Are drop pods viable again?

[Dark_Jober]

I still plan on building and painting my drop pod along with:

 

3x vets, 2x dual plasma pistol, 1x plasma pistol storm shield

3x vets, 2x dual plasma pistol, 1x plasma pistol storm shield

Sorry brother, I don't play DA but I have a question. I m a noob so maybe it is a silly question.

 

I have no codex here atm but... why are you using dual plasma pistols (10p IIRC) when most SM vets can pick Combi-plas at 11p. Combi-plas has the same plasma dakka at 12" or less. Dakka at more distance, and even more dakka if shooting both weapons.

The only reason I found is that you want to charge with plaspistol vets and shoot in your next turn... but that seems difficult, survive with normarines your turn fight phase and your rival turn.

[Skorp]

Welcome Dark Jober!

 

1. Dual pistols gives two shots of plasma rather one shot of plasma with a combi-plasma. Maybe you could do one plasma pistol and one combi-plasma, but the intention of the pistols is lost. 

 

2. Pistols can be fired from combat, so the intention is to shoot the pistols, charge a tank for example and then the tank cannot shoot because it is in combat but you can shoot the tank still next turn. The tank could fall back but then it cannot shoot. Other units could then target the marines, but that is why there are 2 groups of vets and 2 company champions. You want to charge multiple backfield units so they all cannot shoot and must fall back to fire on the target. 

 

3. Dark Angels have a stratagem for plasma which allows overcharged plasma to do 3 damage. So a single vet with two pistols can put out 6 damage with them in combat. Ideally you want to have an ancient as well. If a marine dies, it will get two shots of 3 dmg plasma before it dies on a 4+. So potentially the marine lands, shoots two pistols, charges, the unit it charged falls back without being able to shoot, something else shoots the marine, and then it gets another two shots when it dies, but the shots get saved by the storm shield first so difficult to get through the first shot at least. 

 

It's not the best thing in the world, but I feel like it would be fun for me. 

 

PS - when I said righteous repugnance (spell) I meant Master of Manoeuvre (warlord trait), the spell would be good on the company champions too though. Could probably do it with something else than the librarian as your warlord. 

[Kallas]

1. Dual pistols gives two shots of plasma rather one shot of plasma with a combi-plasma. Maybe you could do one plasma pistol and one combi-plasma, but the intention of the pistols is lost.

Combi-Plasma are Rapid Fire 1, so at 12" they're getting the same number of shots as two Plasma Pistols, can get one shot at 12.1-24", and you can also fire the Bolter part too (just don't overcharge if you do!)

 

They're 2pts more than a pair of pistols, but you can either take a free Chainsword for a bonus attack, or a Storm Shield for more 3++ saves for 4pts more per model (but far better resilience and flexibility).

 

While pistols can fire in combat, unless you're trapping someone they're very likely to Fall Back and let others shoot them up - even if other things are nearby, it's better for a lot of things to at least get to overwatch you. If you're not taking any dangerous melee weapons, there's no real downside to Falling Back vs Plasma Pistols, since you'd shoot them anyway!

[Isual]

 

 

3. Dark Angels have a stratagem for plasma which allows overcharged plasma to do 3 damage. So a single vet with two pistols can put out 6 damage with them in combat. Ideally you want to have an ancient as well. If a marine dies, it will get two shots of 3 dmg plasma before it dies on a 4+. So potentially the marine lands, shoots two pistols, charges, the unit it charged falls back without being able to shoot, something else shoots the marine, and then it gets another two shots when it dies, but the shots get saved by the storm shield first so difficult to get through the first shot at least.

First of all the banner allows you to shoot one weapon. So only one pistol could be shot vs two shots from the plasmagun. Socond it would be debateble of you could use wotda in your opponents turn as can can only be used in your shooting phase. I think I read something in an errata/FAQ that said the "if it were the shooting phase" part only applies to shooting itself and nothing else you do in the shooting phase like using a stratagem.

 

Second it would be better to have one big squad for the purpose maximizing the effect of wotda.

[Skorp]

All good points, definitely need to rethink a bit about that plan it seems. Derp.