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Ok so sum of it is I have a BA BF that I'm gonna use to start my army. So here's the list so far..

HQ choices atm.

Captain with a jump pack

or

Librarian with jump pack

Troop choices:

Assault Squad x 5

DC x5 (with jump packs Ill have to drop the AS)

or

I have the models to do 10 of each of those 2 troop choices.

Tactical Squad x10

So any C&C would be most welcome.

well death company are not scoring so unless you just want to stop the enemy from claiming objectives then go DC they are monsters but a huge point cost

Get rid of DC at 500 pts. In fact, just get rid of DC at every point level. This is coming from a BA player. Yes, it sucks, but they still aren't worth it.

You can bring twice as many regular assault marines as DC, and they score.

Agreeing with the above, DC are just too expensive to get any use of. The good old days when DC were free and awesome...

I'd suggest picking up some more Assault Marines instead, if you can? If not, more tactical marines are never a bad move.

First, the game plays... a lot differently at 500 points. You just can't field a balanced army at that low point level. I'd say run assault marines and a librarian. Throw in a couple priests and call it a day. Death Company can be good, but only in high point games, and in general, I have to agree that assault marines can do more for you. What kind of army or armies are you going to playing against?

If you have allready bought the BA BF, Kitbash the DC and assault marine models into a 10 man assault squad. Then take a librarian, 10 tacticals with a rhino and you are allready over 500pts.

Librarian, JP
10 RAS, 2Xmelta
10 tac sqd, ML, PG, rhino

Around 550pts i think. You can combat squad the two troops to make four scoring units, but if you are set on 500pts, drop half of the tactical, or the rhino.

I play BA and I only use DC in about 1500 or more generally. I'd suggest a librarian with jump pack, a sang priest, 10 assault marines (aattach the sand priest and assault marines for FNP) and then a tac squad if you can fit it in

I'll be playing mostly orks and ultrasmurfs that look like silver skulls at first til I get some confidence to play at the local store.

This list doesnt use many jump packs but in my opinion jump squads are to expensive for only 500 points, the plasma guns can rapid fire and do significant damage where as plasma cannons are a must have,again in my opinion.


Captain storm shield (3+ invun, yes please) jump pack (get to and fro easily so none of the squads are left out) power weapon(well duh) 160

2x 10 marines with a plasma gun (anti terminator or heavy armour/light vehicles) and plasma cannon (never leave home without one) 170 per squad

5 scouts 3 with snipers (you can easily pin units with snipers effectively eliminating their threat for a turn) a rocket launcher (anti tank, anti horde = win win) and sergeant with plasma gun (the more plasma the better) 

Seeing as I'm gonna stick with the Librarian what 2 abilities should I grab? Also Staff, ax, or sword?

Asalon wrote:
Seeing as I'm gonna stick with the Librarian what 2 abilities should I grab? Also Staff, ax, or sword?

There is no right answer to that question.

Axe is AP2 ; great for termies and MANs (pretty much ork termies) but stikes last, good for a librarian to cause at least one wound so they can activate thier force weapon and intant death an enemy IC.(if they live through the emeny IC's attacks)
Staff is only AP4 so marines and 3+ save guys will make many saves, but is will hit at Init 4 and with a Str 6. So While bad for MEQs, they are the best for low save(4+ or worse) models.
Sword is good all comers; its AP 3 and stikes at init but has no str bonus

Personally I run Axes on mine but at 500 points I would choose a Force Sword.

I do think death company would work at 500 points, Point for point there is no better assault unit on the charge in the game IMO. The mistake most people make is they over spend on DC and make them overcosted.

For DC at 500 pts I would go:

165 points: 5 DC 2 Power weapons and drop pod


But If you are new and starting with the BA BF I would agree with the above and kit bash the DC sprues and make 10 ASM.

For Powers 2 rolls on divination would do well, or staying with book powers would be a bad move either . That's something you can try out and have fun with while learning the game and doesn't cost any cash like buying the wrong models can

I had a DC list that was pretty gross in 5th.

Reclusiarch - makes your DC Reroll hits and wounds on the charge.

DC - as many as you can get for the points you have remaining.

DC Dreadnaught. It's a troop choice unlocked by your one DC unit.

Sure, no scoring units. That one squad has a lot of killing power. Although with over watch, this list probably isn't as nasty as it once was.

DC have a place in BA armies. They're expensive but an absolute wrecking ball. I'd suggest checking out the bolter and chain sword the BA community there is very knowledgable and can offer great insight into the ins and outs of BA.

The librarian is the best HQ choice and I'd go with Divination from the BRB as another already suggested. Captains are a waste and Librarian will do far more for your army.

Martel732 wrote:
Get rid of DC at 500 pts. In fact, just get rid of DC at every point level. This is coming from a BA player. Yes, it sucks, but they still aren't worth it.

You can bring twice as many regular assault marines as DC, and they score.

BA assault marines are pretty legit and you can get to objectives quickly. (probably only army with good jump pack marines

For the sake of 500 points (which is useless in BA battles), I would take a 5 man scout squad just to fill a troop slot.