Deep Striking RAS

[Frustrashun]

So, I'm thinking of making an all Deep Strike list, given the accuracy with which BA RAS and characters can Deep Strike. My main concern is jump infantry deep striking, considering they have to stand out in the open for a turn without the option to assault. Anyone have any advice on what to do to prevent an opponent from committing their entire fire base to wiping out a Deep Striking RAS? I know running into cover is a possibility, but that depends entirely on rolling decently on the run check or having sufficient cover nearby. What are some of the other options that people have found useful for diverting attention away from exposed Deep Striking infantry? Or is relying on Descent of Angels just a bad idea, and I shold just slap all RAS into Razorbacks?

[Isryion]

I was wondering about an all Drop Pod BA army myself and may start a discussion about that, but back on topic...

 

I had great success against Tau in my last game against them with 2x Deepstriking RAS and a DS Terminator squad. He needed a lot of his shooting to wipe out just one of the squads, and that even required some poor AS by me. At the end, I still had one left.

 

With Descent of Angels, there's essentially a 75% chance Turn 2, due to the reroll that each RAS arrive. If you have 3 or 4 squads of them you're going to be presenting your opponent with multiple targets right away. Include SPs and your opponent is very unlikely to wipe out even a single unit unless he has a lot of template AP3 weapons, but then, you're probably in trouble either way in that case. (You'd want to run them just to spread them out then, forget cover!). The other thing is that you'll likely be able to reliably deep strike close enough to the enemy that you'll be able to shoot him as well. If you are deepstriking in the midst of a horde army, a flamer in the unit would be worthwhile to thin their numbers.

 

Despite all that, I'm not sure it is an ideal tactic, but I think it will do OK, and would be a lot of fun.

[Roachboy]

a 10 man squad with attached priest can take a horrific amount of firepower. Just try to land out of sight of battle cannons and the like, or melta up and try and take them out same turn.

 

I haven't used them myself but vanguard could prove useful to hit similar targets.

[Firedrake28]

When Deep Striking Assault Marines en masse, it's best to use split up into Combat Squads so you present a large number of targets. It also lessens the chance of one bad scatter costing you the entire game. Remember - even Descent of Angels is far from infallible.

[daboarder]

take 2 6 man VAS in the list and pair them up with the RAS so that the most dangerous targets near where the RAS drop are locked in combat before they can counter the drop, and if a SP is with the RAS the VAS should drop near enough to get the benefit of FC and FNP. Also make sure to keep you're force consolidated.

[spu00sed]

take 2 6 man VAS in the list and pair them up with the RAS so that the most dangerous targets near where the RAS drop are locked in combat before they can counter the drop, and if a SP is with the RAS the VAS should drop near enough to get the benefit of FC and FNP. Also make sure to keep you're force consolidated.

 

I did something similar to this yesterday.

 

I dropped Vanguard next to a blob of 40 guardmen and a sang priest dropped by himself next to the vets.

 

It does mean taking risks.

Getting the vets close

Getting the priest close to the vets

Leaving the priest by himself

 

Luckily all went well and the vets broke the guard who fled then consolidated around the priest to hide him and present a larger threat.

 

They then went on to kill the compnay command squad a russ and a chimera.

[Spacefrisian]

I was wondering about an all Drop Pod BA army myself and may start a discussion about that, but back on topic...

 

I had great success against Tau in my last game against them with 2x Deepstriking RAS and a DS Terminator squad. He needed a lot of his shooting to wipe out just one of the squads, and that even required some poor AS by me. At the end, I still had one left.

 

With Descent of Angels, there's essentially a 75% chance Turn 2, due to the reroll that each RAS arrive. If you have 3 or 4 squads of them you're going to be presenting your opponent with multiple targets right away. Include SPs and your opponent is very unlikely to wipe out even a single unit unless he has a lot of template AP3 weapons, but then, you're probably in trouble either way in that case. (You'd want to run them just to spread them out then, forget cover!). The other thing is that you'll likely be able to reliably deep strike close enough to the enemy that you'll be able to shoot him as well. If you are deepstriking in the midst of a horde army, a flamer in the unit would be worthwhile to thin their numbers.

 

Despite all that, I'm not sure it is an ideal tactic, but I think it will do OK, and would be a lot of fun.

 

 

I hope you havent use Descent of angels with pods and or Terminators yet, if so you might want to re-read the rules of the BA Dex.

[Isryion]

I was wondering about an all Drop Pod BA army myself and may start a discussion about that, but back on topic...

 

I had great success against Tau in my last game against them with 2x Deepstriking RAS and a DS Terminator squad. He needed a lot of his shooting to wipe out just one of the squads, and that even required some poor AS by me. At the end, I still had one left.

 

With Descent of Angels, there's essentially a 75% chance Turn 2, due to the reroll that each RAS arrive. If you have 3 or 4 squads of them you're going to be presenting your opponent with multiple targets right away. Include SPs and your opponent is very unlikely to wipe out even a single unit unless he has a lot of template AP3 weapons, but then, you're probably in trouble either way in that case. (You'd want to run them just to spread them out then, forget cover!). The other thing is that you'll likely be able to reliably deep strike close enough to the enemy that you'll be able to shoot him as well. If you are deepstriking in the midst of a horde army, a flamer in the unit would be worthwhile to thin their numbers.

 

Despite all that, I'm not sure it is an ideal tactic, but I think it will do OK, and would be a lot of fun.

 

 

I hope you havent use Descent of angels with pods and or Terminators yet, if so you might want to re-read the rules of the BA Dex.

 

Nope. If you take a look at first sentence of my 2nd paragraph, I only refer to RAS, not the DS termies or the Drop Pod.

[Burningblood]

Generally Deepsrtiking lists (without drop pods) are an excellent way to go- especially against armies like tau and guard that NEED to get a couple of turns of shooting against you in order to properly take MEQ or BA especially out.

However if your're playing a kill points game, you need to be careful because each drop pod is an auto killpoint for your opponent.