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.

So, let me start off by saying I'm not looking on this tactic to dominate tournaments, but instead one to have fun and play different. If I wanted to be ultra-competative I'd spam pyscannons or something...

That being said, it's fun playing a strong list (certainly when it comes to my friend).

I've been trying to write a death cult assassin centric list but the problem is they're kind of a glass sword; they fly up, if they hit their target they kill every thing, if they don't have their target they get killed in one or two rounds of shooting.

I really wanted to see if anyone else had any ideas to help me out with this.

Wacking 'em in a Storm Raven or a Land Raider helps, but I think you're just genna' have to live with it. It would be even more unfair if they were as survivable as Termies.

Yeah, I usually put them in storm ravens, but they get super focus fired on (for obvious reasons… They are terrifying)


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Right now my list usually looks like this:

Grey Knights

1850

HQ
-Xenos Inquisitor w/p sword, rad g, +50
-Coteaz +100

Troops
-Warband: DCA x8, Crusader x2 +150
-Warband: DCA x9, Crusader x2 +165

Elite
-Vindicare +145

Fast
-Stormraven w/ mm, lc +205
-Stormraven w/ mm, lc +205
-Intercepters x10 +260

Heavy
-Dreadknight w/ h psi can, gat psi, personal tel +280
-Dreadknight w/ h psi can, gat psi, personal tel +280

The only problem I see with this list is the Inquisitor. I play a very similar list.
My Inquisitor is something like this:

Ordo Malleus Inquisitor-25
Combi-Melta-10
Demon Blade-15
Empyrean Brain Mines-10

I just run the Demon Blade for kicks (and to watch my opponents face when I role for abilities)
Much meaner in assault with the Brain mines (paralyze HQs/Ind Characters)

On a side note, Consider putting the Death Cults in rhinos
6 DC and 4 Crusaders (much more survivable)
I like the Stormraven Idea (I am buying two right now) but people tend to prioritize them.
Also slipping a mystic in each tank could make sure those Dreadknights tele right where you want em.

Henchmen article in my signature.



So far here is what I have been running in terms of close combat henchmen


Squad 1)
Techmarine with Rad grenades and servo skulls
5x DCA
5x Crusaders

Squad 2)
Librarian with Mght of Titan, Quicksilver, Shrouding and Sanctuary.
5x Arco Flaggellents
5x Crusaders

Each is in a Storm Raven Crusader (Assault, Melta, Hurricane)

1) COTEAZ IS NOT A CLOSE COMBAT CHARACTER.
He is T3 with no INV save. He does not belong in combat.
He has a lot of buffs for shooting units.
Protects you from reserves attacking your firebase (I've been expecting you)
Protects your firebase from assaults (sanctuary)


2) You do not need 8-9 DCA if you have Rad+ Hammerhand
How often do you fight a Squad of 20-30 Marines?
How often do you fight squads of 10 TH/SS termies?
Not very often. 5 buffed DCA will kill a lot of stuff. With rad and hammerhand 5 DCA will deal ~11 wounds to WS 4 T4 on the charge (almost 4 TH/SS Termies)
Crusaders are great for combat resolution, because you will not die in return, then you can sweep with INT 6 and take out the rest.
Build a unit that can Kill 10 Marines, take some fire, and then kill another squad.


3) The Arco unit is Surprisingly durable and versatile.
INT 10 plus 25 S6 Attacks from Arcos, plus 10 S4 PW swings from the crusaders. (assume Quicksilver and Hammerhand) good against hordes or armored units.
S7 plus 2D6 armor penetration times 25 attacks. (Assume Hammerhand+Might of Titan) Muti-assault a parking lot and watch it explode.
3+ cover+FNP against S5 or less (shrouding), 3++ INV or 2+ Armor against S6 or more.
Sanctuary means you are charging more and getting your buffs

3b) The librarian pairs very well with the storm raven.
Go flat out, Multimelta some tanks, then get 3+ cover with shrouding.
Mind Strikes + Less scatter from Skulls = reliable psyker sniping out of squads+a ton of wounds on the extra guys.
The assault cannons does more damage than a LAs cannon (even to AV 14), but it has less range. Does not mater when you are in the face of the enemy

4) Techmarine is a great guy
Coteaz + Librarian are my HQ's, the Teachmarine takes an Elite Slot instead.
10 pts for Rad grenades instead of 15
3 pts for Servo Skulls instead of 5 (every point counts right?)
Bolster a ruin for 3+ Cover, Vindiacre has Stealth for 2+ Cover.
Still has a TL-Plas pistol or flamer if you need to deal a little damage before charging in (great when your squad has been reduced in size)

Nice, that's some really cohesive unit choice you've gone with. Now if only I had the time to start a henchmen gk army too...

Oh well- 'grats on some smart ideas. As for the OP, if durability is an issue with your dca, then the aforementioned mix of dca and crusaders well ensure that you won't kill your target unit on the charge, will have some storm shields to take wounds on and then have the power to kill the rest in their assault phase and move on without being shot at.

The big trick when running a DCA list is to make sure that you don't wipe the squad in the first round of combat. You want to kill as much as possible to ensure that you're not wiped on the kickback, but you want the combat to linger into your opponent's turn. It's the only way to prevent your squad from getting shot to pieces.

What do you normally play against? 5 man TH/SS? 10 man tac squads? 5 man combat squads? Non-MEQ?

Do the mathhammer. See what you normally play, and run the numbers. You want to statistically crunch around 2/3-3/4 of the opposing force per round of combat, assuming you get the charge. Aiming that lowers your chance of a wipe on the assault, while keeping your odds of sweeping during their turn maxed.

Also, you may want to consider the use of Land Raiders instead of Storm Ravens. LRs have Assault Grenades, which will actually let you assault into cover without getting absolutely crunched.

The only other thing I would recommend is the use of an 2x Crusaders, and an Eviscerator for units that don't have a Thunder Hammer, since getting tied in with a Drednaught is going to make you a very sad panda.

I would dump 3 big squads in LRs. Deploy the landraiders side on for the pivot trick and enjoy my 24' to 30' assault range.

3' for pivot 12" move 2" disembark D6" fleet 6" assault.

I would have some other henchmen squads run a cheap as possible for screening of LRs so you can always deploy on the table and not have to reserve.

8 DCA is way overkill. Run 5 DCA, 5 crusadors. Your xenos inquisitor should have I-win-grenades (psychotroke). Empyrean brian mines are also fun for monstrous critters and mean characters.