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So, as I finish rounding out my 1750 Adepta Sororitas + Space Marine list that features 3 drop pods with 2 coming in on turn 1 I've found myself at a bit of a dilemma. How should I approach a Marine list that does the same thing? I unfortunately haven't had the chance to play against them too often so I'm kind of clueless how to play against them with a normal list , let alone this one. Do I let them have turn 1 (if I have the option) and then counter deploy, or do I try to alpha first and make them react to me? The former worries me as I'm basically pinning myself in my own deployment which is not only something that is against my game plan, but also plays into theirs. The latter makes me feel that I'm stretching myself out if I split my forces between both sides of the board. I'm not really sure what to do. What do you guys/girls usually do in that kind of match up?

I'd go second if I could. Then I would just play as normal. If I had to go first, it would depend on what I have, usually I would either bubble wrap everything spaced just right so they cant drop in to a good position or I would space everything far out, so they would have to chose their target and I could waste them after they destroyed whatever they picked. Like I said, it REALLY depends on what you have and what they have.

if the other dude only has pods, then what you need to do is drop on the far-out objectives and wait for him to pick his battles. He's going to have to commit to countering some objectives but not all, let him have those and use the unit as a suicide harasser from then on

If you end up going second, drop your tac squads first, and keep your sternies for later to counter his drops

Depends on how many Pods you are facing and what you have in your list, but honestly just Reserve as much of your force as possible. You get half of your units rounding up, not counting anything in the Drop Pods or any Flyers. Limit his first turn targets to resilient or less critical things. On your first turn your two Drop Pods will come in and either push his weak point or shore up your own (these will likely be near Objectives) and you'll probably get most of the rest on Turn 2.

Units in Transports are ideal as they can come on and pop smoke. Even better, you can focus them towards objectives he has to walk a distance to usually.


Myself, I play heavy in Drop Pods. Usually 5-7 in an army list. What you do really depends on what the enemy is bringing and where the objectives are and what the terrain setup is like. I've done things like Reserve a unit but not put it in its Drop Pod, purposely go second to maximize my Alpha Strike, purposely go first and make a fort out of my Drop Pods around an objective and terrain piece, and so on. Sometimes the plan works, sometimes it doesn't.

Thanks for the advice that helps a lot and gives me more to think about other than going, "hmmm now what?" Especially the bit with podding on objectives. To be honest this is also my first attempt using pods so I'm a bit clueless on more than basic tactics. One of my concerns is that I don't have enough to bubble wrap/things that are particularly resilient. Normally I expect to only play against a 1-2 pod alpha strike much like my own. This Is just based on what my FLGS has historically brought. Here's my list though for a reference.


AS & SM 1750

HQ:
Canoness + Combi-Melta = 75
Librarian = 65
2x Priests = 50

Elites:
5x Sternguard + 2x Heavy Flamers + 3x Combi-Meltas = 205

Troops:
5x Battle Sisters + Heavy Flamer + Flamer + Immolator w/ TL Multi-melta = 135

5x Battle Sisters + Heavy Flamer + Flamer + Immolator w/ TL Multi-Melta = 135

8x Tac Marines + Meltagun + Combi-Melta + Drop Pod = 167
8x Tac Marines + Meltagun + Combi-Melta + Drop Pod = 167

FA:
5x Dominions + 4x Meltaguns + Combi-Melta + Immolator + TL-Multi-Melta = 175

5x Dominions + 4x Meltaguns + Combi-Melta + Immolator + TL-Multi-Melta = 175

Stormtalon + Skyhammer Missiles = 125

Heavy Support:
2x Exorcists = 250

Total: 1724