BA Today

[Deathwalker]

 

 

 

Spend a CP for a second relic and take Standard of Sacrifice on the Sanguinary ancient to give those SG a 5+FNP.

 

 

I'm already spending 1 CP to give the Angel's Wing relic after taking Kurov's Aquila. Not sure if I want to spend that many pregame CP

 

Swap the wing for the scrolls

 

 

I'm assuming DE don't have nasty overwatch I need to worry about avoiding?

 

Statistically, no army has any overwatch worth worrying about.

Units do.

Charge the unit with 4 flamers when they are within range, it will hurt., charge the unit without them, no issue.

The wing mitigates Overwatch, and possible overwatch on more units if they also charge, it does nothing to help you on failed charge rolls.

The V V  gives you far more potential by possibly recycling CP's. which BA love. Add Kurov's. and you are creating a situation where you could burn all your CP's. then get one back and then spend it, and keep it..  

[Panzer]

Except for maybe T'au Sept T'au armies with their 5+ overwatch on everything + FtGG and potentially Overwatch re-rolls on suits. ;)

[Pendent]

The wing mitigates Overwatch, and possible overwatch on more units if they also charge, it does nothing to help you on failed charge rolls.

 

 

 

The Angel's Wing lets you reroll failed charge rolls though?

[Deathwalker]

Except for maybe T'au Sept T'au armies with their 5+ overwatch on everything + FtGG and potentially Overwatch re-rolls on suits.

You mean like charging a unit with 4 flamers? who can deliver 4d6 auto hits?

^'s, I doan need no stinging sixes.

[Deathwalker]

 

The wing mitigates Overwatch, and possible overwatch on more units if they also charge, it does nothing to help you on failed charge rolls.

 

 

 

The Angel's Wing lets you reroll failed charge rolls though?

 

If the guy with the wing still fails, you are :cuss out o luck.

[Panzer]

 

Except for maybe T'au Sept T'au armies with their 5+ overwatch on everything + FtGG and potentially Overwatch re-rolls on suits.

You mean like charging a unit with 4 flamers? who can deliver 4d6 auto hits?

^'s, I doan need no stinging sixes.

 

 

No clue what you're trying to tell me with that.

[Ornithologist]

Good times. Gonna buy Dark Imperium (for reals this time, not just the imperial half) and I'm gonna convert all the characters into character Primaris that I don't already have.

 

Looking at a Chaplin, Librarian, and something else. Not sure yet. Maybe a Non Gravis Captain?

 

Who knows.

[Jolemai]

Blood Angels Unit of the Week series:

• The Sanguinor

[Arkaniss]

Don't forget that if you charge a unit from outside it's range (so beyond 8" for Flamers) then it can't fire Overwatch. I've been sad about Inferno Pistols for a while because of that, though I'll always remember that one time it was in range of a charging unit and I rolled a 6 to hit

[Indefragable]

I am now the proud owner of a set of Mighty Wings, thanks to my good friend LutherMax (for best effect, listen to the first hyperlink while reading!)

 

As a commission for me, he acquired, built, and painted a pair of Xiphon Interceptors for me to provide some all purpose heavy dakka to my army.

 

I will let the photos speak for themselves:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out his WIP thread here:  http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/282574-luthers-wosp-works-of-slow-progress/?p=5044526

 

...and his incredible work here at his website: https://www.themightybrush.com/

 

Seriously, I can not vouch for his capabilities enough. He has painted a few things for me now and his work is outstanding. Even though he has traded in his blood red for olive drab, his talents are beyond reproach when it comes to making Sanguinius proud.

 

As for the Xiphons, I chose them for the following:

Hidden Content

This  thread highlights some of the challenges facing the 3 Flyers in our Codex.

 

For most of 7th Ed I lamented the fact that we could not get Stormtalons. The idea of a sleek, hard-hitting aerial unit that could basically bring the firepower of a Predator, yet be "High Speed, Low Drag" enough to fit my ideal vision of BA was too much to bear.

 

Come our 8th Ed Codex, and BOOM we could take Stormtalons...I was so close to buying another pair (I had some in 7th I used as Allies, then sold)...

 

...until I really did the analysis. All the weapons on a Stormtalon are Heavy, thus meaning they are -1 To Hit (a Flyer has to move, after all). The Strafing Run rules offsets that...but only against ground targets. Thus, for AA support...a Stormtalon is -2 To Hit/effectively BS5+ . Part of my interest in Flyers was some good all-purpose dakka. Stormhawks are basically the inverse of Stormtalons, being up to BS2+ against Flyers, but no better than BS4+ against ground targets which is the majority of targets in my meta. Stormravens are not too shabby, but at pretty much 300pts a pop, just not enough.

