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Hello!

I have recently started with 40k again after a break. As I was planning to start a Dark Angels army I bought the Dark Vengeance box. My question is this: should I change anything on the models before I assemble and paint them? I want to make it a good army, not just a "good for begginers army". Like if there are any weapons or equipment on the models that aren't good enough for a good army and should be swapped, or are they good right out of the box?

Cut the plasma pistol off the sergeant, if you want to. Give him a bolt pistol instead, since he probably won't get to shoot it much. Plasma cannons are okay, plasma guns are cool. The Librarian is easily mounted on a bike if you want to run him with the Ravenwing, and the Terminators are okay. Some people would rather put a TH/SS on one of them, which is a decent plan. The captain is better as a counts-as Azrael than as a captain with power sword and combi-plas.

The models that come in DV don't really have options. The models themselves are cast with weapons, arms and torsos predetermined. You can cut them off and all, but just a forewarning. Might consider SS/TH depending on your play style, or replacing the Assault cannon.

 Brother SRM wrote:
Cut the plasma pistol off the sergeant, if you want to. Give him a bolt pistol instead, since he probably won't get to shoot it much. Plasma cannons are okay, plasma guns are cool. The Librarian is easily mounted on a bike if you want to run him with the Ravenwing, and the Terminators are okay. Some people would rather put a TH/SS on one of them, which is a decent plan. The captain is better as a counts-as Azrael than as a captain with power sword and combi-plas.

Okay thank you! How come the deathwing captain is better as an Azrael? (I don't know much about the game)

I also read something somwere about the ravenwing squad. Something about the lack of power weapons. Is that something important or are they good as they are?


Automatically Appended Next Post:

General Duf wrote:
The models that come in DV don't really have options. The models themselves are cast with weapons, arms and torsos predetermined. You can cut them off and all, but just a forewarning. Might consider SS/TH depending on your play style, or replacing the Assault cannon.

So the SS/TH is more a matter of play style than of quality? I prefer not to change anything unless I "have" to.

LulleK wrote:

 Brother SRM wrote:
Cut the plasma pistol off the sergeant, if you want to. Give him a bolt pistol instead, since he probably won't get to shoot it much. Plasma cannons are okay, plasma guns are cool. The Librarian is easily mounted on a bike if you want to run him with the Ravenwing, and the Terminators are okay. Some people would rather put a TH/SS on one of them, which is a decent plan. The captain is better as a counts-as Azrael than as a captain with power sword and combi-plas.

Okay thank you! How come the deathwing captain is better as an Azrael? (I don't know much about the game)

I also read something somwere about the ravenwing squad. Something about the lack of power weapons. Is that something important or are they good as they are?


Automatically Appended Next Post:

General Duf wrote:
The models that come in DV don't really have options. The models themselves are cast with weapons, arms and torsos predetermined. You can cut them off and all, but just a forewarning. Might consider SS/TH depending on your play style, or replacing the Assault cannon.

So the SS/TH is more a matter of play style than of quality? I prefer not to change anything unless I "have" to.

The captain just isn't all that good as armed - power weapon and combi-plasma isn't bad, but it's not awe inspiring. If you take a company captain from the 'dex its to open up some of the options he brings, which cheaper models can get access to better than a PW + combi plas.

Azrael by contrast is a somewhat pricey, but very good support HQ choice. He is pretty survivable as long as he has a little bit of protection from STR 8+ (10 if you put him in with deathwing knights, and use fortress of shields to bump his toughness due to him being inner circle). He buffs the entire armies leadership essentially negating the need for sergeants, provides a very good ++ to the squad he joins, and is relatively decent in melee. He's a good Support HQ choice, for not that much more than a company master given what he brings to the table. Also, choosing your warlord trait is kind of nice too.


Regarding SS/TH - it makes terminators more survivable with a 3++ save, and it makes them hit like dump trucks in melee.

DA Terminators have Power Fists standard (one of the DV box has a chainfist) in the codex, so it doesn't change up the hitting so much as the 3++. You could always invest in some from ebay at a later date rather than cut off bits and have to find new ones. I would argue that you don't *have* to change anything.