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Let me start out by saying I haven’t played yet, so this is all new to me. I’m currently assembling and painting my maniple.

So, that said, a few questions:

1) Anyone here going to play AT at Adepticon this year?

2) If you had to choose between 3 knights (basic out-of-the-box loadout) or 2 Cerastus Lancers, what would you take? I’m trying to decide how to build my list.

My list is currently:
(Whatever the ‘standard’ maniple is. Can’t remember the name)
Warlord
-Belicosa Volcano Cannon
-Sunfury Plasma Annihilator
-Apocalypse Missile Launchers

Reaver
-Gatling Blaster
-Reaver Titan Powerfist
-Warp Missile Support Rack

Warhound
-Plasma Blast Gun
-Vulcan Mega Bolter

Warhound
-Turbo Laser Destructor
-Inferno Gun

Total: 1235

I’m trying to figure out what to do with the other 265 points. I could do a basic Knight Banner for 175 then add something else, or I could do 3 Lancers for 255 (if my points are right). Problem is I don’t have the command terminals for the lancers.

So, thoughts? How necessary is it to run Knight support? What about just taking a third Warhound and a battlefield asset or something?

Ok, that was more than two questions, but I appreciate the help anyway!

 godswildcard wrote:

2) If you had to choose between 3 knights (basic out-of-the-box loadout) or 2 Cerastus Lancers, what would you take? I’m trying to decide how to build my list.

For starters I would convert basic knights to have twin ccw. Cataphractii lightning claws are great for this.

Then it's for what role you want them. In offense terms questors with twin ccw are more point efficient dealing with warhounds and reavers. Cerestus meanwhile are better vs any knights and warlord titans.

Defense wise lancers are more survivable against low to medium strenght weapons(+1 save, extra blip of damage points) while questors are more resilient(considering points) against high strength(S10+) weapons which a) ignore knight save all together so the lancer +1 is irrelevant and are causing critical hits which simply flat out blow up knights reducing importance of extra hull point.

So really it's largely what role you want. 3/2 is bit small banner though.

Warlord is good configuration. If shields are up missile fist. Then if shields down bellicosa, then sunfury possibly aimed shot depending on how volcano cannon did. IF shields still up follow with sunfury and then if shields are down volcano cannon. Very rarely worth taking extra heat to shoot at shielded titan with volcano cannon. MAYBE if target has only 1 shield left and you are out of guns as 0 shields is lot bigger than appears compared to 1 shield. You need 6 to restart shields rather than 5+ to get extra level...

If target is already shieldless start with volcano cannon, follow with sunfury(maybe with aimed shots) and then missiles if there's location it can hurt. Remember while it has S4 if there's damage you can cause damage...Good for aimed shots. Don't forget the missiles even when shields are down.

Reaver is...Interesting. Fist okay, gatling blaster good shield buster. Start with this before warlord. But it has only 1 gun that can shoot later turns. I'm personally undecided on warp missile. Think bit bigger force would be my preference before taking one.

First warhound is standard and no issue. 2nd has long range sniper weapon combined with super short range weapon. Somehow I would feel like another plasma gun over TLD could be good. OR twin flamer. One of the rare warhound weapons where I like twin. Get within shields and flank/rear and buuuuuurn.

For lancer terminal try hunting was it december or january WD with one?

Knights can be good but not neccessary and require terrain. If you don't know terrain you are going to play at they are bit of risk. Depending on terrain they can be anything from hero to waste. Then again light terrain will also leave warhounds fairly vulnerable as well though not as vulnerable as knights.

Can't fit 2nd reaver?

tneva82 wrote:

 godswildcard wrote:

2) If you had to choose between 3 knights (basic out-of-the-box loadout) or 2 Cerastus Lancers, what would you take? I’m trying to decide how to build my list.

For starters I would convert basic knights to have twin ccw. Cataphractii lightning claws are great for this.

Then it's for what role you want them. In offense terms questors with twin ccw are more point efficient dealing with warhounds and reavers. Cerestus meanwhile are better vs any knights and warlord titans.

