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So, I've convinced several friends of mine to start 40k, one is doing Tau, one is doing 1k Sons, the other is doing Deathwatch via the DW Battleforce

I'm helping him with a 1250pt list (The agreed starting amount), for his Deathwatch army

So with 1 Watch Master, 20 Vets, 5 Termies, 5 Bikes, and a Rhino, this is the list I managed to make.

CAD-1250

HQ-190
-Watch Master
---Clavis, Guardian Spear, Digital Weapons

Elites-240
-Terminators (x5)
---(Heavy Flamer/Power Fistw/Meltagun), (Assault Cannon/Power Fist), 3x(Power Fist/Storm Bolter)

Troops-645
-Veterans (x10)-325
---Blackshield(Storm Shield/Power Fist), Sergeant(Boltgun/Shotgun), 6x Vet(Boltgun/Shotgun), 2x Vet(Boltgun/Heavy Flamer)
-----Rhino: 2x Storm Bolters

-Veterans (x5)-185
---5x (Chainsword/Grav-gun)

-Veterans (x5)-135
---5x (Chainsword/Stalker Pattern Boltgun)

Fast Attack-175
-Bikers (x5)
---5x (TL-Boltgun/Power Weapon)

All C&C is welcome, and I know there's probably a lot wrong with this list which is why I'm running it by Dakka.

Thanks in advance for any and all feedback

For the Watch Master the Combat shield is a complete waist. He comes with a 4+ Invo so there is no need to pay points to get a 6+

For your Veterans instead of running them with Shotgun/CC Weapon try this.

Exchange the Bolter for a Shotgun, then exchange the Close Combat Weapon for a Bolter.

What this does is gives you access to special issue ammo on the bolter if you don't (or can't) charge. Then the Shot gun is there for when you do charge of if you are charged (the template firing mode with do D3 auto hits at S3 on the overwatch)

Sadly the Black Sheild can't take a Heavy Thunder Hammer. It's about the only thing he can't take which sucks because its his best weapon. A Power Fist/ Storm Shield is a good option though

I am not sure what your Terminators are actually armed with so can you please elaborate for me.

Instead of running Rhinos have you considered running them with Drop Pods?

Ok, so remove the shield, and give the vets Bolters and shotguns, got it.

The Terminators have Power Fists and Storm bolters

I considered Drop Pods, but I have to stick with what comes in the battleforce box

1. More pods

2. More pods

3. Or go mech. (not as viable)(rhino blow up very easy or gets wrecked)

Deathwatch is still a Space Marine army, albeit fragile like them. For 1250 points, get like 6-7 pods, and load them with 5 vets with variety of weapons, emphasis on 3 shotgun/boltgun and 2 frag cannon/boltgun combo.

The idea is to have maximum firepower on line facing your intended target and drop pod is the most reliable means (unless against Tau). Rhino have 2 firing ports and can easily get surrounded and tarpitted to death by horde armies or slagged/exploded by elite armies. Also the mind game of making your opponent try to reserve or bunker.
Here is what I run as part of my 1850 list for maximum alpha/beta strike:

0~1 squad of 5 vet w/ melta/boltgun
3~4 squads of 1 grav/boltgun, 2 shotgun/boltgun, 2 frag cannon/boltgun
0~1 squad of 4 w/ stalker/boltgun, 1 frag cannon/boltgun

All load up in pods.

All this together is roughly ~1200 less.

Attach them with whatever HQ you desire, I usually bring libby and try rolling for divination or telepathy. The strength of alpha strike/beta strike can be reflected on your opponents face when he realizes he is gonna lose by turn 3. This usually will work against mid to low tier list/army. Even against high tier list will give them a run of their money.

I.E. I frag cannoned 10 eldar seers turn 1 against elder psychic fortress leaving Ulthread (or whatever) alone.

I.E. I melta-ed a land raider and grounded assault termies.

I.E. I dropped and killed a 30 boyz blob along with warboss. (first blood/slay the warlord turn 1)

I.E. Melta the chaos rhino, kharn and his berserkers pops out, frag cannon all of them to death (again first blood/slay the warlord turn 1)

So yeah, drop pods ftw.

@fr3ddy:

Yeah, I'd love to include pods, but if you'd have read the beginning part I have to work with the Deathwatch Battleforce

@ Fre3ddy

I actually prefer 10 man squads in pods so I can combat squad them to get 2 squads for the price of 1 Pod. Having multiple squads pop out of 1 pod gives more bang for your buck and also helps with getting off a stronger Alpha Strike.

This is my perfect Alpha Strike unit.

T- Veterans
1x Watch Sergeant, Bolter, Shotgun & Auspex
4x Veterans, Melta-gun, Bolter
4x Veterans, Deathwatch Frag Cannon
1x Veteran, Deathwatch Shotgun, Boltgun
1x Drop Pod
400pts

You can split them to have either a squad of 4 meltas & 4 Frags or you can split them to have 2 Meltas and 2 Frags. It really depends on what your facing.

The Auspex Sergent is there for 2 reasons. -1 to jink so you can bust open skimmers turn 1 & to declare a challenge to get the VP on Maelstrom Missions.

The Drop Pod can then also hold an Objective with Objective Secured. (This 1 thing has won me so many VP's to get so many massed VP in Malstrom missions)

For HQ I run a ML1 Libby and roll to get Psychic Shriek. He has an Auspex and goes with a squad of Grav/Bolter Vets and Toasts things. The Libby -1 the cover and the cleans up. If I face a list where my grav is usless I have the Bolter to put out some damage.

As for the OP you don't want to use Drop Pods so this advice is completely irreverent.

It's not that I don't want pods, my friend doesn't have access to them, yet. I'll let him know

You should really be throwing in Frag Cannons in all the vet squads, best weapon option in the codex.

KhanJohn wrote:
You should really be throwing in Frag Cannons in all the vet squads, best weapon option in the codex.

Will do, I just realised theirs only 15 Vets in the box so that seems like a good points sink for now

Frag Cannons aren't the greatest weapon out there but they are a great all rounder weapon.

Melta is still the best weapon they have to deal with tanks. Grav is also a more cost effective way of dealing with Heavy Armour Infantry.

A combo I have also been interested in trying out is a combi-weapon teamed up with a shot gun. I don't have codex handy though right now to see if I can do it. If the Combi weapons are under the ranged weapon options then it's viable.

You get the best of the Special Issue Bolter rounds, you get the use of the melta or what ever weapon you choose to use and you get the wall of death from the shotgun if you are counter charged. Even at S3 the wall of death from several shotguns will put down wounds on your foe.

Thanks for the advice

I'll update the list when I have some more time