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Finally got a list together for my Raven Blades (any similarity to the Hunger Games logo is entirely coincidental)

HQ 1 (145)
Space Marine Captain
+Relic Blade
+Storm Shield

Troop 1 (225)
Tactical Squad
+5 Marines
+Flamer
+Multi-melta
Sergeant
+Power Weapon (replace boltgun)
Rhino
+Dozer blade

Troop 2 (235)
Tactical Squad
+5 Marines
+Plasma Gun
+Missile Launcher
Sergeant
+Combi-plasma (replace boltgun)
+Chainsword (replace bolt pistol)
Rhino
+Storm Bolter

Elite 1 (150)
Dreadnought
Drop-pod
+Locator Beacon

Fast Attack 1 (135)
Space Marine Bike Squad
+Plasma gun
+Meltagun
Sergeant
+Power Weapon
+Melta bombs

Fast Attack 2 (110)
Assault Squad
+Flamer

Here are the boxes I'm currently working from.
Black Reach
SM Battleforce
Tactical Squad
Devastator Squad
Bike Squad

Doesn't look bad. Looking at the cost I assume those are squads of 10 in your tacticals. If not, then they aren't legal.

You're gaining nothing from that chainsword but you're losing a ranged shot before an assault.

I might be better to put a missile launcher in and replace the MM. If you can squeeze out some points and get a plasma pistol or PW into the assault squad, that could help too. I'd also drop the locator beacon and have the bikes and assault squad work in tandem as 1 rapid delpoyment unit. They can move to support the dread when it drops and the two Rhinos can head that way too.

I would give your captain a jump pack or something. Right now he's left alone. That will get him killed fast. He either needs a bike or a pack to stay with a squad.

What do you want to do with the Captain? He is not very good on foot but he would add a nice punch to the assault-squad. So if you have a leftover jumppack i would give it to him.

Get rid of the dozer blade for the rhino.
As well as the power weapon for the SGT, Give him a Power fist, Would do alot more when he is assaulting vehicles.
And because a melta 5pt get that instead of a flamer. Make that squad dedicated tank hunter.
Drop the locator beacon on the drop pod. you are not sure if it will come in handy with the assault squad. TO much of a liabilty.
And replace the weapons on a bike squad for its opposite.
IMO bikes do better if they are one are the other
anti-tank or infantry killer.
And what do you plan on using the captain for? If he is on foot he is a liability. the rest of your army is in the saddle, he isnt. He will fall behind and get hit by heavy artillery.
Now maybe give him a Jump pack and put him with the assault squad.

Lobukia wrote:Looking at the cost I assume those are squads of 10 in your tacticals.

Indeed.

Okay, how about this?

Looks much better. What I am about to write is all personal preference and deals more with my play style than what is "better".

I would ditch the plasma gun in your 2nd tactical and give it a melta, in synergy with that, I would also give the sarg a combi melta. I would also think about melta bombs on your assault sarg and your bike sarg. Personally, I would have stayed with PW melta bombs on the sarg in tactical one. This all comes down to who you normally face. I have some ork players that I really need to go first against and a couple marine/IG tank guys that keep my tacs worried... so for me, melta bombs are a must, and have won me at least a dozen games,

Would it be wise or terribly unwise to trade the Assault Squad for Camo Scouts?

Either can do good.
Snipers, If placed right, can destroy alot. Just use infiltrate to be sure they can get into a god place.

TheBladeRoden wrote:Would it be wise or terribly unwise to trade the Assault Squad for Camo Scouts?

As a counter assault force, an assault company is good. This is the poor man's assault terminator option. The problem is it will not stand up to assault terminators but can be a good option for less points. Personnally, give the sergent a power fist and add a chaplain with jump pack to it and you have a good counterpoint to any assault the enemy has. The question is then plasma pistols or not. Very nice against other marines but so so against almost anything else.

10 - assault marines - Sgt w pfist, 3 plasma pistols. Chaplain with power weapon and plasma pistol. This can provide a great way to blunt any charge (again excepting terminators) but for a lot less than 5 assault termies and a landraider.

It is a counter attack force though. Don't plan on using it aggressively as power armored troops will still die rather fast if presented as a primary target for an opponent. Or made to look like a primary threat.

Scouts with sniper rifles are sadly crap. If you use them as flankers though with any other weapon, they have value since they are a troop choice. They can flank to take objectives.

I like snipers with Telion, he can kill Nobz/MM/ML or any high priority target in a group as you get to choose who he wounds and BS6 heavy 2 str 5 rending he can make up his points. I think he gives scouts camo cloaks so his points are worth it.

I know alot dont like them, But Plasma cannons can be good aswell.
Againts marines cluster together they can destroy alot.

While they aren't popular, Devastators with MLx3 or x4 can be really scary to opponents. Conventional wisdom is to avoid devastators because they aren't Long Fangs... they doesn't mean they hurt any less.

They might be a better route than assault marines or camo snipers. BTW, I use Telion with snipers and ML works very well, just don't know if its the right move for this list.

I can attest that Devs with missles Can hurt, ALOT.

i think that plasmas come with an inhert danger aswell as the potential to do massavie danger

Sgt. Telion does indeed give whichever squad he joins Stealth. That's one of the good things about him. He costs a bit, but then again you don't have to buy camo cloaks for that unit. If Sniper Rifles didn't suck so hard, maybe Scouts would be a better option.

I have never had a plasma weapon back fire on me.
Now cue that happening in the next game.

hotsauceman1 wrote:I have never had a plasma weapon back fire on me.
Now cue that happening in the next game.

A few have got me, but I've always made the save when it mattered. Plasma cannons are awesome, just take all PC if you go that route... go big or go home.

I love plasma. However analyze who or what you often play against. Plasma is great if the majority of your opponents play mech (esp on foot). AP2 will work wonders on terminator forces like loganwing or deathwing. However if a lot of your opponents play hoard armies - IG, Orks, Tyrannids or even Eldar (Dark or not) - go with missile launchers. Cheaper, longer ranged and more flexible doing to krak or frag.

hotsauceman1 wrote:I have never had a plasma weapon back fire on me.
Now cue that happening in the next game.

A plasma pistol killed my (well the store's) assault sergeant the first time I used it :(

No idea what enemies I would most likely go up against. Last tournament I spectated had SM, IG, CD. But I might end up going to a closer store anyway.