Covenant of Fire 2k: A Silly Idea has Become a War Crime

[Casual Heresy]

So back when Infernus Marines were revealed I got very excited. I love my Black Templar's Pyre Blasters so the idea of a whole squad was right up my alley. Plus I liked the idea of a fire support troops choice so I could do a game legal 9th company list. My mind immediately jumped on the idea of having 30 infernus marines in 3 Land Raider Redeemers as the core of a list. The idea has been haunting me ever since. 

 

Fast forward to now and the reveal of the Salamander themed detachment has reignited this silly idea and made it into something that is potentially horrifying, or hilariously bad depending on the opponent.

 

Basic plan is to have the Eradicators, Captain and Biologis all together in strategic reserve, an Infernus Squad in each Raider (one of which is joined by the Ancient)), and the Eliminators holding my back field. The Lieutenant will mark the central objective most likely then disappear in to a corner to score tactical objectives/ claim an isolated objective marker. With the changes to Oath of Moment, and the fact that alot of this list's anti infantry fire hits automatically, I feel the list can deal with multiple different threats each turn, and thanks to every weapon having assault, it has the speed and firepower to play very aggressively. I'll likely struggle against high toughness models, and if a flamer unit rolls badly for number of shots then its likely to find itself beaten to or shot to death by a lightly singed target soon after.

 

There are still points left for enhancements but since we don't have the points costs for all the detachment's enhancements yet, and there is always the chance of points changing when the codex is out, I'm not going to try guessing right now and have to change the list more drastically later. I may also swap the Gravis Captain for a Primaris Captain so that one Infernus quad can use Immolation Protocols for free each turn.

 

Regardless of how it performs I think I'll be going head with the project as a Primaris Word Bearers Covenant of Fire army, since it fits their back ground of relentlessly purging anything they deem heretical, while also giving me the 9th company army I've always wanted (the fact that every non-character/vehicle unit is a fire support squad was a happy accident). Plus I was able to find a set of the old FW Word Bearer Land Raider doors (the one with the aquilas and burning book, not the chaosy demon head version) so all the Raider can be blinged up with iconography thanks to GS press moulds.

 

Covenant of Fire
2000pts Strikeforce: Firestorm Assault Force Detachment

1965/2000pts, remaining points to use for enhancements

 

Characters

Captain in Gravis Armour
- Relic Power Fist

 

Apothecary Biologis

 

Lieutenant with Combi-weapon

 

Primaris Ancient
- Power Weapon

 

Other Units

 

Infernus Squad 
- 10x Infernus Marines

 

Infernus Squad
- 10x Infernus Marines

 

Infernus Squad 
- 10x Infernus Marines

 

Land Raider Redeemer
- Multi Melta
- Storm Bolter
- Hunter-Killer Missile

 

Land Raider Redeemer 
- Multi Melta
- Storm Bolter
- Hunter-Killer Missile

 

Land Raider Redeemer
- Multi Melta
- Storm Bolter
- Hunter-Killer Missile

 

Eradicator Squad
- 6x Eradicators
- 2x Multi Meltas

 

Eliminator Squad
- 3x Las Fusil

 

Eliminator Squad
- 3x Las Fusil
 

Eliminator Squad
- 3x Las Fusil
 

[Galron]

Are you making a deathstar with the eradicators and the three characters? I would drop a infernus squad and put the death star into a redeemer if it fits(havent done the math). Use the extra points for some objective grabbers. 

 

Heavy armor is king this edition so your list leads into it, my DA army has a Spartan, redeemer, cerebus and standard land raider, but only one squad of Infernus. 

[Malakithe]

Ever since the Inferus squad came out i like the idea of using them in drop pods. Your approach is similar with launching them straight into stuff and burninating all the things. I made a chapter based on this concept appropriately called 'The Burninators' lol. Once I get the codex ill be refining the list for sure.

[Orion]

I love the idea. It would be really cool to see.

Also much like the FW doors, Word Bearer transfers in general should be pretty close if you aren't going for custom ones.
Either the HH sheet, or even CSM transfer sheets if you can pick them up cheap somewhere. 

[Casual Heresy]

Thanks all.

 

@Galron Only the Captain and Biologis can join the Eradicators. The Ancient was always intended to join an Infernus Squad to boost their OC. I am considering dropping the Gravis Captain for a normal captain to join an Infernus squad as the free battle tactics stratagem from the captain means the squad can shoot with devestating wounds every turn.

 

@Malakithe I had considered pods as well but I love Land Raiders too much and couldn't pass up the opportunity for more flame weapons. Would love to see how you approach refining your list.

