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.

i have a pair of friends who are looking to start BA.
they are looking to power build a list so that they can save money and have a viable tourney and general list.
what units are good/great? must haves and leave at homes?
the thought for the theme is infantry/jump spam. they like the idea of getting up in your face with assaulting.

thanks for any help in advance

-Kane

-Emperor Protects

Your best bet is over at the army list forum, not so much posting, but reading peoples lists and the replies.

BA have a couple of strong builds, so it really comes down to style and preferences. Also, expect a lot of sarcastic replies to posts like this; a lot of the locals will read them as lazy questions.

If you want more replies, it's better to come up with some ideas first and ask for criticism.

IMO, Furioso Dreads, Sanguinary Priests, and Uniques are the best offerings in the book.

I feel obligated to point you to this. Helped me out a lot.

Here is lots of tactics:

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.php?showtopic=215235

In my opinion you need to learn your army and use what you feel is good for you.

Here is another new gamer looking for a strong build. Post 3275ish and forth.

http://www.warseer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=249910&page=165

The BA codex is a great varied codex that can generate both shooty, assault, mech and you name it kinds of armies.

BA's most powerful list is a Mech spam build but they have very viable jump infantry builds as well.

The Jump Infantry focus revolves around Sanguinary Priests with jump packs, a Librarian with a Jump Pack, Then stacking Assault squads from the troop section; I run my assault squads like this.

10 Man Assault Squads with 2x Melta Gun and a Powerfist.

Put a Priest in each one and they turn into a killing machine for around 260 points per unit (priest included). They have fantastic durability, massive damage output on the assault and huge mobility. Combine this with a 1D6 scatter on deepstrike, reroll failed reserve rolls and those two melta guns can bring down most Mech targets reliably when the squad comes in.

Give your Librarian Shield and the preferred enemy psychic power. 5+ cover can be a lifesaver against anything thats AP 1,2,3 or Str 8+ against your Marines (i.e. IG Tanks, Plasma Cannons).

Just be wary of getting stuck in combat, the weakness to this build is that while very powerful on the assault, after that first round you can be stuck for a while if you're against something with decent armour. Esp against MEQ (I also had a unit tarpitted with a unit of 10 witches for almost the whole game once after wiffing the first round of combat). They key is to use your mobility to set up multi assaults against the tough targets. Smash them in the first round and then move onto the next target.

In larger games I like to use a few Lascannon sponson Predators to support the army from long range or Vindicators (which can move 12" and still fire their cannon in the BA army, giving effective range of 32"). You will find that units like Terminators and Paladins become very hard to deal with if you don't field some of this long range support, all you have are melta guns to deal with them. There are the powerfists as well but against paladins/assault termies they will be striking before your PF, You will likley lose most of the squad before he can get stuck in. You will want to avoid them as much as possible, again use your mobility to stay away from them.

I stay away from Sanguinary Guard, some people like them though, I think it depends how much AP2 you see in the armies you play against or 4+ armour saves that you see. If you want some other options for power weapon jump infantry I like honourguard , they come with a free Sang priest within the unit and can be customised quite well. The other option is Vanguard Vets, I run them quite basic and small (just a Thunder Hammer and the PW on the Sarg), using them to take out small long range support (long fangs, Lootas) or vehicles that have remained Stationary. Again they are pricey and hard to keep alive, but in the right situation they can really change the game with a good heroic intervention and its not all that unreliable with a 1 D6 scatter.

Anyway I hope this gives you a bit of an Idea of what to run in a Jump Infantry list. Its a bit of trial and error, you may find some things work a bit better for you. None of the jump infantry options are terrible but I feel some are better than others. The only thing you must field are Sanguniary Priest with jump packs, they are a staple of the list and will not work without it.

Vossyvo - I was checking out vanguard vets for the same use, however as far as I can tell they don't have the descent of angels special rule; thus they scatter 2d6, seriously hurting the chance of being in assault range after heroic intervention. Am I wrong on this?

rubicant99 wrote:Vossyvo - I was checking out vanguard vets for the same use, however as far as I can tell they don't have the descent of angels special rule; thus they scatter 2d6, seriously hurting the chance of being in assault range after heroic intervention. Am I wrong on this?

Page 62. They gain the skill if you buy them jump packs.

I love running two stormravens and two sets of blood talons! Across the board with a 24" move turn one and you get the 4+ cover save. Then drop the blood talons to play!

Yeah MrFletch said it.

The only downside to them is they cannot take an IC and still use their Heroic Intervention special move.

Doh of course, how silly of me! Time to buy some more assault marines!