 

Enter the Xiphon Interceptor.

 

2x Twin Lascannons + a 60" Heavy 3 S6 AP-2 D:3 missile rack, and the following rules:

Hard To Hit: so enemies are -1 when firing at it

Terminal Targeting: does not suffer the penalty for moving and firing heavy weapons

Skyborn Predator: +1 To Hit when targeting units that can Fly

 

...so what that means is that you are hitting ground units on BS3+ and Fly units on BS2+ ....what's not to love?

 

They clock in at 48 melta bombs a piece, so they're not cheap, but in my book, well worth the difference in cost from a Stormtalon/hawk and Stormraven.

 

 

 

 

The question is...will my foes be ready for the danger zone?

[Damon Nightman]

As impressive as always! I love seeing Luther's work.

[LutherMax]

Thanks guys :)

 

This was the best FW kit I’ve encountered so far to be honest - went together pretty easily. Only criticism is the top fin just attaches flush - no slot or locator or anything - and of course it wasn’t straight so that took some work. But it was a fun kit to build and paint.

 

Better still - I got to meet Indy and deliver them in person, and the most gracious host he was too! We did a tour of his home town, ate buffalo wings and even got a game in!

[Dont-Be-Haten]

Good to see you back fluttering around these halls mate.

 

I've started Orlandu of House Cadmus as the first ally to my Carmine Blades.

[Chaplain Gunzhard]

Played in a 3 game doubles tournament yesterday using the new FAQ. Still not a fan lol... my teammate was very shooty Ultramarines primaris.

 

Game 1 we won by fluke. Salamanders and IG were beating the pants off my partner turn 1. The IG player was new and forgot to shoot his tanks twice, but the Ultras primaris were almost vaporized turn 1. Being new, the IG player's slow play cost them the game though. Because when my guys came down on objectives on turn 2, the time was over so we won by default.

 

Game 2 was against Dark Eldar and Orks. I had less in reserve this time (only SG, ancient and SP)... the orks swept my scout "screen" and then ate into the Intercessors but the Dark Eldar just annihilated everything else. They move so darn fast that everything I started on the table was easy meat and I would've never been able to out-position them for an assault; and when my hammer unit finally came down they had 2000 points worth of enemy focused entirely on them... didn't last long.

 

Game 3 was against a similar Ultras Primaris teamed with Nidzilla... these guys were cool and it was a chill game. The mission (The Relic) strongly favored us though, as we had the only infantry with jump packs and the Nidzilla had no shooting, also their primaris couldn't just sit and shoot they'd need to try and move towards the relic. I deployed everything on the table and just ran for the objective... one of my characters was able to break off with it while the SG stayed back to tie up units... the SG got shot to pieces fast and the Nidzilla moved to intercept my guy with the Relic... at that point my partner turned everything on the Nids and when the game was called I still had the Relic. Had it gone longer it's tough to say what would've happened.

 

Tau and Eldar won the event of course... Dark Eldar and Death Guard, and then Dark Eldar with Orcs (that we played) tied for second.

 

General impressions though... Eldar still too strong, unhurt by FAQ. Tau strong but seemed to benefit too much from new Command Points (they were next to us twice). The Deep Strike beta rule hurts, shooting is so deadly now, especially with modifiers and no intervening terrain. It felt like we were always on our back foot. Nobody used the new 2nd level "wobbly model" change because most agreed it seemed unfair and unfun, so I can't speak to that one yet. Command Points seemed to lose meaning... when there are that many it's just like free consistent rules for some armies.

 

Anyway I still had fun, mostly cuz many of my friends were in the event too.

Edited April 22, 2018 by Chaplain Gunzhard

[Deathwalker]

I am now the proud owner of a set of Mighty Wings, thanks to my good friend LutherMax (for best effect, listen to the first hyperlink while reading!)

 

As a commission for me, he acquired, built, and painted a pair of Xiphon Interceptors for me to provide some all purpose heavy dakka to my army.

 

I will let the photos speak for themselves:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out his WIP thread here:  http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/282574-luthers-wosp-works-of-slow-progress/?p=5044526

 

...and his incredible work here at his website: https://www.themightybrush.com/

 

Seriously, I can not vouch for his capabilities enough. He has painted a few things for me now and his work is outstanding. Even though he has traded in his blood red for olive drab, his talents are beyond reproach when it comes to making Sanguinius proud.

