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Me and my friend were interested in starting 1000point CSM and flicked through the codex and came up with this army list. I'm still a rookie in CSM and would like to know if there are any ways to make this list better.
Here's the list:
HQ:
Daemon Prince-Mark of Slaanesh, Lash of Submission=135 points
Sorcerer-Doombolt, meltabombs=115 points

Elites:
5 Possessed-Aspiring Champion=140 points

Troops:
12 Khorne Beserkers-Skull Champion, Rhino w/ Havoc Launchers=317 points
10 Thousand Sons-Bolt of Change, Rhino=290 points

The plan was to advance the Daemon Prince through the middle, to make use of his hardiness and draw the fire, while the two Rhinos, one containing the KB and the other containing TS w/ the Sorcerer advance on the left and right flanks, speeding up to engage the enemy. This way the enemy will be hard-pressed to keep them at bay. Then the KBs get stuck into the enemy, able to lay low the enemy (which I learned painfully from experience) and the TS and Sorcerer find a small spot to stay and blow the enemy apart with Doombolt and Bolt of Change. And if the Daemon Prince is alive, BONUS and he'll quickly smash apart anything threatening my squads but if not, we were using it as a distraction.

So what do you think Dakka? Could anything be improved?

 baxter123 wrote:
Me and my friend were interested in starting 1000point CSM and flicked through the codex and came up with this army list. I'm still a rookie in CSM and would like to know if there are any ways to make this list better.
Here's the list:
HQ:
Daemon Prince-Mark of Slaanesh, Lash of Submission=135 points
Sorcerer-Doombolt, meltabombs=115 points

Elites:
5 Possessed-Aspiring Champion=140 points

Troops:
12 Khorne Beserkers-Skull Champion, Rhino w/ Havoc Launchers=317 points
10 Thousand Sons-Bolt of Change, Rhino=290 points

The plan was to advance the Daemon Prince through the middle, to make use of his hardiness and draw the fire, while the two Rhinos, one containing the KB and the other containing TS w/ the Sorcerer advance on the left and right flanks, speeding up to engage the enemy. This way the enemy will be hard-pressed to keep them at bay. Then the KBs get stuck into the enemy, able to lay low the enemy (which I learned painfully from experience) and the TS and Sorcerer find a small spot to stay and blow the enemy apart with Doombolt and Bolt of Change. And if the Daemon Prince is alive, BONUS and he'll quickly smash apart anything threatening my squads but if not, we were using it as a distraction.

So what do you think Dakka? Could anything be improved?

You've got too many points in HQ for only 1K. I recommend dropping the sorcerer. Also, wings is a MUST for a daemon prince from Chaos Space Marines (compare 20pts to 60pts for the Chaos Daemon version).

The Possessed generally isn't a very good unit. I'd recommend dropping them for more troops if you can.

Rhinos can only carry 10 people so you've got too many Khorne Berserkers there.

Finally, 1K Sons are expensive. I'd recommend you drop some (and the Possessed) for a unit of regular space marines.

Go something like this:


Lash Prince w/Wings

10x CSM - 2x Meltas, Icon of Chaos Glory, Rhino
10x Berserkers - PFist, Rhino
6-8 Thousand Suns - no upgrades besides the Aspiring Sorcerer, Rhino (depending on points leftover)

I think Jy2 hit most of the important points: Wings on the Prince, drop the Sorcerer, Possessed are "poo", too many Berserkers for the Rhino.

The question is, what to buy to replace the Thousand Sons. Personally, I think Plasmas are better than Meltas in most cases due to the changes made in 6th edition.

10xCSM with Melta x2, Icon of Chaos Glory, in a Rhino - 215 points

7xPlague Marines with Plasma x2, in a Rhino - 226

Personally, I would take the Plague Marines over CSM any day. Higher toughness and Feel No Pain (even at 5+ is a second chance at saving the model, especially now that you can take it against all APs that don't cause instant death)

Just my 2¢

thanks for the feedback guys.
Here's the list I've created, which is quite different. I really wanted the feel of the army to be more specialised and so am not very keen on CSM Tactical Squads.