Defense wise lancers are more survivable against low to medium strenght weapons(+1 save, extra blip of damage points) while questors are more resilient(considering points) against high strength(S10+) weapons which a) ignore knight save all together so the lancer +1 is irrelevant and are causing critical hits which simply flat out blow up knights reducing importance of extra hull point.

So really it's largely what role you want. 3/2 is bit small banner though.

Warlord is good configuration. If shields are up missile fist. Then if shields down bellicosa, then sunfury possibly aimed shot depending on how volcano cannon did. IF shields still up follow with sunfury and then if shields are down volcano cannon. Very rarely worth taking extra heat to shoot at shielded titan with volcano cannon. MAYBE if target has only 1 shield left and you are out of guns as 0 shields is lot bigger than appears compared to 1 shield. You need 6 to restart shields rather than 5+ to get extra level...

If target is already shieldless start with volcano cannon, follow with sunfury(maybe with aimed shots) and then missiles if there's location it can hurt. Remember while it has S4 if there's damage you can cause damage...Good for aimed shots. Don't forget the missiles even when shields are down.

Reaver is...Interesting. Fist okay, gatling blaster good shield buster. Start with this before warlord. But it has only 1 gun that can shoot later turns. I'm personally undecided on warp missile. Think bit bigger force would be my preference before taking one.

First warhound is standard and no issue. 2nd has long range sniper weapon combined with super short range weapon. Somehow I would feel like another plasma gun over TLD could be good. OR twin flamer. One of the rare warhound weapons where I like twin. Get within shields and flank/rear and buuuuuurn.

For lancer terminal try hunting was it december or january WD with one?

Knights can be good but not neccessary and require terrain. If you don't know terrain you are going to play at they are bit of risk. Depending on terrain they can be anything from hero to waste. Then again light terrain will also leave warhounds fairly vulnerable as well though not as vulnerable as knights.

Can't fit 2nd reaver?

I appreciate the input! Was that terminal the actual cardboard one or a paper one on the inside?

I considered a second reaver, but what would I drop to take it? I only have 265 points without the Knights to mess with.

Paper as far as I know. I managed to get the command terminal pack while stock last so didn't get the WD.

Point limit is exactly 1500 pts? That's albeit bit tight. Got around 1535 with list that reminds a bit yours. Running out of ideas how to trim further without doing like twin vulcan bolter warhounds.

when i doubt, go for a warhound.
yes the knights has their role and function, but they are if possible more dependent on a flank/rear attack then the warhounds are, and they deffo need alot of terrain to hide in.

have you looked at the venator maniple? 1 reaver+2 hounds for the demi, 1 reaver+4 hounds for the complete maniple. bonus is the reaver get 1 free attack everytime a hound knocks down a shield that does not count towards the maximum amount of attacks a reaver can do. it is basicly ment for low point games.
so 1 reaver + 3 hounds and then 1 warlord as reinforcment. with that selection you wont go above 1500p unless you want to. heck you could even stop at 1400p and include some strategems or other tricks.

3 hounds on the loose plus a warlord usualy makes people forget about the reaver when the heat turns up.

Naaah they do generally wonders from front as well. Have had plenty of warhounds and reavers one shotted from front. The real ? is terrain. Too little that and they are poof. Then again so are warhounds.

Venator sounds good but it's actually surprisingly tricky to use. Your main firepower comes from warhounds that while good are not easy to use due to low repair roll count, bad reactor and bad shields. They require lot more care in usage than reavers and warlords. And in practice that venator free shot comes in use less than you might think. And means enemy will be hunting those warhounds fast. Soft targets, negate maniple bonus...

BTW looks like stopping at 1400 doesn't give you any real help with strategems. He seems to be limited at 1500 tops so 100 pts isn't going to give handicap. Maybe handicap system isn't even in use.

I appreciate the responses, folks!

So it looks like my choices boil down to:

A) +1 Warhound (possibles a knight Hunter with mega bolter and flamer?)

B) +3 Cerastus Lancers

C) +5 Knights (two would have dual melee weapons, rest would be standard loadout)

It's hard to say which one I'm leaning towards. All sound fun to paint to me! Just want to make sure I'm not a total pushover in the tournament.