 

As for the Xiphons, I chose them for the following:

Hidden Content

This  thread highlights some of the challenges facing the 3 Flyers in our Codex.

 

For most of 7th Ed I lamented the fact that we could not get Stormtalons. The idea of a sleek, hard-hitting aerial unit that could basically bring the firepower of a Predator, yet be "High Speed, Low Drag" enough to fit my ideal vision of BA was too much to bear.

 

Come our 8th Ed Codex, and BOOM we could take Stormtalons...I was so close to buying another pair (I had some in 7th I used as Allies, then sold)...

 

...until I really did the analysis. All the weapons on a Stormtalon are Heavy, thus meaning they are -1 To Hit (a Flyer has to move, after all). The Strafing Run rules offsets that...but only against ground targets. Thus, for AA support...a Stormtalon is -2 To Hit/effectively BS5+ . Part of my interest in Flyers was some good all-purpose dakka. Stormhawks are basically the inverse of Stormtalons, being up to BS2+ against Flyers, but no better than BS4+ against ground targets which is the majority of targets in my meta. Stormravens are not too shabby, but at pretty much 300pts a pop, just not enough.

 

Enter the Xiphon Interceptor.

 

2x Twin Lascannons + a 60" Heavy 3 S6 AP-2 D:3 missile rack, and the following rules:

Hard To Hit: so enemies are -1 when firing at it

Terminal Targeting: does not suffer the penalty for moving and firing heavy weapons

Skyborn Predator: +1 To Hit when targeting units that can Fly

 

...so what that means is that you are hitting ground units on BS3+ and Fly units on BS2+ ....what's not to love?

 

They clock in at 48 melta bombs a piece, so they're not cheap, but in my book, well worth the difference in cost from a Stormtalon/hawk and Stormraven.

 

 

 

 

The question is...will my foes be ready for the danger zone?

 

Looking at those models (which are extremely cool looking), I think more of BSG Vipers.

[Grazcruzk]

A few Primaris kitbashs/conversions that I've been chipping away at. Chaplain and Reivers.

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers!

[Jolemai]

Looking good Graz :tu: Anything brewing for the ETL?

[Grazcruzk]

Looking good Graz Anything brewing for the ETL?

Thank you! I haven't planned anything yet, though I will be getting a repulsor fairly soon and I've been kicking around the idea of making some Primaris-sized Sang Guard based on the Reiver box. 

[Indefragable]

Played in a 3 game doubles tournament yesterday using the new FAQ. Still not a fan lol... my teammate was very shooty Ultramarines primaris.

 

Game 1 we won by fluke. Salamanders and IG were beating the pants off my partner turn 1. The IG player was new and forgot to shoot his tanks twice, but the Ultras primaris were almost vaporized turn 1. Being new, the IG player's slow play cost them the game though. Because when my guys came down on objectives on turn 2, the time was over so we won by default.

 

Game 2 was against Dark Eldar and Orks. I had less in reserve this time (only SG, ancient and SP)... the orks swept my scout "screen" and then ate into the Intercessors but the Dark Eldar just annihilated everything else. They move so darn fast that everything I started on the table was easy meat and I would've never been able to out-position them for an assault; and when my hammer unit finally came down they had 2000 points worth of enemy focused entirely on them... didn't last long.

 

Game 3 was against a similar Ultras Primaris teamed with Nidzilla... these guys were cool and it was a chill game. The mission (The Relic) strongly favored us though, as we had the only infantry with jump packs and the Nidzilla had no shooting, also their primaris couldn't just sit and shoot they'd need to try and move towards the relic. I deployed everything on the table and just ran for the objective... one of my characters was able to break off with it while the SG stayed back to tie up units... the SG got shot to pieces fast and the Nidzilla moved to intercept my guy with the Relic... at that point my partner turned everything on the Nids and when the game was called I still had the Relic. Had it gone longer it's tough to say what would've happened.

 

Tau and Eldar won the event of course... Dark Eldar and Death Guard, and then Dark Eldar with Orcs (that we played) tied for second.

 

General impressions though... Eldar still too strong, unhurt by FAQ. Tau strong but seemed to benefit too much from new Command Points (they were next to us twice). The Deep Strike beta rule hurts, shooting is so deadly now, especially with modifiers and no intervening terrain. It felt like we were always on our back foot. Nobody used the new 2nd level "wobbly model" change because most agreed it seemed unfair and unfun, so I can't speak to that one yet. Command Points seemed to lose meaning... when there are that many it's just like free consistent rules for some armies.

