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Sterling191 wrote:

AngryAngel80 wrote:
Now, I see lists with missile launchers in the vet teams ? Do you all really find them as key units ?

I run two pairs of missile vets in Stalker Vet teams pretty consistently. They're not the killiest, or the most reliable, of lads (barring one set who consistently make some of the most eye popping clutch rolls when I absolutely positively need them to), but they're a threat that cant be ignored. Their big appeal is that they draw fire, and with their range that fire usually means heavy weapons that the Stalker Vets toting Storm Shields are in a great spot to soak. They're also a necessary component of the Bike/VV combat squad formula.

In short, they aint flashy, they aint meta defining, but treat em right and they'll do solid work for you.

Ok, gotcha. That is why I tend to like running Missile teams in my lists in other marine forces, I appreciate the versatile nature of the missile and could see small groups of fire support like that pretty worthwhile. Thanks for the response I'll have to ponder setting some up. Though they may not be the exact same set up but sounds like a reasonable insurance policy to take out some problem targets.

Maximumbob wrote:

Why is the razoback your favourite? beacause he costs only 110 points? ^^

The mortis contemptor is my fave :-)

Woops, sorry my fault

The relic contemptor would be nice, but the elite slot to unlock is nasty

Hesselhof wrote:


The relic contemptor would be nice, but the elite slot to unlock is nasty

Indeed, and at low points, very difficult. I use a Rapier Carrier with Quad launcher to unlock a relic slot. 85 points and excellent screen clearance. It is forgeworld, and some people can get a little upset by that, but when you explain that we cant get thunderfire cannons they are cool with it.

Yup i bought the rapier with 4 heavy bolter for over a year to unlock the levi, guess this was a mistake for now, the mortar is a bit better yes

Caught another game over the weekend against a primarily Custodes army, and I think I'm sold on the Stalkers. Each 5-man squad was putting down 1-2 Custodians (of every variety, Terminators and Bikes included) per turn from across the board.

This is about the half-dozenth game in a row testing out the Stalkers, and in each game they've done amazing. I cant think of a faction right now that doesnt have something Hellfire Stalkers arent terrifying against. Leave the chaff clearing to Aggressors and Storm Bolter vets. Intercessors are going big game hunting.

I often run two vet squads with two missile launchers, an infernus, and 2 SS/stalker marines for access to the MW stratagems. Sometimes they are clutch, particularly against eldar. Sometimes they do little. They always get attention.

I play them in pretzel games and they are fun. They are an excellent way to combat squad your bike/vanguard squads, as mentioned above. I would not advise them for tournament play.

It's ok I don't really play tournaments, I just want my lists strong but not over powering brutal for those I play against. So that two missile set up sounds good.

Though I'll not set them up for a bit. I'm still working on some primaris fortis squads like a pair of stalker teams which I think do well in the big game hunting, sniperish role.

Sterling191 wrote:
Caught another game over the weekend against a primarily Custodes army, and I think I'm sold on the Stalkers. Each 5-man squad was putting down 1-2 Custodians (of every variety, Terminators and Bikes included) per turn from across the board.

This is about the half-dozenth game in a row testing out the Stalkers, and in each game they've done amazing. I cant think of a faction right now that doesnt have something Hellfire Stalkers arent terrifying against. Leave the chaff clearing to Aggressors and Storm Bolter vets. Intercessors are going big game hunting.

I love my ABR, but with a marine resurgence, I'm seriously considering including the stalkers.

Maximumbob wrote:

I love my ABR, but with a marine resurgence, I'm seriously considering including the stalkers.

Dont get me wrong, ABRs are fantastic. But with Storm Bolters and Aggressors, they dont fill a role that I havent already taken care of. Stalkers on the other hand, are purpose built for going after things that ABRs and SBs have a hard time cracking (high save multiwound targets).

The question is, will this marine resurge last past the next codex revamps ? Right now its the new trick in town once the shine wears off how will it shake out ? Remember we have the psychic awakening coming, this could buff some other factions a large amount. The sisters are right around the corner as well.

