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An attempt to deal with random Marine models, try out the DP rules and do something kinda thematic...

1250 Deathwatch Army:

Traits:
Advantages: Trust Your Battle Brothers; Cleanse and Purify
Drawbacks: Eye To Eye; Have Pride in Your Colors

(All marine units have True Grit)

HQ:
Epistolary Librarian: BP, Bionics, Iron Halo, FOTD/FOTA
Command Squad: 8, incl; Vet w/Bolter/Fist, Comp. Champ, 2 plas
In Drop Pod

Elite:
Inq. w/Psycannon, Tarot, Targeter, Psychic Hood, Hammerhand
Retinue: 2 HB Servitors, Sage, Mystic, Hierophant

Troops:
8 SM w/2 Plasma, Vet w/fist inna pod
8 SM w/2 plasma, Vet w/fist inna pod
8 SM w/2 flamers, Vet W/PW inna pod

1250 exactly, 42 models.

• I think the main drawback is the lack of true AT/TMC (though the plasma should be okay for that). Any thoughts on improving that in this list? Replace 2 plasma w/meltas, maybe?
• Do I need the second 'hood (if I drop that I drop the priest as well), or am I better off dropping priest, hood and power and taking something like a null rod to protect the unit? That'd give me points to make the flamers meltas, at least...
• Am I better off with a termie Cmd squad instead of the tricked out reg. command? I don't think of Deathwatch as having termies per se, but I guess it could happen...It's a savings of 11 points (assuming Epis. w/same powers and a storm shield) and gives me some AT firepower...
  

C&C welcome!

Why have the Inquisitor? He's the only non-podder, so he'll probably be a target for at least the first turn. He also doesn't seem to fit in with the idea of the deathwatch, at least not with a retiune. I picture DW inquisitors as loners. And I think a few meltaguns wouldn't be a bad idea.

Roger that on MGs...

You don't think an =][= would be fluffy for a Deathwatch army? Hrm. I'll reconsider then. Perhaps a solo dude with Termie armor and Psycannon...or more DP dudes.

Hrmm well I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the latest SM Codex, BUT, but I do know fluff a little.

Ordo Xenos oversees the Deathwatch Kill Teams, White Dwarf 258 has an article on these teams. They got some cool wargear, like a heavy bolter that is assault instead of heavy but couldn't fire as far (some sort of gyro-stabilizer so it could be used on the move) as well as some special bolter rounds. They could be taken as an 0-1 HQ choice, a unit consisting of a sergeant and 4 to nine marines. They seem, according to the article preceding the entry, like elite marines who specialize in Xenos killing, but only work in small teams or as individuals alongside larger armies. The reason I really got into this response is, if I got back to Marines (heaven forbid!) I'd be going Deathwatch Drop Podders. I'd say an Inquisitor would be good for fluff purposes, but stay away from anything REMOTELY anti-psyker or daemon, cause that's not what they're fighting!

As for Termies, I'd love to see/use them, but practically there are no Deathwatch shoulderpads for Terminators, and I doubt ANY chapter would be willing to give up one of their best warriors AND a precious suit of Tactical Dreadnought Armour! Theororetically the Inquisition probably has a few that they could use, but not sure. I'd stick with an all power-armour army (for the marine parts anyways). Now, at first I thought a Librarian wouldn't fit, but as I thought about it he would be VERY useful against say... Eldar, or Orks, both races that have psykers (even if not always on the battlefield). *starts to imagine an lone Battlecruiser that is dedicated to the Deathwatch, which wanders the worlds of mankind dealing death to the deadliest alien threats through classical space marine brutality mixed with a touch of Inquisatorial tactic* Mmmmm

Right, so umm I wouldn't go for the melta guns, but that's because I have personally had no good experiences using them, and plasma guns DO have str 7, which will get most tanks as long as your not shooting them in the front armour. And hey, if all else fails, you've got PWNER fists for a reason!

Right ummm Inquisitor, I'd say a retinue is optionally, but like his gear keep it themed. He might be an extremist and have ONLY PURE humans, or maybe he's a little more willing to fight fire with fire and has a Hrud gun-servitor? *shrugs* all about what you want.

Thanks BlackClaw. The Lib is there because the DW killteam captain can be upgraded to one, so it made sense to me that they'd have one around.

Looks like I'll be dropping the Inq. and retinue, mostly because of their vulnerabilty

A poster on another board suggested that I need more mobility, but I don't see Deathwatch having either speeders or Assault marines. Thoughts on that front? Is it that I need mobility or just more range?

I'll post another list soon.

Revised List:

1250 Deathwatch Drop Podders:

Traits:
Advantages: Trust Your Battle Brothers; Cleanse and Purify
Drawbacks: Eye To Eye; Have Pride in Your Colors

(All marine units have True Grit)

HQ:
Epistolary Librarian: BP, Iron Halo, FOTD/FOTA
Command Squad: 8, incl; Vet w/Bolter/Fist, Comp. Champ, 2 plas
In Drop Pod

Troops:
8 SM w/2 Plasma, Vet w/fist inna pod
8 SM w/2 plasma, Vet w/fist inna pod
6 SM w/2 meltas, Vet w/fist inna pod
6 SM w/2 meltas, Vet w/fist inna pod

1246, same number of models, 5 pods. Lost the Inq. but added an additional squad inna pod, and 2 meltas.

Thoughts?

I likey.
It would beat the snot out of my Blood Angels.
What are you using for drop pods?

Thanks ZF! I may just decide to up this to 1500 for S&G, but we'll see...


As for the DP, well...I was thinking The ol' "PVC Cap" pattern Drop Pod.

Here's a version from the Minivault: http://www.minivault.com/images/VKPodRear.JPG

And the WIP:
http://www.minivault.com/ModelingDropPods.htm

Hrmm I actually really like this new list!

Meltas+Pwnerfists for tanks... Plasmas and bolters for hordes... Plasmas, Meltas, and Fists for Power Armour.....

And with True Grit, you can take full advantage of your shooting (no real advantage in charging, therefore you will be encouraged to stand and use the might bolter, which I might add is REALLY GOOD!)

I think my Necrons would have trouble with this list... mainly those fists, meltas, and plasmas. All you'd need to do is get me in combat (relatively easy with drop pods) and I'd be screwed! My DE would be harder, cause I could have many different units spread out, and with my mobility swarm one of your pods at a time. Basically, if your smart about placement of the pods, I'd say your doing great!

*takes notes for his own potential Deathwatch army*

Thanks BC. Actually, I think 'crons would be pretty difficult to deal with, especially if they have a 'lith and an orb. Just zap the unit being shot up to another point and go to town on the squad.

The main problem this list is going to give me is whether I drop in piecemeal or not.

At 1500, I'd consider bumping all squads up to 10, and finding something to do with the leftover points. Either that or bump up the 6 man squads to 8 and try to squeeze in another 6 man squad (maybe devs in a pod? HBs?).