 

Anyway I still had fun, mostly cuz many of my friends were in the event too.

 

Good feedback, Gunz.

 

You should definitely send this over to the GW FAQ email so they can start seeing how their rules work in the wild.

[Panzer]

To be fair Game 2 and Game 3 don't sound like they would've ended any differently without the beta rules. At least not if they went first. Also it was a 2v2 which is not very balanced to begin with.

[Chaplain Gunzhard]

To be fair Game 2 and Game 3 don't sound like they would've ended any differently without the beta rules. At least not if they went first. Also it was a 2v2 which is not very balanced to begin with.

 

Oh I agree mostly. Game 3 I didn't even use deep strike because it was the Relic and they had only slow infantry... grab that sucker and run!

Game 2 it did make a big difference though, and 2v2 is certainly not balanced but in this case worked in my favor having a resilient (primaris) dedicated shooting army backing me up.

 

That said, I would agree it wasn't the perfect "playtest" at all, but it at least confirmed what many of us already knew... waiting an extra turn means eating so much shooting to the point of being incapable of carrying out the rest of the game (against certain opponents that is!).

 

 

 

Edited April 23, 2018 by Chaplain Gunzhard

[Jolemai]

Current Unit of the Week:

• Tycho the Lost

 

Just to add, this is the last of the BA-specific datasheets for the 8th edition. I have considered expanding the series to include the "new" datasheets that we now have access to (Reivers, Cataphractii, Hunters, and so on), before then potentially moving onto the classic units we've had for yonks (Tacticals, Predators, etc).

Is this something you'd like to see?

[durdle-durdle]

I’ve been playing around with some list ideas, and I think the ultra secret dragon level technique is to view blood angels less as a “close combat” army and more like a close range generalist army. I think focusing too hard on the +1 to wound is a trap, and we should use a general “marines” army with 1-2 close combat elements. My thought is that even a unit like tactical marines only gets 1 attack each, but a naked unit in a rhino makes a decent non-threatening aggressive unit. Then they throw 20 bolt shots into something then charge chaff or sit on an objective with a 2+ save.

 

Obviously they won’t go toe to toe with like witches or berserkers, but they’re just as active in the shooting phase as normal marines (maybe slightly worse), but significantly better in combat.

[The Unseen]

I’ve been playing around with some list ideas, and I think the ultra secret dragon level technique is to view blood angels less as a “close combat” army and more like a close range generalist army. I think focusing too hard on the +1 to wound is a trap, and we should use a general “marines” army with 1-2 close combat elements. My thought is that even a unit like tactical marines only gets 1 attack each, but a naked unit in a rhino makes a decent non-threatening aggressive unit. Then they throw 20 bolt shots into something then charge chaff or sit on an objective with a 2+ save.

 

Obviously they won’t go toe to toe with like witches or berserkers, but they’re just as active in the shooting phase as normal marines (maybe slightly worse), but significantly better in combat.

At that point, why aren't you running "soup" so those generic units get some kind of bonus?

Tacticals are already objectively pretty bad, throwing +1 to wound in cc on them does nothing to help them whatsoever.

 

So if you run a "generic" marine force with 1-2 combat units, and run into an actual generic marine list with a similar composition, with a tactic that supports the majority of their army and leaves their countet charge combat unit without a bonus, they are going to walk all over you.

 

Play raven guard, or ultras, or even sallies.

They all let the generic units shine a bit more, and in some cases still give melee units a boost.

 

BA not focusing, at least a fair bit, on combat is just playing watered down vanilla marines.

 

Edit: this is not to say that a BA list needs to be 100% assault focussed at all, my lists tend to go 50/50 or so.

We need fire support just like everyone else, so dev squads are well worthwhile to me.

 

But our "close range" specialist units all got heavy nerfs and points increases in 8th, like Baal Preds, Furioso dreads, and heavy flamer dev squads.

 

But if your list is 80% shooting and 20% assault, throw the assault units into a Blood Angels vanguard detatchment and run the rest as a faction that gives them something worthwhile.

 

Also known as "play to your strengths".

A BA list not playing towards combat is just a worse vanilla marine list.

Edited April 24, 2018 by The Unseen

[Spagunk]

If +1w is a trap then it's a really bad army bonus in general.

Edited April 24, 2018 by Spagunk