2000 pt Word Bearers "Assault or bust"

[depthcharge12]

I was just messing around with list ideas and came up with a list that tried to play to the Word Bearers' strengths, namely assault. (TL;DR list is below)

 

This list is quite a bit tricky to use as assault marines are heftily costed and require finesse to use, however, they can make a mess out of any non terminator armored opponents. Using these forces will need cover at all time and not have really any objective securing troops. Since you get to place terrain and objectives, I would plan to put all mine near the center of the board. Cover is used as a LoS blocker and to protect from nasty weapons. Objectives are centrally placed as to bring the enemy closer, and to be captured on the way to the enemy. Without further ado:

 

2000 ish points

 

HQ

 

Diabolist - 175

+ AA, jump pack, power axe, burning lore (biomancy), void shield

 

Chaplain - 135

+ AA, Crozius (axe), burning lore (biomancy), combat shield

 

 

Elites

 

5 cataphractii Terminators - 354

+ plasma blaster, power axe, 3 power fists, 1 chain fist, 2 combi plasma, dark channeling

+ Anvillus drop pod (dedicated transport)

 

5 Gal Vorbak - 235

+ Martyr w/AA/power fist, 1 power sword

 

 

Troops

 

15 assault marines - 405

+ sarge w/AA/power fist, 1power axe, 2 power swords, dark channeling

 

15 assault marines - 380

+ sarge w/AA/power fist, 1power axe, 2 power swords

 

 

Heavy support

 

Venator tank -190

 

Deredeo Dreadnought - 220

+ Aiolos missile launcher

 

 

Alright, so this list is compact but hits with a punch. The Diabolist jumps with the DC assault squad and confers on them the void shield to deny any fire < S6 against them and even soak up a potential bigger shot.

 

The chaplain hangs out with the gal Vorbak and they run behind the assault squads, hopefully using them as shields or distractions...either way the enemy will get wrecked in cc. His zealot rule will be useful to give them rerolls to hit in cc, especially with the rending on them - they'll need all the hits they can get. The chappy can also soak up any bad hits against the squad with majority T5 and a 2+/5++

 

The terminators drop in first turn as per the drop assault rule and the pod jinks to get a cover save. If I'm feeling ballsy, I'll put it semi near a squad that can't hurt it and use the burning descent to try and hurt them. Next turn, if the pod survives, it will move up six, drop out the termies for 6 shots of plasma death and they will assault any big, bad units. I'm hoping that they'll get the +1 S to give them S10 power fists :devil: getting zealot or fear are nice also (with the daemon rule useless except for the fear).

 

The gulag assault marines are there to sweep up any MEQ saves, while the termies and Gal Vorbak are there to kill the enemies baddest unit.

 

The Venetor is a specific choice...I would have picked a Sicaran, but feel that it's less reliable for penetrating AV14. The Ven needs to hop out of cover and snipe an enemy Spartan/raider to allow my assaulty guys to get at the juicy bits.

 

The Deredeo is for absolutely annihilating any armored vehicle or walker that poses a threat to the infantry - whether that be a Kheresnaught, a Scorpius, or a fire raptor. The launcher on him is an added bonus to pin units in place for my infantry, or to harass light armor.

 

 

Sorry for all the text, what do you guys think?

[Castiel]

Have you considered trying to fit in a small destroyer squad. Hitting a unit with rad-phage before they get hit by a combat squad is really effective as you'll be wounding marines on 3s, 2s with the Gal Vorbak.

 

 

I'm not sure I'f I'd keep the Venator. Its only 50/50 as to whether it would penetrate a LR or Spartan, not including a flare shield which could make it more difficult, and then only a 1 in 3 to destroy it. There are already a lot of power fists in the list, so I feel like the points might be better spent on a few meltabombs and something else instead.

 

That's my 2p anyway :)

[1ncarnadine]

Have you considered trying to fit in a small destroyer squad. Hitting a unit with rad-phage before they get hit by a combat squad is really effective as you'll be wounding marines on 3s, 2s with the Gal Vorbak.

