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The Formations are all about the Assault Marines and the Veterans, so why the issue with the codex change? Sure, they're not troops, so don't get Obj Sec that BA players aren't using anyway because they want the +1 Initiative that Baal gives them. And if it hurts so much to only have three FA choices, call them Flesh Tearers and use the 1 min Troop 6 max FA that can grant Rage on good Assault rolls in Exterminatus. Again, no Initiative bonus, but segregate them by use and it won't hurt as bad.

So between the Flesh Tearers and the Angel's Wrath Formation from White Dwarf, which you can take as many times as needed in non-BAO formats, there's really nothing to complain about here and no reason for Unbound, which ALSO wouldn't give the I-5 benefit.

 Anpu42 wrote:

BrianDavion wrote:
regarding assault marines being removed as troops. I think this is just further evidance of a trend of GW moving away from the whole "making X troops" while operating on the theory that was can always fun unbound if we want a fluffy list. or run a special detachment, or use a formation...

"just use unbound" proably isn't what a lot of people wanna HEAR, but I do think that may be GW's thinking

But you don't have to go unbound with the Archangels Strike Force. Just take your old Assault Marines and run them as Vanguard Vets or Death Company. You don't even need to remodel, I have been doing this and it keeps the price down.

Archangels Strike Force does not allow Death Company.

 casvalremdeikun wrote:

 Anpu42 wrote:

BrianDavion wrote:
regarding assault marines being removed as troops. I think this is just further evidance of a trend of GW moving away from the whole "making X troops" while operating on the theory that was can always fun unbound if we want a fluffy list. or run a special detachment, or use a formation...

"just use unbound" proably isn't what a lot of people wanna HEAR, but I do think that may be GW's thinking

But you don't have to go unbound with the Archangels Strike Force. Just take your old Assault Marines and run them as Vanguard Vets or Death Company. You don't even need to remodel, I have been doing this and it keeps the price down.

Archangels Strike Force does not allow Death Company.

Well I really did not notice, I am working on a Sternguard/Vanguard Veteran Force and that is what I only truly saw.

At first glance of the new blood angels codex I was upset that it lost death company and assault marines from troops and mephiston wasn't as much of a boss not having 5 wounds anymore and losing 1 toughness which makes him vulnerable to being killed by double strength. After setting it aside for a couple of days I looked at it again and started thinking I can work with this. Later that week I ordered the new GW box set death storm and was assembling them. Then it clicked I can actually take some terminators and not hate them. Karlean really helps them out as a new HQ and I see myself fielding him a lot in the future. The relics are pretty solid there was one I really didn't care for. It was a little upsetting to see descent of angels be a warlord trait now instead of a rule. I will probably take quite a few things that I used to refuse to take ex. Termintors, Gabriel Seth, scouts, ect. The psychic abilities have a lot of potential on the battlefield which actually makes me excited to take a psycher now. Mephiston is still usable and not a complete chump like he was in 6th edition with 5 wounds. Dante is now a lord of war. The list of goodies just goes on. True blood angels lack assault marines now but I can still work with them so it's not all bad. I'll also be happy not sending 4 out of my 6 assault marine squads to their death just to capture one objective.

system seven wrote:
At first glance of the new blood angels codex I was upset that it lost death company and assault marines from troops and mephiston wasn't as much of a boss not having 5 wounds anymore and losing 1 toughness which makes him vulnerable to being killed by double strength. After setting it aside for a couple of days I looked at it again and started thinking I can work with this. Later that week I ordered the new GW box set death storm and was assembling them. Then it clicked I can actually take some terminators and not hate them. Karlean really helps them out as a new HQ and I see myself fielding him a lot in the future. The relics are pretty solid there was one I really didn't care for. It was a little upsetting to see descent of angels be a warlord trait now instead of a rule. I will probably take quite a few things that I used to refuse to take ex. Termintors, Gabriel Seth, scouts, ect. The psychic abilities have a lot of potential on the battlefield which actually makes me excited to take a psycher now. Mephiston is still usable and not a complete chump like he was in 6th edition with 5 wounds. Dante is now a lord of war. The list of goodies just goes on. True blood angels lack assault marines now but I can still work with them so it's not all bad. I'll also be happy not sending 4 out of my 6 assault marine squads to their death just to capture one objective.

