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.

Dear denizens of Dakka,

Relatively recently, I returned to Warhammer 40K. After scratching my noggin, drinking copious amounts of coffee and wondering what army I wanted, I settled on a Deathwatch themed army. The idea of a (relatively small) army of highly trained Marines with high end equipment really appealed - as well as the rest of the fluff. For my DW army I decided to use the vanilla C:SM codex as it allowed me the units I wanted to field. Below is my army both as it currently stands (not changeable, I enjoy it as it is), With additions (I don't mind changing) and with what I am considering purchasing and adding.

A little more background: I play the game firstly for fun, I love the fluff and am trying to stick closer to it - hence the majority of my troop choices.
- My friends and I tend to play story based objective capturing games (Crusade, Purge the Alien, The Scouring, The Relic etc)
- Kantor makes Sternguard count as scoring units (Sternguard represent the better training and special ammunition of the DW)
- Army uses drop pods (I want them to be fast striking, not a slow lumbering army with tanks as you'll see)
- Any vehicles Deep Strike, Drop Pod in OR fly in
- Master of the Forge makes Ironclads count as Heavy Support choices
- The Army overall consists of: 2 HQ, 2 Troop, 3 (scoring) Elite, 3 (Elite) Heavy Support, 3 Fast Attack
- Sternguard are used to drop down, blast open tanks. They can split into combat squads if desired and can also take out troops in cover or heavy armour due to special ammunition rules)
- Scouts hug a position and harass the enemy, picking off special weapon units (Telion allows wound allocation)
- Landspeeders are used for flushing out troops in cover or getting quickly to vehicles causing trouble
- Stormtalons... well, I actually like the models (reminds me of the aircraft in Aliens if anyone remembers it?) Used for general annoyance, long range tank killing followed by close range troop killing.
- Master of the Forge (MotF) for his FoC changing magic.
.
(Artemis, Master of the Watch) "Do not ask, 'Why kill the alien?' rather, ask, 'Why not?'"
Kantor (175pts)
.
(Squad Bannon) ''To be Cleansed; For that is the fate of all Xenos''
10 Sternguard (340pts)
Powerfist
4 combi-melta
2 Melta
Drop Pod
.
(Squad Grevius) ''To be Purged; That is the fate of the Xenos''
10 Sternguard (340pts)
Powerfist
4 combi-melta
2 Melta
Drop Pod
.
(Squad Octavius) ''To be Impure; That is the Mark of the Xenos''
10 Sternguard (335pts)
Powerfist
3 combi-melta
2 Melta
Drop Pod
.
(Squad Broec) ''To be Reviled; That is the Mark of the Xenos''
10 Tactical Marines (235pts) (The Fresh-faced conscripts to the Deathwatch)
powerfist
meltagun
Missle Launcher
droppod
.
(Squad Siefer) ''To be Hunted; That is the Mark of the Xenos''
5 scouts (135pts)
3 sniper rifles
1 Missile Launcher
Telion
.
(Up to this point is unchangeable, I've built them, used them and they make me happy!)
.
2 Landspeeders (140pts)
Multimelta
Heavy Flamer
.
2 Storm Talon Gunships (310pts)
2 Sky Hammer Missile Launchers
.
(Up to this point, I own the models but am happy to modify them / not use them).
.
Master of the Forge (100pts)
.

2 Ironclad Dreadnoughts (320pts)
with 2 Drop Pods
.
(Up to this point, I haven't bought the units and am considering them, completely changeable... hey, I like the look of the Thundercannon too)
.
(2450 pts)
.
.
.
OK so, questions:
a) Do you think I should remove a Landspeeder and replace it with an Aegis Defence line (I currently own one) with a Quad Gun emplacement (anti-air option) and a Comms Relay (allows the re-rolling for reserves) for 100pts? The MotF can bolster defences to give the Defence Line a +3 cover save, camp the scouts in it and settle down for a spot of tea. The MotF would help against CC with his extra attacks from servo arms and flamer while the scouts harass etc.
b) What is your opinion on the DP Ironclads? True they are marginally more expensive, but the 15pts additional for the seismic toy etc compared to a normal dred with extra armour makes up for it I reckon
c) What do you suppose my weaknesses and strengths are?
d) Would removing all landspeeders and replacing with a Thunderfire Cannon in a Drop Pod be a wise idea for long-range bombardment?

Sure I know many people think 'aww, a drop pod army, how cute' but so far out of 11 matches I've either won or drawn (well, OK 3 losses but hush, the Imperium never loses, they are just deferred victories). Honest, constructive opinions (keeping in mind my fuff preferences) will be most appreciated!
.
.
.
Regards,
.
.
Wulfmar

Have you thought about allies? I was going to suggest a unit of vanguard vets, to fit with your theme, but you might want to stroll over to the other codexes and look at their veterans.

I'm not up on the deathwatch fluff, but I thought they were mostly infantry.

I had considered allies, though more for an additional Sternguard squad, Librarian, Stormtalon/3 Landspeeders, Thunderfire cannon (assuming the other codices have them, perhaps Storm Raven or other similar units). The vanguard vets seem expensive for their stats and I'm less inclined to use them with the 6ed rules governing charging and close combat. Rather drop an ironclad in there with the 13 armour score to cause misery.

