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Hi all!

I am hoping to stat WH40K with the release of 8th edition. I have always liked the look of BA.

Without breaking the bank I was hoping to start a decent sized force.

My thoughts: (Please keep in mind I do not have a codex, as I am waiting for the new one in 8 ed.) I am picking these units mostly based on looks....but I am sure there are many problems with this list.

1 x Blood Angels Death Company Strike Force (Box)
- 1 x BA Chaplain w/ Jump Pack
- 1 x BA Librarian/Fuioso Dreadnought
- 3 x DC Units (15 models)

1 x Blood Angels Gauntlet Tactical Sqaud
- 1 Rhino
- 1 BA SM Tactical Squad (10 models)

1 x Blood Angels Gauntlet Tactical Sqaud
- 1 Rhino
- 1 BA SM Tactical Squad (10 models)

1 x BA Assault Squad

1 x BA Assault Squad

1 x Astorath the Grim


Any and all feedback welcome!

Well based on current rules... the only thing you're really missing is a drop-pod for the Dreadnought.

I'm not a fan of Astorath, but he can lead the DC detachments so he fits nicely.

Viewing 8th-ed-leaks through the 7th-ed-lense, it looks like flamers are gonna be amazing, and pistols are great for CC units. Dreadnoughts appear to have more survive-ability in 8th but you still don't want him just walking slowly across the table. Either a Drop-pod or even a Storm raven...

I'd drop the assault squads in order to add another dimension of attack; grab yourself a land raider or even better a storm raven for you dreadnought and a death company squad.
You'll also need to make sure your tac squads are kitted up for some anti tank purposes, as you need a couple of AT options at the size army you're building. Your death company should be enough to mulch any infantry they meet.
Your death company would be doing well to get some jump packs themselves, it'll allow them to do the roll your assault squads would be doing but mean they can do it better, so you don't have to much overlap with unit rolls.
Aside from that you've got the right idea with dividing your army between objective claiming line troops and offensively geared assault troops.
The way I would recommend using it is concentrating deploying all on one flank, using fire superiority to clear the area, then sending assault units to engage the remainder of the enemy while your objective claiming units consolidate. This means that even if they manage to fight off your assault units, they no longer have the time/strength to push you off objectives.

Thanks for the replies!

I will add a drop pod for the Dreadnought!

@thetallestgiraffe I was thinking of adding melta guns to my tac sqauds. There is also the possibility of adding a devestator squad or perhaps a terminator squad with drop pods (equipped with power fists). What do you think?

I will drop the BA Assualt Squads for land raider.

I was thinking of going with all three DC squads with jump packs and chainswords to maximiza close combat carnage.

Thank you for the tactical advice!

I was thinking of getting an additional Death Company Box ( 3 more sqauds of DC, 1 Champlain w Jump Pack, and 1 Dreadnought), but would there be something that would be better?

Hiya, sorry for the late reply!
Firstly you don't need drop pods for you termies, they've got deep strike automatically and I'm 99.99% sure they will in the next edition. Also screw powerfists man, TH/SS termies the cream of the crop, I always take at least 2 squads in my lists. Melta guns are a good solid all round weapon, and in the new edition it looks like multi-meltas will be a huge threat again, if I was building tacs I'd be making them.

Devastators are ok, however I find expensive backline units aren't really the BA cup of tea. They get picked off too easily, so tac squads are all you need/are going to have there for objectives.

I myself love to run BA elite lists, using the first company formations in the Archangels supplement as a core and then supplementing them with the DC ones. What you have at the moment is essentially one big spearhead, which works with the separate and destroy tactic I said in an earlier post, however by it's nature it's pretty crude. Not a criticism, just the reason we love Death company so much .
If you add something like deep striking termies or a stormraven packed with death then, alongside rapidly moving death company or a Landraider filled with termies, you can co-ordinate an attack that allows you greater control and to minimise your casualties.
That said, this sort of thing requires knowing what you're doing (well a little bit... I'll be honest if I can you can). If you screw it up your units are isolated and easily destroyed, while a headlong charge at the opponent is harder to destroy and harder to screw up (but more Death Company will take a bolter to the face).

If you want a land raider, fill it with 5 TH/SS termies, a sang priest and a Librarian. What you then have is something to advance that is so terrifying that it'll soak up all the other fire, and unless something really unlucky happens it'll probably get its cargo there (which remember is all the Land raider is there for; some people go overboard trying to keep it alive).
If you stick with your death company I'd get a stormraven. It'll allow you to insert an entire squad and dreadnought without suffering the casualties of running across the board (looking at your list, I'd just do this, least amount of changes).

p.s, I myself got the death company strike force box yesterday. It's going out of stock, is a great deal and the Chaplain is just aauaughghgh.... So if you want it go get it, but those BA assault termie models are beautiful too