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So me and a friend are running a Planetstrike game and I wanted a bit of Critique on the list I plan to use. He is using Space marines with Death-watch and Custodes (Ugh...) as allies. I'll be running the Night Lord specific formation for their benefits.

Lord of the Legion (X3)

Dark Apostle: 140pts

Plasma Pistol, Power Maul, Scourging Chains

Terminator Chaos Lord: 167pts

Vox Daemonicus, Chainfist, Combi-Melta

Raptor Lord: 160pts

Claws of the Black Hunt, Melta Bombs, Sigil of Corruption

Chaos Warband

Chaos Warlord: 155pts

Melta Bombs, Plasma Pistol, Power Sword, Sigil of Corruption, Stormbolt Plate

Chaos Terminators: 217pts

5 Terminators with dual Lightning claws.

Chaos Bikers: 133pts

5 Bikers

Helbrute: 105pts

Power Fist and Multi Melta

Chaos Space Marines: 203pts

10 Marines, 2 plasma Guns, CCW

Chaos Space Marines: 170pts X2

10 Marines, 1 plasma Gun, 1 missile launcher

Raptor Talon

Raptor Lord: 140pts

Melta Bombs, Power axe, Sigil Of Corruption, Talons of the Night Terror

Raptors: 181pts X3

8 Raptors, 2 Melta Guns

Warp Talons: 180pts X2

5 Warp Talons

Heldrake Terror Pack

Heldrake: 170pts X2

Baleflamer


Any Suggestions on changes or removals?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you get some benefits in Planetstrike depending on whether you're the attacker or defender? If so, and you know which you'll be, that would help in terms of critique!

For what you have so far:

- Plasma Pistols are largely a waste; for 15pts, you're likely only ever going to shoot it 1-2 times per battle and still stand a decent chance of doing harm to yourself. Save the points.
- The Dark Apostle seems like a strange choice, unless you're going with him for a fluff reason. He can't really take great gear like a bike or jump pack to get him around and Zealot is only ok since the Hatred part you'll already get if your opponent is Space Marines.
- I'd try to get a Daemon Prince of Tzeentch in there with the Stormbolt Plate. He's a beast with a 2+ armor and 2+ cover save, rerolling ones on both. Don't even need to take Mastery levels. He's really one of the best things NL's have currently.
- Warp Talons are super fluffy for NL's ... but they still kind of stink. Unless the Planetstrike mission grants you a major bonus that they're using, drop them and grab more Raptors if you want something similar, but better. (And still fluffy)
- Helbrute has a huge "Kill me for first blood with all of your anti-tank weapons, please" sign on his chest. Either shift points and bring some more vehicles/walkers to make him less of a target or swap him for something like Autocannon Havocs (Best choice with NL giving Stealth and them wanting to chill in ruins anyways).
- Termies are alright, but they'll probably get shot to pieces before closing the distance to use those LC's. I seem to remember some kind of Planetstrike thing if you're the attacker that might let you charge from DS? If so they might be workable. If not, split them into two melta/plasma suicide units.

Sorry if that was a little long-winded!

The planetstrike formations offer additional benefits in the way of additional points on special abilities but that's about it. you start with 4 points standard, 5 if you take this formation. regular ones can be used but you just wouldn't get the attacker bonuses.

Plasma pistols: Yeah, I guess you're right. after all, all attackers enter via deepstrike anyway so it is kinda moot.

Dark Apostle: kinda a fluff thing, and he helps with the regular warlord to power through MEQ units as he pushes up.

Daemon Prince: Not a big lover of daemon princes to be honest, although I'll give it a look.

Warp Talons: Planetstrike grants the juicy rule that all attacker units can deepstrike, and any unit that can already deepstrike can charge in the same turn so warp talons are pretty much set as they should have been in the first place in this gametype.

Helbrute: Yeah, I was kinda torn between havocs and the helbrute and was the main self critique that came up. Autocannon havocs seems more reasonable now that you mention the cover point.

Termies: I was thinking of seeing if I could drop some points somewhere to add a land raider with dirge caster to really emphasise these guys. otherwise they were going to instead land near a unit that the raptors charged to tie up to stop them shooting (and kill) to reduce the firepower he could bring to bear on these guys.

Tristanleo wrote:
Warp Talons: Planetstrike grants the juicy rule that all attacker units can deepstrike, and any unit that can already deepstrike can charge in the same turn so warp talons are pretty much set as they should have been in the first place in this gametype.

I thought there was something like this in Planetstrike. However, your Warp Talons can already do this per the Raptor Talon Formation, as well. The trouble you'll run into with them and with the Termie's (They have Deep Strike as well, so can charge once they land) will be precision. It can be hard to get close without scattering into a mishap.

That being said, you could shoot for grabbing the Dimensional Key on one of your Warlord's that can Deep Strike and Charge, like the Termie or Raptor Lord and if they can nail a charge the first turn, they'll certainly kill at least one model, which will make all other Deep Strikes in your army not scatter. The bad part is the delay in activation; it can set your forces back and make most of the better melee units second wave in order to get exactly where they need.

Do you -have- to roll Reserves on the first turn in Planetstrike or can you choose to wait until turn 2 for rolling? That would help set up the one-two punch of the Dimensional Key then melee deepstrikers.

Your entire force enters via deepstrike and reserves so something has to come on the field to prevent you being tabled, but I don't think there's anything saying your entire force has to deploy at once. I think one of the benefits of spending the planetstrike points (2 I think) is that some units enter without scatter so I would plan on using that depending on his deployment and the pre-game bombardment phase.

Ok; if that's an option then ignore the Dimensional Key. Or use those points on the Chaos Lord squad with a key so he turns it on for your whole army on the second wave. Depends on his deployment as to which would be better. And the mission objectives.