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Thought I would post up my first draft for an 1850 black spear strike force list trying to work out what I want before I start modelling everything

BLACK SPEAR STRIKE FORCE

Command
Watch master - 175 pts
beacon angelis - 30 pts
205 - pts

Core
Watch Company
Watch Captain Artemis 145 pts

Aquila team
5 x vets 110pts
2 x Infernus bolter - 40pts
1 x watch sergeant - free
1 x lib ML1 force axe - 70pts
Tome of Ectolades - 10 pts
Rhino - 35 pts
265 pts

Aquila team
5 x vets 110pts
2 x freg cannon - 50 pts
1 x watch sergeant - free
1 x lib ML1 force axe - 70pts
Rhino - 35 pts
265 pts

Malleus Kill team
Vets x 5 - 110pts
Missle launcher x 4 - 60pts
2 x term- 80 pts
2 x th/ss CLM - 70 pts
1 x lib ml1 force axe - 70pts
Dominus Aegis - 20 pts
410 pts

Dominatus Kill Team
5 x vets- 110 pts
black shield / TH/SS - 55pts
3 x shotgun - free
sergeant xenoblade / SS - 35 pts
2 x Vanguard - 50 pts
2 xHTH - 60 pts
315 pts

Auxiliary
Corvus blackstar - 180 pts
Rocket launcher - 15p ts
Holo launcher - 5 pts
Ausex array - 10 pts
210 pts

Total 1815 if I have worked it out all right leaving me 35 points to play with maybe bump a libby to ML2.

Dominatus kill team rides in the Corvus with Artemis and maybe even the watch master for an assaulting deathstar
Malleus sits backfield taking out heavy support and any other big nasties with 8 shots a turn with 3+/4++ and 2+/3++, fearless and 9 wounds it should be pretty resilient.
Two Aquila teams drive around in the rhinos popping shots out the top at whatever they can cause the most casualties too.

Plus everyone bar the watch master gets to re-roll any failed wounds / armour pen against Warlords, Psykers and ICs thanks to the Watch Company formation even if they are within another unit.

Still getting to grips with the codex and planning out the formations so any help / criticism welcome, looking more for a fun well rounded list than full on competitive.

Regards.

In terms of modelling there are very few mistakes you are making I feel. Almost everything listed will go to use in one list or another.

With that said I feel the micro choices squad by squad are lacking and the macro strategy of the entire army isn't in line with what deathwatch is doing. Allow me to break down some choices:


2 x Infernus bolter - 40pts - They are super cool but I think pretty awful. If you put them on a regular marine for 20 points they'd be fantastic. But we are giving up a special ammo bolter for it instead that rips apart what the heavy bolter rips apart. Doesn't change the dynamic of the squad and barely upgrades it.


Missle launcher x 4 - 60pts - Suffer the same problems they always have. Low mobility and minor hitting power against anything but a rhino out of cover.


black shield / TH/SS - 55pts - You REALLY want this guy hitting as hard as he can to leverage your double attacks. Why give him a shield? Surely he isn't tanking wounds for the squad. I would do a powerfist/claw combo.


sergeant xenoblade / SS - 35 pts - Again we don't want the person holding the special weapon tanking the wounds. Give the shield to someone else. It stops him from having double ccw too! I also dislike the xenoblade in general but it isn't the worst ever.

Auxiliary
Corvus blackstar - 180 pts
Rocket launcher - 15p ts
Holo launcher - 5 pts
Ausex array - 10 pts
210 pts

I would magnetize this sucker for sure but just some points.

Auspex array is crazy strong and is the selling point of this flyer for me. It's also mutually exclusive to the holo launcher. Can have one or the other but not both.

I would keep him trim at 190 with the array. Minimize investment but maximize survivability. The rocket launcher is probably better than the stormstrike missles but only marginally. I don't mean to make the same point again but when you jink with the auspex you are greatly hampering your guns so investing further into them isn't a great idea.

The idea is to make a blackshield the ultra offensive guy and protect him with other duders that have shields and can die easily. Maximize both aspects of the squad or vehicle.


Basically I've criticized every special weapon loadout other than the frag cannons. You'll hear this everywhere and I'm sure you'll get sick of it but they are the best choice. They are dynamic relative to special ammo bolters AND their profiles offer different modes unique unto themselves!!

Really really strong AND they are assault.

The only macro strategy thing I want to mention is that deathwatch is a very aggressive army.

They offer a lot of options tailored specifically to multiple targets and the book relies on you taking that target out within the first turn or two.

That's very difficult to do moving 6' a turn in a rhino or coming in turn 2 in a 3 hp 12 12 10 flyer.

I would suggest running 3 drop pods (one with an angelis beacon) and a rhino /w a ranged team inside.

You'll get 2 pods coming in turn one plus the rhino being beaconed right next to the pod.

Lots of turn one impact!

Again I'm sorry to dismantle your list and in terms of committing with the glue you don't have a ton to worry about. Probably already have the vehicles lying around.

At the end of the day play what you want. Xenophase swords are badass!

Squeeze SS for Artemis shotgun friends, should help make them a better death star. Probably run the Librarian the librarius discipline and hope for reroll saves. 3 storm shields should leave points to give whoever you wish a melta bomb. Or auspex to mess with cover.