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Anyone field the 9th Company?


Bloody Legionnaire

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I'm really new to Dark Angels, and haven't fully explored the codex yet. While reading it today, I stumbled upon the fluff of the 9th Company and thought it would be pretty awesome to field an entire army of devastators. Has anyone attempted to field the 9th Company yet... I don't know how viable it would be, but I think it'd be pretty fun to play. 

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Since the Dark Angels "technically" follow the edicts of the Codex Astartes, they do not field the IX company in full. The reserve companies (VI,VII,VII,IX) all act as supplemental warriors to the main battle companies (III,IV, V). If a battle company needs more heavy firepower for a specific op than the two devs in their company then a squad or two (or however much more is necessary) is assigned to provide assistance to the battle company.

 

Rules-wise, you need two troop choices still, so you either need tacticals, scouts, Deathwing (w/ Belial), or Ravenwing(w/ Sammael).

As shorty points out unbound is totally an option however a more practical method of employment is to simply not give the tactical squads you do take any special weapons (so the single heavy weapon and then anything on your hq as normal) and then just pretend as you go along.

 

It would be an interesting challenge for both assembly and employment as you can't rely on special weapons to bail you out unless their mounted to vehicles or in a command/veteran squad.

As shorty points out unbound is totally an option however a more practical method of employment is to simply not give the tactical squads you do take any special weapons (so the single heavy weapon and then anything on your hq as normal) and then just pretend as you go along.

 

It would be an interesting challenge for both assembly and employment as you can't rely on special weapons to bail you out unless their mounted to vehicles or in a command/veteran squad.

It would be interesting, I don't know how challenging it would be. I would definitely Include a Company Master and his command squad... Then the rest of the force would be Devastators, I think if I  gave a few HB squads a Rhino or Razorback it could make it a little more workable, and give the army some speed and mobility it would definitely be lacking. Since everything is scoring, the Rhino/RBs could drop the unit off on an objective, and then scoot out to saftey or to grab another objective itself should the need arise. There would be so much fire power on the table I'm curious to how it would work out... 

 

Why do you think it would be a challenge as far as assembly goes? 

Getting hold of enough heavy weapons will be the challenge. That said, GW has gotten better at giving more kits heavy weapon options. The Devastator boxes come with 2 of every heavy weapon (bar the missile launcher and multi-melta of which there is 1 of each) but there are missile launchers in the Tactical box and company vet box. Alternatively, ebay bitz suppliers should get you most of what you need.

 

One thought for adding special weapon firepower to your force is utilising either the command squad or a company vet squad. After all, the codex doesn't say there are no veterans in the reserve companies ;) Of course, if you want a CC unit, then one of these will have to be tooled up for that, as well. Although four plasma guns with FNP is nice ;)

 

As to the idea itself, sounds awesome and you should totally go for it if your keen. This is definitely the reason unbound exists and its nice to see someone taking advantage of it in a way that is awesome from a fluff point of view.

Getting hold of enough heavy weapons will be the challenge. That said, GW has gotten better at giving more kits heavy weapon options. The Devastator boxes come with 2 of every heavy weapon (bar the missile launcher and multi-melta of which there is 1 of each) but there are missile launchers in the Tactical box and company vet box. Alternatively, ebay bitz suppliers should get you most of what you need.

One thought for adding special weapon firepower to your force is utilising either the command squad or a company vet squad. After all, the codex doesn't say there are no veterans in the reserve companies msn-wink.gif Of course, if you want a CC unit, then one of these will have to be tooled up for that, as well. Although four plasma guns with FNP is nice msn-wink.gif

As to the idea itself, sounds awesome and you should totally go for it if your keen. This is definitely the reason unbound exists and its nice to see someone taking advantage of it in a way that is awesome from a fluff point of view.

That's exactly what I was planning on doing, I highly doubt the Company Masters go into combat very often with out their command squads... unless in another unit. I think there would be enough heavy weapons for 3 units LCs, 2 units of PCs, 2 units of MLs and 3 units of HBs. I have left over bits from my Long Fangs as well that will help me complete the job. I don't think I would field the full 10... I don't think they would deploy the whole company just incase Devastator support was needed in a different area.

sounds like a plan :) I do agree with earlier posters about utilising Razorbacks/Rhinos for added mobility for your infantry. However, just annihilating a couple of units at a time will just be plain awesome. Let us know how it plays.

