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Hello Everyone,

I'm in the middle of building up a BA force. I've bought a pair of BA Battle Force boxes, and an extra Death Company box. The "big" games at my gaming store are 1850 pts, so I'm looking to top out at that point, for now.

I also have an Aegis with Quad... but I'm not sure it will work with the force I have in mind.


Flyers don't seem to be a big part of my metagame, I doubt I'd ever see more than 3 in an 1850 list. As such, I'm planning to get a Storm Raven kitted to kill other flyers, and hope to include a pair of other units that work fairly well in an AA role. I could see potentially using an Aegis with Quad for "guaranteed" protection for my advancing tanks. That could be one of my "AA" units...

Please note that in the "Things I already have pieces for" section, most of it isn't built yet. This is just what I'm thinking of doing with the parts.

Also... I like Dreadnaughts. I'm not overly fond of painting most other vehicles, as I much prefer painting infantry. Dreads are pretty much giant infantry. I would like to keep as many Dreads in the list as I reasonably can.


Things I already have pieces for...

CDX - Librarian: Force Axe [Probably with DC, could easily have a Jump Pack Added]

240 - Death Company [6]: Power Fist, Thunder Hammer, Power Sword, 3x Bolter Dudes, BA Rhino

235 - Tactical Squad [10]: Power Sword [?], Meltabombs, Flamer, Missile Launcher, BA Rhino

250 - Vanguard Vets [6]: Jump Packs, Power Sword, Power Fist, Thunder Hammer, 3x BP + CCW

250 - Assault Squad [10]: Power Fist, Infernus Pistol, 2x Meltaguns

200 - Tactical Squad [10]: Power Axe [?], Meltabombs, Plasma Gun, Missile Launcher [On foot / in Storm Raven]

100 - Aegis w/ Quad-gun: [Optional, not sure if it will work in the overall list, but I have it , so I don't want to rule it out right away.]

1375 - Total so far...


Things I'd like to add...

CDX - Storm Raven: Geared for AT / AA

CDX - Death Company Dread: 2x Blood Talons

170 - Furioso Dread: Frag Cannon, Heavy Flamer, Drop Pod

175 - Furioso Dread: 2x Fists, Magna Grapple, [Meltagun as standard], Drop Pod

135 - Predator: AC, 2x Lascannon

135 - Dreadnaught: TL Lascannon

940 - Total to add...


For a grand total of 2315 pts... which is 465 points over my target.

The Predator with it's high front AV can, well, tank for the Rhinos, helping to keep them alive by providing a cover save and hopefully soaking some AT weapons. I went for a Pred instead of a Vindi, because it can help with Flyers if need be. If the Librarian "Twin-Links" the Predator, I think it is a reasonable AA platform, in a secondary role. The group can assault, and then set up a firebase with the Tacticals. If the "normal" dread follows along behind, they have a rear guard to dissuade enemies from actively dropping in behind them. I thought that a TL LC would be the best option, as I'm otherwise lacking in long range Heavy Hitters, and then I have another Dread. If I decide to include a static element down the road, it can sit back and babysit some Tacticals.

In that case, the Aegis could be deployed forward, to "guarantee" a save to my tanks, and also put a Quad mid-field where I'd hope to place an objective and create a fire point.

Depending on need, the Podding Dreads can either have some first turn AI, or some first turn AT, with support landing [hopefully] on the 2nd turn. If the Melta / Magna Dread opens a transport 1st, the Vanguard Vets can usually drop in 2nd turn, directly into assault. The Frag/Fire Dread can drop a trio of Templates when it arrives [2 with Rending!], and if it survive can drop them again before assaulting the poor dismembered leftovers. The Vanguard are well set to either punch face or armour.

The Assault Squad can jump along with the tanks, or can Deep Strike where needed to add their AT. I prefer the Jumping along, as that way they can deploy Melta and then tie up a unit... so the Death Company have time to deploy and smash face.

The SR ideally carries a Tactical Squad and the DC Dread. With a squad of Tacticals, they provide a mix of support fire, brutal CC option, flying AT/AA, and a scoring option to sit on a claimed objective, which can then provide support fire to the rest of the battlefield.

Sooo... with way too many points, I think all the bases are covered. I'd like advice on what to peel back, to get to 1850 pts without forgoing too many of the tactical options I currently have. So basically, I want you to rewrite the codex so I can keep everything.

Any advice is welcome!

I would start with getting rid of the vanguard vets from the list. You are paying more for them with their options per model than you would be with sanguinary guard. And the SG are far overcosted themselves but at least they have a 2+.
I know you said you like dreads but basic dreads are pants. If you drop that one and the VVs you will save 385pts without dramatically reducing the armies effectiveness.
That leaves 80pts to trim. Get rid of the thunderhammer and power weapon in the DC (leave the fist), thats 45pts. 35left.
Drop the power weapons on your tac squads (overcosted on tac sarges, at least on assault sarges you will get them where they are needed more reliably). 5pts left to trim. Drop the melta bombs on the plasma gun tac squad otherwise you will be torn between rapid firing the plasma and charging. There you go 465pts saved ;-).
Its what I would do anyway...


Automatically Appended Next Post:
And as for tactics (minor suggestions) combat squad the tacs without rhino. Put a heavy weapon squad with the agis, a spec wepon squad could go in the raven and go skies as soon as arrived near an objective.

I would take out the vanguard vets, the defence line, and the DC dread. I'm not going to criticize your list, just because I would Tear down most of it, and I don't want to be mean.

I've got mighty thick skin, and an open ear. Tear down as you like.

I think what glorywarrior was going to say is:
-BA Tacticals suck
-DC are just too expensive if not podded
-Rhinos will fold like paper and are the worst possible transport for assault due to low armour and no possibility of an assault out of them
-1 pred alone will take much of the long ranged AT firepower (dreads will be recieving short ranged/assault AT)so will not survive long
-Running anything in a raven is risky

All of which I agree with (although raven transport can pay off)

Im guessing he would also probably suggest to run assault squads in razor backs (the 1 thing I wouldnt agree with unless going full mech).

To make the army the most effective it can be takes a few simple steps (and a fair bit of £/$/€):
- Run 3/4 (or more)av13s. Leaves the opponent with difficult target priorities and ensures some survive a decent amount of turns.
- Take assault squads over tacticals. One tactical squad may work but 2 is pushing it if wanting to be competitive. Scouts are a much cheaper backfield scoring option and you are not wasting 5 marines on 1 heavy weapon then.
- If taking DC pod them. Along with the 2 furiosos, this will mean you need 5 pods total to make sure all the nasty stuff turns up turn1. For 210pts, 2 assault squads with flamers can go in the other 2 pods to arrive later.
-ONLY transport the DC dread in the raven. It is the best delivery system for it. When it pays off it eats face! Don't be too scared of dropping into hover for a turn 3 assault. Many are too scared for their raven to commit to a game changing assault - don't fall into the same trap.
- Definitely get rid of the VVs and basic dread, they are points sinks.
- You would probably do better with a comms on the aegis imo.

Tbf the list you are playing with the suggestions I made earlier, would still be a nice list in casual games, racking up at least an average win ratio for BA if played right. However it will be ripped apart dammned fast in a competitive environment. Most BA lists would, but follow the above bullet points if wanting to at least give a good show for yourself competitively.

Almost everything he said. Now I don't have to criticize. DC dreads almost always die if your raven dies, remember that.