Replacing the Dreds

[Hrathnar Flintfang]

In my old list I used to use ven. Dreds... alot. After all it was easy enough to get one as an HQ and one as a a third Elite slot. They could easily run a simple 155 points apace and for that kind of investment I had a unit which has in the past softened up/eaten Terminator clad commanders with Retinue tooling around with power swords and power fists or most any vehicle I might come across. I mean Assault cannon, Flamer Template and a flurry of Dread CCW attacks for a few more points more than an unmodified 15 man BC squad? What's not to like? Not to mention they had a very 'viking' feel to them. It was like warriors returning for Ragnarok, refusing to let death stop them from crushing the foes of russ. It even served as a nice HQ choice for 500 point armies since at that level you really can't field too many things that are nastier and still end up with viable forces elsewhere.

 

But as I expected our slumbering elder brothers are now nerfed down to match up with the 'normal' marines and their fallen comrades. Not only have we lost the basic Ven Dread as a unit choice, but Bjorn is the only one to retain his nastiness and 'I eat command squads' attitude. Sure the normal Ven. Dred isn't bad at all, though it is now still weaker in Close than this new Iron clad, but I no longer feel that it fits the same place as a beat stick in my army. I think it is about time I start phasing out the ol'reliables and start to work on a replacement in my list, with the most obvious choice being the now viable Long Fangs.

 

I have my worries about tanks for some reason. People have expressed their feelings that putting a command squad in a Land Raider rather than on foot puts them in more danger overall and I do know some people in the actual military who would never sign up to be in a tank. Still throwing my forces into a grand melee has always been where I get the most smiles, and nothing spoils that good time like some pesky skimmer tank or chaos-infected crazy go nuts vehicle coming along to flank you with their stupid armor. Granted I can always do Melta bombs on my bikers and I do have a Scout pack to teach any artillery peices a lesson, but it still feels like I am missing some anti-armor elements that up until now those Dread CCW had always compensated for.

 

Because of this my first impulse is to take the 310 points I would spend on Dreds and instead go towards a nice five man longfang pack in a Razorback. The idea of five lascannon shots, including one that is twin-linked, being split among up to three different targets does make it rather appealing I will say. Such a pack could potentially rip mosnterous creatures apart at the seams with a few lucky rolls and thanks to the punch of those Lascannons would eat though most anything short of a Land raider when hitting it from the sides or rear. Launchers might also prove useful, but the exact gear of the longfangs is less important than what they can do as a whole.

 

Then again with a third Elite slot open there is no reason I can't go ahead and nab up a few wolf guard, or bolster the ones that will be with my Rune Priest. You can never have too many wolves along when Hero-hunting I suppose. Thanks to the point cuts I also may have enough to go for a second full-tilt Wolf Guard TDA unit, with a Cyclone to make up for other anti-tank losses.

 

The third thing I am considering is that I might want to try out more fast attack either in the form of Thunderwolf cav or some Skyclaws now that jump packs are viable. After all since my army won't have to 'keep pace' with the dreds anymore I see no reason for them to avoid speed. Hasn't really been my style before but who knows.

 

I suppose what I am asking for brothers is an idea of how you think the points for two ven. dreds could be spent to help cover the gap they will leave behind. I am open for just about any idea or advice you may have, especially those of you who have been fortunate enough to play with the new dex. A copy of the list I will probably be building from will be linked here if enough people want to see what I am using, but since it was a conversion to this edition that I have yet to fully work out It would still be a general idea as opposed to a solid final list.

[Grey Mage]

Im keeping a vendread as the staple in my army. Its sad that theyll be different than in the old codex, but I was expecting that.

 

Long Fangs are however a wonderful unit- always have been. The all lascannon squad you mentioned is a bit pricey unless you do bitz trades- in wich case it drops from about 110 dollars US to about 70 US. Much more manageable for the player on a budget.

 

Personally I find my challenge though is finding enough ML for my squads, as the Dev sprue only comes with 1 and of course GH packs get... 0.

[Hrathnar Flintfang]

Well I think I can trade for most of them if I get lucky enough, Especially if I find someone willing to take the MM or Plasma Cannon I still have from the long fang box I used to have (that would be 3 of 4 right there) couple that with trading away a spare thunder hammer to my friend who is starting a SM army soon (considering the idea he was working on for it, I think he may want one) and I think I should be able to scrounge up enough for free.

 

Worse comes to worse I'll settle for Ebay or battle wagon. Might take a week or two to save up the money, but I have plenty of work to do in the mean time anyways.