I feel like, at least for us, the ABR is just so all around it'll stand the test of the time. The stalker I feel is a good option, I said it myself earlier in my own testing with stalkers, they just felt good. I feel though, if this marine surge dies down, which I predict once the shine fades it will, ABR will be better for the hordes, lower toughness armies to come.

Stalkers I feel like have a real place but only in moderation to tackle the few choice targets, ABR will end up overall good not knowing who you'll engage.

Can I just go back a bit and ask how can bikes get into drop pods?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Taking a drop pod to next competition. Preparing a list that cannot use forgeworld. I think drop pods are extremely useful but will report back after the tourney.

Some of the reasons to take 1.

A) saves you about 2-3CP. Watch master and one squad of 8 will reside inside. There is also room for one more character.

B) exempt from deep strike points. In my current build I can deep strike about 1250 points. On top of that, I can hide a squad in the back and use beacon Angelis. If we go for vets strike, you can deep strike about 1500+ points turn 2.

C) with blood angel/IG in the mix you have tons of CP to spare for all the best stats and can alpha strike hard. I’ve got a 10 man squad of blood angels VV with SS and powerfists and it’s possible that both Libby dread and smash captain can make turn 1 charges with them. That’s on top of two big deathwatch groups. Also, I bring a full 10 man stalker bolters so they will also be able to strike turn 1 no problem.

Hope it works out, but DS denial will be the big pain.

GameDadZ wrote:
Can I just go back a bit and ask how can bikes get into drop pods?

They must be in Veteran squads. The reason for this is that the Drop Pod can only transport Infantry keyword units, but does not explicitly prohibit Biker keyword units. As a result, even though Bikers in Veteran squads gain the Biker keyword for the purposes of Transports, they retain their Infantry keyword, which makes it legal.

And yes, this continues after combat squadding.

If you want to shove ten bikes into Pods, its technically doable, but you'd need to run two 5x Veteran + 5x Biker units, combat squad during deployment, and put the 5x Bike components into the pods.

Sterling191 wrote:

GameDadZ wrote:
Can I just go back a bit and ask how can bikes get into drop pods?

They must be in Veteran squads. The reason for this is that the Drop Pod can only transport Infantry keyword units, but does not explicitly prohibit Biker keyword units. As a result, even though Bikers in Veteran squads gain the Biker keyword for the purposes of Transports, they retain their Infantry keyword, which makes it legal.

And yes, this continues after combat squadding.

If you want to shove ten bikes into Pods, its technically doable, but you'd need to run two 5x Veteran + 5x Biker units, combat squad during deployment, and put the 5x Bike components into the pods.

That's ... insane. I never would have thought of that

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 Galef wrote:
That's ... insane. I never would have thought of that

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Welcome to the Deathwatch, where the points are made up and the rules dont matter.

Sterling191 wrote:

 Galef wrote:
That's ... insane. I never would have thought of that

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Welcome to the Deathwatch, where the points are made up and the rules dont matter.

I don't want to say RAI, but this is actually kinda brilliant. Turn 1 DS a bunch of melta bikes and bolter bikes in their face.

 FezzikDaBullgryn wrote:

Sterling191 wrote:

 Galef wrote:
That's ... insane. I never would have thought of that

-

Welcome to the Deathwatch, where the points are made up and the rules dont matter.

I don't want to say RAI, but this is actually kinda brilliant. Turn 1 DS a bunch of melta bikes and bolter bikes in their face.

If only DW Bikes could be equipped with Melta or Plasma, but alas....

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I love the idea of cramming all them bikes into pods. I made the same face as the gif just a couple posts above over it. Wonderful, you all get one free command point, on me. Feel free to use it in your next games. Just say I said it was ok. Bike pod, long live the Deathwatch.

regarding the bikers in drop pods:

From the latest updated deathwatch FAQ "... For the purposes of the Bolter Discipline ability and for determining what models a vehicle can transport, Terminators have the Terminator keyword, Bikers do not have the Infantry keyword and instead have the Biker keyword, and Vanguard Veterans have the Jump Pack keyword."

