BA and 9th Ed

[Charlo]

Unsure if people have looked into it, but the new Chaplain Stratagem "Commanding Oratory" is absolutely amazing.

 

for 2CP (1CP for a Master of Sanctity, which includes our boy Astorath!) you can let a Chaplain recite a Litany that is automatically successful at the start of any phase, that then lasts until your next Command Phase.

 

There is a thread over on the marines section covering it, but considering BA are about layering buffs I thought this would be a good place for us to discuss too.

 

Essentially this would let you:

• Deepstrike a Chaplain with an accompanying unit and activate a litany at the start of the Shooting Phase/ Charge Phase/ Fight Phase.

The last two of these are particualrly interesting - you could activate Canticle of Hate at the Start of the Charge phase to buff a LOT of units with +2" to charge and an additional 3" pile in/ consolidate. OR once you know you've charged, buff a specific unit in the fight phase (or both of these things as they're different phases!)

 

This makes playing for a turn 3, all singing, all dancing Assault Doctrine bomb pretty nasty for us.

 

The downside is that they cannot previously have recited a Litany this turn, but for Deep Strikers that is not an issue!

[Hintzy]

The discount is part of the Warlord trait, which Astorath isn't allowed to have as he's currently locked to Speed of the Primarch. And using the stratagem twice in one turn to buff the charge phase and then the fight phase would require two different chaplains since they can't use the stratagem if they've already recited a litany. Not that you necessarily specified otherwise, just making it clear for everybody else.

[Charlo]

Good spot!

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

i'm expecting at least one BA specific release with the codex, i'm thinking either primaris SG, or a BA specific vehicle like a baal class repulsor or super fighty version of the war suit.

[BluejayJunior]

Don't get your hopes up. They haven't released any chapter specific primaris units yet. And they definitely would have previewed them by now since the codex is a couple months away and there are still kits in the new space marine codex that haven't been released yet. 

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

Don't get your hopes up. They haven't released any chapter specific primaris units yet. And they definitely would have previewed them by now since the codex is a couple months away and there are still kits in the new space marine codex that haven't been released yet. 

...the codex is 2 months away...plenty of time for them to preview new units before the codex. heck there's still time to preivew units for the codexes that come out next month, assuming the codexes releast mid-late month

[RedemptionNL]

Well technically there's the Victrix Guard. But yeah, the best we can hope for is an updated character like Dante or The Sanguinor, but so far there hasn't been any rumors about that. So I'm just not expecting anything and be pleasantly surprised if we get anything beyond the codex supplement.

[Blindhamster]

 

Don't get your hopes up. They haven't released any chapter specific primaris units yet. And they definitely would have previewed them by now since the codex is a couple months away and there are still kits in the new space marine codex that haven't been released yet. 

...the codex is 2 months away...plenty of time for them to preview new units before the codex. heck there's still time to preivew units for the codexes that come out next month, assuming the codexes releast mid-late month

 

still would temper your expectations.

 

Based on the release schedule so far, Its much more likely they're going to spread the various marine kits over the next few months, releasing them bi-weekly, 1-2 at a time. So we're likely to see a generic marine kit get released alongside our supplement.

 

I'd LOVE to see a new primaris character, but I think it's unrealistic to expect it.

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

 

 

Don't get your hopes up. They haven't released any chapter specific primaris units yet. And they definitely would have previewed them by now since the codex is a couple months away and there are still kits in the new space marine codex that haven't been released yet. 

...the codex is 2 months away...plenty of time for them to preview new units before the codex. heck there's still time to preivew units for the codexes that come out next month, assuming the codexes releast mid-late month

 

still would temper your expectations.

 

Based on the release schedule so far, Its much more likely they're going to spread the various marine kits over the next few months, releasing them bi-weekly, 1-2 at a time. So we're likely to see a generic marine kit get released alongside our supplement.

 

I'd LOVE to see a new primaris character, but I think it's unrealistic to expect it.

 

i'm not peeing my pants with excitement or anything, i just think it would be stupid not to release chapter specific units with the new codexes so close to christmas.

 

and when i say release i don't necessarily mean the kits be up for sale, but at the very least announced, and revealed, just like the stormspeeders currently are. that way parents and spouses can spend money on things like gift certificates to get sold before christmas, which can then be used afterwards when the new units are released.

[Karhedron]

i'm not peeing my pants with excitement or anything, i just think it would be stupid not to release chapter specific units with the new codexes so close to christmas.

I expect Space Wolves might get Ragnar as a separate release since he has only been available in Prophecy of the Wolf until now. Apart from that, I am not expecting anything new for the sons of Sanguinius.

[Warhead01]

I think the time has come for every chapter to get a new Primaris Special character, not an old one made new but a new one. 
Thinking about models that could drop with a supplement and minimal effort or costs on GW's end I think it would work. But I also think if it was going to happen the models would have already been made to match the codex supplement release schedule. So I don't expect them but finger crossed anyway.

[Hintzy]

I don't recall it being brought up prior, but a gentleman pointed it out on a BA Facebook group. While Scouts got nerfed by getting moved to elites they gained the Outflank and Smokescreen abilities/keywords. I'd completely missed that.

 

I had a real challenge choosing secondaries against lists tailored to limit secondary choices during my last (and first) RTT. I intend to include two units of Scouts in future lists solely for Deploy Scramblers. I was already considering them when I thought I'd have to pay for Strategic Reserves, but Outflank is better in every way. It's free and there's no board edge restrictions.

