Adding Firepower

[Beast_of_Amareo]

I wanted to know what you guys think that the best firepower configuration would be for an army (mine :) ) that includes only cc troops would be. Should I go for two Baal Predators or should I look for its most conventional cousin? The rest of my army's core are Assault Marines with Meltaguns, a Dread with Blood Talons and Drop Pod, DC with Rhino.

 

Please guys help with this, coz my budget is tight and I would not like end up spending in something I will not be using.

[Roachboy]

I use a vindicator, but then it normally scatters onto my own troops. Either way it kills stuff!

 

Are you looking for anti infantry or anti tank?

[Ookami_81]

I would suggest:

- you want to backup your troops with anti infantry shooting: Dakka Pred (or Whirlie maybe, but maybe it's not a decent BA weapon system...)

- you want to kill light tanks/transports: combi pred

- you want to smooth masses of infantry before assaulting: Baal pred

- you want an all comer destroy everything tank (with drawbacks like being a short-ranged firemagnet): vindicators.

 

I second Roachboy: I love Vindies ! (and being a vanilla player I don't even have them fast !)

[Theikos]

I've had good results with a vindicator and a couple baal predators as my fire base, oh and I also have a TL Las Razorback w/ 5 man RAS as my 3rd troop choice. It's not the most amazing fire base but I seem to have enough to get the job done.

 

I test played with 2 Lascannon sponson predators when the codex first came out and had a good time with them as well... but then I found that my forward moving army was screening them too much so I switched to the vindicator and outflanking baals.

 

 

Theikos

[Blood brother]

A pair of Baal preds working in tandem has worked out great for me so far. The flamer variant is particularly deadly when two of them hit a target with all 6 flamers...and since they are fast you can still take a normal predator if you like.

[Emperors Immortals]

Ive been running a storm raven and 2 dreads as my heavies ( i also have a baal) but im thinking of adding a dev squad instead.

[Roachboy]

I personally find devastators too static to support an army like BA.

 

If you do decide on a vindicator, be aware that its side/rear armour is the same as a Rhino, so be sure to guard its flanks. This is where the jump infantry come in. The Vindi blows a couple of holes in the enemy lines, with the jump troops deterring any sneaky side armour shots, before they scream into combat and mop up any survivors from those lovely Str 10 Ap 2 ordnance blasts :)

 

I have heard they work best in pairs, but unfortunately don't own a second one....yet

 

edit: if there was a stormraven model out I would field 3!

[Prosedragon]

I was wondering this same thing last night. I was looking to kill the various marine death squads, either terminators, tooled up vanguard, etc. Is a vindi the best way?

[Roachboy]

Dragon: As long as the scatter dice is on your side then i would say yes. It can only fire in the 45 degree angle to its front though so as I mentioned above guard its flanks and it can kill anything.

 

There is something very satisfying about telling your opponent that his prize squad of troops are all insta killed. In one shot.

[JamesI]

I've been running 2 Vindicators as my main fire support, and am upping it to 2 Vindicators, 1 Predator (autocannon/lascannons) and 1 Baal (assault cannon, heavy bolters).

 

Should offer enough support for what I need.

[Rizara]

In the 3 games i have played so far, i have found 2 baal's as very effective support tanks. The TLAC/HB sponson variants surely pack a punch when needed. Against troops they can easily mow down entire units when used in unison, or half a unit of marines easily when used on there own. I typically use them on each of my flanks and they tend to do very very well. Against light armor i have had no issues taking down tanks. I only struggle with AR14 landraiders, but against predators and lower armor i have had no issues with those assault cannons pumping out 4 chances to get shots on the tank. I have found that pairing up the assault cannons really shines in this department so i pair it with usually a razorback with assault cannons when taking on tanks. Between 2 assault cannons i am sure to drop one AR13 vehicle.

Also taking normal predators will really boost your fire support. They do far better against tanks and are worth taking in a Blood angels force.

 

The main reason i suggest these is they are all fast moving, so they can cover ground and easily outflank your enemy, they are also handy at getting some side armor shots on tanks and hitting up units that are simply unprepared for them. Also being fast they can still move 6 inches a turn and fire both sponson and main turrets. This comes in handy when you need alot of firepower to clear some tough stuff so your CC troops can come in and finish out the squads with little return damage. I had thought about the vinidicator myself, and its a very tempting target what with the fast vehicle packing a huge template. But the drawbacks of the vindi is that my troops are going to be stuck in combat at some point and i don't want to take out my own guys, which is surely bound to happen. In that case that leaves only the first two turns of effective shooting where i am not going to be hitting my own troops, and thats only if it survives my opponents firts round of shooting since vindis draw a ton of firepower.

