3k Death Guard - The Reaping

[WBGMatt]

Howdy folks,

 

I'm after a little bit of assistance, if you'd be so kind.

I've just signed myself up to a 3000 point tournament in May next year and I've been attempting to write a list for it.

As it transpires, I'm awful at writing (what I consider to be) competitive army lists...

 

This is what I've come up with so far.

Thematically I'm thinking along the lines of an Istvaan III/V 'story' for the army.

 

HQ: 

Marshal Durak Rask

 - Rite of War: The Reaping

 

Centurion: Praevian (Artificer Armour, Rad Grenades, Boarding Shield, Combi-Flamer, Melta Bombs, Power Scythe)

 - Vorax Class Battle-Automata Maniple

 - 3 Vorax

 - Bio-corrosive Ammunition

 - Lightning Guns

 

Elite:

Apothecarion Detachment

 - 3 x Apothecary

  - 2 w. Artificer Armour and Rad Grenades

  - 1 w. Artificer Armour and Augury Scanner

 

Contemptor Dreadnought Talon

 - Contemptor with Twin-Linked Volkite Culverin and Chainfist (Heavy Flamer)

 - Contemptor with Twin-Linked Volkite Culverin and Chainfist (Heavy Flamer)

 - Contemptor with Kheres Pattern Assault Cannon and Close Combat Weapon (Twin-Linked Bolter)

 

Troops:

Legion Tactical Squad

 - Sergeant with Artificer Armour, Melta Bombs, Power Scythe and Rad Grenades

 - 14 Marines, Vexilla, Additional Close Combat Weapons

 

Legion Tactical Squad

 - Sergeant with Artificer Armour, Melta Bombs, Power Scythe and Rad Grenades

 - 14 Marines, Vexilla, Additional Close Combat Weapons

 

Legion Heavy Support Squad

 - Sergeant with Artificer Armour and Augury Scanner

 - 4 Marines

 - Autocannons

 

Legion Heavy Support Squad

 - Sergeant with Artificer Armour

 - 4 Marines

 - Lascannons

 

Veteran Tactical Squad

 - Sergeant with Artificer Armour

 - 4 Veterans, Heavy Flamer

 - Marksmen

 

Heavy Support:

Leviathan Siege Dreadnought Talon

 - 1 Dreadnought with Armoured Ceramite, Heavy Flamers, Leviathan Siege Drill, Leviathan Storm Cannon, Phosphex Discharger

 

Deredeo Pattern Dreadnought

Aiolos Misile Launcher

Arachnus Heavy Lascannon Battery

 

 

That should come to 3000 points exactly (assuming Battlescribe and my hasty mental arithmetic can be relied upon!)

 

I know the Vorax aren't the most competitive option (come to think of it, the Praevian as a whole might not be!), but I thought they would be a cool addition (and I'm pretty set on taking that unit)

 

I was kinda working on the idea that they'd just march relentlessly towards the (thoroughly misguided) Loyalists, backed up by the Dreadnoughts with the Praevian and his little pets either scouting out on a flank somewhere or Outflanking and generally being a nuisance.

 

Help me awesome Bolter and Chainsword dude(ette)s, you're my only hope!

 

Ta

Matt

Edited December 4, 2017 by WBGMatt

[Charlo]

Looks cool and pretty standard for the reaping with some fun choices too!

 

You have a lot of reliable shooting with the Vorax and dreads providing a good amount of Melee support.

 

I'd wager as long as you kept the Leviathan near some Dread friends for support he could go full shooty with another storm cannon or Grav Bombard, also upgrade his Flamers to Volkite to maximise the ranged appeal.

 

The Veteran squad is a bit random, 4 bolters and a heavy flamer aren't going to do anything and they'll get murdered by the first thing that looks at them; either find some points to max them out or drop them for a few more bodies in the heavy weapon squads.

 

Your main problem with this list will be something like a Spartan with a Primarch Death-Star in. Even the Mighty Deredeo isn't going to be hurting that very easily!

