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I'd like to hear from all of the Thousand Sons veterans about what they like to field in a 1850-2000 pt list. 

I'm thinking about playing this army and need input on how to put together a competitive list.

Thanks,

Gorthrax

Sadly, I don't know if it is possible to put together a competitive Thousand Sons list. Of all the chaos armies, they are definitely the ones who got the shaft. They are my favorite Chaos army in every way: models, fluff, colors, ect. Everything but their list.

As to how to build a competitive list (if such a thing is possible), I think that in the price range you're talking about, going w/ Rubric Terminators is a good idea, though Rubric Marines w/ a very powerful Asp Champ works too. Some like flamers, but I've always found that they just seem to die too much, costing you a lot of points. Also, the Lord of Change is a great use of an HQ slot (if you like greater Daemons). Nothing in a KSons list is cheap, so whatever you bring to the table, you need to be sure that you get full use out of it, because any lost models can be devestating, both tactically and points-wise. I'm sure others can and will provide better advice than I, but I hope this helped somewhat.

Good luck with the KSons!

So if 1KSons aren't so good, what about a Tzeench heavy list without going all out Sons. Like take a Tzeentch marked character, maybe a Lord of Change, a unit or two of Tzeench marked termies, and maybe a squad or two of Tzeench troops; and then take the rest in MoCU/unmarked units. Get some basic chaos marines with good heavy weapons for fire support, and maybe even a unit of obliterators. I'm not sure exactly what would complement Tzeench units the best, as I've never played with them, so I'm not sure what they really lack, but it kinda seems like big guns and good hth, and basic CSM's can be kitted out to do either. Thematically it's not too much of a stretch, Tzeench is the great manipulator, so maybe he's pulling the strings to get some other legion's guys for cannon fodder. This may not be what you're looking for Gorthrax, but its just an idea I'm throwing out.

Here's another fluff idea- the Rubric of Ahriman made all of the Sons undead, but what if they corrupt some more marines after that? The spell was cast thousands of years ago and the effect happened, so the marines won't retroactively become undead. Now they're new Tzeench marines, but they can't have the rules for being undead, so they're unmarked. Or maybe they have to prove themselves to The Changer of Ways before they can receive the ritual that makes them undead.

Fluffwise, it makes sense that Tzeench, the great manipulator, would have been able to get other guys working for him (so why isn't this reflected in this list?) (Note: that was just a rhetorical question.)

If you are content to go with a mixed list that is not purely TS, it does give you more options and abilities than they would have otherwise (most importantly, regarding heavy weapons and mobility). It's something to think about.

Don't let these guys be the only voice you hear.
There was a great Thousand Sons list back on old Dakka, it placed very highly at a few GTs if I'm not mistaken.
I believe Mauleed knew it then, perhaps he'll post it now.

I would dearly love to be proven wrong. Seeing a competitive TS list would fill my heart with joy (too melodramatic?).

There's really no competitive thousand sons list.

But a fellow from DaBoyz, one of the Hobin brothers, did win a tactician award at a GT with them. So hats off to him.

Jeff Hobin played a pretty solid Rhino-rush TS army. They were a good threat in 3rd but not so much in 4th. I shot it to pieces at a tournament at Danger Planet last year with my Dark Angels. The squads were scary if they got there, but the Rhinos being easier to kill in 4th, combined with the Entangled rule, really sack-kicks any army which relies on Rhinos to win the game.

i know a guy who did a tourny 1850 sons list under 3rd and he won with it quite well. under 4th a few things change, but the fact remains that a sons list is going to be small and elite as well as use lots of magic type attacks. which is fine of you like playing that way. aspiring champions in terminator armour walking around doing psyker las cannons is a nasty thing

Not for what they cost it's not.

I happily welcome anyone who thinks sons are competitive to play a friendly game against my regular marine army. Afterwards I'll buy you a drink. You'll need it.

(I've played against my own thousand sons enough to know you aren't getting across the board)

I have actually found that 4th edition has help my 1000 sons list more than hurt it. 

  With the changing of the Slow and Purposeful rule rubric marines can sweeping advance and strike at inititive 4 in close combat. That is HUGE for Rubric terminators. I used to hate it when I would be swapping strenth 4 powerweapon attacks for strenth 8 powerfist attacks at the same time.

Tzench deamons are great for popping out, and shooting the crap out of any horde army. One opponent laughed histerically as his genestealers approched my Terminators. Then he almost cried when 9 deamons sommoned, and he lost every single one of his 12 stealers.

