Brain fart on my part. I also agree about the usefulness of vulcan (who can deny it?) and I think his interesting wargear would be well represented if I used an Inquisitor counts-as. Unfortunately I think his price may be prohibitive at 1500 when pairs with a large amount of Sternguard. As this is a Sternguard focused list due to the Ordo Xenos theme, I think Pedro may be the winner of the day.

I have to disagree regarding the value of lascannons. I find it's long range incredibly powerful. If I can bring down the points of this list the lascannons will also be nice since the dreads will take care of AV 14 and 13 readily. There are a ton of threads that discuss the value of Las/TL plas RBs. Most importantly, two weapons. That means two opportunities for a weapon destroyed and three available shots within 12 inches.

I'm thinking I am gunna scratch the jumpers altogether and hope for the best. I really want this force to feel small and elite. No need to throw in a 250 pt squad for a little insurance.

The new streamlined, approx. 1500pt, list looks like this:

HQ:
Pedro

Elite:
10x Stern w/ 2x combi-melta; Drop Pod
10x Stern w/ 2x combi-melta; Drop Pod

Troop:
10x Tac w/ ML/Flamer; Razor Back
10x Tac w/ ML/Flamer; Razor Back

Heavy:
Dread w/ MM, DCCW & HF; Drop Pod
Dread w/ MM, DCCW & HF; Drop Pod


Does this list get owned at 1500?



***EDIT*** I never use dreads and so failed to realize they are Elites, not Heavy! So this really puts a damper on the list because I feel that the dropping MM Dreads were a keystone in this list. Now what? How do I save the Deathwatch theme and have a locally competitive list? Thoughts?

Only way you can have 3x Sternguard Units and 3x Dreadnoughts is with the Blood Angels Codex I believe.

Or try to find another way to incorporate deathwatch in. Not sure man.

akn102991 wrote:Only way you can have 3x Sternguard Units and 3x Dreadnoughts is with the Blood Angels Codex I believe.

Or try to find another way to incorporate deathwatch in. Not sure man.

master of the forge, take the dreads as heavy support

I love deathwatch.

Here's what you do: pedro and 3x sternguard, with at least 4x combimeltas, more if points allow. CS the sterns so they can melta two targets with the combis.

Be armor light and you won't have to worry as muchabout antitank.

You're going to have to spring for a Master of the Forge if you want all those Dreadnoughts in a Vanilla Marines list. Otherwise you'll have to play Blood Angels and find a new HQ to fit the theme.

If you do want a Master of the Forge, I'd recomend kitting him out with a Power Weapon or Thunder Hammer. He can hit surprisingly hard on the charge if he doesn't die immediately to enemy attacks. Alternately take a Conversion Beamer (and bike if you have the points for relentless) and you get a great ranged weapon and his ruin boosting ability.

If you don't want a master of the forge I'd honestly go all out on Sternguard and Marine horde. You take 3 units of them, Pedro, and a couple of razorback marines for fire support and you'll likely have more MEQ than the opponent can handle, all of which will be scoring. If you really feel the need for some fast meltas for cheap, take a squad of 3 attack bikes. 120 points and you get 3 Multi-Melta shots that can move 12" a turn. Two squads of those and I think you'll forget you ever needed the Dreadnoughts. With two Sternguard Squads, the Attack Bikes, and Assault Marines (can ye beef them up a bit? It'd help...) hitting the opponent on Turn 1/2, I think you'll have a great Alpha Strike army.

I am currently converting all of my marines over to deathwatch. Let me know how it goes for you, getting the shoulder pads is a pain.

I would be careful with the dreads in drop pods, they are going to be coming in late and has been said you need a techmarine

akn102991 wrote:Only way you can have 3x Sternguard Units and 3x Dreadnoughts is with the Blood Angels Codex I believe.

Or try to find another way to incorporate deathwatch in. Not sure man.

BA has sternguard?! oh no! I really did not want to be a convert but this brings a lot of possibilities. Especially worthwhile jump troops!