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A few months ago I asked here how should I build my CSM contemptor dread, since my FLGS was making a FW order and the Night Lords Contemptor looks sweet, thou I know it isn't competitive at all and by being a chaos model is doomed to be outperformed by many loyal options.

So... at the end of the day I agreed that since he got fleet, some invul saves and close combat, and a special rule against psykers B2B, the logic option would be to get him 2 power fists and fleet every turn hoping he doesn't blow up trying to get into combat. I started assembling it and now I'm up to the power fists so I need to decide which option to go with. Initially was just going to keep it cheap and leave the combi-bolters on each arm. However the options even thou they are a little expensive might be a good option.

For the ones not familiar which what options does the contemptor dread has for his close combat weapons they are:

Heavy Flamer for the price of a CSM melta
Plasma Blasters (Assault 2, 18" plasmas) 5 points more than your avg plasmagun
Soulburner (S4 AP4 24", Assault1 or Blast 3 if the dread doesn't move) this one is 5 points over the blasters and since the blast needs the dread to stay put that probably won't work.
Meltaguns for the cost of a CSM plasmagun

I'm probably going with either Plasma or Meltas, the only moment I'd like to not run is when I'm within 10" of my assault target, so the 12" range on the melta and 18" on the plasmas is great, 2 melta shots might open a transport to let the dread feast on whatever is inside, but the 4 plasma shots might weaken a MC, or hurt a Sv2+ unit but then again 4 chanced of getting hot.

So... What would you guys choose?

I'd go with the plasma blasters. I had a serious issue dealing with 2+ save armored troops while playing at Broadside Bash.

Meltas are great for infantry, but anything that's gonna be potentially deep striking needs extra dakka in order to end the lives of as much in the vicinity as possible to hinder suppressive fire before it attacks.

The serious lack of AP 2 multi shot weapons in my last list is what prompted me to order some oblits.... A contemptor is definitely on my to do list as well.

So you decked him out with two close combat arms?

First, you're misreading the Soulburner. It's Assault 1, Blast (3"), Rending. It means you get 1 shot, that does a small blast template. And it's rending, so there's some fun to be had there.

If you're going to do any upgrade to the combi-bolters, I'd do Heavy Flamers. If you're doing two CCW, you're a close combat unit and want to run in and punch things as hard as possible. Flamers help assist that, and the bigger thing is it gives you a better anti-assault in case enemies get the charge off on you. Hard to argue with 2D3 heavy flamer hits. Would chew up the first wave of, say, orks, potentially ruining their charge.

The thing is, you're paying a premium for the weaponry otherwise. Meltaguns are +15 points? Eff that. Would rather just jam a melta gun on a regular chaos marine and save 5 points. I'm not a fan of paying more points than you would elsewhere to get the same weaponry. Same goes for the Plasma Blaster. I get it's assault 2 instead of rapid fire, but I'd just rather put a plasma gun on a Plague marine or something. The way you deal with foes in 2+ armor is by charging into them and smashing their faces with your powerfists anyway. He's going to be assaulting so kit appropriately.

Just thought of a reason to avoid the Soulburner: Blast means no overwatch. No overwatch = bad for CCW units.

So yeah, I think I'm definitely in the double heavy flamers + Dedication to Tzeentch camp, IMO.

I'm also guessing there will be a lot of Space Marine players in your upcoming campaign? Might want to think about Veteran of the Scouring, if so. 40 points for IWND and Hatred (Space Marines.)

 SRSFACE wrote:
So you decked him out with two close combat arms?

First, you're misreading the Soulburner. It's Assault 1, Blast (3"), Rending. It means you get 1 shot, that does a small blast template. And it's rending, so there's some fun to be had there.

If you're going to do any upgrade to the combi-bolters, I'd do Heavy Flamers. If you're doing two CCW, you're a close combat unit and want to run in and punch things as hard as possible. Flamers help assist that, and the bigger thing is it gives you a better anti-assault in case enemies get the charge off on you. Hard to argue with 2D3 heavy flamer hits. Would chew up the first wave of, say, orks, potentially ruining their charge.

The thing is, you're paying a premium for the weaponry otherwise. Meltaguns are +15 points? Eff that. Would rather just jam a melta gun on a regular chaos marine and save 5 points. I'm not a fan of paying more points than you would elsewhere to get the same weaponry. Same goes for the Plasma Blaster. I get it's assault 2 instead of rapid fire, but I'd just rather put a plasma gun on a Plague marine or something. The way you deal with foes in 2+ armor is by charging into them and smashing their faces with your powerfists anyway. He's going to be assaulting so kit appropriately.

Just thought of a reason to avoid the Soulburner: Blast means no overwatch. No overwatch = bad for CCW units.

So yeah, I think I'm definitely in the double heavy flamers + Dedication to Tzeentch camp, IMO.

I'm also guessing there will be a lot of Space Marine players in your upcoming campaign? Might want to think about Veteran of the Scouring, if so. 40 points for IWND and Hatred (Space Marines.)

You are right, I read Calibration right over the soulburner's assault 1 and got confused. The heavy flamers option sounds cheap and good for those overwatches, not so sure about dedication to Tzeentch, sure it gives the flamers soul blaze which rarely works but also re-rolls for saves which he only gets in close combat? For as much as the other marks, I dunno. I was thinking of dedication to Khorne or Slaanesh.

WHere is that Veteran of the Scouring rule? Don't see it on the IA13 entry