Jump to content

death guard tactics?


recon0321

Recommended Posts

So I have finally nailed down my HH project....loyalist death guard and iron hands during the caldera compliance....but how do I outfit them? I am waiting on both HH books...from what I understand they favor heavy assault tactics...I am going for fluff first and playability second...now from what I understand the entire squad has to be equipped with the same wargear? Also what's the difference between tactical support squads and heavy support squads, just weapons?

 

Thanks sorry the post is long

Link to comment
https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/285033-death-guard-tactics/
Share on other sites

Welcome to the Golden Age of the Imperium!  We're always glad to have more.

 

There's some good info in the books on favored tactics, but both of them would probably have a lot of boots on the ground, not necessarily assault/melee focused.  Some squads have to be equipped with identical wargear (Tactical Support and Heavy Support squads included), but not every single squad is like that.  Terminators, for instance, are pretty customizable, but Tactical squads can't take any special or heavy weapons - bolters only.

 

And don't worry about your post length.  Ask for my advice on something and you'll get several paragraphs of won't-shut-up. =P

The Volkite weapons all share a special rule, "Deflagrate."  Basically, for the number of unsaved wounds they cause against a unit, you resolve an additional number of automatic hits against that same unit.  The additional hits don't cause more if they wound.  Just to be a little different the Volkite weapon ranges are in multiples of 5 instead of 6.  The Charger itself is 15" S5 AP5 Assault 2 Deflagrate - the rifle Volkite.  The Serpenta is the pistol, the Caliver is like a support version, and the Culverin is like a heavy version.

With Death Guard, the fluff and special rules will steer you towards an infantry force as veteran tactical squads and heavy support squads can count as non-compulsory troops.

 

Volkite weaponry seem very XIV Legion to me and flamers can be given shred, but you may also wish to consider the leaf blowers of doom (autocannons).

 

Deathshroud are very effective, but I've yet to try the new Wardens.

 

I would also suggest at least one Spartan to help deliver either a large tactical squad or your commander with Deathshroud.

I liked needing to use hot water to get the ammo feeds into position, it made conversions much easier, compared to GWs heavy bolter feeds.

 

The death guards style can also fit the use of medusa with phosphex shells and moritat and destroyers. They do like the scorched earth approach. Distant echoes of old night is a nice short story based around death guard destroyers.

In an older chaos codex i found, that deathguard where trained to use theyr Bolters onehanded. As csm they got a special rule, let bolters count as cc weapon that time. (i am sorry i dont remember if it was 3rd or 4th edition) But they still did this training before they turned to chaos... So you could show your deathguards with Bolter pressing on body and swinging chainsword with the other hand to show this special tactic.

In an older chaos codex i found, that deathguard where trained to use theyr Bolters onehanded. As csm they got a special rule, let bolters count as cc weapon that time. (i am sorry i dont remember if it was 3rd or 4th edition) But they still did this training before they turned to chaos... So you could show your deathguards with Bolter pressing on body and swinging chainsword with the other hand to show this special tactic.

 

I know Space Wolves had that (the special rule was called True Grit).  I don't think it was a CSM thing.

It'd be 3rd(or 3.5) if it was.

 

Either way, to my recollection the new HH books don't seem to have anything about marines one-handing bolters, and it has been retconned out of the new Wolves codex (they received bolter, bolt pistol, and CCW instead of bolter, true grit, and CCW).  Even if it was once canon that Death Guard did the true grit thing, I don't think it is anymore.

Flamer is cheapest (it's actually the base weapon for the support squads) and is fluffy for Death Guard.  Melta and Plasma both bring more dakka, but the points for them are pretty high and make your support squad a prime target - and each loss from the squad hurts.  Not really a right answer here about what is the single best option on a Support squad, it's about what you think your list needs either for gameplay or fluff.  If you're already overflowing with anti-tank, what good are more meltas, y'know?

 

In an older chaos codex i found, that deathguard where trained to use theyr Bolters onehanded. As csm they got a special rule, let bolters count as cc weapon that time. (i am sorry i dont remember if it was 3rd or 4th edition) But they still did this training before they turned to chaos... So you could show your deathguards with Bolter pressing on body and swinging chainsword with the other hand to show this special tactic.

 

I know Space Wolves had that (the special rule was called True Grit).  I don't think it was a CSM thing.

 

We did use to have that - legendary rule! Very beneficial for CSMs, but now we have BP/Bolter/CCW combo it doesn't make a lot of difference.

Heavy Bolter is the default for the Heavy Weapons squad, but I think it's either free to swap to the Heavy Flamer or incredibly cheap. Any flame weapons in a Death Guard army become extremely deadly due to their special rules. In Zone Mortalis they're crazy. Grave Wardens with Heavy Flamers utilize their special rule AND their Legion rule as well.

Phosphex shells replace the normal (S10, AP2) Medusa artillery rounds for a S5 AP2 version that remains in play. They can also be moved 2" each turn if the new position will cover more models :)

 

To access them, you'll need to take a Siege Breaker HQ choice. I think a Death Guard army with a Siege Breaker, Master of Signals, Medusa battery and heavy support squads would look fantastic... stay at range and get shelled to pieces, or cross no-man's land straight into a counter-attack of toxic flamers.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.