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Hello,

Title says a bit. I left somewhere in the middle of 3rd Edition and found myself getting back into 40K about a week and a half ago. I dug out all my Dark Angels, bought the new rule book as well as the Space Marine and Dark Angels Codex. I watched a few games, listened to a few gamers about what's changed, and went at building a 1500pt. Army to try and get back into it. From my understanding deployment and transport play significant roles, and I get that as well.

Here's where the confusion comes in. Looking at the Dark Angels Codex and Space Marine Codex there are some significant differences in playing a "core" army. Specifically points values for squad upgrades like Flamers, Missile Launchers, etc. are free in SMC, where the DA codex charge for them. Also Scouts are Elites for DA and Troops for Marines. I understand I can turn a single unit of bikes (1 AB & 1 LS) into a troop choice as well.

It seems, unless I am going to play a heavy Ravenwing Army; or want pricey Special Characters, that I am better off sticking with the SM Codex over the DA Codex? Is this a true statement or am I missing other benefits of playing the DA Codex?

It's more of "what hasn't changed". The Dark Angels are a little out of date and it shows. From my understanding, they are currently the cheapest codex to mass plasma pistols. That's something.

Yeah, basically, if you want to run 'normal' Dark Angels you'd be much better off with the SM Codex. It seems as though Deathwing or a mixture of Deathwing and Ravenwing are the only competitive builds from their existing Codex.

Also dont forget to check out the Dark Angels FAQ on the GW site. They put out a FAQ to try and bring the Dark Angels up to speed a lil bit I think.

Might answer some of your questions there, but as I am not a Dark Angels player, I am not exactly sure what they changed

Also make sure to grab the FAQ (don't have a link sorry) it helps make the codex more competitive (for friendly games at least)

Discard your sneaky... backstabbing... conniving... underhanded and deceitful ways and come across to the only honorable (and mead swilling) chapter left in the Empire...

well the good thing is, we got a better codex than 3rd and if the codex trend had continued down the road CA and CSM:C were going, it would have been fine.

However the " less is more" idea, failed, so GW went down the "more is more" line of reasoning, and several Codexii were left with the old design philosophy.

Now, IGNORE the people who say these codexii suck, they may not have all the shiny new toys the newer books have, but they do have a charm of there own.

DA can still be good in the right hands, DW are still termies and get a 3++ and 2 shot cyclones, RW have 75 point Typhoons, C:SM pays 100, and ours can take objectives as they are scoring.

so its all swings and roundabouts.

Formosa wrote:well the good thing is, we got a better codex than 3rd and if the codex trend had continued down the road CA and CSM:C were going, it would have been fine.

However the " less is more" idea, failed, so GW went down the "more is more" line of reasoning, and several Codexii were left with the old design philosophy.

Now, IGNORE the people who say these codexii suck, they may not have all the shiny new toys the newer books have, but they do have a charm of there own.

DA can still be good in the right hands, DW are still termies and get a 3++ and 2 shot cyclones, RW have 75 point Typhoons, C:SM pays 100, and ours can take objectives as they are scoring.

so its all swings and roundabouts.

C:SM Typhoons are 90 points.

Vehicles are never scoring, even if they are troops.

http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m1620225a_Dark_Angels_Version_1_1.pdf

The warp has supplied!

And seriously, bookmark that page people ¬.¬

DA codex SPECIFICALLY states LS are scoring
this overrides the GENERAL rule that vehicles never score

Codex specific beats BRB general.

90pts.. doh! i guess its the MM i always put on my LS

Why bookmark, we are already discussing the bleeding FAQ lol