 

Rad-phage does jack to models that only have one wound, as it only affects a model (not unit) that was hit, lost a wound to the rad-phage weapon, and then survived. Destroyers are basically niche Castellax-hunters, and that's about it... Well, I've seen lots of interesting tactics proposed with them here and there but they're definitely not a general utility unit

[Slips]

 

Have you considered trying to fit in a small destroyer squad. Hitting a unit with rad-phage before they get hit by a combat squad is really effective as you'll be wounding marines on 3s, 2s with the Gal Vorbak.

 

Rad-phage does jack to models that only have one wound, as it only affects a model (not unit) that was hit, lost a wound to the rad-phage weapon, and then survived. Destroyers are basically niche Castellax-hunters, and that's about it... Well, I've seen lots of interesting tactics proposed with them here and there but they're definitely not a general utility unit

 

But, if that squad has a Nasty Character (who, very rarely have EW)...you'd be in a better position to kill them outright especially if their accompanied by an FNP Giver since you'd only need S6 to double it out instead of S8.

[1ncarnadine]

 

But, if that squad has a Nasty Character (who, very rarely have EW)...you'd be in a better position to kill them outright especially if their accompanied by an FNP Giver since you'd only need S6 to double it out instead of S8.

 

Special characters got you down? The Word Bearers have a brand new solution to that, that is actually cheaper than a fully maxed out Destroyer squad with jump packs and 2 rad missile launchers.

 

Mhara Gal + Anvillus Pod! That thing will even rip Sigismund in half if you give it enough time. Salamanders Praetor with TH/SS Firedrakes are still bad news though, as is maybe Polux with his fist/melta. Even if it fails it still might massive blast - soulblaze everything in the vicinity.

[depthcharge12]

 

But, if that squad has a Nasty Character (who, very rarely have EW)...you'd be in a better position to kill them outright especially if their accompanied by an FNP Giver since you'd only need S6 to double it out instead of S8.

 

 

Special characters got you down? The Word Bearers have a brand new solution to that, that is actually cheaper than a fully maxed out Destroyer squad with jump packs and 2 rad missile launchers.

 

Mhara Gal + Anvillus Pod! That thing will even rip Sigismund in half if you give it enough time. Salamanders Praetor with TH/SS Firedrakes are still bad news though, as is maybe Polux with his fist/melta. Even if it fails it still might massive blast - soulblaze everything in the vicinity.

It's still -1 to hit him and the plasma cannon is great for messing with leadership. I still think the claw would take out quite a few Firedrakes with the Ghost Razor rule.

 

 

As for destroyers...I'd like to, but they're just points heavy.

[Castiel]

 

Have you considered trying to fit in a small destroyer squad. Hitting a unit with rad-phage before they get hit by a combat squad is really effective as you'll be wounding marines on 3s, 2s with the Gal Vorbak.

 

Rad-phage does jack to models that only have one wound, as it only affects a model (not unit) that was hit, lost a wound to the rad-phage weapon, and then survived. Destroyers are basically niche Castellax-hunters, and that's about it... Well, I've seen lots of interesting tactics proposed with them here and there but they're definitely not a general utility unit

 

Sorry, I don't mean rad-phage, but the rad-grenades of the destroyers reduce the toughness of an enemy unit or units assaulted by -1 for the first round of combat.

[Slips]

 

 

But, if that squad has a Nasty Character (who, very rarely have EW)...you'd be in a better position to kill them outright especially if their accompanied by an FNP Giver since you'd only need S6 to double it out instead of S8.

 

Special characters got you down? The Word Bearers have a brand new solution to that, that is actually cheaper than a fully maxed out Destroyer squad with jump packs and 2 rad missile launchers.

 

Mhara Gal + Anvillus Pod! That thing will even rip Sigismund in half if you give it enough time. Salamanders Praetor with TH/SS Firedrakes are still bad news though, as is maybe Polux with his fist/melta. Even if it fails it still might massive blast - soulblaze everything in the vicinity.

 

I dearly hope it can take on Sigismund since it actually costs More than he does for less army-wide benefits - which are pretty minor to begin with; that is, until Siggy offs your warlord.

[1ncarnadine]

But, if that squad has a Nasty Character (who, very rarely have EW)...you'd be in a better position to kill them outright especially if their accompanied by an FNP Giver since you'd only need S6 to double it out instead of S8.

