The Corvus Blackstar

[Race Bannon]

Oh yeah, I converted before I posted, yet it's still more than a SRaven sooo ... I'll stick with stock for my RG ^_^

[Commander Dawnstar]

Actually I would expect the Blackstar to come in cheaper. It's a full £10 less than the Stormraven on the UK webstore.

 

I'm not sure why that isn't reflected by the NZ prices, but then that's just another facet of the overpricing nightmare they have to suffer through Down Under.

[Tyriks]

I had to pick up my eyeballs after seeing the price point for this model. For those that can afford it, enjoy it

Did you check to make sure you weren't looking at dollaroos? (NZ currency)

I followed that same link and saw a Razorback for $65 (I think) and just about dropped my whiskey!

[pompeyladbfp]

In pure death watch I can see it's use especially in a CAD list, making it obj secured if taken as troops transport.. Otherwise its just a bit meh... Tbh I think the codex is missing quite a bit of character, still going to an army obviously lol

[Inso]

Looking at this new flier from a different point of view, I'm planning on using it as a proxy Valkyrie for my Astra Millitarum.

 

It is a whole pound cheaper than a Valkyrie (I know... shocking :o ) and with minor modification, will be WYSIWIG (leave off the top guns and a single lascannon and put the missile pods on instead of the larger missiles).

 

It looks so much more intimidating than the Valkyrie, has 3 access points and looks just a little smaller (did I mention that my Astra Militarum force is made up of Squat Miniatures? :) )... so it should work perfectly.

 

I think it is one of the best fliers GW has made so far :)

[casb1965]

Can't believe people are saying it's a cool model it's a Valkyrie with a tin can underneath it. The body doesn't fit with the wing and tail sections visually and other than its looks it actually isn't worth the points to actually field it.

[RedMoon]

Yeah how dare somebody have an opinion different then yours......

[casb1965]

Yeah how dare somebody have an opinion different then yours......

 

Or that I have one different to theirs?

[Prot]

Can't believe people are saying it's a cool model it's a Valkyrie with a tin can underneath it. The body doesn't fit with the wing and tail sections visually and other than its looks it actually isn't worth the points to actually field it.

 

 

 

Yeah how dare somebody have an opinion different then yours......

 

Or that I have one different to theirs?

 

 

You're the one insinuating that other opinions are 'unbelievable'. 

 

I think it looks the part. A stealthy, devastating wedge of death..... I probably would have added a 'stealth' rule of some sort for the turn it enters, just because that's immediately what came to mind when I saw it, and I would think Deathwatch would have that kind of access to a specialized, perhaps top secret, style of aircraft.

 

Rules wise it is over costed, and I would only run it in purely 'for fun' games. If it had a Necron style passenger delivery system then at least you get your payload on the table, without deviation, quicker and further away from your zone. But since the army can already deep strike, I don't think the points will give it much of a chance since already we're looking at a point heavy army with small model count issues. 

[Silverson]

It reminded me of the cloaking ship of Star Trek ds9 (googled it and it was called the defiant) does anyone know what is the best load out for it currently?.

 

I know twin linked assault cannon is better than a las cannon in most cases but what about the other weapons, I think reroll jink is better than strafing run and the hurricane bolters are use to like points dependant.

[casb1965]

Can't believe people are saying it's a cool model it's a Valkyrie with a tin can underneath it. The body doesn't fit with the wing and tail sections visually and other than its looks it actually isn't worth the points to actually field it.

Yeah how dare somebody have an opinion different then yours......

Or that I have one different to theirs?

You're the one insinuating that other opinions are 'unbelievable'.

I think it looks the part. A stealthy, devastating wedge of death..... I probably would have added a 'stealth' rule of some sort for the turn it enters, just because that's immediately what came to mind when I saw it, and I would think Deathwatch would have that kind of access to a specialized, perhaps top secret, style of aircraft.

Rules wise it is over costed, and I would only run it in purely 'for fun' games. If it had a Necron style passenger delivery system then at least you get your payload on the table, without deviation, quicker and further away from your zone. But since the army can already deep strike, I don't think the points will give it much of a chance since already we're looking at a point heavy army with small model count issues.

"I don't believe..." doesn't equal "..is unbelievable".

I just find it unbelievable someone would call me out on such a trivial matter.

[Lysere]

I don't really feel the corvus is over costed, more the storm raven might be a tad under costed.

