BroLo isn't Dead! A List for Squally

BroLo isn't dead... w00t!

Sorry for being away for a while, I'm sure you missed me?? No? Oh well!

Anyway, I've had a couple of e-mails (one via Kirbmeister General) about BT lists that I'll be posting over the next 24 hours, so if you like this one, make sure you return shortly for number 2. If you don't, well I can only apologise for ruining you blog Kirby.

So I got this e-mail from Squally160 after having an e-chat with him (see 3++ chatango - it's good fun and you can post as an 'anon' if you have a question).

HEADQUARTERS

140 points - Emp Champ, Accept Any Challenge

110 Points - Commander, Termie honors, storm bolter, power weapon

214 Points - Command Squad, 4 models, Champion, Counter attack, Termie

Honors, Power Fist, Tele Homer, Drop Pod

ELITES

130 Points - Dread, Multi Melta, Flamer, Extra Armor,

138 Points - Dread, Las, Missile, Smoke

265 Points - Terminators, 6 models, Chainfist, Assault Cannon,

TROOPS

106 Points - Crusader Squad, 5 Models, Plasma Cannon, Plasma Gun

106 Points - Crusader Squad, 5 Models, Plasma Cannon, Plasma Gun

185 Points - Crusader Squad, 10 Models, Power Fist + Bolt Pistol,

Meltagun, 8x CCW + Bolt Pistol

185 Points - Crusader Squad, 10 Models, Power Fist + Bolt Pistol,

Meltagun, 8x CCW + Bolt Pistol

58 Points - Rhino, Extra Armor, Smoke Launchers

98 Points - Razorback, Twin Las, Smoke Launchers, Extra Armor

265 Points - Land Raider Crusader

2000 Points

That is my current, unplayed list. It was built using just what i had, so i am pretty sure it can be re-tooled to be more efficient. The basic jist is i drop pod my command squad turn 1 into enemy backlines, and hope my termies can deep strike soon after near the tele homer back there. Hopefully, causing enough issues turn 1 to get my LRC w/ the 10 man squad and EC up close into the frontlines, and causing some trouble. The other 10 man, in the rhino, can eitehr flank or follow the LRC, while to two plasma squads sit back and hopefully pick off some tougher models or light armor stuff.

This is kind of the playstyle i like, a single pronged, tough melee attack supported by enough backline shooting to get there. How effective is it, is yet to be seen however :/. Some of the main issues tho, are the LRC is a giant points sink, that screams"shoot me" to anyone with a lascannon or meltagun. The melta dread can be hard to get into effective range, but putting him in a pod means i have to let the dice gods decide when he joins the fray, which can be very tough when im also hoping my termies will be striking as well.

I am not sure where to go tho, maybe scrap the termies entirely, drop a dread, and get a pair of landspeeders, another rhino, and turn a plasma squad into another CCW grind mob.

Who knows, maybe someone with a better grasp of the strengths of the

BT codex could enlighten me :)

So, for anybody not well versed in the BT codex, the EC will give the entire force preferred enemy and the Commander is a Castellan who gives everybody Ld 9 whilst on the field and has to run with the command squad.

First of all, your tactics have a flaw. BT do not have the drop pod assault special rule so automatically go into regular ol' reserve, which means your command squad will not be showing up first turn. This then means they also won't necessarily come in before the terminators, so the teleport homer may not be of benefit.

Let's look at the list

140 points - Emp Champ, Accept Any Challenge

Bread and butter, what can I say? (Note: Before MoD comes and links a thousand blogs, I just want to say - other vows are viable, but they're more jam-roly-poly than bread and butter.)

110 Points - Commander, Termie honors, storm bolter, power weapon

214 Points - Command Squad, 4 models, Champion, Counter attack, Termie Honors, Power Fist, Tele Homer, Drop Pod

Hmm... this is where the trouble starts. Castellans are okay when they're cheap CC monsters, but remember, no Eternal Warrior, no invulnerable save and the thought of dropping him into your opponents lap means he will not be around for long. The command squad is also not the best. Command squads are the only option in the codex that can take useful double melta and I can't think of a reason why you'd ever not make the most of it. I think you're also trying to make them CC beasts (with the champ, the fist and the attached Castellan) but unfortunately these guys just don't cut the mustard - 3+ save, no invulnerable, not enough power weapons and most importantly too many points - 350+ wow! There are better and cheaper ways to scare the bejeebies out of your opponent and they involve double melta or assault terminators

130 Points - Dread, Multi Melta, Flamer, Extra Armor,

138 Points - Dread, Las, Missile, Smoke

This is an unconventional lay out for dreads, but by no means a wrong one. But I'd change things up a bit. Las misssile dreads are great support units for BT, especially when made Venerable and a Tank Hunter. Not sure about the smoke launchers, unless you're concerned about being shot at when your stunned. If your opponent does this he's not putting high strength weapons into other important stuff, so I wouldn't worry about it too much. The MM dread on the other hand is crying out for smoke. It is unlikely he'll be shooting first turn and therefore popping smoke will be most beneficial for this dude. Stelek has done lists with mixed dreads, but then DCCW ones were assault cannon based and were in a 'sit back and munch anything that comes close' role.

