Drop Podding In Terminators

[thelordcal]

Did a quick search and couldn't find anything.

 

 

Yes yes yes i know! It all depends on the list! But i was wondering if its generally a good idea to drop pod a squad of Terminators in Turn 1 behind enemy lines.

 

This is something i've come up with Real Quick!

 

Wolf Lord - 205pts.

-Termie, SS/WC, Saga of the Bear

 

4x Wolf Guard Terminators - 262pts.

-SS/TH; FW/SB; FA/SS, Cyclone, Drop Pod

(Yes i know i need 5 the other 3 will become leaders in my grey hunter packs using standard PF/CM build)

 

The general idea is to try and set the drop pod down behind enemy Armor. The cyclone unleashes hopefully destroying the tank to provide cover for the terminators in my opponents turn. They move out from behind and do what they do best in assault...

 

Dumb idea? I've been throwing around other possibilities of TWC but i think i like this idea more, its basically the same price. I can swap out the wolf claw on my lord for something else though...

 

The rest of this list at the moment! Everything is still highly in the works, however, i do play my very first game on Friday with my wolves (and one of my first games of 40k so any fast replies would be much appreciated!!!)

 

Rune Priest - 100

3x Wolf Guard (CM/PF) - 129pts.

Grey Hunters (9) w. Melta/Standard/Wulfen/Rhino - 200pts.

Grey Hunters (9) w. Melta/Standard/Wulfen/Rhino - 200pts.

Grey Hunters (8) w. Melta/Standard/Wulfen/Rhino - 185pts. (Runepriest here)

Grey Hunters (5) w. Melta - 85pts.

Long Fangs (5) w. 4x MLs in a TLLC Razorback - 190pts.

Long Fangs (5) w. 4x MLs in a TLLC Razorback - 190pts.

 

Total: 1746 (out of 1750)

 

Thoughts? Is that list too crazy to read?! I can post a longer version... OH! bit of an explanation The smallest grp of GHs is meant to hold my objective. Do i have enough Anti-Tank/Armor to survive?

 

Thanks!

[Marshal Wilhelm]

Chaos uses a technique called Termicide, which is a contraction of Terminator Suicide.

 

Three of them with combi-Meltas deepstrike in a wreck stuff. I think a Pod is a wonderful thing for increases the DS accuracy, but you do pay for it and with Drop Pod Assault rules, half will have to come down on T1, which isn't always a great thing to have to do.

 

You can certainly do the same thing with Wolves, though Chaos does it without an expensive HQ

[littlbitz]

I have used a "Termicide" unit in the past with good results. 3x Wolfguard in TDA with Comi-mg in a pod weights in at around 150 points or so, not too bad for a unit that your opponent is going to have to focus on for a turn, while the rest of your army gets into position.

[dswanick]

After reading the above posts, my first thought is - the WL is going with the TDA squad. If you're planning on dumping them in the enemies midst, they really need to be viewed as expendable. If the whole unit is expendable, the WL is an expensive investment. I'd go with a WGBL similarly equipped, and give a spare pod to your fourth GH pack - which gives you the choice of bringing the WG squad in turn one or later by deploying the empty GH drop pod as needed. I'd also go with more combi-meltas and/or an Assault Cannon for increased kill probability on the turn they drop.

By the way - what is FW/FA? My first thought was Frost Weapon/Frost Axe, but why list them that way if that is the case?

[Matt D]

what do you want out of these guys? to destroy armor? kill troops? or maybe just annoy you opponent? my 2 builds do 2 very different things. i either go all c-plasma or all c-melta.

for melta i drop them fist turn to pop armor and then soak up bolter fire. if they live its usually a miracle. for my plasma i drop them after turn 1. this let your long fangs dish out some armor destruction. i then hose down my opponents special units with AP2 death. nothing quit like seeing 3-4 GK termis being vaporized ^_^. the second one is way more survivable and sees more play in my lists because i am not going to sacrifice my termies turn 1. with both i would only add 1 fist for close combat and leave the rest with PWs. i assume your small squad is for holding back field objectives. that where i would put the CML termi. that way its like a mini scoring longfang pack. and yes, add that extra pod for the option of deploying them when YOU want as opposed to always first turn. hope this helps!

[Rune_Priest_Rhapsody]

I too would like to add the suggestion of a second pod to present you with the option to Pod in an empty first turn so that you may more tactfully drop the one carrying the TDA pack for some kily-kill.

 

I would not add an expensive HQ to the pack either, it's a waste of points. Well, it's going to get that high point model wasted (killed).

 

I tired this idea with the addition of a TDAWP like this:

-TDA/WC/C-P

-TDA/WC/C-P

-TDA/WC/C-P

TDA/PF/C-P

TDAWP/C-P

Drop Pod

 

It was killy in both the 'termicide' idea, and once (if it ever go there...) in close combat the re-roll everything was awfully nice. Of course this is much larger point investment than the standard three man suicide squad.

 

End of Line

[WG Vrox]

- I ran a two pod list with some success for quite awhile. I found in the end that versatility was the key so it ended up looking like this

 

First Pod was my objective grabber, did not change much from its original conception.

10 GH 2 Plasma Guns, Banner. - Pod

 

Second Pod was my Heavy Hitter, I never considered them a suicide unit though sometimes that is what they ended up being due to bad rolls.

 

2 WG in PA, CM/CCW || CM/BP < notice the war-gear option is different.

 

3 WG in TDA CM/PW || CM/WC || HF/CF < the two WG in PA allowed me to take 5 WG to get in my heavy weapon choice but also allow room for my HQ in TDA to join the squad.

 

 

If there was not a perfect target for my heavy hitting pod on the table turn 1, I would keep it in reserve and drop my objective grabber. If there was no objectives I would set my objective grabbing pod up as either bait or on the flank or to cork a choke point.

 

An important factor I found was if I knew I was going to drop my heavy hitting pod on turn 1 for a armor strike to keep my HQ out of the pod and instead put him in my LRC.

 

I can't stress enough that the tactical key for such a list is having multiple options in your deployment stage and using those options to your advantage.

 

Vrox.

[MalachiOfRuss]

This question (in my thinking) comes back to the fundamental reason why you don't see a lot of Terminators (if any at all) in Space Wolf lists. As a concept, Drop Podding Wolf Guard on Turn 1 or later is not a bad idea but it comes down to purpose in the list (as others have mentioned). The reason why you see the "Termicide" unit in Chaos lists is because that's the smallest unit with Combi-weapons that can Deep Strike. If all you're expecting the Pod to do is take out some armor and not expecting it to survive, then go with WG in PA and give them the combi-weapons. Putting them in TDA (termie armor) can make them more survivable, but for 15 ppm is it enough? The reason (I think) you don't see a lot of Termies in SW lists is the fact that you can get WG in PA to do pretty much the same thing, for 15 pts cheaper. In our codex we don't have to put the model in TDA to get the combi-weapon, or SS on everyone. If you really want the Termie heavy weapon, that's fine, just put that model in TDA - which is another thing we can do that others can't.

 

The problem with our Termies is - to make a Termie acceptably survivable in this edition you need the Storm Shield with the TDA. For us (Space Wolves), doing that is prohibitively expensive - 48 pts for a model to have SS and PW in TDA. If you want to give it a TH that pushes the points to 63, compared to 40 for Codex Marines. My point is: the 15 pts for TDA alone is not really worth it, not when the model in PA can have all the same weapons and thus do most of the same job.