 

For the same cost as the raven you get a nehphilim that can hover, has better missiles, slightly better chances to hit (everything is twin linked), a transport capacity, and the ability to be taken as a dedicated transport. This is all before you think about death from the skies.

 

If you are using the new flyer rules then in terms of air power it now beats out the storm raven against other flyers since it has permanent anti air options while retaining all of its other options. Plus it has better anti horde than the other marine flyers.

 

[EDIT]

Forgot that the Corvus can also drop bombs all game, something neither the raven or Nephilim can do.

 

Went and double checked the Nephilim and I guess the Corvus has it beat in terms of armor as well.

[Prot]

I don't really feel the corvus is over costed, more the storm raven might be a tad under costed.

 

For the same cost as the raven you get a nehphilim that can hover, has better missiles, slightly better chances to hit (everything is twin linked), a transport capacity, and the ability to be taken as a dedicated transport. This is all before you think about death from the skies.

 

If you are using the new flyer rules then in terms of air power it now beats out the storm raven against other flyers since it has permanent anti air options while retaining all of its other options. Plus it has better anti horde than the other marine flyers.

 

[EDIT]

Forgot that the Corvus can also drop bombs all game, something neither the raven or Nephilim can do.

 

Went and double checked the Nephilim and I guess the Corvus has it beat in terms of armor as well.

 

Well how often do you see a Nephilim in a competitive game? I used to use one for fun, but never beyond that. 

 

I used the new flight rules and even ran duals of the new Stormhawks and they're good but to be 100% honest I don't think Flyers really are that great anymore period. Too much happens too fast in the current game system. You have a bad reserve roll and the game can be just about over. The more points you put in reserve, the greater this effect has against the current stuff in the game that wins tournaments. 

 

Again, I'm talking competitive stuff here. Anything goes for fun games. :)

[Lysere]

Well, whether or not a flyer is the best choice in a competitive sense is a bit of a different question than is a flyer worth its points compared to others. Since I've answered the latter already I'll give my thoughts on the former.

 

If you could reliably get the flyer on through reserve manipulation or some other rule I'd say it could worth it in a competitive sense. The formation with two storm talons and a speeder is a good example since the talons always come in turn two without needing to roll.

 

Otherwise yeah, a bad reserve roll could leave you without a part of your army until too late and the deathwatch lack any sort of reserve control.

 

Of course I mostly play for fun so I'll be trying it out using some flying bases next game I play. See how the rules hold up.

[MithrilForge]

Can't believe people are saying it's a BAD model,field it.

fixed.

I love it and will get one just for Cool/Fluff reasons and to use in Beer N Pretzels games with my mates...which honestly, are the best 40k Games anyway

wonder how to paint it Carbon looking with hex shaped camo in matte black or very dark grey

Mithril

[Goonbandito]

It reminded me of the cloaking ship of Star Trek ds9 (googled it and it was called the defiant) does anyone know what is the best load out for it currently?.

 

I know twin linked assault cannon is better than a las cannon in most cases but what about the other weapons, I think reroll jink is better than strafing run and the hurricane bolters are use to like points dependant.

For 10pts you can buy an Auspex Array which gives it the Strafing Run rule.  The loadout I'd say depends on whether you're using Death from the Skies or not.  If you're not, then buy an Auspex Array and Infernum Halo Launcher and leave it stock.  That gives you a Twin-Linked Assault Cannon, the Cluster Bomb Launcher and 4 Stormstrike missiles which gives you a solid anti-air and anti-ground flyer for a smidge under 200pts.  If you are using DftS, then you lose Skyfire since its an Attack Flyer so maybe consider paying to replace the Stormstrike missiles with the Blackstar rocket launcher which will give you a large blast for shooting at ground targets or D6 S6 Skyfire shots.

[Lysere]

 

 

It reminded me of the cloaking ship of Star Trek ds9 (googled it and it was called the defiant) does anyone know what is the best load out for it currently?.

 

I know twin linked assault cannon is better than a las cannon in most cases but what about the other weapons, I think reroll jink is better than strafing run and the hurricane bolters are use to like points dependant.