 

You could potentially swap one Contemptor from the Talon to a Mortis too, just to maximise that firepower!

[WBGMatt]

Thanks Charlo, much appreciated!

 

That's a good call on the Leviathan, I just have a strange addiction to the Siege Drill! I'll switch it out for another Storm Cannon I think (unless Cannon/Bombard is a more sensible choice?) and add the Volkite too.

 

The Veteran squad... Ah the Veteran Squad... Yep, definitely a random choice. I found myself with 125 points left over couldn't think of anything else to put there! I'll ditch them in favour of more Lascannons I think.

 

The Spartan/Primarch death-star is definitely something I'm worried about...That and any other LoW choice really... I seem to always focus on anti-Infantry and then just have to squeeze whatever anti-tank I can in as an afterthought! Really need to get out of that mindset!

 

Would you twin Twin Lascannon on the Mortis?

 

Ta

Matt

Edited December 4, 2017 by WBGMatt

[Caillum]

I think your points might be a little off, but not to worry.

 

One thing about 30k that differs from 40k is that minimum units are generally completely useless. Your Heavy Support Squads should be ok sitting back in cover and holding objectives, but a couple of extra bodies wouldn’t hurt. And as Charlo said, a 5-man Vet Squad without a transport is probably just a waste of points sorry. Definitely reinvest them elsewhere or max them out.

 

Praevians are actually very good. Castellax are probably the stronger option, but Vorax are fine. Just make sure you Outflank them into position and put the Praevian up front to tank hits, as their 4+ save can be a problem.

 

You can save a few points on rad grenades by only putting them on 1 character per unit (looks like your Tactical Sergeants and Apothecaries have them, for instance).

 

I’d almost be inclined to make the Dreads into Contemptor-Cortus Dreadnoughts - the heavy flamers won’t need BS5 and the TL volkite will hit pretty well too. Will save you more points again, and their Atomantic Overcharge ability is quite cool. Turning them into Mortis Dreadnoughts also works, as they’re quite cheap too.

 

Here’s a 3k list I threw together using yours as a template.

HQ

Marshal Durak Rask: Rite of War (The Reaping) xxx

Praevian: artificer armour; Deathshroud power scythe; combi-flamer with chem-munitions; melta bombs; boarding shield; rad grenades 150

• 6 Vorax Class Battle-automata: Tank Hunters; 2 rotor cannon (bio-corrosive ammunition) 450

 

TROOPS

15 Tactical Space Marines: Tactical Sergeant (artificer armour; Deathshroud power scythe; melta bombs; rad grenades); 14 Tactical Space Marines; chainswords; legion vexilla 255

15 Tactical Space Marines: Tactical Sergeant (artificer armour; Deathshroud power scythe; melta bombs; rad grenades); 14 Tactical Space Marines; chainswords; legion vexilla 255

7 Heavy Support Marines: Heavy Support Sergeant (artificer armour; augury scanner); 6 Heavy Support Marines; autocannons 225

7 Heavy Support Marines: Heavy Support Sergeant (artificer armour; augury scanner); 6 Heavy Support Marines; lascannons 330

 

ELITES

Apothecarion Detachment

• Apothecary: artificer armour 55

• Apothecary: artificer armour 55

Contemptor-Cortus Class Dreadnought Talon

• Contemptor-Cortus Dreadnought: twin-linked volkite culverin; Dreadnought chainfist (heavy flamer with chem-munitions) 170

• Contemptor-Cortus Dreadnought: twin-linked volkite culverin; Dreadnought chainfist (heavy flamer with chem-munitions) 170

• Contemptor-Cortus Dreadnought: twin-linked volkite culverin; Dreadnought chainfist (heavy flamer with chem-munitions) 170

 

HEAVY SUPPORT

Leviathan Pattern Siege Dreadnought Talon

• Leviathan Pattern Siege Dreadnought: Leviathan siege drill; Leviathan storm cannon; 2 × torso-mounted twin-linked volkite calivers; armoured ceramite; phosphex discharger 330