Special characters got you down? The Word Bearers have a brand new solution to that, that is actually cheaper than a fully maxed out Destroyer squad with jump packs and 2 rad missile launchers.

Mhara Gal + Anvillus Pod! That thing will even rip Sigismund in half if you give it enough time. Salamanders Praetor with TH/SS Firedrakes are still bad news though, as is maybe Polux with his fist/melta. Even if it fails it still might massive blast - soulblaze everything in the vicinity.

I dearly hope it can take on Sigismund since it actually costs More than he does for less army-wide benefits - which are pretty minor to begin with; that is, until Siggy offs your warlord.

Hey now! Barely more expensive It's true though, the Mhara Gal doesn't make much sense for its points when you really stare hard at it. It has the potential to do hilarious, awesome things and cause a ton of damage and toe-to-toe Sigismund but it's not all that reliable a choice with only 3 hull points and an extra-tall profile. Especially because even though Sigismund can't hurt the thing, he's probably being escorted by Templar Brethren with a Solarite Gauntlet and squad-wide melta bombs or something. But it is definitely way up there on the rule of cool scale...

Sorry, I don't mean rad-phage, but the rad-grenades of the destroyers reduce the toughness of an enemy unit or units assaulted by -1 for the first round of combat.

If all you want are rad grenades you can get them much cheaper by taking a Forge Lord with them, and then you can attach him wherever you want and give him a jump pack, bike or TDA. Destroyers are just... so expensive Cool but expensive (as I argue for the Mhara Gal...). Taking a Forge Lord assumes you have the spare HQ slot though.

[depthcharge12]

I did love the idea of taking a Mhara Gal, but he does take up quite a bit of points and plays hell with some of the units in the army like the burning lore ICs and the Gal Vorbak. Heaven forbid if you take any daemons.

 

He is a beast and a solution for taking down god tier units though.

[defl0]

I think you need to tweak this list. The Galvorbak and chaplain will just get shot to death. They need a transport. Maybe a spartan or cestus or drop pd. 

 

I also think you should rethink the double assault squads. One is quasi competitive as it is and 2 really puts you in the hole. Maybe just take a 20 man and flresh out the gal vorbak. 

 

The librarians with telepathy will be more useful as it keeps your squads a live. 

 

I kinda like this list as an orbital assault list. Or a list with a teleport homer in it with a bunch of deepstrike. Then you could fit in Mhara Gal in a pod and it would make a lot of sense. 

 

Or use a vigilator to get a squad up and close.

 

As the list is, you will get pretty shot up crossing the board without given much shooting damage back and then when you get in hth, you don't really even hit that hard. 

[ThatOneMarshal]

Jesus 380 points for 15 assault marines!? Do they have a shortage of jump pack in the 30th millienium? Oh just saw all the equipment you have on them. Whoops but still that quite a bit of points. The only thing I could think of is maybe scrap the venator and put a sicarian instead.

[depthcharge12]

I think you need to tweak this list. The Galvorbak and chaplain will just get shot to death. They need a transport. Maybe a spartan or cestus or drop pd. 

 

I also think you should rethink the double assault squads. One is quasi competitive as it is and 2 really puts you in the hole. Maybe just take a 20 man and flresh out the gal vorbak. 

 

The librarians with telepathy will be more useful as it keeps your squads a live. 

 

I kinda like this list as an orbital assault list. Or a list with a teleport homer in it with a bunch of deepstrike. Then you could fit in Mhara Gal in a pod and it would make a lot of sense. 

 

Or use a vigilator to get a squad up and close.

 

As the list is, you will get pretty shot up crossing the board without given much shooting damage back and then when you get in hth, you don't really even hit that hard.

 

I was thinking a drop list too, but then you can't really take any good heavy support choices outside of the fire raptor, and this list has issues with AT. The same goes for an Angels wrath list.

 

I might switch out one of the 15 man squads for a 20 man tac squad, trade the terminators for a Mhara gal, and give the Anvillus to the Gal Vorbak?

 

 

Jesus 380 points for 15 assault marines!? Do they have a shortage of jump pack in the 30th millienium? Oh just saw all the equipment you have on them. Whoops but still that quite a bit of points. The only thing I could think of is maybe scrap the venator and put a sicarian instead.

Yeah 250 base for 10 guys and 15 per extra guy.