It is my understanding that they cannot go into drop pods.

By that you may be right, but my heart feels bad it was such a short lived dream of bikes in pods.

And before you say " But, bikes could never be in pods " Way back in 3rd edition you could drop pod bikes. As the drop pod rule was an army wide special rule and you can pod all infantry, bikes, dreads and land speeders. The trick was, if you used drop pod assault everything had to enter that way. It basically just gave all those units deep strike, but it was kinda cool and I used it a good number of times.

At least we can put bikes in the corvus!

That is true, now if only they can give back the corvus machine spirit or make the guns assault and they might actually see the board more.

Honestly, why they took it away in the first place was dumb.

Edit: The Corvus was the only reason I got into Deathwatch, because it looked so very close to the Marine drop ship from the movie Aliens. So it's nerf really hits me hard.

The biggest change I would like to see with the corvus is to bump up it's capacity a bit. It was designed to carry these mixed squads, but 12 spots isn't enough to carry a 10 man kill team with a Vanguard, Termi, and bike. 14 spots would fix that (or 15 for a character.)

Although technically not Deathwatch, I'm in the process of converting a bunch of eliminators to fit the DW shoulder pads. I'll have access to snipers and las fusils. I'll mainly bring them in a Spearhead with a Phobos Cap or LT, however I have 3 squads or sniper scouts for a battalion if I want.

I'm thinking of using either Raven Guard or a Raven Guard Successor with Master Artisans and Stealth, both would work well.

Maximumbob wrote:
regarding the bikers in drop pods:

From the latest updated deathwatch FAQ "... For the purposes of the Bolter Discipline ability and for determining what models a vehicle can transport, Terminators have the Terminator keyword, Bikers do not have the Infantry keyword and instead have the Biker keyword, and Vanguard Veterans have the Jump Pack keyword."

It is my understanding that they cannot go into drop pods.

*BOOOOOOO*

But yeah with the updated wording it isnt possible anymore. It was totally anti-RAI so I understand why they did it, but still.

*BOOOOOOO*


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Chris521 wrote:
The biggest change I would like to see with the corvus is to bump up it's capacity a bit. It was designed to carry these mixed squads, but 12 spots isn't enough to carry a 10 man kill team with a Vanguard, Termi, and bike. 14 spots would fix that (or 15 for a character.)

Indeed, up the capacity to 15, give it POTMS and drop the cost by 50 points. I want my sad flying turtle to see play.

I want to buy a Corvus and home modify it into a cheap Ares Gunship. Are they about the same size?

Corvus is tiny compared to an Ares I'm afraid my friend. Good choice of base model though, the Corvus is the prettiest imperial flyer imo.

Well, back to the drawing board of "cheap FW Homebrews"

Your amusing FAQ fuckup of the day:

They appear to have copy pasted the Stalker rules for the MC Stalker, such that the latter now does 2 damage instead of the 3 it did last week.

Just an FYI

The corvus makes me so sad. It's such a gorgeous model but its overpriced by something in the 50-60 point range.

Yeah feel my pain on that. I picked up 2 of them because I wanted them to be " lynch pin " units for the aerial drop in and secure and fly out feel. All they ended up doing for me is being not taken now, they are just too expensive and lacking in their role I can't find the points for them over squads actually doing things.

That said, what would you all say is the best weapon load outs for them ? I tend to favor AT ability, but I can't say the 12 assault cannon shots is shabby either.

Give me thy wisdom Deathwatch brothers, I beseech ya'll !

AngryAngel80 wrote:

That said, what would you all say is the best weapon load outs for them ? I tend to favor AT ability, but I can't say the 12 assault cannon shots is shabby either.

Personally, I always run the assault cannon's with hurricane bolters - screen clearance and transport are what it is good at. 2 shots at BS 4+ is not worth the premium you pay for the lascannons imho.

A ven dred with a las cannon has better AT by far.