1500 Ultramarine PotL/CF

[Moonstalker]

Inspired by Apologist's truescale work and my growing ambivalence towards Luna Wolves, I'm thinking that I'll probably repurposethe 30k stuff I have so far towards a UM army when Book 5 comes out.  I've also had a bit of a think on things, on the meta, on the new HQ choices, the declining value of Contemptor Mortises, and I came out the other side of all that with this list.

 

Consul Delegatus

-Warlord, Chosen Few, Artificer Armor, Power Sword

100

 

Consul Praevian

-Artificer Armor, Power Axe

110

 

Castellax Maniple

-2 Castellax

170

 

Veteran Tactical Squad

-5 Members, Rhino, Sniper USR

160

 

Veteran Tactical Squad

-5 Members, Rhino, Sniper USR

160

 

Tactical Squad

-20 Members, Nuncio Vox, Vexilla

270

 

Primaris Lightning Strike Fighter

-2 Kraken Missiles, 2 Sunfury Missiles, Ground Tracking Auguries

185

 

Predator Squadron

-2 Predators with AC + LC Sponsons

230

 

WW Scorpius

115

 

Delegatus goes with the Tac Blob as a home objective holder.  Vet Squads in their Rhinos are fast objective grabbers.  Praevian + Castellax are my dedicated melee/distraction carnifex.  Predators, Scorpius, and Primaris Lightning provide the heavy hitting firepower.  Overall, the list should work like a real life combined arms/blitzkrieg force, with tanks, artillery, mechanized elite infantry, and air power working to break the enemy, while slower troops follow up to hold the territory gained.  List can switch between Chosen Few and Pride of the Legion with no changes; CF is good in low point games because it's like a two VP advantage if I keep the Delegatus out of trouble.  Giving him 20 objsec ablative wounds should accomplish that.  When expanding towards higher point games, I can use PotL instead to allow me to take a LoW.  He is equipped with a power sword here so I can use the same HQ as a Praetor (with paragon blade) in a higher point game if that ends up being the direction I want to go.

 

The Primaris Lighting may not stay.  I'm quite keen on the new flyer that they showed at the weekender, and it may take the Lightning's place.  Just need to know the rules and costs.  In the meantime, the Lightning provides my anti-air, anti-Spartan, and a little crowd control.

 

Open to suggestions and critique.  The Predators and Scorpius stay, since I already own those.

[Slips]

This is apparently the Xiphon's Profile:

 

 

The Xiphon Interceptor

165 pts

Av 11/11/11 Hp3

2 twin linked lascannons

A 2 shot missile launcher that has multiple missile types and one option that makes other flyers cry

 

Beyond that I havent found any more info on them.

 

That said, list looks solid enough if slightly lacking in Anti-Air power due to how fragile a Lightning is.

The Tac Vets being Barebones irks me a bit though but I attribute that to the low points limit.

[Moonstalker]

I do like the sound of those rules.  The one time I playtested a Primaris, I found it very squishy.  An extra HP and that extra point of armor would be very welcome.

 

I hope one of the missile options is akin to kraken missiles.

 

I'd like to squeeze some special weapons into those vet squads, but the points are hard to come by.  I could possibly justify dropping the tac squad to 15 guys in exchange for some plasma guns (or similar) in the vet squads.

[Slips]

If you're going aggro with them, Sniper Heavy Flamer? Though I'd only strongly consider that option if you were a Salamander.

 

Sniper Plasma gun seems like a waste of the rule since its already Ap2 but it is more consistent than the rule itself so theres that.

 

I harp on about the Heavy Bolter but thats because I get more out of it because of IF rules but, its still a decent option.

 

Sniper Frag Missiles might be hilarious too..

 

If you cant find the points / select a good weapon then I guess they're good enough as is until you up the points and sink more into them.

[Moonstalker]

I do like the idea of the heavy bolter, it's very squad-automatic-weapon-ish.

[Slips]

I do like the idea of the heavy bolter, it's very squad-automatic-weapon-ish.

Also comes with a 'Free' Suspensor Web meaning you can fire it as Assault 3 or Heavy 3 if needed.

