[BT] Drop Pods, an experiment, 2k

[redmapa]

Over the last few months it seems like 40k has become a deadlier game than it was before AdMech/Drukhari/Orks this plus the fact that Black Templars are a slower army than before due to the loss of Advance+Charge and Devout Push shenanighans makes me wonder about Drop Pods. They can be screened out but they also offer safety to whatever they are transporting and normally a faster army will screen you out of objectives and table quarters so are you truly losing something against something like Drukhari? You could also think of Drop Pod deployment as a way to counter-deploy half your army, thats gotta count for something.

 

I get that Drop Pods arent good but they are cool and I totally want to make them work, maybe they wont work for competitive but maybe they can be useful.

 

Black Templars, 2000pts, Uphold the Honor of the Emperor (5++ and cannot use cover)

 

+HQ+

 

Captain w/ Relic Sword, Bolter and Tannhauser's Bones. WLT: Masters of Arms (fight first and +1A)

Master of Sanctity w/ Plasma Pistol and Crusader's Helm, Canticle of Hate and Recitation of Focus

Chaplain w/ Plasma Pistol, Psalm of Remorseless Persecution.

 

+Troops+

3x Incursors, 5 man squad w/ Haywire Mine

 

+Elite+

2x Invictor Warsuits w/ Ironhail Autocannon

 

Vanguard Veterans, 5x Twin Lighting Claws

Vanguard Veterans, 3x TH/SS, 2x Power Fist & Storm Shield, Sgt w/ Fist of Balthus OR Sigismund's Seal, not sure.

Vanguard Veterans, 3x Power Axe & Storm Shield, 2x Power Sword & Storm Shield

 

Company Veterans, 2x Bolt Pistol and Chainsword

 

+Heavy Support+

Devastator Squad, 4x MultiMeltas, Armorium Cherub

Devastator Squad, 4x Grav Cannons, Armorium Cherub

 

+Transports+

3x Drop Pods

 

Phobos units are there to try and secure landing zones by acting as speed bumps, Company Veterans ride with the characters to use the bodyguard ability and because I had the points left. I could remove the mines and Company Veterans and get a 4th Incursor squad, that may be more useful. 

 

Another idea for Drop Pods is Null Deployment, I dont know how useful it may be or if it works but you can just put 6 units in 3 Drop Pods and use the rest of the points for things that can deep strike naturally like Terminators or Vanguard Veterans.

[XeonDragon]

Primaris can't use drop pods. Unless the VGVs are lacking jump packs, I think that means only the company veterans, devastators and characters can use them.

 

I think your idea can work. I've had some success using 1 or 2 drop pods to come down onto an objective with the sides open that had incursors or infiltrators on it, pop out some devastators along with a squad of tactical marines with a grav cannon and a chainsword and storm bolter on the sergeant. Means I have obsec bodies on the objective, the drop pod itself (which whilst it doesn't do much, takes a bit to remove) and some heavy firepower. 

 

Great for an alpha strike, but, more importantly, if (IF) you go second and the phobos units survive, you have a great beta-strike on your hands. I think for BT putting a foot melee unit plus something else (devastators, company veterans and a character) to fill it up, then plonk down onto an objective near a forward-deployed warsuit or phobos unit could do some work for sure. 

 

So, in short, I think it might be an idea to fill up the drop pods rather than having 5-6 models in each one. Worst case scenario you go second, they clear everything you have forward deployed and the drop pods land in your deployment zone - they still kept the units in them same. Best case you go first and wreck some heretics!