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This Thread is a sequel to my tactics thread regarding "Plague Marine Battering Rams".
Link: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/535803.page

List One: Elite Freekz
HQ
Typhus-230
He can ride with a squad of plague marines in a rhino despite to his bulky rule, if I am not mistaken. If not, he will lead his zombies to battle like a good chap.

Troops
Plague Marines w/ x3 plasma pistol, power fist, icon of despair, +3 plague marines -273
+Rhino w/ dirge caster -40
Plague Marines w/ x3 plasma pistol, power fist, icon of despair, +3 plague marines -273
+Rhino w/ dirge caster -40
Chaos Cultists w/ Zombified-90

Fast Attack
Chaos bikers w/ mark of nurgle, 2 meltaguns, combi-melta-118
Helldrake w/ baleflamer-170

Heavy Support
Obliterator w/ MoN-76
Obliterator w/ MoN-76
Defiler- 195

So, my experience with Nurgle, let alone Chaos Space Marines is quite negligible. I have played Orkz, IG, SOB, and Space Marines so I have experience with MEQs and Close-Quarter fighting.
-The PM-Rhinos tactics are described in the thread linked at the top. Basically, for those who do not want to open a new tab, it is a disruption of gunlines as the focus.
- The bikes were originally planned to have two squads of them, so they can take both flanks of the rhinos. But I dropped it to one for point saving. Their objective is to wreck tanks and then, if they survive, reinforce plague marines that need help. (Like against walkers). I was tempted to give them a powerfist, but since it is a squad of three, I do not want to plunk so many points into the chaps.
-So the helldrake, I took one look at it and said "Oh my lord, they get a dragon!?" So yeah, I am taking one with baleflamers just because, it is a dragon. BAM
-Zombies, pure fluff right there. A smart one will notice that they are also meant to be my true objective grabbers, as the PMs will be too busy yanking models off of objectives and moving on if they have enough numbers to continue.
-Obliterators are for... well obliterating. Duh. They have MoN to protect against lascannons.
-Deffy. Because I had exactly enough points left and I have always been in love with Str8 Ap3 Pi plates.

This list is going to be focused on messing with target priority. The most expensive units are my troops (probably not a good thing, but hey they start off as elites). Their role is specified as break through lines and hold objectives while killing as much as possible. As soon as they are dispersed and on their objective (Be it a marker, a unit, or a tactical vantage point) They are not going anywhere save for a vindicator volley.
Units that will draw fire from the PMs while retaining potential on the field are: Bikes, Drake, obliterators, defiler.

I need Dakka's help though. Am I even close to decent or basic even? I am trying to make a Nurgly army that can still pack a punch.

If I were to take Land Raiders with dirge casters, well I could drop the Defiler, Bikers, Rhinos, and Plasma pistols to have two land raiders toting the PM squads. But is it really worth it?

 Da Kommizzar wrote:



HQ
Typhus-230
He can ride with a squad of plague marines in a rhino despite to his bulky rule, if I am not mistaken. If not, he will lead his zombies to battle like a good chap.

Troops
Plague Marines w/ x3 plasma pistol, power fist, icon of despair, +3 plague marines -273
+Rhino w/ dirge caster -40
Plague Marines w/ x3 plasma pistol, power fist, icon of despair, +3 plague marines -273
+Rhino w/ dirge caster -40
Chaos Cultists w/ Zombified-90

Fast Attack
Chaos bikers w/ mark of nurgle, 2 meltaguns, combi-melta-118
Helldrake w/ baleflamer-170

Heavy Support
Obliterator w/ MoN-76
Obliterator w/ MoN-76
Defiler- 195

As I said in your other thread, I like the idea but I think you have some room to improve.
#1 Are you a big fan of Typhus? Since you're using a single zombie squad, I'd consider replacing him with a Nurgle Biker Lord to run with the other bikers. Toss on a Sigil and either claw&fist or even the black mace and you have a nasty assault unit. Or keep him cheap and just give him a power axe. It's not that Typhus is bad, just that you're not fully utilizing his zombie buff and to get him into combat will require a Land Raider.
#2 Those PM squads are pricey! Consider for a moment the points you could save by dropping the squad to 7 bodies (Nurgle's number), losing the PP and the Icon and trading in the power fist for a power axe. By my count that saves you
nearly 90 points per squad. That's enough for a second Heldrake or two more Oblits.
#3 I'd definitely consider VotLW for those Oblits. It's less of a concern since they're in two squads but LD8 isn't that hot.
#4 If you keep Typhus, you'll likely have to lose the Defiler to buy a Land Raider. That said, if you trim the PM squads, you might have enough points for a pair of Land Raiders.

As previously stated, there is a way to get Land Raiders. Just, it takes a lot from the army.

I see what you are saying though.