265 Points - Terminators, 6 models, Chainfist, Assault Cannon

Make the most of being able to take 2 assault cannons and tank hunters. What more can I say?

106 Points - Crusader Squad, 5 Models, Plasma Cannon, Plasma Gun

106 Points - Crusader Squad, 5 Models, Plasma Cannon, Plasma Gun

185 Points - Crusader Squad, 10 Models, Power Fist + Bolt Pistol,

Meltagun, 8x CCW + Bolt Pistol

185 Points - Crusader Squad, 10 Models, Power Fist + Bolt Pistol,

Meltagun, 8x CCW + Bolt Pistol

58 Points - Rhino, Extra Armor, Smoke Launchers

98 Points - Razorback, Twin Las, Smoke Launchers, Extra Armor

265 Points - Land Raider Crusader

Well... this has just confuzeled me! Do the 8 man squads run in the rhino and the LRC and one of the 6 man squads own the lazorback? An 8-man squad in an LRC seems odd to me. Doesn't really pack a mean punch and the transport can't really offer a ranged support role so it seems a bit of a mismatch. For the ranged support squads I'd personally go for lascannon/plasma gun if at all possible.

So what does the list offer...

1 AV14, 2 AV12, 2 AV 11 and an AV12 pod. This doesn't really saturate anybody's anti-tank fire and the AV14 doesn't really threaten enough for your opponent to be overly concerned about it - blocking FTW!

At range - 2 plasmacannons, 2 twin-linked lascannons and a missile launcher (can only go at 4 different targets).

Mid-range - 1 MM, 2 plasma guns, 1 assault cannon.

Up close and personal - 2 meltaguns.

Well that's not really going to scare anybody really.

BroLo, stop being harsh, Squally said this is a 'friendly' list! (says BroLo's inner-conscience)

Apologies!

You know what, this is exactly how I started my collection (first army getting back into 40k), just buying random bits and pieces.

Let's see if we can turn your collection around with minimal effort and cost.

So it appears to me you fancy a mech force with a bit of a difference (the drop pod) and perhaps a bit of fluffiness (command squad)? Would I be correct? You said you liked a single pronged attack with fire support, so let's try and see what we can do.

So, here we go...

Emperor's Champion - Accept any Challenge - 140

Castellan - Termie Armour, Pair of Lightning claws - 120

Termie Command Squad (4) - Assault cannon x 2, Tank hunters - Drop pod - 245

Dread - Twin-Linked Lascannon/Missile Launcher - 135

Dread - Twin-Linked Lascannon/Missile Launcher - 135

Dread - Multi-melta, DCCW - Drop pod - 145

Crusader Squad (5) - Lascannon, flamer - 100

Crusader Squad (5) - Lasccanon - 95

Crusader Squad (5) - Power fist, meltagun - 105

Razorback - Twin-Linked Heavy Bolter - 70

Crusader Squad (5) - Power fist, meltagun - 105

Razorback - Twin-Linked Heavy Bolter - 70

Crusader Squad (5) - Power fist, Meltagun - Drop pod - 135 [with EC]

Land Speeder - MM/HF - 75

Land Speeder - MM/HF - 75

Predator Destructor - Lascannon Sponsons - 125

Predator Destructor - Lascannon Sponsons - 125

2000

There... I know I removed the Land Raider, but without assault terminators, I don't really see the point to be honest. It's not anywhere close to being 'optimised', but includes lots of 'fun' elements. The single pronged attack comes from the deep-strikers. All of which want to be in the same place - in your face! If by some miracle they all come in on the same turn, shake your opponents hand and say thank you very much! If not you have a few threats to last a few turns.

See the 'cornering' article to see how the list works. Each corner packs 3 Lascannons, an autocannon, a twin-linked lascannon, a missile launcher and a twin-linked heavy bolter. If your opponent fancies approaching, the dread and the razorback squad don't mind getting dirty.

You have 3 MM dropping into your opponents lap, the Castellan's command squad, which will tear through rear armour (8 str6+1 and 4 str4 +1 shots = *boner/heart* (bloggerfail))

Like I said, it's not truly optimised, but I hope it takes some of your concepts a little further. You only really need a couple of speeders and a couple of preds to make the list I think (except a tiny bit of converting) and I personally think they're essentials for any BT force, so it's not money wasted.

Thoughts anybody?