HQ
-Daemon Prince-Wings, Mark of Tzeench, Doombolt, Wind of Chaos=190 points

Troops
-10 Khorne Berserkers-Rhino=245 points
-7 Plague Marines- 2 plasma guns, rhino=226 points
-8 Thousand Sons-Aspiring Champion, Doombolt, Rhino=194 points

Fast Attack
-3 Chaos Bikers-2 Melta Guns, Power Fist=145 points

The plan was still the same. Daemon Prince advances down the centre, drawing the fire of the enemy as the Rhinos go through the flanks. The Bikes are to hide behind the buildings and terrain, dodging anything before getting close to the enemy and drawing fire as well.

The list is getting better, but there's definitely some bad math on the Thousand Sons: 8 Sons cost 184 points (23 per model), the Aspiring Sorcerer cost 60, Doombolt costs 10, and the Rhino costs 35. Your total for that squad should be 289 points. Points are also off on the Bikes: 3 Bikes are 99 points, 2 Meltas cost 20 points, the Biker Champion to get access to the Power Fist costs 15 points, then the Fist itself costs 25. That should be 159 points :(

I think I would still recommend the utility and synergy of a Lash Prince. He can Swoop (only hit by 6s or Skyfire weapons), Vector Strike a target in the movement phase, and still Lash things in the shooting phase. Lashing things into charge range of your KBs, or into shooting range of your Thousand Sons could be a game changer.

I would also be aggressive with the bikes first turn: Turbo boost them and go right after your opponent's important armour. This distraction will allow your KBs to and TSs to get mid field where they can do some serious damage, especially when you Lash something right to them. Remember, KBs cannot assault the turn they exit the Rhino, so if you move them mid-field turn 1, disembark (after moving the Rhino a max 6") turn 2, the earliest you can hope to assault is turn 3. Lash something Turn 2 for your Thousand Sons to blast to pieces, then Lash something turn 3 for your KBs to eat alive.

Let's see if we can fix the points first:

Daemon Prince, Wings, MoS, Lash - 155

9 Khorne Berserkers (9 is Khorne's fluff number) in Rhino - 224

7 Plague Marines (7 is Nurgle's fluff number), Plasmagun x2, Rhino - 226

7 Thousand Sons + 1 Aspiring Sorcerer (8 is Tzeetch's fluff number), Doombolt, Rhino - 266

3 Chaos Bikers, Meltagun x2 - 119

Total = 990 points.

There are various ways to spend the last 10 points. You could buy an Icon of Chaos Glory for the bikers so they don't fail morale the first time they lose a bike, or you could buy a Combi-Melta or Combi-Plasma for the KB Rhino.

The other thing you could do is use the Plague Marines to guard a home objective, which they could walk to. Drop their Rhino, and use the combined 45 points to buy a Biker Champion with a Power Fist, or better yet a Skull Champion with a Power Fist for the KBs. 5 points left over could put dozer blades on your KB or TS Rhino.

As always, just my 2¢, but I hope it helps

Cheers

 baxter123 wrote:
thanks for the feedback guys.
Here's the list I've created, which is quite different. I really wanted the feel of the army to be more specialised and so am not very keen on CSM Tactical Squads.

HQ
-Daemon Prince-Wings, Mark of Tzeench, Doombolt, Wind of Chaos=190 points

Troops
-10 Khorne Berserkers-Rhino=245 points
-7 Plague Marines- 2 plasma guns, rhino=226 points
-8 Thousand Sons-Aspiring Champion, Doombolt, Rhino=194 points

Fast Attack
-3 Chaos Bikers-2 Melta Guns, Power Fist=145 points

The plan was still the same. Daemon Prince advances down the centre, drawing the fire of the enemy as the Rhinos go through the flanks. The Bikes are to hide behind the buildings and terrain, dodging anything before getting close to the enemy and drawing fire as well.

If you go with a Tzeench DP to save the points I would take psyker powers from the BRB the chaos have accuess to Pyromancy, Telekinesis, and Telepathy