#1 Typhus is awesome. I like the model, I like his rules, and I know him as the icon of Nurgle armies. I do not necessarily want to drop him. But looking back.... he is a lot of points, and I just noticed that Chaos Lords can take plagues as troops..... As far as Zombie buff, I did not take too many, because I thought that would cheat the army in the long run by splitting the forces piecemeal by having a chunk of the army slogging while the rest are wheeling it.
#2 The price is large, and that has been bugging me. But I wanted them to be able to take on TEQs and MCs. Though, if I have other options, I could take the PPs off and downgrade to a power axe(sickle) without much problems. And they get plague knives for anti-MC anyways.... but the PP was supposed to throw on a couple wounds so the marines can finish it off. I like the icon's abilities, should be really useful against units like......... tau..... imps......ah forget it, the only real use for the icon is for anti-Eldar apparently. Everyone else are fearless or ATSKNF.....
7 is Nurgle's number?! I thought it was 8! Woops! Only reason I had 8.

Dropping the squad down would look like:
Plague Marines w/ +2 Marines, Power Sickle(Axe)-178

The problem I see with this is, not enough damage output from them when it comes to big stuff, but then again they are mere "troops".
#3 Why would you need VotLW on the oblits if they are on their own? There would be no need for Morale checks unless they wanted to charge a fear-causing monster or something.
#4 I understand that Typhus, despite how awesome he may be, may have to get his butt booted back to Papa Nurgle..... But he still seems awesome. Though... making a nurgle concoction of a Battlewagon rush would be pretty fun and funny to run. Sorry Deffy.

BattleWagon Rush, "Papa Nurgle Style (Wop wop wop wop)"

HQ
Typhus-230
He can ride with a squad of plague marines in a LandRaider

Troops
Plague Marines w/power axe, +2 marines-178
Plague Marines w/power axe, +2 marines-178
Chaos Cultists w/ Plague Zombie, +10 cultists-90
These zombie puppets can ride rhinos, right?

Fast Attack
Chaos bikers w/ mark of nurgle, 2 meltaguns, combi-melta-118
Helldrake w/ baleflamer-170

Heavy Support
Land Raider w/ dirge caster-235
Land Raider w/ dirge caster-235

Total: 1434

So things I could add with leftover points:
-about 14 zombies to have two hordes of 17
-Meltaguns and possibly give back powerfists within the PM squads
-Drop the bikers for another drake and upgrades
-Rhinos for two seperate Zombie squads. (Meatshield through the roof right there for both LR and infantry) Will have to shave off some upgrades here and there for that one. (Only about 15 points worth)

Thoughts?

I'd probably do meltaguns on the Pms and either a 4th biker or more zombies.

A problem I see is that the zombies are just gonna be shambling around by themselves while everything else (being fast units) are going to leave them in the dust.

(Kinda funny when you think about it though)

If I drop the helldrake down to bikers, I can just take tons of zombies that will be bumbling around and can be a threat if ignored. (probably not a good idea.

I see the zombies as a backfield unit. They will never be fast enough to join the fight, so let them shamble over an objective.

BattleWagon Rush, "Papa Nurgle Style (Wop wop wop wop)"

HQ
Typhus-230

Troops
Plague Marines w/power axe,2 meltaguns, combi-flamer +2 marines-208
Plague Marines w/power axe,2 meltaguns, combi-flamer +2 marines-208
Chaos Cultists w/ Plague Zombie, +10 cultists-90

Fast Attack
Chaos bikers w/ mark of nurgle, 2 meltaguns, combi-melta, icon of vengeance-143
Helldrake w/ baleflamer-170

Heavy Support
Land Raider w/ dirge caster-235
Land Raider w/ dirge caster-235

Total: 1499

Instead of more cultists, I opted for combiflamers and an icon of vengeance. It would be nice if the bikers stick around longer than one tank, and only one melta is needed, thus I added the icon. The combi-flamer is for clearing a horde in a pinch or for protecting against a charging unit.

Instead of the IoV, take another biker and give the squad VotLW. Not fearless but LD10, another body and hatred for Marines is nice.

I love the idea of a rhino battering ram, and I want to try it out with khorne berserkers for fun. My biggest problem is that in looking at the rules, I found you cannot embark/disembark in the same turn you tank shock something. This means that it seems rather inefficient as a means of delivering the troops in the rhino.

I think a Nurgle lord on bike would be a better HQ than typhus, as the zombies are only ever holding an objective for you, but a Biker lord can take the burning brand and travel with bikers or spawn. I dont think two high AV vehicles will cut it, but I see lots of melta/lascannons still. I really only see 3 fast threats in your list, and bikers tend to die very easily when I have used them, so I dont know how good it would work.

I would love to hear your experiences playing with dirge casters, as I want to try them out myself and could use some tips.

To compensate for the lack of tankshock-embark-same turn-ability, I suppose it would not hurt to ditch the unit the turn before it tankshocks. But with Land Raiders, it seems to be a waist of the assault ram, hence why rhinos were the original idea.

I am finding more and more that my beloved Typhus may just not be cut out for the job..... I will play him a few rounds and then I will try the lord out as a replacement, see if it is any better in comparison.

Nice you are interested, I am hoping to post results of play-testing my final-rough list very soon, so stay tuned!