I know i'm beating a very dead horse...

[Crusader Bob]

..but i have to ask the age old question.

 

I'm looking at the "From Rage to Salvation" thread, and looks like is the kick in the shins i needed to finally build and paint my Death Company, so here goes: Bolters or pistols?

 

Basically is about tearing apart everything in melee, or tearing it apart between shooting and melee. I'm not too fussed about competitivity, i just can't decide how i like them more.

[Rafen IX]

Fluff wise, the great primarch Sanguinius wasn't whaling on Horus with a bolter lol. My vote if competitiveness is not an issue is melee ;)

[teblin]

The extra attack granted with BP/CS makes it my choice, especially with WS5. But put bolters on marines with specialist weapons (PFs) because they can't claim the extra attack.

[Taranis]

I'd field at least half as Bolter DC. If you take casualties moving towards cc the bolters should be in front. That way you preserve your cc DC for their duty.

 

Most days my own DC are only Bolter DC. I bought many tactical marines on ebay and black they now are. :)

 

I have about 20 cc and 20 bolter. As many I hope that the day of cc goodness comes around as shooting is for the weak.....:(

[Xenith]

Fluff wise, the great primarch Sanguinius wasn't whaling on Horus with a bolter lol. 

 

And we all know how that ended... :(

 

Bolter DC also look ool with really aggressive 'mowing you down' poses, such as in the artwork.

 

It also means they can bring death to the enemies of the Emperor from T1. 

 

Go with whatever looks cooler, I'd say on foot, bolters, with jump packs - pistols

[Theredknight]

Hmm depends on the opponent.

 

For instance..playing space elves, nids or orksies, bolters are ideal, mainly for the ap value, your hitting on 3s, and your rapid firing removing their already puny saves.

You lose an attack, but you also will thin them out a bit before you assault, damage limitation I suppose..

 

You kill 4 space elves with bolters, that's 8 less rending shots whizing their way towards your psychopaths.

 

I stick 10 in a raider crusader and that way, I have extra dakka! They are mainly my anti infantry bunch, couple of pw and a fist in there in case they get stuck.

 

I'd go all or none though, whichever way you so choose :-)

[Crusader Bob]

Heh, seems is still a draw.

My plan is to make them on foot, just a pair of PWs and a PF to keep the cost low (hahahahaha). Inside a Raven, with a talon DC dread in tow.

Like a big black ball of hurt and wasted points. But feels right to field them that way.

 

Thanks for the answers so far, i'll let it roast overnight and pledge something tomorrow.

[Father Mapple]

I am painting up 7 bolter DC, one with powerfist, and 5 close combat, 2 with power weapons, all having magnetized jump packs and backpacks. The idea behind this is if I want a good huge JP unit, they'll be contributing while jumping, or on the deep strike. If they're in a drop pod or rhino, they're shooting the turn they disembark.

 

But I have 6 regular bolter ones to go in a Razorback, 

7 bolters + 1 fist + 3 pistol/CCW ones to fill up a Rhino/Drop Pod/Godhammer Landraider

3 CCW + 2PW for 5 Jumpers (205 points, good round number)

 

So, basically, I can get up to 12 DC to fit inside any transport with any kind of combination I want of upgrades that cost points, or enough that can switch between free upgrades that don't cost points.

 

Want all bolters this game? Put the pistols in front to die first. Or vice versa. But a mix is usually the best for painting purposes, I think.

[Gondow]

 I have only one thing to add here: MAGNETIZE!!

 

Magnets is DCs best friend. Ever.

[Urauloth]

Magnetize everything at all times imho. I'm not sure if you shoud actually listen to me, I magnetized he head on a rhino driver the other day because I couldn't decide which helmet looked cooler, but magnets are great and you should use them.

[TheSauce]

I've magnetized my dc. It's pretty much the only way you can pack them neatly (and you don't need to worry about breaking any of the great poses they can have), and they come with all of the options to run bolter or pistol, so why not?

 

I have to admit, I used my bolter DC as tactical squad of Iron Hands the other day - Sacrilege I know, but badass black marines all the way. And it was more of the table then they'd seen in months.

[Taranis]

I've yet to buy a carrying case. I use empty egg boxes and an old gutted toolbox. Works fine and is dirt cheap.

 

More gold for expanding the collection. :)

[Jolemai]

I do that too, but there comes a time when you have too many cardboard boxes!

 

*** *** ***

 

As for Death Company, there does seem to be a current trend with having half the squad armed with Bolters and half the squad armed with Bolt Pistols, with these tanking for the squad depending on what you are facing and how the battle is going.

 

Pistol upgrades tend not to be taken these days and melee weapon upgrades you are looking at 1-3 depending on the size. Most people like the Power Axe, a single Power Fist is still useful to get you out of tricky situations and whilst some people don't think a Power Sword is worth it, I personally feel that a single Power Sword is worth it's weight in gold as it guarantees kills for me.

 

Just to add, if you chose to have a Power Fist or a Thunder Hammer, make sure the model has a Bolter (as it wont gain +1A for having a pistol) and consider adding a bayonet to any Bolter-armed Marines.

[Xenith]

consider adding a bayonet to any Bolter-armed Marines.

 

Pfft. You sound like an Emperor's Child with your fancy blades. My DC use the butts of their boltguns, liberally applied to the head and neck area of xenos.

[Crusader Bob]

Half and half sounds about right. At least it means i don't have to decide :D

Thanks for the help people, now off pledging!

[Memento Of Prospero]

If the price for jump packs becomes reasonable, it will be all bolter for me. Until them, got to keep on choppin'

[Xenith]

I dunno, I've always found my big squad of DC with packs did pretty well.

 

The biggest thing to hurt them was Lemartes going to AP4.

[Crusader Bob]

A jump Pack DC will of course do well, but if the JP costs nearly as much as the marine itself then raises questions about it's worth.

I mean, on a large squad you can almost pay a Stormraven with the points, or 7 more grunts.

At least that's why i've never considered the option so far.

[Zynk Kaladin]

I'd field at least half as Bolter DC. If you take casualties moving towards cc the bolters should be in front. That way you preserve your cc DC for their duty.

 

 

This is always an effective and flexible DC strategy!

 

As far as I'm concerned Death Co should realistically be fielded with chainswords that shoot bolters and if GW doesn't put this in our next 'dex MY SON, HOLD MY SWORD FOR ON THESE MIGHTY WINGS AND UPON THIS BENDED KNEE SHALL I BRING RUINATION TO THAT ABOMINATION.

[appiah4]

This is what you need:

 

http://image.bolterandchainsword.com/uploads/gallery/album_8363/gallery_60983_8363_82335.jpg

[ChapelXIII]

Ah! I have those models. Just painted some up recently. I really love the old molds for the Death Company.

[Kanis]

I was just asking myself this as I was making mine, and I'm in agreement with the bolter idea for at least half, especially since 6th has made Black Rage's well, Rage, considerably better! It gives new meaning to being hit by a bolter...

[Inquisitor Eisenhorn]

Bolters!

[Andurin Marvak]

"whaling on Horus"

 

So is it just me, or did anyone else envision Sanguinius surfing on Horus through the waves, wielding a harpoon and chasing Moby Dick?

[Dafoo]

All Death Company are Melee oriented. Pistols just make them more so. The Bolters are the way to go In my honest opinion. I like to put chaplains with all my death company though (not to mention drop pods); So I rarely have to worry about what they do in melee.