The Deathwatch are normally seen operating in small squads of between 5 - 10 marines attached to larger armies such as IG or Space Marine Chapters fighting particular foes (like Tyranids). Occasionally, when the threat is great enough or the target paramount, a company (100 marines) will be mobilised. The company has all the experts and equipment you would expect any marine army to have. My army is based on a company. To stick with fluff (low amount of members) I am counting the actual figures (such as those piloting Stormtalons) as members of the company. At the moment I have 53 Deathwatch Marines represented. An additional 10 in a Drop Pod assault squad (which I've not added to the army list - it's an option).

I'm thinking of painting my 'allies' as Deathwatch as well if I use them - but using a different SM codex. I can't decide between Space Wolves, Blood Angels, Black Templars or Dark Angels though... it's tricky as they each have a couple of nice toys.

Ok how does your drop pods not scattering sound?

Scout bikes with a locator can achieve that. Or if you want everything in pods, put a locator on the first pod. Thing with your army is accuracy is vital, not just for your melta to max its effectiveness but because you really need multi squads rapid firing on each target each turn. While sternguard are good, spreading them out plays to their weakness being range and getting dragged into assault, even if they arent too bad there its not their forte.

Landspeeders. They are good, but so so very fragile. I have used them a bit and find they worked best ambushing an important target late game. Otherwise I strongly suggest typhoon and just send Krak rounds to compliment all your supercharged bolters.

Ironclads and MoF? Why? Yest you could make them work, and they are fluffy to an extent, but if thats all thats left I would suggest you think of counterassault element. MCs eat dreads, maybe some normal terms with CML with deathwatch shoulderguards?

Btw you can get deathwatch shoulderpads for tacs and terms on ebay. Recommend getting lots, would really make your army look special.

I don't know man, it just feels like this army list is the kind of army list that would be wiped out by Necrons really easily. You should include more tanks I think, like maybe three? Necrons have nothing that can eat through armour of tanks, so I feel taking tanks is a good way to outwit Necrons, should you ever come up against them. Maybe loose the flying things as I think Necrons - if you ever came up against them - would totally, easily deal with them without like a second thought: so maybe you should drop them from the army list.

Also I think the chances of you ever using all those meltas will never happen. I mean, it's not like someone's gonna deep strike two Monoliths on your arse, or something. That would be crazy!

Poosh wrote: You should include more tanks I think, like maybe three? Necrons have nothing that can eat through armour of tanks, so I feel taking tanks is a good way to outwit Necrons, should you ever come up against them. !

Not...sure..if troll. Do you know how Gauss works?

Ahem, anyways, even if this list would fold against Necrons, that's not a reason to not play. He wants to play his toy soldiers his way, so tactics should be focused on using that way to the fullest. Besides, Drop Pod armies can be VERY dangerous.

Love the idea. Played a bit of the Deathwatch RPG and it was very epic. One thing that I think would fit here is to use all the varying degrees of Space Marines. You already put in a Techmarine. Awesome. Now some assault marines (with or without jump packs, your choice) would be great. And some Devastators, too! I do think the locator beacons and such can be really good. Certainly put them on your first wave of Drop Pods, at least. (sadly, you can only use said locators for the NEXT drop pods as they need to be in play at the start of the turn to work.) And dreads I think would give a great counter-assault element to the army.

But most importantly....do you have an awesome variety of conversions and different chapters represented? Because that's the point of making a Deathwatch army, IMO, is to have a wide range of unique models. Shiny.

Sounds good man. I played the deathwatch rpg and the shoulder paldrins would add a nice touch by throwing some of the other chapters in there make them real pretty and nice

Don't worry about Poosh - he's my friend who I'll be playing this list against ^^

I've bought and kitted out the 3 sternguard squads with the metal Deathwatch pauldron kit. The single tactical squad has plain pauldrons while the assault squad has Mark V 'Heresy Armour' studded left pauldrons. (3 kits of DW metal pauldrons was expensive enough!). I've been collecting/hoarding space marine bits to make each marine individual (at the moment it's fairly cookie cutter but will become more individualistic).

Locator beacons on the initial pods sounds like a good idea. If I were to use bikes, I would have to surrender a fast attack slot. Sadly Terminators wouldn't be an option as they would want my Sternguards Elite slots. MotF allows me to use Ironclads as Heavy Support choices (which gives me strong elites on top of my elite Sternguard - in effect I could have 6 Elites in my army). Plus my army currently isn't using any Heavy Support choices (as they are mostly tanks).

The idea of the Ironclads would be to either tie-up troops or to pop hunter-killer missles into something armoured (As he can't assault the turn he drops, thought busting a tank might be a good use prior to wading into battle). True there is the horror or melta, but I don't think much can withstand them.

I think I might take up the idea of initial drop-pod locators. I've not really had much issue with scatter. I normally want to get my pods in the thick of things and they don't suffer deep-strike issues if they scatter over troops or terrain (you just move them to the next clear space). The locators would help me support any troops who have become a target of vengeance.

What allies do you think would be good for this army and why? I'm thinking one of the marine chapters personally.

Aurora Chapter!

Locators on scout bikes could be there before your first pod, they are scouts, although its expensive at 25pts plus scout bikers, imagine pin point pods with sternguard pouring out offering precise and concentrated firepower. Your opponent either has to go all reserves or castle up. Pod locators are cheap at 10pts, you just have to scatter your first wave of pods so you likely lose most of all that rapid fire mutual support.

Ironclads are good, just make sure all high initiative MCs like DPs get shot quickly because those MCs tear dreads up pretty badly. Otherwise give them two HKs each for turn 1 fireworks then charge them in.

Avoid TFC in pod. Best setup in deployment for bolster and so you can have it firing all game or till its dead.