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As the BA codex took a bit of a hit in the switch to 6th edition, I am planning to use Vanilla Marines to fill in the weak spots in the codex. I know several codex allies can do this well but I am trying to work with what I have on hand.

So, if you were going to use the BA codex and ally Vanilla SM what would you take in the allied detachment?


In 2k games I have been running a SM captain, tac squad, stormtalon and a Contemptor dred with mortis K-Assault cannons.

SM Captains aren't very efficient unless you are fielding them to enable Bike Squads as a troops choice. I would swap for a cheap Librarian with Null Zone and Gate of Infinity, which provides a lot of utility in many matchups and can always swap powers for book lores in contexts where the Codex powers won't help.

You're fielding a Mortis Contemptor, so don't have Heavy Support slots open, but I find that the Thunderfire Cannon is another high point of Codex: Space Marines.

Depending on the rest of the BA army, I'd recommend fielding:

Librarian w/Epistolary Upgrade---150
Tac Squad w/lascannon & plasma gun---190
Thunderfire Cannon---100

That's a 440 point investment that provides a cheap, efficient psyker HQ, ridicilious anti-infantry firepower (even MEQs fear Heavy 4, S6 blast when not dispersed correctly), and a solid scoring unit that can bubble wrap the TFC and still contribute good long range fires (the AP2 makes the Tactical Squad solid for shooting at light/medium vehicles and TEQs who deepstrike close, not too mention high toughness bikers/spawn). You can add a Storm Talon if necessary for flyer defense, but cheap BA devestators and an ADL would probably suffice---especially if you are bringing a Storm Raven with bloodstrike missiles already.

PanzerLeader wrote:
Depending on the rest of the BA army, I'd recommend fielding:

Librarian w/Epistolary Upgrade---150
Tac Squad w/lascannon & plasma gun---190
Thunderfire Cannon---100

That's a 440 point investment that provides a cheap, efficient psyker HQ, ridicilious anti-infantry firepower (even MEQs fear Heavy 4, S6 blast when not dispersed correctly), and a solid scoring unit that can bubble wrap the TFC and still contribute good long range fires (the AP2 makes the Tactical Squad solid for shooting at light/medium vehicles and TEQs who deepstrike close, not too mention high toughness bikers/spawn). You can add a Storm Talon if necessary for flyer defense, but cheap BA devestators and an ADL would probably suffice---especially if you are bringing a Storm Raven with bloodstrike missiles already.

I do something similar, but with scouts instead of Tac. Marines.

Lucarikx

Riflemen dread and storm talon and null zone all help the BA. But the real question is why not use SW to augment C:SM?

Don't use BA devs. Their vehicles are better. And the stormtalon escorting the stormraven makes things a lot better in the AA department.

Thank you folks.

Somehow, it hadn't occurred to me to field a Epis-Librarian from the Vanilla SM codex. I already field a BA Eps-Librarian. Good idea.

I do have three stormravens but right now I am trying to learn to handle ground fighting with a shooty army a bit better. I had been 90% assault oriented in the past. That sorta happens when one starts out as a Tyranid player and then moves to BA codex. With 6th rule changes, I guess I just have new skills to learn.

Here is what I am going to try for a 2K game this week. Playing against a Nurgle heavy CSM list.

BA:
HQ: Librarian -Eps

Troop: 5 man death company (infernis pistol)
Troop: DC dread (blood talons)

Elite: Sang guard (infernis pistols)
Elite: BA pattern Contemptor Dread (melta fist )
Elite: Brother Corbulo

Fast: Ball Predator (Assault cannons)
Fast: Ball Predator (Assault cannons)

Heavy: Vindicator

Vanilla SM Allies:

HQ: Librarian -Eps

Troop: tac squad (lascannon)

Fast Attack: Stormtalon

Heavy: Mortis Contemptor Dread (K-Assault cannons)

Guess we'll see how it goes.

I might consider mixing with dark angels greenwing. Cheap libby and devastators and tac marines.