 

@JayJapanB It one of those ideas that just won't leave me so it needs to be done I think! I'm not actually a fan on transfers, I've just never been able to use them properly. So I've ordered a set of MkIV Word Bearer shoulder pads from Forgeworld which I'll be using to make a green stuff press mould. I like my marines with plenty of sculpted detail, and I confident I can freehand the squad symbol and number.

 

 

 

I've been going through my pile of potential and I've got a good few models to start this list. One half of Leviathan from my Nid loving mate is providing the majority (with the rest being earmarked for a different, more sensible army), so I've got the below to work on for now.

 

Ancient
Biologis

Combi-weapon Lieutenant

10x Infernus Marines
3x Eliminators

Land Raider Redeemer (a half painted example from my youth. But it's well built so just needs stripped)

 

I will probably put together a normal Captain as well as I have a well stocked Bitz Box and can't resist a kitbash (another reason to maybe swap out the Gravis Captain initially; it saves me having to buy a Gravis Captain).

 

My new rule for painting an army is no buying new models until everything that is on hand is fully painted, to stop me going overboard and buying lods of things that then sit unbuilt/unpainted for ages.
 

Edited October 8, 2023 by Casual Heresy

[Wind Whistler]

While I do love the Redeemers and they do fit the theme well, I would be tempted to swap them out for Repulsors. That would net you a whooping 210 points, and I think Emergency Embarkation is a more useful rule for your Infernus Squads than Assault Ramp. 

[Casual Heresy]

I've refined this list a little recently, mainly to make it more affordable but also tactically flexible.

 

Strikeforce (2000pts)

Firestorm Assault Force Detachment

 

Characters

 

Captain “Gallek”                                                                                                                                
- Plasma Pistol
- Master-crafted Power Weapon
- Adamantine Mantle

 

Apothecary Biologis “Talgron”    

                                                                                                     

Lieutenant with Combi-weapon “Lieutenant Aakas”     

                                                            

Ancient "Ahraneth”                                                                                                            
- Power Weapon

 

Other Units

 

Infernus Squad  “Squad Telakhas”                                                                                                  
- 10x Infernus Marines

 

Infernus Squad  “Squad Herexes”                                                                                                  
- 10x Infernus Marines

 

Infernus Squad  “Squad Olodar”                                                                                                    
- 10x Infernus Marines

 

Repulsor “Primarch’s Truth”                                                                                                             
- Heavy Onslaught Gatling Cannon
- Twin Heavy Bolter
 

Land Raider “Revelation”                                                                                                                  
- Multi Melta
- Storm Bolter
- Hunter-Killer Missile

 

Land Raider “Enlightener”                                                                                                               
- Multi Melta
- Storm Bolter
- Hunter-Killer Missile

 

Eradicator Squad “Squad Phraetus”                                                                                                
- 6x Eradicators
- 2x Multi Meltas

 

Storm Speeder Hammerstrike “Illuminator” 

 

Storm Speeder Hailstrike “Truthseeker” 

                                                                                 

Eliminator Squad “Squad Eshra”                                                                                                     
- 3x Las Fusil

 

Losing the Redeemers is hard, but still have more than enough torrent weapons to fulfil my latent pyromania. I've partially taken @Wind Whistler's advice and one Raider has become a Repulsor to save on points and reembarking when charged can be useful as proved by my Ultramarines Centurions at the last Throne of Skulls I went to. the other two Redeemers have become standard land raiders to both fulfil the anti-tank needs and they're 20pts cheaper (bizarrely).

 

Two of the Eliminator Squads are out in exchange for two Stormspeeders, a Hammerstrike and a Hailstrike. The speeders give the list a little more mobility while their abilities help out with shooting. I'd originally gone with two Hammerstrikes but the savings on points of making one a hailstrike and swapping a Raider for the Repulsor allowed me to keep one Eliminator Squad to mind my home objective.

 

The biggest benefit to this change in list though is that it reduces the cost of actually fielding it. Everything except the 2nd Raider and the Eradicators is already in my pile of potential or is partially painted in another project I'm not enjoying anymore and can be stripped and reassigned. Having just gotten engaged to my partner, saving money for the wedding while still getting to build toy soldiers is a win!

 

I've been doing some hobby work as well with getting some of the characters built and ready for priming. The press mould for getting the heraldry onto the push fit models came out perfectly.

 

 

 

[Galron]

I think I would still swap a land raider for a redeemer. They have worked out far better to me than regular land raiders.