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, there's a chance I might be able to get my hands on a second stormraven, which makes me think about making a list that uses stormravens less as support and more as the primary way my army gets around. A blood angels air cavalry list.

Here's the list as I currently imagine it (1500 points):

HQ
* 1 Librarian w/Bolt Pistol (Blood Lance, Fear of the Darkness)

Elites
* Furioso w/Blood Talons (Meltagun and Heavy Flamer)
* 1 Sanguinary Priest

Troops
* 5 Tactical Marines, Sergeant w/Power Weapon
* 5 Assault Marines, 1 Meltagun, Sergeant w/Power Fist

Fast Attack
* 2 Land Speeders w/Heavy Bolter, Typhoon Missile Launchers
* 5 Vanguard Veterans w/Power Weapons and Jump Packs, Sergeant w/Lightning Claws

Heavy Support
* Stormraven w/Assault Cannons and Heavy Bolters, Locator Beacon
* Stormraven w/Lascannons and Multi-Meltas, Locator Beacon
* Dreadnought w/Blood Fist (Storm Bolter), Multi-Melta

As you can see, this is basically two lists in one. You have the anti-infantry list (blood talon furioso, sanguinary priest, vanguard veterans, assault cannon/heavy blotter stormraven), and you have the anti-armor list (librarian, blood fist furioso, land speeders, lascannon/multi-melta stormraven). At deployment, I'd group the lists together: librarian with the tactical squad and the talon dread in the las/melta stormraven, priest with the tactical squad and the fist dread in the assault/bolter stormraven. Each stormraven also has something it can call in from reserve (and place EXACTLY where I want it, thanks to the locator beacon): vanguard vets for smashing infantry, land speeders for shooting krak missiles at armor.

The vanguard vets and priests are a match-up I'm particularly proud of. The combination of the stormraven's locator beacon, and the vets' Heroic Intervention lets me place the vets exactly where I want them where they can definitely assault AND enjoy the benefit of the priest's Furious Charge/Feel No Pain bubble.

Although it is strongly divided between anti-armor and anti-infantry elements, the list is meant to have a little flexibility. I can always mix up the deployment a little, put the anti-infantry dread in the anti-armor stormraven, or have the landspeeders drop near the anti-infantry stormraven. The land speeders are also given the "multi-purpose gunboat" loadout, with kraal missiles that can take a piece out of anything but the heaviest vehicle and heavy blotters and frag missiles that have a nice punch to deliver against infantry.

The marines? They're here so that the stormravens can claim objectives. If the scenario calls for it, I can have them leave (or even jump out of) the stormraven to camp out on an objective situated such that they could hold it without much support. If I'm sufficiently desperate, I can also have them leave the stormraven and shoot at things, or even act as a screen to keep the stormraven from being assaulted.

So, what do you think? Would you do anything differently to make the anti-infantry and anti-armor halves of the list more effective? I certainly think this list would be fun to play, and quite striking on the tabletop. Is this list completely wrong-headed, or would it stand a chance at winning?

The biggest problem with your list is just how little armor you have on the board. AV12 is easy to crack. Target Priority in 40k would dictate that I should go after your Stormravens first. Once I've done that I can completely destroy your scoring troops and leave you with nothing to capture. 10 Marines isn't a lot. 5 Tactical Marines do nothing either. For Blood Angels you want to take Assault Marines as troops because you either want Jump Infantry or you want cheap Dedicated Transports.

I don't see the point of the locator beacons to be honest. Vanguard Vets won't scatter, but you need to have your Stormraven literally right next to your opponent for this to work. You are putting yourself in charge range and hindering yourself. The best advice I can give you right now is to say take more Assault Marines, give the Librarian Shield of Sanguinius and Unleash Rage, and choose between either having a Jump Pack based list or a vehicle(mech) based list. Mixing those 2 styles of lists together usually doesn't work too great.

#1 get rid of (Blood Lance, Fear of the Darkness)
replace with Terminator armored and SS equipped Libby with unleash rage and shield (This works well if you put him with assault terminators.

Also get rid of things in Orange
* 5 Tactical Marines, Sergeant w/Power Weapon Tac Marines sgt's have no business having a power weapon, and Tac marines really are not a good choice in a BA list.

Fast Attack
* 2 Land Speeders w/Heavy Bolter, Typhoon Missile Launchers Use Multi Melta/Heavy Flamer instead
* 5 Vanguard Veterans w/Power Weapons and Jump Packs, Sergeant w/Lightning Claws This unit is too expensive you may be better off with an Honor guard with 1 Power weapon and 1 Power fist

Heavy Support
* Stormraven w/Assault Cannons and Heavy Bolters, Locator Beacon Use Multi-Melta instead of heavy bolter, drop beacon
* Stormraven w/Lascannons and Multi-Meltas, Locator Beacon
* Dreadnought w/Blood Fist (Storm Bolter), Multi-Melta Use a predator with AC/Las or Dev Squad with 4 ML

It is tough to change the list without totally revamping it.