Deathwatch. Still competitive?

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.

**dullblade35**

Hey, looking at these love the idea of them, but they are so expensive points wise. They would be used in a IG army as heavy infantry close combat. What are peoples views on these troops?

**MechaEmperor7000**

Personally I wouldnt take them at all. IG have far better alternatives than the Deathwatch, while the Space Marines have Sternguard, who are more or less Deathwatch and Tyranid Hunter's successors.

**dullblade35**

Whats the IG alternative? Ogrens? As im not really a fan.

**MechaEmperor7000**

Vets with special weapons. Given that the Deathwatch can only take one special ammunition loadout per squad anyways, it's much cheaper and easier to just field a squad of vets with the special weapons tailored to take out whatever you need.

**dullblade35**

but i need some close combat power or do i just accept that i'll just get ripped up in CC?

**Inquisitor N**

@dullblade: Pretty much, theres not a whole lot that IG can do for CC except maybe horde up and hide power weapons in the hordes. Really IG is meant to be more shooty, anythnig other than that and you're kinda doing it wrong. Not to say though that hybrid isnt doable...problem is that the only good choices for CC in that case as still mass squads with power weapons hidden among the morass and Rough Riders. What all do you own in guard as far, and have you tried Mech or Foot guard?

**MechaEmperor7000**

A single Deathwatch with a Power Weapon is 35 points. He also dies the same way as any 15 point SM. Not a very good tradeoff, especially since you'll be sending him straight at the enemy since he's your melee source. A DW Captain with Power Weapon is 75 points, and only goes higher with the other weapons. Strakken is 95 points, has superior strength, 2D6 armor penetration, same toughness and armor save as the captain, and ignores armor for only 20 points more. His abalative wounds squad, the Command Squad, is only 50 points, meaniing in the CC department, a Strakken-led command squad is still more cost-effective than a DW squad. Giving more than one PW to the DWs means that you're just sinking more points into a relatively fragile unit.

**xlightscreen**

You can always use witch hunters and pick and choose from that for a Heavy infantry.

**SoloFalcon1138**

I thought it had been pretty well established that IG couldn't use the Allies rule anymore... http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/348555.page

Play them if it makes you happy. Hell, it may even score you the occasional "WTF?" from your opponent while you beat his troops up.

**dullblade35**

Hmmmm i see they point

im guessing thats the only way of getting some CC with a straken lead CCS

Is there no other way of including SM or more CC?

Automatically Appended Next Post:
@Falcon i know that was said but im looking at every angle for other mixes. Pushing for a realy unique army but its looking really slim

**winnertakesall**

imo, a powerblob works better, and for relatively fewer points

**MechaEmperor7000**

still relatively in the higher points end. A single Power weapon marine costs 45 (looked at it again, you have to pay an extra 10 points to make him a vet, giving him access to the PW). The Librarian is probably the only reason I'd take the squad in a IG army, as you have a less squishy (and decently powerful in CC) Psyker, however you'd have to find a copy of the 4th ed Marine codex to use that option. I wouldnt count on the normal marines at all (one failed armor save on a pw marine = almost a full squad worth of guardsmen biting the dust).