Yea the "Angels Fury" formation made it so I might actually use terminators........ maybe

Blood angels have never had better CC options than now. which obviously didn't look that way at first but the dust has settled, formations showed up and all seems better.

I was initially upset about the loss of ASM and DC troops. I still am quite upset about the loss of the 1-3 Sang Priest option (the move to HQ made sense) and the huge (needless) nerfs to Seth, Tycho and Baal Preds. Other than that, the dex is growing on me. BP/ Shank scouts could really be a hidden gem and the formations opened up a bunch of new options. Its much more bland than the old dex, minus the artwork and some of the slots are obsurdly crowded, but in all I think BA players made off alright. Could definitely be better, but could a whole helluva lot worse too.

Here are my ups and downs

UPS
Most units got points reductions.
The new kits look really awesome.
ALL Rhino-pattern stuff can be turbocharged.
The formations are really cool and fluffy, often while being pretty awesome on the table.
Scouts are nothing to laugh at, they will rip the enemy a new butthole.
Tactical Squad Trogdor with Two Hand Flamers(or a Combi-Flamer), Flamer, and Heavy Flamer. Maximum Burnination!
Dante is a LOW, so he doesn't take up an HQ slot. Doubles as a DOWNS if LOW aren't allowed.
Mephiston got a major points reduction. Doubles as a DOWNS because he got his stats nerfed a bit.
The Sanguinary Discipline makes me want to play with Librarians.
The Relics are pretty awesome. That Jump Pack is made of Win.
FOUR Elites slots in the Baal Strike Force. So there is less of a crunch on what to put there.

DOWNS
Only flyer is the Stormraven. NO reason why they should not get the Stormtalon as well. Their only reliable AA is 200 pts base.
No Land Speeder Storms for Scouts. In fact, they don't have a dedicated transport at all. If you want to get them mobile, you have to buy a Rhino or Razorback to ferry them about.
No Centurions. Is this punishment for the BA having Overcharged Engines and the Baal Predator? Is THAT what Mechanicus is doing to get back?
Baal Predator just doesn't wow anymore. It really should have kept Scout. And the fact it is Heavy Support is really crappy, since you
Death Company are Elites and the Dreads were shuffled around.
No Reclusiarch. I don't really want to run Astorath!
Command Squads aren't an add on to an HQ. Instead they take up a precious Elites slot.

SHORT BUS DOWNS
The worst, most terrible thing in the entire dex is that Gabriel Seth no longer kicks stuff in the junk if it fails by him. I LOVED his ability to give the enemy an...equipment check if they rolled a 1 by him.

I am sure there are some things I forgot. But those things are what leaped to mind.

Poly Ranger wrote:
Things I don't like:
- Priests being moved to HQ is ok but losing the choice of taking 3 in 1 slot is a huge hindrance on the amount of priests I own.

Welcome aboard. You'll find the way sooner or later.

The codex is good. Death company as elites isn't a major pain plus as crowded as the elite slot is, a lot of it is junk anyway. Assault marines lost as troops also no big deal, should never have been troops in first place.

Mephiston is still good, seth while not as good is still very usable. Dante got buffed big time.

No storm talons or cents isn't huge either with allies. Blood angels have come off just fine between the dex and exterminatus

 koooaei wrote:

Poly Ranger wrote:
Things I don't like:
- Priests being moved to HQ is ok but losing the choice of taking 3 in 1 slot is a huge hindrance on the amount of priests I own.

Welcome aboard. You'll find the way sooner or later.

No one is really talking about the fact that priests got BETTER. More expensive by 10 points but gained a wound and their primary upgrade (jump pack) also got 10 points cheaper. Their ability is no longer a 6in bubble of fnp+fc, but between armywide furious charge and +1 weapon skill to their unit, they came out stronger than before.

You just get fewer of them. The buffs are nice, though.

One thing that i notice while looking at the studiominis in the book as that everything is clean to the extreme, and the small chipping on the vehicles ain't even taken seriously!

I know that our angels are the most aesthetic of all, but no way that they are immune to dirt! Especially since they are furios in close combat.

Why not follow the trend and show atleast a couple of gritted marines?
And the way they have highlighted the DC dreadnoughts... I wanna cry.