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.

BATTALION DETACHMENT
Cadre Fireblade [42]
Cadre Fireblade [42]
10x Strike Team w/ pulse rifles [80]
10x Strike Team w/ pulse rifles [80]
10x Strike Team w/ pulse rifles [80]
10x Strike Team w/ pulse rifles [80]
10x Pathfinder Team w/ 3 ion rifles, MB3 Recon Drone, MV33 Grav-inhibitor Drone [112]
10x Pathfinder Team w/ 3 ion rifles, MB3 Recon Drone, MV33 Grav-inhibitor Drone [112]
10x Pathfinder Team w/ 3 ion rifles, MB3 Recon Drone, MV33 Grav-inhibitor Drone [112]
1x XV88 Broadside Battlesuit w/ heavy rail rifle, 2 smart missile systems, seeker missile, early warning override [196]
1x XV88 Broadside Battlesuit w/ heavy rail rifle, 2 smart missile systems, seeker missile, early warning override [196]
1x XV88 Broadside Battlesuit w/ heavy rail rifle, 2 smart missile systems, seeker missile, early warning override [196]

SUPER-HEAVY AUXILIARY DETACHMENT
KV128 Stormsurge w/ pulse blastcannon, 2 airbursting fragmentation projectors, early warning override [392]

FORTIFICATION NETWORK
Tidewall Shieldline w/ defence platform [140]
Tidewall Shieldline w/ defence platform [140]

Totals: 2000 points, 100 power, 6 command points, 18 units on the board but only 11 for purposes of deployment

In 7th edition I was playing an all jetpack list, and I'm still trying to figure out a list like that for 8th edition, but in the meantime I figured I'd try something different. Thoughts? I had been trying to make this work with Brigade and Supreme Command Detachments (using more cadre fireblades, fire warriors, and even firesight marksmen), but I couldn't adequately fit it into 2000 points. I'm on the fence about my broadsides all being separate units, and I wish I could fit more drones in, but I think this is a good starting point.

I guess I'm looking for advice on the following:

1) Are broadsides better served separately or together? They're each harder to kill when they're together, but it'd probably be harder to kill all of them when they're separate. They can cover more ground separately, but to be fair they cover a lot of ground no matter where they are.

2) Should I switch one or more broadsides for hammerheads? I can get a similar weapons loadout on a hammerhead for a similar number of points, and hammerheads seem more resilient, but the differences between the two types of railguns are real and there are benefits to each type. I also can't get an EWO on a hammerhead.

3) Do I have enough anti-tank/MC firepower? Enough markerlights? Do I have other blindspots? I definitely have enough anti-infantry firepower, and I should be able to shield most of my army in or behind tidewall fortifications to stave off close combat units, with EWOs helping to deal with would-be deep strikers.

1) I'd advocate putting them into a single squad. It lowers the number of units to deploy and doesn't hamper their fire power in any way. It may be worth finding the points for a 4th and making 2 squads of 2. Maybe even a rail rifle and a high yield missile pod in each squad.

2) I've not yet used a hammerhead, but I've been hearing good things about longstrike in one.

3) I'd say there is a good spread of firepower in there.

How have the gunrigs played for you? I've heard nothing but bad things about them from other players (mine is still in a drawer).

It seems like a lot of points are sunk into something that's going to take a sizeable chunk of your deployment zone. I'd consider switching those for something with some punch or gun/marker drones to soak wounds for the stormsurge/broadsides.

I haven't tried them yet, but they seem awesome. They make it impossible to shoot or assault whatever's inside them until they're dealt with, and they're kind of the ultimate bubble-wrap since you can still shoot at anything assaulting them. Unfortunately the guys inside can't overwatch, and it's dubious whether the fireblade auras successfully affect the guys inside (though there's certainly an argument). I don't mind the footprint. I want to use them as a castle, effectively. They might well be bad, but they don't seem it.

Some things I'd suggest -

Storm-surge just aint pulling it's wieght this edition. I'd drop it and the shield lines as well.

Double your firewarriros
take darkstrider and a commander with 4 missle pods - now you have 2 batallions and a turn of twinlinked fire - and the majoity of your units will be able to fallback and shoot if you place darkstrider good. An Etheral or Anuva are also a great addition to a gun line of infantry.

Hmm. Where does the stormsurge fall short? It seems really survivable with T7 and W20, and puts out on average 30 to 40 shots each turn, most at good range, and two to six of them at high Strength/AP. The broadsides I'm running put out a third to a quarter as many shots and are a third to a quarter as survivable, but cost half as many points. Not to mention, the stormsurge can use anchors to be hitting on 2s (with markerlight support). I could definitely be talked into dropping it, but I'm not seeing where it falls short.

I realize four full strike teams costs about the same points and puts out 48 S5 shots (or 96 at crappy range), but I figured the blastcannon and destroyer missile shots are worth a reduction in volume of firepower, since they're are a lot more valuable than S5 pulse rifles. Also, are 20 T7 wounds at 3+ not more survivable than 48 T3 wounds at 4+? Especially since I won't lose shots as I lose wounds (though I will eventually lose accuracy)?

As for the wall, it might be awful, but I really want to try it. I'll happily cut it if it doesn't pan out, but it was the genesis for my wanting to try this sort of list.

I'll play around with including some of your HQ suggestions, though, and if I do cut the stormsurge I might even be able to pull off a decent brigade detachment. Thanks!