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http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/628117.page

More than a year ago I made this post as I became interested in playing again but 2015 proved to be a very busy year for me.

Things are settling down and now I've got the newest space marine codex and rules, in which I am delighted see that anyone can run lots of dreadnoughts without need of an expensive Master of the Forge! I want to model and paint two 10-man tactical squads and six dreadnoughts with double twin-linked autocannons. I just love the style and I want to put that on the table as my core for better or worse. Where can I go from there to improve my performance with the next 500 points?

Factions?
Anything new worth taking over Iron Hands? Dark Angels snap shots -> overwatch? I do not have the Ruakaan(SP?) book. Should I get that on my iPad tonight for rules that would help here?

HQ?
Techmarines dragging two plasma cannons? Support the dreads in the back, add some AP2?
Librarian? Haven't looked into psychics much because I don't like random selection.

Troops?
IIRC people were saying no upgrades last time I looked around. Not even take plasma guns and plasma pistols?

Assault Squad?
Plasma pistols for AP and anti-tank melee stuff on a deep strike unit. Seems like a good way to round things out. but I worry about small assault squads vs this overwatch stuff. I haven't played a game in like... three editions... So you tell me.

Other suggestions?






P.S.
Just out of curiosity, what armies have interesting "formations" or alternate force org charts for detachments? Particularly those without troop units. I get tired of HQ/HQ/Troop/Troop for everything and most troops don't appeal to me that much.

That's getting waaaaaay ahead of myself with nothing painted for the first army yet, but I've heard you can roll straight dreadnoughts with some factions. Might be worth making my tactical squad and autocannon army that faction just so the dreadnaughts can also be used to table the same group of models in that way. Not space wolves though. Just not my style. I like the clean, simple and mechanical look of regular marines.

A lot of what held true last time you asked is still the case.

Some big changes for dreads is the ability to squadron, the addition of chapter tactics, and 4A base.

With the attacks, I think you need to think harder about replacing the fist.
I’d probably stick to pairs if you are going to team up. I tried running 3 dreads together, and they ended up getting in each other’s way.
Chapter tactics open up some nice bonuses. Iron Hands still do well here.

I’d not bother with servetors, and plasma cannons in general. It might be worth sticking a tech on a bike to get to where he is needed, or just attach him to a squad.

I’m also not a huge fan of random powers. They are moderate risk, high reward though. You should always get something worthwhile, and have the potential for some game-breaking stuff.

Tac squads you should take the special, probably a matching combi on the sarge. Most people leave the heavy at home these days. Notable exception is grav cannons, which are as powerful as they are expensive.

I like a pair of flamers on my assault squad. Plasma pistols are overpriced. CC is still frowned upon, unless you are talking killer death stars. Can still be fun and effective in more casual FLGSs.

More and more armies are getting some very nice formations. And plenty of them don’t have any troops. While a few do contain dreads, they tend to be the larger ones with other stuff, or kinda “meh"

Dread heavy lists are a lot fun. Unfortunately the armies that can run tons of them are not Iron hands who would make the most use of it.

Dark angels have a detachment with 12 elite slots, and no troop requirement, but all of the dreads have to take drop pods. If you want to run a lot of dreads this is probably where I would go.

Space wolves also have a detachment that lets them run no troops and tons of elites. Space wolf dreads are super cool looking, and have options nobody else gets. However last I checked they only have 2 attacks instead of 4, so thats a huge draw back. i have not gota chance to look at the new curse of the wulfen stuff so that might have been changed.

Iron hands unfortunately don't have anything like this. If you want to run them your best bet is to go with a CAD. I would skip the tac squads and just go with bikes instead. Iron hand chapter masters can be pretty beast, and I think the bikes compliment the dreads well.

 coblen wrote:
Dark angels have a detachment with 12 elite slots, and no troop requirement, but all of the dreads have to take drop pods. If you want to run a lot of dreads this is probably where I would go.
...
Iron hands unfortunately don't have anything like this. If you want to run them your best bet is to go with a CAD. I would skip the tac squads and just go with bikes instead. Iron hand chapter masters can be pretty beast, and I think the bikes compliment the dreads well.

Wow I had totally forgotten about the old Deathwing Terminator armies.

I was torn between liking Dark Angels and Iron Hands, but now you've me thinking I can have my cake and eat it, too.

Can I do a Deathwing Strike Force (faction "Dark Angels") as my primary detachment, with an allied detachment of Iron hands (faction: "Space Marines" satisfies the requirement that it be a different faction?) that includes dreadnought squads for both the single elite and single heavy support choice, as per the Clan Ruakaan rules? Am I following all that right?

Deathwing Strike Force
Deathwing Librarian in Terminator armor (Compulsory HQ)
Deathwing Command Squad (Compulsory Elites)
Deathwing Terminator squad (Compulsory Elites)

Iron Hands Techmarine (Compulsory HQ)
Iron Hands Tactical Squad (Compulsory Troops)
(^or listen to reason like a good Iron Hands should and put them all on bikes...)
Iron Hands Dreadnaught squad (Optional Elites)
Iron Hands Dreadnaught squad (Optional Heavy Support)

The only problem with the list above is that I don't think that regular iron hands can take the dreadnaughts in heavy support slots anymore. Worth double checking that though I may be mistaken.

However Clann Ruukan still can and they are just a more flavorful iron hands anyways. The only real difference is that you would not be able to take regular relics, but its a small loss to be able to run the dreads int he heavy support slot.

The only thing to remember is that the deathwing have to be deepstruck.

 coblen wrote:
The only problem with the list above is that I don't think that regular iron hands can take the dreadnaughts in heavy support slots anymore. Worth double checking that though I may be mistaken.

However Clann Ruukan still can and they are just a more flavorful iron hands anyways. The only real difference is that you would not be able to take regular relics, but its a small loss to be able to run the dreads int he heavy support slot.

The only thing to remember is that the deathwing have to be deepstruck.

Yes, sorry. I meant Ruukan when I said Iron Hands. I did download the codex.

I like deep striking my terminators just fine.

Maybe run 1,000 points of Ruakaan default.
Add a nice DWSF and reduce Ruakaan forces to an AD for 1,500.
Add a small Raven Wing Strike Force for 2,000.

Getting ahead of myself again, but I'm definitely feeling good about this direction for my army. Thanks!