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Right, So I'm after a little info and help - especially from DA players if possible!

This is all from memory, so details will be paraphrased and summed up

In the 5th Edition Space Marine Codex, the rule of Drop Pods states that half of all drop pods included in your army MUST be deployed on the your first turn (rounding up for uneven numbers).
It also states this rule in the Space Wolves and Blood Angels Codex - both are 5th Edition IIRC.

The DA rulebook is 4th Edition but I currently do not have access to it or a GW store (and won't for a couple weeks either!!) and do not know what the rules are stated in the DA Codex.

Here's the (2-part) issue:

First Part - A DA player in our group nearly always put his entire army in Drop Pods and holds them in reserve. Because his army is in reserve, he can't deploy his army during first turn as per the standard rules, meaning I can end up with 2 turns passing by where all I get to do is move. The DA player then Drop Pods in from Turn 2 but has the advantage of fully assessing my army setup and layout and can make the most effective attacks.
This, of course, is an incredibly powerful tool - almost too powerful in my opinion - and the DA player has perfected this tactic, which I feel is actually in contradiction to the rules.

Second Part - IF the DA 4th Ed codex doesn't state the rule of half the Drop Pods MUST be deployed first turn, does the DA player have the right to continue to play in his style mentioned above?
Alternatively, if the DA Code does state that he is allowed to keep all his Drop Pods in reserve (maybe a Ravenwing Speciality), which rule should be used - the 4th Edition DA Codex or 5th Edition Space Marine Codex!?

It should also be noted that the DA Player does usually implement most other 5th Edition Rules

Any advice, help, suggestions, updates, etc, will be very much appreciated

Thanks

1) No, it isnt in contradiction to the rules. DA do not have Drop Pod assault, their pods go in normal reserves.

You cn do the same, put everything in reserve.

2) He MUST play as above; he must follow the normal rules for reserves, and therefore cannot arrive until turn 2 at the earliest.

The player MUST use the rules from their own codex, with the updates given by the DA FAQ. You cannot force him to use the SM 5th edition codex, as that ISNT his codex.

In short - your opponent is playing correctly.

It's one of the differences between DA and SM that wasn't changed in their otherwise extensive errata. Does the player have the right to play the way the rules require him to? He has no right not to.

Yes da drop pods aren't as good as sm. But da have deathwing assault which I think is better.

cgage00 wrote:Yes da drop pods aren't as good as sm.

Different doesn't mean worse. An all-drop pod army is better off with the old rules, as they mitigate the all reserve counter-strategy that one often runs into when playing all-pod lists. There's also the chance of a single pod coming in late, which sometimes is an advantage. 5th ed Marines have to pay for at least 2 pods to be able to do the same.

Ravenwing specialty ddoesn't really have anything to do with drop pods at all. Though as long as his Ravenwing bike squads don't take speeders they can outflank.

Yes, he does have some benefits, but you also need to see he is paying a premium in some areas. Weapons in their tactcial squads are more expensive, and don't get me started on devestator squads. The main benefits of Dark Angels is in their specialized comapnies. And while I do love the ravenwing, I don't feel it is as competitive then a generic Space Marine Bike army. Of course on the flip side, as far as All terminator armies go, I'd stickw ith a deathwing.

With his drop pods there are tradeoffs. He can do 5 in a drop pod at 50 points. But a space marine one is 35 and has to be at 10. (Same for special weapons).

There are differences in strategies. With a space marine drop pod army you can drop better units as well (Sternguard) and you can be guaranteed half of your units will be on the board at the start. With the Dark Angels, you don't know, and that is a advantage and a hinderance. As it may mean the enemey faces your army piecemeal. The primary thing is, its just too unpredictable.


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Not to mention, he loses out on unit selection. Dark Angels have one troop selection. Just in general Dark Angels are very lmited in what they are able to do effectivey compared to other marine codexes. ( at least at a level of effective point comparison)