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Here is my dilemma: I am tuning my list for a 1000 point beginner tournament in a month. I currently have 2 hq units with 2 bodyguards each. Hgh quality firepower with targeting arrays and the lot. 6/8 suits im fielding have bs4 basically.

Would it be still effective to downgrade one whole hq unit to the elite slot to make room for more points to attempt to squeeze in another broadside? ( I only have one in the list so far).
This would take me down to 3/8 suits having bs4 and the rest having bs3. I understand that one BS increases the % accuracy by 16%. Is there any personal experience that can confirm how much this affects the game?

At points this low, go with the regular elites. BS3 vs BS4 really isn't that big a deal. You are going to want to save the points. Also, do you have a hammerhead tank? At 1000 points, these guys are indispensable.

I agree, downgrade to get the extra Broadside (Boys before Toys is the usual refrain).

If you are concerned about Ballistic skill, remember your marker lights.

Agreed, go for the Broadside.

I'd love to fit a hammerhead but i don't have the points for that.

Markerlights are also too expensive and can't be fit into my list.

If i downgrade a full hq unit and take out one of my deathrain monats i'll have enough points to get another broadside and switch the other deathrain monat into a helios monat.

I would downgrade both bodyguards and the second Hq/Bodyguard squad.

You can still attach the Shas'el( Not a shas'o, too many points for too little. You can get the BS5 for 15 point less by adding the Targetting array) to the Suits that you were going to use as a bodyguard, and by using a regular squad of suits, you can have 3 "bodyguards" instead of 2.


Assuming you have 2 shas'o and 4 shas'vre bodyguards, following my advice would net you about 105 points.

Honestly, at 1000 points, a hammerhead is more important than another broadside. Because the second you are facing IG/Nids/orks, you are going to wish you had a large template. At 1000 points, all three of those armies can easily put 50+ bodies down. Whereas you aren't going to see much that will require broadsides. Maybe a leman russ, predators possibly, maybe some eldar tanks. Missile pods can easily take out anything short of those, and one XV88 plinking away will usually be enough.

And I agree with Iur_tae_mont. Don't bring any bodyguards. They are serious overkill at these points, and like I said, you really should fit a hammerhead in. They are super efficient at low point levels. I would go so far as to say eschew 1 broadside to fit in a hammerhead.

I was thinking the same PraetorDave. Removing the broadside for a hammerhead because i didn't have the points to add one but i am not sure of the effectiveness.

I had a lot of trouble with a BA list i recently played. One assault squad and one death company with jetpack squad that deepstriked right beside me. I couldn't even kill all the death company in one turn of shooting with all my army. It was about 7 death company with some HQ that starts with an A.

BS3 worries me quite a bit as a 3 can make a big difference. I have little field experience so I'm quite worried about any changes i make.

ceku wrote:I was thinking the same PraetorDave. Removing the broadside for a hammerhead because i didn't have the points to add one but i am not sure of the effectiveness.

I had a lot of trouble with a BA list i recently played. One assault squad and one death company with jetpack squad that deepstriked right beside me. I couldn't even kill all the death company in one turn of shooting with all my army. It was about 7 death company with some HQ that starts with an A.

BS3 worries me quite a bit as a 3 can make a big difference. I have little field experience so I'm quite worried about any changes i make.

IMO the hammerhead is one of the best main battle tanks in the game. Its got a great main weapon, its a skimmer, has armor 13 front, good secondary weapons, and its got a lot of good options. You will never regret having a large pie plate.

Death Company are a really tough nut. I wouldn't sweat them too much. Any army would have trouble having death company deepstrike right behind their lines. Basically all you can do is drown them in fire, and hope they die.

Well the whole army is BS3, and honestly its not that much of a deterent. There are some key ways of getting around this. One is twin-linking: TLBS3 is actually better statistically than BS4. Broadsides are twin-linked, Deathrain suits are great, and drones hit a surprising amount with TLBS2. Another way is wargear: Hammerheads get BS4 for free, your commanders get BS4 for free, and targetting arrays can be put on a lot of units. And of course there's the pathfinders, who can boost units ballistic skill. But really BS3 is not that bad.