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Hey guys, been awhile since I posted, even longer since I've played regularly. My friend (who I got into 40k) is getting me back into the hobby, and I ended up joining the FLGS Escalation League. I have some general questions in terms of strategy and builds. I have been a big fan of Dark Angels for years, particularly the Dual Wing builds.

What I have:
Belial
Terminator Librarian
Terminator Interrogator Chaplain
MEQ Chaplain
2x MEQ Librarians
Bike Interrogator Chaplain

4x Terminator Squads
1x Cyclone
2x Assault Cannons
3x LC Terminators
2x THSS Terminators

2 Dreadnoughts
1 Ironclad Dreadnought (I know not in the DA Codex, but I've done alot of work converting him to look like a Dreadnought sized THSS Terminator, and am considering putting it to use just for aesthetics)

5x Ravenwing Bikes (2x plasma)
3x Ravenwing Black Knights
1x Land Speeder


I also have some MEQ Troops and some scouts, but not enough to have a force devoted to those builds.

One of the main questions I have: How viable is it to bring an unbound list? I am considering pure Dual Wing, with RW on the board using the Ravenwing Strike Force or Ravenwing Attack Squad formations, and following up with a Deathwing Redemption Force or a Deathwing Strike Force as a turn 2 beta strike. I am wondering if this would be effective in an Unbound list or not.

Common practice at the store is to bring in your list pre-written, so there is no army specific tailoring. There is some variety to the armies that are being played (there's a skitarii player, a DE/Harlequin player, a Khorne marine/demon player, and it seems the remainder are MEQ or IG). I have been reading some of the posts and threads in this section, and have been seeing how Grav weapons are preferred to plasma, which shouldn't be an issue as the league is allowing limited proxies.

My question is, I guess, do I need the troop tax? If so, can I make do with 2 groups of 5 sniper/cloak scouts or would that leave me too weak? Another question, where should I go in my collecting from here? I know I need another group of 3 black knights, and I have 3 RW Bikes on order, and want to push that up to another squad of 5-6 eventually. Also, my friend is allowing me to proxy some of his TAU skimmers as land speeders and a Devilfish as a Darkshroud until I am able to get them myself, which may take some time. Am I thinking along the right lines in terms of how I need to expand my force? I understand the RW side of the codex is stronger than the Deathwing side, despite my love of terminators.

Any advice, recommendations, ideas or input are more than welcome!

Captain Avynn wrote:
One of the main questions I have: How viable is it to bring an unbound list? I am considering pure Dual Wing, with RW on the board using the Ravenwing Strike Force or Ravenwing Attack Squad formations, and following up with a Deathwing Redemption Force or a Deathwing Strike Force as a turn 2 beta strike. I am wondering if this would be effective in an Unbound list or not.

Whether it is ok to bring an Unbound list depends entirely on the league rules, but note that as long as all your models are in Strike Forces or Formations, that is a Battle-forged army and not Unbound. You don't need to bring any Troops.

The next question will be how your local group is playing the Ravenwing Strike Force HQ options - It has three HQ slots, but your only legal choice is Sammael (as he is the only HQ with the Ravenwing rule). Some play groups (and the ITC) allow a bike-mounted character to be taken, which would allow you to take a RWSF of Bike-Chaplain, Black Knights, RW Bike Squad + Land Speeder or RW Attack Squadron, basically getting a free Jink on the first turn to survive until the Termi's arrive.

What size will the Escalation league be? Do you need to keep the same units as the army grows? Starting number of points?

I did not know that even if you used formations only that it was still Battle Forged, that's good to know. It's just a matter of the units in the formation not having Objective Secured yes?

Fortunately, the league is allowing non-Sammael bike HQ's as a part of the Ravenwing Strike Force, which is nice as I just finished painting a converted Interrogator Chaplain from a Dark Vengeance Bike Sergeant.

As for the points escalation within the League, starts at 500 points and goes up by 250 points every two weeks. The final point range is 1850 (I believe they skip 1750 for this). There is no need to run the same units in every list of the league, which adds some versatility to what I can do.

The league has also been going for a couple of weeks, it started off slow but really picked up lately. At the moment I am ready for the 1000 point range, and I am 1W-3L. However, both of my 750 point games were incredibly close, I just wasn't able to seal the deal or the game didn't progress to turn 6.

I guess my earlier question is answered by what you said Quanar. Although that leaves me with a follow up question. Is Objective Secured required in 7th edition? Does a combo Alpha/Beta Strike list negate this to where it is still playable? And will my bikes ever survive to 4th turn? (I know, I know, a Darkshroud is a monstrous benefit. One is on the list, got permission to proxy a Devilfish for one in the mean time).

Thanks again!