For 10pts you can buy an Auspex Array which gives it the Strafing Run rule. The loadout I'd say depends on whether you're using Death from the Skies or not. If you're not, then buy an Auspex Array and Infernum Halo Launcher and leave it stock. That gives you a Twin-Linked Assault Cannon, the Cluster Bomb Launcher and 4 Stormstrike missiles which gives you a solid anti-air and anti-ground flyer for a smidge under 200pts. If you are using DftS, then you lose Skyfire since its an Attack Flyer so maybe consider paying to replace the Stormstrike missiles with the Blackstar rocket launcher which will give you a large blast for shooting at ground targets or D6 S6 Skyfire shots.

Can't have both upgrades, one or the other.

 

I'd say infernum halo launcher unless you want to use the storm strikes and Las cannons to hunt armor since everything but the storm strikes is twin linked (which is statistically better than +1 BS.)

[Goonbandito]

Oh you're right.  It's hard to give up the Stormstrikes imo, so I'd be tempted to lean towards Strafing Run.  S8 AP2 Concussive is great against big targets you want to charge, so your melee dudes can get their swings in first/same time (Heavy Thunder Hammers vs Wraithknight for example).  And you probably shouldn't be counting on getting more than 2 rounds of shooting from it, so the limited amount of Stormstrikes isn't a huge issue.  Maybe if you're using the Blackstar primarily as a Transport, then the Halo Launcher is more useful (but then why not Drop Pod?), but I guess its how aggressive you want to be versus how defensive you want to be.

 

It costs 15pts to replace the Stormstrike missiles with the Blackstar Rocket Launcher, which is effectively either a twin-linked Large Blast Flamer or snapshooting D6 twin-linked S6 Skyfire shots against Ground Targets.  Its not exactly inspiring.  Like I said I think it becomes more useful if you're using Death from the Skies, since Attack Flyers don't natively have Skyfire there.

[Race Bannon]

Well, checked the US site and it's cheaper than a LR. Currency converter be darned it seems :blush:

[Lysere]

Oh you're right.  It's hard to give up the Stormstrikes imo, so I'd be tempted to lean towards Strafing Run.  S8 AP2 Concussive is great against big targets you want to charge, so your melee dudes can get their swings in first/same time (Heavy Thunder Hammers vs Wraithknight for example).  And you probably shouldn't be counting on getting more than 2 rounds of shooting from it, so the limited amount of Stormstrikes isn't a huge issue.  Maybe if you're using the Blackstar primarily as a Transport, then the Halo Launcher is more useful (but then why not Drop Pod?), but I guess its how aggressive you want to be versus how defensive you want to be.

 

It costs 15pts to replace the Stormstrike missiles with the Blackstar Rocket Launcher, which is effectively either a twin-linked Large Blast Flamer or snapshooting D6 twin-linked S6 Skyfire shots against Ground Targets.  Its not exactly inspiring.  Like I said I think it becomes more useful if you're using Death from the Skies, since Attack Flyers don't natively have Skyfire there.

 

Personally I'd be more likely to take the Black star rockets as it turns the Corvus into a horde destroyer and gives decent AA whenever you need it, even when hovering. If I want storm strikes I'd be looking at probably a pair of Corvus so they can cover each other's weaknesses. I mean the Deathwatch don't really need help dealing with ground targets for the most part anyway, what with all the specialist bolt rounds and the re-rolls.

[Icechiang]

Sorry for a dumb question. Can the corvus carry terminators? It does not say yes or no in the codex.

[RedMoon]

Yes it says in the codex it can hold bikes and terminators

[Icechiang]

It does? It says it can hold bikes and jump infantry. Where does it say it can hold terminators?

[Vel'Cona]

It doesn't need to say it can hold Terminators. The reason for this is that unless a model specifically says it cannot go in a transport (either on the transport's description or the unit type, special rule, etc.), then it can go in the transport. For example, in the BRB there is a specific line in the transport section that says "only Infantry units can embark on a transport". As Terminators and Veterans are Infantry, they can go in a transport (except a Rhino or Razorback, which SPECIFICALLY say they cannot carry models with the Bulky, Very Bulky or Extremely Bulky USRs). On the other hand, the Corvus specifically says it can carry Jump Infantry and Bikes, which overrides the BRB transport entry. Furthermore, the Drop Pod doesn't have any restrictions but has no special rules about what it can carry; therefore, it can only carry Infantry as per BRB.

Clear as mud, eh?

[Icechiang]

Haha exactly! I just remembered in an older edition codex the space marine drop pod specifically couldn't carry terminators but the space wolf one said it could. So I just wanted to get some clarification. Thanks!