Abusing Drop pods

[Sohail187]

Good evening all

I wanted to some your thoughts past an idea i had. I am sure you have all done this in the past but i am yet to try this. Recently i tried playing 3 games with all my grey hunters in rhino's and 3 games pods. Conclusion was that pods got me to where i wanted to be, however not all my troops on the table as we all know. So i thought of using empty pods but is it worth the points.

So for example. I always run x2 long fangs. Now do you think it is worth finding 70 points from else where in my list to give the long fangs drop pods? so 5 WGTDA and 2 packs of GH arriving first turn, because i think that is devastating.

+ that will give me 2 pieces of terrain which i can use to block line of sight or to slow something down.

I found that dropping 2 pods had an impact but having to wait for my 3rd pod on rolls really messed me up at times. I run 4 packs of gh but i run a 6 man pack in razorback hunting objectives. So 70 points for all my in your face troops turn 1 yes or no?

Thoughts on this and feed back on any attempts at such tactics would be appreciated.

[Grimtooth]

In most missions that tactic is basically giving up a kil point and first blood which immediately puts you in catch up mode. And frankly, just how good of terrain blockers and los blockers are they when your opponent can use them as well.

[Rift Blade]

I have found that Drop pod list are very tempermental. you have to find the right synergy between units if you are not going all Drop Pods. My meta allows FW so if I play Drop pods, i use 3 at 1500-1850 pts. 2 Deathwind pods(missiles) & 1 Lucius with a Contemptor Dreadnought. Otherwise, I usually use just the Lucius with a dreadnought of some type supported by a TWC rush backed up by GH's in Rhinos. Again, it's about synergy between your army & how you play. It took me 2 or 3 months to find what worked for me.

[Sohail187]

ye i saw those FW pods, with the missiles and some type of cannons. How have they worked out for you? 

[Squark]

I think by deathwind pods he just means drop pods with the deathwind missile launcher- It's an upgrade to the standard drop pod- a 12" range S5 AP - large blast instead of a storm bolter.

 

 

Empty drop pods aren't a terrible idea (Since they're usually coming down later in the game, they're probably not going to cost you first blood), but they backfire horribly in kill point games when your opponent has a lot of Anti-tank to spare. Granted, kill points tends to be really borked for certain armies in general (I.E. Guard. Table your enemy or lose).

[Rift Blade]

No actually. They come with from HS for under a 100 pts each & have 2 variants. Missiles & assault cannons. Basically the 1st turn they come in ALL units(friend & foe) within 12"(been a while so not positive on the range & don't have the rules handy) take D3 hits each. After that they can fire at 1 target per turn at BS2. As for how they have worked for me I like them. THey are a great decoy to let my assault units move up the board as you can even pop vehiciles with them if you get rear armour shots. If your opponent has a nice Drop pod size hole in his deployment, they can be devestating.

[Vor]

My standard SW list has 6 grey hunter packs in 6 drop pods, supported by two packs of 5 SS Thunder Wolves and two Thunder Lords, along with Canis as a points filler. Add in Long Fangs for my 3k list.

 

Two variants, depending on what I'll be facing. Well. Three actually. All melta, all plasma or 3 squads of each.

 

It works very well and is very fun. Unbeaten in 6th actually with my Space Wolves.

 

It's clearly not a tournament list, don't know how well it'd do in a tourmament setting because I have no interest with tournaments.

[dswanick]

OK, I think there is some confusion here due to nomenclature-

- Drop Pod w/ Deathwind: A C:SM/C:SW/C:DA/etc transport Drop Pod with a Deathwind Missile Launcher in place of the standard Storm Bolter.

- Deathwind Drop Pod: An IA Drop Pod with five Deathwind Missile Launchers and no transport capacity which can replace its Missile Launcher with Assault Cannons. This unit does not have the Drop Pod Assault rule so it is argueable if it even counts towards the number of Pods which may be deployed turn one using the rule.

[Sturm Moonwolf]

OK, I think there is some confusion here due to nomenclature-

- Drop Pod w/ Deathwind: A C:SM/C:SW/C:DA/etc transport Drop Pod with a Deathwind Missile Launcher in place of the standard Storm Bolter.

- Deathwind Drop Pod: An IA Drop Pod with five Deathwind Missile Launchers and no transport capacity which can replace its Missile Launcher with Assault Cannons. This unit does not have the Drop Pod Assault rule so it is argueable if it even counts towards the number of Pods which may be deployed turn one using the rule.

Correct, except the IA12 is called a Deathstorm, not Deathwind Previous versions of anything out of any IA:Apocalypse book (1,2,2nd edition) are all obsolete according to the new IA:Apocalypse book just released. Anything from IA books (Badab,Orpheus, etc) are valid still though.

[Grey Mage]

Yes, it is almost always worth it to snag the extra pods for your HS choices, so you have the option to drop more units, or block movement lanes/LOS. If youre doing it right you wont give up first blood barring a lucky interceptor shot because youll be busy blowing up enemy artillery and moving down lynchpin units in their battle line.

[Sohail187]

Yes, it is almost always worth it to snag the extra pods for your HS choices, so you have the option to drop more units, or block movement lanes/LOS. If youre doing it right you wont give up first blood barring a lucky interceptor shot because youll be busy blowing up enemy artillery and moving down lynchpin units in their battle line.

i am going to give it a try this sunday and i shall let you know how it goes! I just think having 3 of my troops landing in a area of my choice first turn will just be devastating. 