It's not impossible at all. Nor do you require two Troops choices. This edition's Unbound rules are for exactly this kind of situation.

Not to mention Apocalypse, where you can even find a specific formation for fielding the entire Company.

If I would go for that 9th company army I would just try to stay in the battle formation. As it might be possible to run out of heavy weapon dudes - just remember that the 9th is not only the davastator company its called the siege company too. So i would think about whirlwinds and or vindicators too. Another fluffy addition mighty be techmarines imo use them with auspex - they arent really part of the companies but I think they would look like they belong in that heavy weaponry department ;)

I would utilize the old company organization from the rogue trader days:

chart 1:

Company Master (optional command squad)

2x 5 man tac

1x devastator 10

2x devastator 5

chart 2:

Lieutenant (company master) (optional command squad)

2x 5man tac

1x devastator 10

2x devastator 5

chart 3:

Chaplain (optional command squad)

2x 5 man tac

1x deva....

vou get it smile.png

If I would go for that 9th company army I would just try to stay in the battle formation. As it might be possible to run out of heavy weapon dudes - just remember that the 9th is not only the davastator company its called the siege company too. So i would think about whirlwinds and or vindicators too. Another fluffy addition mighty be techmarines imo use them with auspex - they arent really part of the companies but I think they would look like they belong in that heavy weaponry department msn-wink.gif

I would utilize the old company organization from the rogue trader days:

chart 1:

Company Master (optional command squad)

2x 5 man tac

1x devastator 10

2x devastator 5

chart 2:

Lieutenant (company master) (optional command squad)

2x 5man tac

1x devastator 10

2x devastator 5

chart 3:

Chaplain (optional command squad)

2x 5 man tac

1x deva....

vou get it smile.png

I could do Command Squads reasonably, however, in order to stay fluffy, I would not be able to take the tac squads of any kind, the fluff does so that the 9th company is made up "solely of devastators." Though, I do think I could include some armor in there. Other than the Deathwing and Ravenwing, I assume the Dark Angels are similar to the space wolves in that they take whatever they will need into a fight. Some armor could definitely be included.

What do you mean exactly by "Run out of heavy weapons dudes" do you mean from a modeling stand point, or an in game stand point? I should have plenty of bits, and on the level of a game stand point.. 50 marines all with heavy weapons in an 1850 point game, is a lot to get rid of xD

I'm debating whether or not I want my HQs and Command Squads to be in Terminator armor, they would be more resilient, but definitely slower than if they were on bikes. I could do the point saving route and put then in PA and then in Rhinos. It would give me a little bit of a CC capability, I'm hoping with that many heavy weapons every where I could wipe out the majority of guys trying to assault me. Plus, I've seen what happens when a unit tries to assault a full squad of HBs.... twas joyous.

Fluffwise you would not have tactical squads in the devastator company - I totally agree. What would be the options?

 

You have troops:

 

Scout Squads

Tactical Squads

Deathwing or Ravenwing (options would require you to take a special char.)

 

But staying in the limits of the force org and have the 9th nicely displayed needs some count as imho.

 

I am building this company for me too - but I am taking myself a bit more freedom out of the fluff.

 

I envision my dev company as the following:

 

Company Master in TDA (captain of the company)

TDA Command section

Landraider

 

Chaplain

2 Dreadnoughts (maybe Contemptors or Ironclads)

 

Company Master in TDA (lieutenant of the company)

TDA Command section

Landraider

 

8x 5 man devastator squad - razorback

8x 5 man tactical squad - razorbacks (representing the combat squatted half of the devastator squads that act as spotters and shield of the heavy weapon guys.

6x 5 man devastator centurions

 

how many of them I will really paint up is not out yet. But I imagine that this company could look very impressive on the table.

The reserve companies will have marines moving in and out of them all the time. Marines moving into the 9th are coming from the scout company and are probably just getting used to their new power armour. A tactical squad (painted as devastators obviously) with 5 marines incuding a veteran seargent and a "veteran" heavy weapon specialist would be a good first step introducing these new battle brothers to the finer points of the tactics and strategies of the 9th company.

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