So taking the predator variants means i get to pick my targets and shoot what i want. It also helps support my already fast moving army. By fielding at least 2 baals and 2 predators you are giving your opponent more targets. If you already have some other stuff like death company and furioso dreads, providing more threats will help those units get to there intended targets as well.

[Beast_of_Amareo]

Thanks for the ideas guys. Actually, my budget allows me only 2 tanks total and I am a bit confused on how to proceed. My army list looks like this:

 

Reclusiarch

 

2x Sanguinary Priest w/Jump Packs

 

9 DC with 2x Power Weapons and 2x Power Fists in a Rhino w/Hunter Killer Missile

 

10x Assault Marines w/2x Flamers, Sergeant w/Power Weapon and Hand Flamer

10x Assault Marines w/2x Meltaguns, Sergeant w/Inferno Pistol and Power Fist

5x Assault Marines w/1x Meltagun

 

Death Company Dreadnought w/Drop Pod and Blood Talons

 

Furioso Dreadnought w/Drop Pod, Heavy Flamer, Extra Armour, Frag Cannon and Blood Fist

 

 

I was thinking of dropping the Furioso and the 5 Assault Marines and go for something dakkier (sic), since most of the people suggested the the above list is not that viable. But to be honest, I would not mind keeping it, since I like the straight in your face attitude of it and more importantly, these are the models I possess and as most you I would not like end up spending much more.

 

What do you think?

[Spam Monkey]

Looks like fun!

[MayorDaley]

Since your budget doesn't allow for gamer ADD, I would suggest playtesting a few different things before buying, building, and painting. If you already have two dreads try this out: dread with 2x autocannons; supporting a TL lascannon pred. The total for both is 235 pts. I have been using this combo with pretty good success. It is cheap and fairly versitale; light armour doesn't stand a chance! The downside is 235 pts is gonna cost you $100.00, or around there. :) Two Baal preds will cost about as much, and the kits are amazingly cool; with some BA bits as well.

 

Just remember, magnets are a budgets best friend :) .

[Isryion]

Thanks for the ideas guys. Actually, my budget allows me only 2 tanks total and I am a bit confused on how to proceed. My army list looks like this:

 

Reclusiarch

 

2x Sanguinary Priest w/Jump Packs

 

9 DC with 2x Power Weapons and 2x Power Fists in a Rhino w/Hunter Killer Missile

 

10x Assault Marines w/2x Flamers, Sergeant w/Power Weapon and Hand Flamer

10x Assault Marines w/2x Meltaguns, Sergeant w/Inferno Pistol and Power Fist

5x Assault Marines w/1x Meltagun

 

Death Company Dreadnought w/Drop Pod and Blood Talons

 

Furioso Dreadnought w/Drop Pod, Heavy Flamer, Extra Armour, Frag Cannon and Blood Fist

 

 

I was thinking of dropping the Furioso and the 5 Assault Marines and go for something dakkier (sic), since most of the people suggested the the above list is not that viable. But to be honest, I would not mind keeping it, since I like the straight in your face attitude of it and more importantly, these are the models I possess and as most you I would not like end up spending much more.

 

What do you think?

 

When in doubt, I'd suggest flexibility and that means Baal Preds, imo. Assault Cannons on their own have great versatility, but the plastic kits allow easy swapping of the assault cannon and the flamestorm cannon.

[Rybnick]

I'd echo some of the above comments and sugest the Baal Predator it's effective at multiple roles be it light vehicles or infantry plus with it's scout rules and ability to outflanking ability it's a very versatile piece of machinery as well. I'm also a big fan on lang speeders, 60 points gets you a Mulit-melta and a heavy flamer. They are a tad easy to kill but if you provide a lot of other scary targets to your enemy you'd be surprised how often they are over looked, and can just zoom around the board and make big plays.

[Andrew_Beck]

to add some cheap and not threating firesupport use my favorite 5man devastators with homogenous loadout. (4*ML/2*LC/etc..)

[Beast_of_Amareo]

How about Land Raiders? Do you think they could fit in? (Not pointwise).

[Theikos]

Land Raiders can provide decent support. I find that any land raider variant on the board just becomes an incredibly large fire magnet. If you play one you should fully expect that it will be shot at with everything that can possibly take it out, especially if you load it with something even scarier.

 

Unfortunately the darned things go bye to melta guns in range like crazy (for me) so I've sinced shied away from them in favor of having more targets on the field.

 

Theikos