[dswanick]

Correct, except the IA12 is called a Deathstorm, not Deathwind:teehee: Previous versions of anything out of any IA:Apocalypse book (1,2,2nd edition) are all obsolete according to the new IA:Apocalypse book just released. Anything from IA books (Badab,Orpheus, etc) are valid still though.

True enough, and it was also called a Deathstorm in some of the old books, also, if I'm not mistaken. The only question is - does the newest IA Apoc book give them Drop Pod Assault, and thus clearly include them in the 50%-turn-1 amount.

[Sturm Moonwolf]

No Drop Pod Assault in the new book. They have integrated machine spirit though on every single weapon, so all weapons can individually fire at different targets, even the turn it comes in.

[Rift Blade]

THanks for the feedback Dswanick. Everyone in my area assumed they had Drop Pod Assault because they were Drop Pods. I'll have to keep that in mind let the others know. Seems kinda of weird though because in the fluff they are always used to help clear a Landing Zone for the rest of the Drop Pods.

[Grey Mage]

It says number of drop pods in DP Assault, it doesnt specify a type of drop pod. If you have even one from the codex, it applies to all of them by the wording.

[dswanick]

It says number of drop pods in DP Assault, it doesnt specify a type of drop pod. If you have even one from the codex, it applies to all of them by the wording.

Remember that the next time one of your Blood Angels opponents wants to load his Contemptor-pattern Dreadnought on the back of a Storm Raven.

[Grey Mage]

 

It says number of drop pods in DP Assault, it doesnt specify a type of drop pod. If you have even one from the codex, it applies to all of them by the wording.

Remember that the next time one of your Blood Angels opponents wants to load his Contemptor-pattern Dreadnought on the back of a Storm Raven.

Why on earth would I object to that? Or an Ironclad for the C:SM boys for that matter....

[dswanick]

 

 

 

 

It says number of drop pods in DP Assault, it doesnt specify a type of drop pod. If you have even one from the codex, it applies to all of them by the wording.

Remember that the next time one of your Blood Angels opponents wants to load his Contemptor-pattern Dreadnought on the back of a Storm Raven.

 

 

Why on earth would I object to that? Or an Ironclad for the C:SM boys for that matter....

 

 

For the same reason that the Lucius Drop Pod specifically mentions that it may be purchased for Dreadnought or Contemptor-pattern Dreadnought and specifically states that it may carry one "Dreadnought of any type"? Hardly seems worth mentioning if all Dreadnoughts already qualify as the same.

 

Further, what happens if the only "Drop Pods" you have in your army are Deathwind Drop Pods? That model doesn't have the rule, and you don't have any models in your army that do - do you still get 50% first turn?

 

I just think that this is one of those times when it's best to assume the answer is no unless GW/FW comes out with a specific FAQ/Q&A stating that it works this way, or your opponent agrees to play it this way. Assuming it plays the most advantageous way in the absence of clear rules is part of how Forge World got it's O.P. reputation. That's why I hedged both of my previous posts using "argueably" and "clearly include". I'm not against it working this way, I am against someone going in with the notion that this issue is clear-cut and unambiguous when Forge World stuff is involved.

[Rift Blade]

@ Dswanick & Graymage--thank you both for your input. I'm just starting to get back into the hobby after a summer's hiatus & appreciate both your help. Im gonna have to do some reading through FAQ's & talk to my local TO organizers. We try to settle things like this before they become an issue at an event( we run one every 2 months usually) & the local gaming group usually follows along or says otherwise when they come in to play @ the local shop. Sorry to the OP for kinda of hijacking your tread. Thanks again everyone.

[Grey Mage]

 

 

 

It says number of drop pods in DP Assault, it doesnt specify a type of drop pod. If you have even one from the codex, it applies to all of them by the wording.

Remember that the next time one of your Blood Angels opponents wants to load his Contemptor-pattern Dreadnought on the back of a Storm Raven.

 

Why on earth would I object to that? Or an Ironclad for the C:SM boys for that matter....

 

For the same reason that the Lucius Drop Pod specifically mentions that it may be purchased for Dreadnought or Contemptor-pattern Dreadnought and specifically states that it may carry one "Dreadnought of any type"? Hardly seems worth mentioning if all Dreadnoughts already qualify as the same.

 

Further, what happens if the only "Drop Pods" you have in your army are Deathwind Drop Pods? That model doesn't have the rule, and you don't have any models in your army that do - do you still get 50% first turn?

 

I just think that this is one of those times when it's best to assume the answer is no unless GW/FW comes out with a specific FAQ/Q&A stating that it works this way, or your opponent agrees to play it this way. Assuming it plays the most advantageous way in the absence of clear rules is part of how Forge World got it's O.P. reputation. That's why I hedged both of my previous posts using "argueably" and "clearly include". I'm not against it working this way, I am against someone going in with the notion that this issue is clear-cut and unambiguous when Forge World stuff is involved.

And Im not saying youre wrong- Im just saying how I would actually play in in real life. RAW and Rules on the Table are not always the same thing- it wouldnt be worth my time to argue that this type of drop pod is not.... a drop pod. Just like I wouldnt argue that a dread wasnt a dread no matter the pattern unless the unit itself made a distinction. *shrugs*