 

I don't know if Smokescreen is worth paying the CP for on Scouts, but it could come up on occasion.

 

Scout bikes got the same treatment.

[Karhedron]

That is a really good idea. Deploy Scramblers is actually a really good secondary because it is hard for your opponent to counter unless he screens his entire DZ. Using a 70-point squad for 1 turn to perform the action is unlikely to change the course of the battle but 10 VPs could.

 

Getting an Infantry unit to perform the Action in your own DZ and even in the midfield should not be too hard.

[Charlo]

Probably goes a long way into their change to an elites choice too.

 

Very cool.

[Jolemai]

Probably goes a long way into their change to an elites choice too.

 

Very cool.

 

So does rolling them into Wolf Scouts. The only difference now is that Wolf Scouts have other weapon choices.

 

In other news, we can still take heavy flamers on our Tacticals and Devastators.

[Djangomatic82]

 

In other news, we can still take heavy flamers on our Tacticals and Devastators.

 

nice, was this in a FAQ, did not see it, just assumed it would be in our supplement eventually.

 

[Jolemai]

It's actually confirmed in page 195 of the Codex.

[Warhead01]

Just noticed the Firestrike turret can come in up to 3 per foc slot. 
Any one thinking about doing something like that? I haven't looked at the points/power costs on that yet. thinking twin las-talons all around for an early engine kill. Possibly. 

[Karhedron]

I am not sure about the Firestrikes. 130 points for the Lastalon version is OK but it is short-ranged firepower mounted on a slow moving platform.

 

For 110 points you can get a pair of Multimelta attack bikes which have the same range, same sort of anti-tank firepower but far better mobility and more wounds.

[Karhedron]

So what do people think are good loadouts for characters these days? Captain Smash has been reeled in. No that he no longer grants himself rerolls and the TH has gone to AP-2, he doesn't swing it like he used to. On the other hand, the Relic Blade looks pretty tasty at S7, AP-3 and 2D plus it only cost 10 points. We can even make it Master Crafted if we want to hunt big game with it.

I am think the best place for him at the moment is buffing Plasmaceptors and Sanguinary Guard. Give him a WLT and the SG hit on 2s and reoll 1s. While very much leading from the front, I think buffing the squads around him rather than acting as a guided missile is probably the way forward. Imperium's Sword works well with this as it boosts the Relic Blade to S8 and gives +1A. Alternatively play tactically and give him Rites of War. Then any Jump units he is buffing gain ObjSec.

Another outstanding option for us is the Sanguinary Priest with Jump Pack. A flying, healing, buffing machine? Yes please! Selfless Healer is virtually mandatory IMHO and helps him buff any melee unit. Sanguinary Guard would be my preferred choice. He is a bit fragile to be running around on the front lines so I would seriously consider the Armour Indomitus for this guy as +1W, a 2+ save and a one-off 3++ will go a long way towards keeping him alive if he needs to follow the SG into the heart of combat. With that in mind, I have a rough 1500 point list that builds around these themes.

HQ
130 Captain, Jump Pack, Storm Shield, Relic Blade (Master Crafted), Rights of War
120 Sanguinary Priest with Jump Pack and Chainsword, Armour Indomitus, Selfless Healer

Troops
100 5 Intercessors ABRs
100 5 Intercessors ABRs
100 5 Tactical Marines with Gravcannon
100 5 Tactical Marines with Gravcannon

Elite
295 9 Sanguinary Guard with 5 swords, 4 fists and 9 ABGs 1 plasma pistol

Fast
165 3 Attack bikes with MM
250 5 Inceptors with plasma

Heavy
135 Whirlwind with Vengeance launcher

1495 Total

The Whirlwind sits back out of LOS and chips away at Objective campers. Against more dangerous foes, Suppression Fire is a useful option. The Fast and Elite units along with the HQs move up aggressively to eliminate enemy threats. The Troops hold Objectives. The Tactical Marines operating further back while the ABR Intercessors press forward to take Objectives that the Fast and Elite units have cleared of enemy. The Whirlwind and Attack bikes could easily be replaced with other fire-support units if desired. Those were simply the units from my collection that seemed to fit my tactical requirements.

Edited October 20, 2020 by Karhedron

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

auspex tactics put out a video in the last 2-3 days detailing how lightning claws got buffed, and how they're much more powerful if anyone cares about that.
iirc from the video 5 vanguard vets could average like 24 wounds on GEQs with 2 lightning claws.

Edited October 20, 2020 by Inquisitor_Lensoven

[Jolemai]

How so?

[Charlo]

How so?

 

LC became +1 attack per claw now. So if you have two, a Vanguard Veteran is getting:

 

6 Attacks turn 3 onwards: 2A Base + 1 for Shock Assault + 1 for Savage Echoes + 2 for two LC

 

LC also got a large points reduction, they're now 6pts for a pair as opposed to 10.

 

Add in the +1 to wound for Red Thirst as well as a re-roll to wound and they're just nastyyyy now!

[Quixus]

In other news, we can still take heavy flamers on our Tacticals and Devastators.

Did anyone find a rule saying our Assault squads can still take flamers and meltaguns?

 

[BluejayJunior]

Assault squads can take flamers. It's on the datasheet. It doesn't say anything about metlaguns though. I'm hoping it will either be covered in the supplement or it's just an oversight. Other datasheets have options for taking wargear if it is from Space Wolves/Dark Angels.