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So, I've got some decisions to make. I want to know what you think.

What I'm trying to build is a primarily drop list, and what I'm struggling with are the rules that say that only half my army can start in reserve.

Right now, I've got a core list that is 40 points under. 40 points is a very small amount to toss around, and I'm having trouble spending them. Here is that list:

HQ
• Librarian w/Jump Pack
• Reclusiarch w/Jump Pack

Troops
• 10 Assault Marines (Jump) w/2 Meltaguns, Powerfist Sergeant
• 10 Death Company (Jump) w/2 Hand Flamers, 1 Powerfist
• 5 Assault Marines (Foot) w/Flamer, Hand Flamer & Power Weapon Sergeant; mounted in a Razorback w/Heavy Flamers
• 5 Assault Marines (Foot) w/Flamer, Hand Flamer & Power Weapon Sergeant; mounted in a Razorback w/Heavy Flamers

Heavy Support
• 5 Devastators w/2 Lascannons, 2 Missile Launchers; mounted in a Razorback w/Lascannons

Sweet and simple. A little low on the model count, but that's par for the course with Blood Angels. I've got three vehicles, so I can count on none of them dropping dead too quickly. I've got a lot of troops to hold objectives. And I'm 40 points short. I could scare up some more points in the following ways without gutting the list:

-> 30 points for turning the Reclusiarch into an ordinary jump Chaplain (giving me 70 points to play with)
-> 55 points for putting the Devastators in a drop pod (giving me 95 points to play with)
-> Or both (giving me 125 points to play with).

Remember, the most important limitation is this: half my army must start in reserve. As of now (40 points under), I have four elements coming in from reserve: jump Librarian, Assault Marines, jump Reclusiarch, Death Company. I have three elements starting on the table: Assault Marines, Assault Marines, and Devastators. If I put the Devastators in the drop pod, then I must include a new unit that can start the game on the table (units in drop pods don't count as held in reserve, but they also don't count as deployed).

Help me, DakkaDakka. You're my only hope.

So, I've got a couple of ideas. What do you think of them?

Possibility One: Sternguard!

Basically, swap out the Devs for six Sternguard, two of them with lascannons, in a laserback. This way, I maintain some anti-tankability. I miss out on missile launchers, which is sad, but the sternguard are pretty deadly with their speciall issue ammo.

Possibility Two: Bikers!

Swap the Reclusiarch for a Chaplain and put the Devs in a Drop Pod. That gives me enough points for 3 attack bikes, who can start deployed, but are fast enough to keep up with the rest of the army.

Possibility Three: Baal

Swap the Reclusiarch for a Chaplain and put the Devs in a Drop Pod with a locator beacon. That gives me enough points for a Baal Predator. Now, the main problem with this one is that the Baal has to start the game on the table, so no outflanking for me. This is a bit tragic, but not necessarily the worst thing in the world.

What do you think of these ideas? Also, continue to feel free to suggest more ideas of your own.

How about the restriction to keep half of the army in reserve?

Two HQ's at the 1500 pt level is too much.

If you want to pod the devs, you could add a unit of scouts. Without making any other changes you could give them camo cloaks or a ML. You'd then be able to throw a weapon upgrade of some kind somewhere.

I've never used bikes or sternguard so I can't comment on those with any sort of reliability. The Baal would be viable, but it depends on what you are going to use it for. I haven't been THAT impressed with them, except when fighting hordes. They've never done that great in games against MEQ. (I usually run them with TLAC + HBs) I could see them as great area denial / crowd control with the flamers, but I've never tried them with either flamer-type option.

I was having the same problem with having to keep half my army in reserve... especially when I wanted to do a DoA army, or an all stormraven mounted army.

The answer, I think, is the Imperial Guard as allies!

For a mere 225 points, you can get an HQ w/ regimental standard, and an minimum sized infantry platoon with 3 autocannons.

Thats 25 scoring guardsmen in 3 squads, and a command squad that makes everything within 12" of it re-roll morale checks... so they won't run off the board.

If you have the points, add in an Aegis line for them to hide behind to basically guarantee they won't get wiped off the board ever, and your free to take what you want! If you want to take a DoA list, take a quad gun for your aegis line. If you want to take a stormraven list, take an astropath on the command squad or a comm link for the aegis line to help get your reserves in when you need them.

My 1850 list has 30 death company in it, in 3 storm ravens... while another 30 guardsmen sit behind a wall chilling on objectives taking autocannon pot shots! show me the enemy that can handle THAT comfortably!

You know drop pods and models transported there in, do not count towards reserve counts.

Hand flamers are not brilliant. Then heavy flamer backs are had to position and get in range.

You probably want unit to deal with flyers for you.

Not sure where you thinking has got to by now, I am sure you have a more up to date list in your head.