Some things to remember though: Thrall wizards are your friends, take as many as you can. You need to have a bit of a "wow" factor too. Use a deamon prince with wings as a disposable tie-up unit to hit hard and keep things away from your rubrics and Aspiring champions. Take a preditor with lascanons. It is one of the few ways to kill a vehicle that MUST be destroyed.

What about an army with a DP, LoC, 3 units of Rubric termies, and daemons for troops? Like Deathwing, but different. Throw in a pred, a defiler, maybe a unit or two in a rhino - this is quickly getting expensive, but it could be interesting.

Has anyone ever tried using a Lord of Change is a Thousand Sons list?

LoC as the only hq is probably the best way, imho.

While the price for their 2 wound guys is not great, the termies are a good buy and deluding your opponent with 2 wound guys moving in cover can win you a lot of games.

A buddy of mine is fairly successful with his list, which is something like:

LoC

9 terminators with an aspiring champion with a chainfist and something, I think bolt but could be Gift

3 squads of marines, walking, with a lightning claw S5 termie champ (overpriced, but he hates powerfists)

Some flamers


It's not a great list, but it usually gets 50% in tournaments which is about as good as you can hope to do.

Another fairly successful list I saw is:

LoC
Daemon speed prince

4 squads, 2 in rhinos, all champs with fists except the LoC

a predator and a defiler, both tricked out

Both are around 2000ish pts, plus or minus some mods. They do OK, simply because a lot of armies have a hard time taking out the scoring units, and the two fast baddies do damage.

Again, he runs about 50%.

HQ: Big Bird w/wind of chaos

T: 9 1ksons w/gift of choas, warp focus, Powerfist, Thrall, and Rhino
T: 9 1ksons w/wind of choas, powersword, thrall, and Rhino
T: 9 1ksons w/gift of choas, warp focus, powerfist, thrall, and Rhino
T: 9 1ksons w/demonic chains and Rhino
T: 9 Horror's

F: 9 Screamer's

H: Pred w/ Autocannon and Lascannon w/ Possession

It's about 1850 spare points spent on dem gift for champions, usually str on champ w/ps.

Here is a list that I have won several RTTs with. Although most of the time instead of having a LT I take a Chosen AC w/powerfist and more thralls.

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1850 Pts - Thousand Sons Roster

 

Chaos Lord (182 Pts)

   1 Daemon Prince of Tzeentch

      General; Sorceror; 2 Close combat weapons

      1 Mark of Tzeentch

      1 Daemonic Aura

      1 Daemonic Essence

      1 Daemonic Flight

      1 Daemonic Mutation

      1 Daemonic Resilience

      1 Daemonic Stature

      1 Daemonic Strength

      1 Spiky Bits

 

Chaos Lieutenant ( 499 Pts)

   1 Sorceror

      Bolt Pistol

      1 Mark of Tzeentch

      1 Dark Blade

      1 Familiar

      1 Gift of Chaos

      1 Bolt of Change

      1 Thrall Wizard

      4 <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:place>Chosen</st1:place> of Tzeentch  

      4 Bolt Pistols; 4 Close combat weapons

 1 Land Raider

           

Chaos Space Marine Squad ( 324 Pts)

   8 Favoured Thousand Sons

      1 Mark of Tzeentch 

      1 Aspiring Champion

         Sorceror; Bolt Pistol; Powerfist

         1 Master crafted weapon

         1 Wind of Chaos

         1 Thrall Wizard

      1 Rhino

         1 Extra Armour

         1 Smoke launchers

 

Chaos Space Marine Squad ( 324 Pts)

   8 Favoured Thousand Sons

      1 Mark of Tzeentch 

      1 Aspiring Champion

         Sorceror; Bolt Pistol; Powerfist

         1 Master crafted weapon

         1 Wind of Chaos

         1 Thrall Wizard

      1 Rhino

         1 Extra Armour

         1 Smoke launchers

 

Predator  (166 Pts)

      Lascannon Sponsons; Twin Linked Lascannon

      1 Daemonic Possession

      1 Searchlight

 

Defiler (180 Pts)

    1 Mutated <st1:City><st1:place>Hull</st1:place></st1:City>

 

Dreadnought (175 Pts)

      Twin Linked Lascannon

      1 Extra Armour

      1 Mutated <st1:City><st1:place>Hull</st1:place></st1:City>

      1 Corruscating Flame

 

Total Roster Cost: 1850