Edit:
I retooled the initial list a bit, which opened up a few more points, and then I added up the things I could potentially fit in.

Legio Tridenti Axiom Battle Maniple

Warlord
-Belicosa Volcano Cannon
-Sunfury Plasma Annihilator
-Apocalypse Missile Launchers

Reaver
-Gatling Blaster
-Reaver Titan Powerfist
-Apocalypse Missile Launche

Warhound
-Plasma Blast Gun
-Vulcan Mega Bolter

Warhound
-Turbo Laser Destructor
-Vulcan Mega Bolter

Total: 1225

And the different options to round out the last 275 point:

Warhound (Option A)
-Plasma Blastgun
-Turbo Laser Destructor
230 points (45 points under)

Cerastus Support Banner (Option B)
3x Cerastus Knight Lances
250 points (25 points under)

Questoris is Support Banner (Option C)
-Lord Scion w/ Questoris Melee Weapon (QMW) & Rapid Fire Battle Cannon
-Knight w/ QMW, Thermal Cannon & Meltagun
-Knight w/ QMW & Thermal Cannon
-Knight w/ QMW & Rapid Fire Battle Cannon
-Knight w/ 2x QMW
275 points (exactly 1500)

If I took option A or B, I would probably drop the fist on the Reaver and take a Laser Blaster instead, plus maybe add some legio-specific wargear on a Titan if I can.

Thoughts?

If you want knight hunter warhound bolter is horrible vs knigh's that get 3+/2+ save and you need 5+ to damage. Flamer and plasma are best knight hunting weapons. Laser works as well. But consider bolter needs 13.5 shots against questor knight in open to cause 1 damage. Twice that vs lancer and cover increases numbers...

Bolter is very good shield stripper and can be useful vs titan armour but bad vs knights

for the 1500 point bracket
my favorite list is as follows
Venator maniple #1
Reaver #1(melta-apoc-gattling)
Warhound #1(Vulcan-Plasma)
Warhound #2(Vulcan-Plasma)

Venator Maniple #2
Reaver#2 (melta-apoc-gattling)
Warhound #3(Vulcan-plasma)
Warhound #4(Vulcan-Plasma)

exactly 1500 points
this set up has performed extremly well in this point bracket
have won every game played with it.
Tactics:
-I play warp runners, those rerolls to repair are surprisingly useful for this maniple, and the bonus speed in the first two turns is nice as well
set up 1 maniple on the left side of the deployment zone and 1 maniple on the right side
close enough to support each other, but far enough seperation so that opponent has to turn to face one or the other and expose his flank or rear to the remaining maniple
squadron the warhounds to get that sweet focus fire benefit

I like the CHAIN fist over the power fist. +1 atk, +2 to hit, rending and -1 str vs +1 str, -1 atk, +1 to hit and concussive.
Same points btw!

Gunrunner1775 wrote:
for the 1500 point bracket
my favorite list is as follows... [snippety]

Thanks for the list. I'm going to have to play my Janissary Maniple list against it and see how they fare.

Sounds very solid though!

 FeindusMaximus wrote:
I like the CHAIN fist over the power fist. +1 atk, +2 to hit, rending and -1 str vs +1 str, -1 atk, +1 to hit and concussive.
Same points btw!

It's Q of raw killing power(though advantage drops for charges the more extra attacks you get since those help more the power fist) over the concussive which is pretty useful. In particular it helps against other h2h titans so more close combat weapon armed titans in your meta the more power fist helps.

tneva82 wrote:

 FeindusMaximus wrote:
I like the CHAIN fist over the power fist. +1 atk, +2 to hit, rending and -1 str vs +1 str, -1 atk, +1 to hit and concussive.
Same points btw!

It's Q of raw killing power(though advantage drops for charges the more extra attacks you get since those help more the power fist) over the concussive which is pretty useful. In particular it helps against other h2h titans so more close combat weapon armed titans in your meta the more power fist helps.

Potato - tomato