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 I am in the process of finishing off my IG, and I decided to start up a BA Army. BA were the first Army I ever owned and played back in 3rd Edition. Here is what I am looking at for a list so far:

HQ
Librarian - Blood Lance, Storm Shield, TDA

Troops
Assault Squad - Melta, Razorback, AC
Assault Squad - Flamer, Razorback, AC
Assault Squad - Flamer, Razorback, LC

Elites
Assault Terminators - L.Claws x 3, T.Hammer x 7
Priest - TDA

Fast Attack
Baal Predator - Flamestorm
Baal Predator - Assault Cannon, HB
Baal Predator - Assault Cannon, HB

Heavy Support
Predator - AC, LC Sponsons
Vindictator - Siege Shield
Vindictator - Siege Shield

Let me know your thoughts!

Mech has really taken a hit in 6th as vehicles are easier to kill.

If those three assault marines squads are only 5 marines each I don't think theyu are going to cut it at 2000.

I would suggest jumper assault marines with some priests. 2 should be able to buff 3 squads. Or mix it up 2 jumper marines and 2 with razorbacks. Attack Bike squads are realy good for offer supporting fire this ed.

Maybe an ADL or a Stormraven as you're bound to see fliers at 2k.

D

My Mech IG has done fine. I have not found 6th Edition to be as crippling to Mech as some believe.

I'm not saying mech can't be done, I just wouldn't do it for BA.

Point for point, those fast attack slot Baals don't compare with Attack Bike Squads.

Baal with H.bolter sponsons is what, 145 pts? For 120 you get 3 HB attack bikes, these guys are 2 wounds each, toughness 5. You could upgrade 2 of them to multi-meltas and still be cheaper than a baal. Then consider force-multipliers, stick a priest on a bike and position well you can give 3 squads of them FNP. Stick a libby on a bike and you can give them other buffs (I wouldn't use a libby on a bike, personally, but still the option is there. )

Which do you think would last longer 3 Baals or 3 Squads of attack bikes?

I had taken an opposite style to playing BA than you have. I took out all armor and replaced it with large numbers of troops and bodies. I played that list a lot and I enjoyed it. My next BA list is going to be more along these lines. A focus on armor. I don't have anywhere near the redundant amount of units that you have (multiples of each Baal predator so to say). Instead I will be using what I have on hand. 2 predators, 2 dreads one furioso dread, storm raven, land raider, 2-4 razorbacks. I would like to know how your list fares with less troops.

 evildrcheese wrote:


Which do you think would last longer 3 Baals or 3 Squads of attack bikes?

I don't disagree with you. That is why I posted this list. I see your point, and I like the change. I just didn't understand your comment about removing my predators, and replacing them with Attack Bikes until after your second post


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 TheLionOfTheForest wrote:
I had taken an opposite style to playing BA than you have. I took out all armor and replaced it with large numbers of troops and bodies. I played that list a lot and I enjoyed it. My next BA list is going to be more along these lines. A focus on armor. I don't have anywhere near the redundant amount of units that you have (multiples of each Baal predator so to say). Instead I will be using what I have on hand. 2 predators, 2 dreads one furioso dread, storm raven, land raider, 2-4 razorbacks. I would like to know how your list fares with less troops.

I haven't purchased any of these models yet. I am trying to get a list hashed out before I go drop money on another Army. I'll definitely let you know how my list plays out. I am interested to see what your large number of troops list looks like? Anyway to post one here or PM it to me?

Here is the link I started up while I was developing this list.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/480366.page

Hope it gives you some solid ideas

 Cappizzano wrote:

 evildrcheese wrote:


Which do you think would last longer 3 Baals or 3 Squads of attack bikes?

I don't disagree with you. That is why I posted this list. I see your point, and I like the change. I just didn't understand your comment about removing my predators, and replacing them with Attack Bikes until after your second post

Fair enough, I was posting from my phone at the time and get lazy when explaining things (or rather, just not explaining them at all!).

The sad thing is many of BAs unique units aren't that great (especially now the Stormraven is open to Vanilla). Having Assault Marines as a troop choice is nice and fluffy, and they can be pretty sweet when you've got priests running with them, but they get very spendy. Our Tac squads are pretty lame though and we need to look elsewhere for supporting fire, attack bikes can fill this role nicely.

The heavy slots are tricky, fast vindi's are wicked, but I personally like running a ML dev squad, and a stormraven and don't see much point in running a single vindi (and often don't have the poionts left)...

IMO the list you posted has too many 'toys'. My advice to anyone wanting a decent BA army at 2000 pts would be to follow some core ideals

HQs - Librarians are a great choice of HQ, and can offer some nice buffs to the army, especially if you're using divination.

Elites - Priests. Always, always take priests. I haven't found the golden ratio of priest to units, but I've never taken more than 3 (As you can take 3 priest in 1 elites slot) This leaves room for plenty of flavour/killy units (termies/Furioso dreads/Sternguard)

Troops - Boots on the ground win games (especially in 6th) Our troops are expensive but worth it in the long run. I rarely run any list with less than 1 third worth of points being taken up by troop choices (although in many cases it can be around 50% (or more)). There's many ways to do this aswell, jumper assault squads, 5-man squads in razorbacks, scouts or even Tactical squads are a valid option (although they're probably the worst tac squad equivant in an SM books - I do run them though, but mainly because I have the squads already painted up). DC are fun, but need to be thought as more of an 'Elites' slot kind of units since they can't score and they're VERY pointy.

Fast - I've already covered how cool I think Attack Bikes squads are, you don't even need a priest on a bike with them if you've got a JP priest and make sure you run the squads close together...Another bonus of attack bikes is that if you rioll the mission where Fast units count as troops for objectives they can turbo boost and grab objectives.

Heavy - At 2000pts I'd always take a Stormraven as they're fantastic, but never put a units in it (well, maybe a dread and drop it when you arrive, but even that has a 1/6 chance of immobilising itself, so it can be risky).

Always take atleast 1 heavy and 1 fast slot in case you get those funky missions.

Let us know what you decide for your final list.

D