Deredeo Pattern Dreadnought: carapace-mounted Aiolos missile launcher 220

 

3,000 points

 

The Heavy Support Squads have a few more ablative wounds, and Rask can join whichever one you want him in (depending on the level of enemy armour). Your Tactical Blobs were spot on already, so they’re good. The Leviathan has 2 TL volkite calivers to up his shooting for the first few turns, and I’d personally keep the siege drill - they are so good in assault! I opted for the Anvillus autocannons on the Deredeo, as I think they’re the best of the lot (and they’re free). The Contemptor-Cortus’ can’t Run, but three of them is a hell of a threat - just remember to overcharge them when you want to assault! Twin Kheres Mortis are 10 points more expensive, so if you want them instead you’ll have to drop 30 from somewhere else. Finally, I maxed out the Vorax squad - they’re a real wild card, so have fun with them! :)

 

Hope this helps!

[WBGMatt]

Caillum, thank you sir, that's fab!

 

Very much liking the look of that list!

No need to apologise about the Veterans, that was just my inexperienced 30k brain trying to find somewhere 'useful' to spend those extra points. 

 

For some reason I always forget about Cortusses.. Cortus'.. Cortii?! the Contemptor Cortus dreadnoughts, but three of them definitely sounds like a plan.

 

On the Leviathan Drill subject, might it be better to go with the snippy claw instead in case I come up against Eternal Warrior types?

I mean, the drill looks cooler but if I've already got the chainfists on the Contemptors, is it a little overkill?

(Apologies for all of the questions, but I've only played a handful of 30k games so I'm still a bit of a beginner!)

 

Good call on the duplicated Rad Grenades, I think they were just in there for redundancy purposes.

 

If there are any other suggestions you have for other, better, units do say. The above was just my initial thoughts rather than a 'must include' list!

Aside from the Praevian.. Because I think he'll be cool...

 

Thanks very much!

Matt

[Spiritual Liege]

Looks great and definitely fluffy, however:

 

-That man lascannon team is very expensive for 7 3+ dudes. I'd drop it and expand your Tacticals to 20 men and the Autocannon team to 10 men

-Volkite culverins on the Dreads is kind of meh. Kheres is better vs everything but still the culverin looks great and twin-linking might help with Cortus' BS 4.

 

I really don't know what else to say, it isn't a WAAC super power list but it is definitely fluffy and will look awesome.

[WBGMatt]

Thanks Spiritual Liege!

 

I know what you mean about the Lascannon squad, they do seem a little fragile.

That said, they're pretty much the only ranged anti-tank in the list so I feel like I kinda need them!

 

Kheres were the other option I was thinking on the dreads, but I do love the way the Volkites look...

All in all, a lot to think about! If you have any other suggestions, I'm definitely open to them.

I haven't bought most of the stuff I need for this yet, so there's still time!

 

Ta

Matt

Edited December 5, 2017 by WBGMatt

[WBGMatt]

Howdy folks,

Just had another thought, going from Spiritual Liege's comments previously.

 

Might it be worthwhile taking a full 10 man Veteran squad (2 Melta, 5 Combi-something and a couple of Power Weapons) with Marksmen (for Outflanking) instead of the Lascannon team?

I realise I'm giving up a lot of range and first turn table presence, but they could be a nice little Outflanking threat in addition to the Praevian/Vorax?

 

They work out at the same number of points

 

Veteran Sergeant

Artificer Armour, Power Scythe, Rad Grenades

2 Veterans with Meltaguns

Veteran with Combi-something and Vexilla

5 Veterans with Combi-something 

2 Veterans with Power Weapons

 

I'm thinking Melta for the combi weapons, just for the synergy with the Meltaguns and some extra tank busting options, but Plasma may work as well? (Could switch out the two special weapons with Plasma as well)

 

I'm more than happy for people to tell me that this is a silly idea, but I'd be interested in hearing your opinions!

 

Ta

Matt