[Moonstalker]

Well, updated form would probably look something like this then:

 

Consul Delegatus

-Warlord, Chosen Few, Artificer Armor, Power Sword

100

 

Consul Praevian

-Artificer Armor, Power Axe, Refractor Field

120

 

Castellax Maniple

-2 Castellax

170

 

Veteran Tactical Squad

-5 Members, Heavy Bolter, Rhino, Sniper USR

180

 

Veteran Tactical Squad

-5 Members, Heavy Bolter, Rhino, Sniper USR

180

 

Tactical Squad

-15 Members, Nuncio Vox, Vexilla

220

 

Primaris Lightning Strike Fighter

-2 Kraken Missiles, 2 Sunfury Missiles, Ground Tracking Auguries

185

 

Predator Squadron

-2 Predators with AC + LC Sponsons

230

 

WW Scorpius

115

 

Keep the Lightning in there for now, till we've got more concrete rules for the Xiphon.  Considering that it's one of the few weekender things that has yet to be released, we might see it (and its rules) on FW within the next week or two.

[PastelAvenger]

I would try and squeeze 10pts for a refractor field on your Warlor, just gives that added protection.

 

Personally I would combine the two 5 man Vet squads, Rhinos die to a stiff breeze and 5 guys will go up in smoke in no time.

 

Just my thoughts

[Moonstalker]

Can't combine the squads, with either CF or PotL you have to use vets (or terminators, for the latter) as your compulsory choices.

 

I might be able to shake the points loose for another refractor field if/when the rules for the Xiphon come out.  If Slipstreams' little tidbit is true, it could end up being a few points cheaper than the Primaris Lightning that's currently specced.

[Moonstalker]

Double-posting \o/

 

I figured the Praevian needs a Volkite Charger more than his refractor field.  Making sure he gets Preferred Enemy for the models in his unit (via cortex designator) is much more important than his invul save, I think.  The rerolls to-hit and to-wound on the Rage charge turn will really push that unit's performance up, and with WS3 that's important.  Straight swap there.

 

Currently debating between multimelta and mauler bolt cannon for the Castellax - someone with more Mechanicum experience want to chime in?  I figure that this unit is mostly going to get pointed at terminator squads and similar, so the multimeltas should actually produce more wounds on 2+ targets.  Is it worth it to try and scrape up the points for one (or two) darkfire cannons?

 

Edit: And the rules for the Xiphon just came out, it's quite a bit more expensive than had been speculated - but that missile system just screams 'air dominance.'  To afford it, I probably need to cut the tac squad to 10 guys.  That makes me rather sad.

[Moonstalker]

T-T-T-Triple post.

 

Got in a little playtesting during the weekend.  Had to cut to 1250 points (1250 point 2v2, allied with filthy pointy-eared Xenos against CSM/CD), so I dropped my AA and the rhinos.  I had been told that my opponents were not going to use flyers, but they showed up with two FMCs and a Heldrake.  Didn't really learn much.  Opponents were stacking Cursed Earth/Forewarning/Invisibility/Tzeentch daemon rerolls, so killing anything was a chore.  I lost two marines, a hull point off a Predator, and a few wounds off the Castellax.  Killed some cultists, one Herald, and accidentally blew up a Helbrute (scorpius scattered 10 inches off the bunched-up oblits I was shooting... hammered the Helbrute with 3 pens.  oops).  Called the game early, because my opponents' psychic phase took 45 minutes each go.

 

After careful consideration, I found the rules for the XIphon were rather disappointing.  Might still get a revision after all the feedback they were sent, but this close to the release window for Book 5, I kinda doubt it.  I imagine the book has likely already gone to the printers, or is otherwise far enough along that it's too late to change.  Since I already own a twin-las Contemptor Mortis, it's going to stay in as my AA.  MIght get replaced in the future with a Primaris Lightning. 

 

Still a bit iffy on the Vets.  They didn't really have an opportunity to do their thing, and they were robbed of their transports.  Castellax performed alright, but I'm not pleased with their low base attacks, middling WS, S6, Praevian tax, etc.  Their durability is great, but I'm worried that they might not actually win fights with units of terminators, especially if they don't manage to get the charge off (considering the dangerous units of terminators probably have LR or Spartan to ride in, this is a very real concern).  Missing out on Preferred Enemy from the Cortex Designator and Rage from charging is not good.

 

This list is getting put on the back burner for a bit.  I need to see what special units the Ultras get (looking for maybe a cool special character, an artificer-armored melee squad, and/or some type of proto-codex astartes tactical squad).  In the meantime, the ETL calls.