Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hi everyone.

I will shortly be playing in a weekend 'casual tournament' with five friends. The lists will be (fairly) competitive; there will be one Daemon player and four IoM lists, of which one is Ravenwing, and the others are likely to be SM / IK / GK or some combination thereof.

I'm thinking of running something along these lines:

Seer Council
Jetseer (Spirit stones of Anathlan, Singing Spear)
Jetseer (Shard of Anaris)
Jetlocks x5

CAD
Jetseer (Singing Spear)
Wraithguard with D-scythes in Wave Serpent (Holofields)
3x Scatterbikes
3x Scatterbikes
Wraithknight (wraithcannons)

Aspect Host
Fire Dragons x5 (Exarch) in Wave Serpent (Brightlances, Shuriken cannon, Holofields)
Dark Reapers x5 (Exarch)
Swooping Hawks x6 (Exarch)

This is a few points short, but I could pad it out with options on the transports.

A number of thoughts occur to me, and I'd really like feedback on them:
1) Cloudstrike with 3 Falcons. Expensive and probably means dropping the Wraithguard, for more Dragons.
2) Maxing out on Wave Serpents - either unlock with Dire Avengers, or run them in the Aspect Host. I like the idea of BS5, S6, 2D6-shot ignore cover alpha strikes.
3) Is the Council worth it? I felt I wanted some psychic defence, plus flying around jinking and throwing large templates about seems a bit unfair. As well as the statutory invisible wraithknight. Also, is sanctic any good vs. Daemons? (the one codex I am utterly in ignorance of).
4) Should I squeeze a Crimson Hunter in here? What should I drop?
5) Dark Reaper squad #2...

So many options, and not enough points. I want to try everything! (but mostly spam ignores cover, because feth the Ravenwing player )

If you are facing ravenwing than the D scythes from the wraithguard become invaluable, because the entire army has essentially 2+ rerollable cover saves.

Cloudstrike is amazing, but it really requires you to build around it. It is a great beta strike, but it requires reserve manipulation and a way to survive an alpha strike.

The council is most definitely worth it, but I recommend 7 members.

 Lord Commissar wrote:
snip

The council is most definitely worth it, but I recommend 7 members.

5 jetlocks + 2 jetseers, as listed - or am I missing something here?

zerosignal wrote:

A number of thoughts occur to me, and I'd really like feedback on them:
1) Cloudstrike with 3 Falcons. Expensive and probably means dropping the Wraithguard, for more Dragons.
2) Maxing out on Wave Serpents - either unlock with Dire Avengers, or run them in the Aspect Host. I like the idea of BS5, S6, 2D6-shot ignore cover alpha strikes.
3) Is the Council worth it? I felt I wanted some psychic defence, plus flying around jinking and throwing large templates about seems a bit unfair. As well as the statutory invisible wraithknight. Also, is sanctic any good vs. Daemons? (the one codex I am utterly in ignorance of).
4) Should I squeeze a Crimson Hunter in here? What should I drop?
5) Dark Reaper squad #2...

So many options, and not enough points. I want to try everything! (but mostly spam ignores cover, because feth the Ravenwing player )

1) In a take all comers I'd prefer sacrificing the Wraithguard for Fire Dragons in a Cloudstrike. You're more likely to get at the target of your choosing and saturate it well. That being said, and as another poster has pointed out, if you're practically guaranteed to meet any kind of serious-pants bike jinking list you're supremely incentivized to take the D-Scythes.

2) Wave Serpents are alright. They're no longer show stopping but they aren't dead weight either. If you're looking to support your one awkward squad of Wraithguard in a Serpent then so be it for synergy purposes, but otherwise I wouldn't recommend it.

3) Yes the council is absolutely worth it. I've been running them lately (2 Farseers + 7 Warlocks on Jetbikes, plus CAD Farseer) and steamroll most things. Their durability, damage output, and mobility are rage inducing. I've played with Sanctic if I pick up essential spells without sacrificing too many dice and it's usually worthwhile, against Daemons or no. Just taking Banishment against Daemons can be handy, but most of their strong lists are composed of Psykers which makes it difficult to succeed at anything except Blessings.

4) I've been taking a Hemlock Wraithfighter over a Crimson Hunter with my Council. He adds two more dice, some Leadership manipulation, and can fire at Flying Monstrous Creatures (however not flying vehicles!). Crimson wouldn't be bad, the answer depends on what kind of resistance you expect to face.

5) Nah. They're wonderful versus bikes, but typically they have an Artificer Armor or Storm Shield or Iron Halo out front anyway.

Here's a new list:

Seer Council
Jetseer (Spirit stones of Anathlan, Singing Spear)
Jetseer (Shard of Anaris)
Jetlocks x5

CAD
Jetseer (Singing Spear)
Jetseer (Singing Spear)
3x Windriders
3x Windriders
Swooping Hawks x6 (Exarch)
Falcon squadron (3)
Wraithknight (wraithcannons)

Aspect Host
Fire Dragons x5 (Exarch)
Fire Dragons x5 (Exarch)
Dark Reapers x5 (Exarch)

Fortification
Imperial Bunker (Comms Relay)

---

I've tried to focus on two things here, the Seer Council and a Cloudstrike formation. The Dark Reapers start on the table in the bunker and call in the Cloudstrike with the comms relay. I had to shave off some points to fit it all in so the scatter lasers went on the jetbikes. Yes, I know scatbikes are silly good, but these units I am really just using as obsec objective grabbers, and bladestorm is useful in a meta with 4/6 marine players! I wish I could fit in a Crimson Hunter (for some air support) but I have the Swooping Hawks at a pinch. I'm a few points spare so could maybe run an EML somewhere?