Evolution of the Army List

Well I had my first two games at 1,750pts yesterday. It's a bit of a strange points cost for me as my friends and I tend to play 1,500, 2,000 or Apocalypse.

So I wrote a list with models that I have (bar 2) and this is what I used yesterday:

HQ (315)

Rune Priest, Living Lightning, Murderous Hurricane, Saga of the Beast Slayer = 110

Rune Priest, Living Lightning, Storm Caller, Wolf Tail talisman = 105

Rune Priest, Living Lightning, Jaws of the World Wolf= 100

Elites (204)

5 Wolf Scouts, Melta Gun = 85

3 Wolf Guard, 2x Power fist + Combi Melta, 1 x Wulfen = 119

Troops (820)

10 Grey hunters, 2 Plasma Guns, Wulfen, Wolf Standard = 185

10 Grey hunters, 1 Flamer, 1 Plasma Gun, Wulfen, Wolf Standard = 175

10 Grey Hunters, 2 Melta Guns, Wulfen, Wolf Standard, Power Weapon = 195

Rhino = 35

10 Grey Hunters, 2 Melta Guns, Wulfen, Wolf Standard, Power Weapon = 195

Rhino = 35

Fast Attack (230)

Land Speeder Typhoon, Heavy Bolter = 90

Land Speeder, Multi Melta, Heavy Flamer = 70

Land Speeder, Multi Melta, Heavy Flamer = 70

Heavy Support (180)

4 Long Fangs, 3 Missile Launchers = 90

4 Long Fangs, 3 Missile Launchers = 90

1749

In my first game I played my friend Liam's Eldar. He had:

Eldrad and Seer Council in a Wave Serpent with TL Shuirkan Cannons and hull mounted cannon too.

A Farseer with Guide

2 War Walkers with 2 Missile Launchers each.

11 Storm Guardians, 2 Fusion Guns, Warlock with Enhance and a Wave Serpeant as above.

Guardian Defenders, Bright Lance, Warlock with Conceal.

7/8 Striking Scorpions with Exarch with twin chain sabres.

2 Vibro Cannons

Game was Capture and Control (1 objective each) with Spearhead deployment (Table Quaters).

In other words the classic "draw" scenario that plays in to a fast army's hands (ie Eldar)

Liam reserved his whole army so the first 2 turns nothing really happened. His army turned up on turn 3 (nasty). Short of the story was that Liam hasn't played in a while and was in a "6 turn game" mind set so didn't have my objective contested and just wasn't close enough to hold his, so when he rolled for turn the game ended in 5 and he lost.

So a bit of a hollow victory to be honest but if there was to be another turn he would of lost the last of his scoring units more than likely, and I might have his objective while mine is contested (dice permitting).

2nd Game was against my friend Ben's Imperial Guard. I'm a BIG guard player myself so I know his bag of tricks and what's to come. He had:

Primaris Psyker

2 Squads of Veterans with 3 Plasma Guns, Lascannon, in a Chimera with 2 Heavy Bolters

2 Squads of Veterans with 3 Melta Guns, Lascannon

2 Vendettas, with Heavy Bolter Sponsons (Melta Vets ride in these)

2 Leman Russ Demolishers with 3 Heavy Bolters

2 Banewolves

Mission wise we got a good old fashioned slaughter - Pitched Battle, Annihilation.

All my melta guns did jack shit (3 missed, and one rolled snake eyes for penetration). But Living Lightning 3 times over and the Land Speeder Typhoons missiles did a lot of damage. Ben squeezed out a 7-5 win by getting his last 2 KP in the last turn.

So what have I leanred?

Well vs the Eldar, Rune priests are so damm good. I didn't get many powers off due the Runes of Warding, but when I did stuff died. But on the upside 4+ to stop psychic powers reduced Eldrad's effectiveness massively - he only got off 2 out of 8 attempted powers.

Wolf Banners and Mark of the Wulfen ruin most people's days. In a combat vs the Striking Scorpions the banner reduced my casualties by 50% and when the Wulfen rolls a 1 for his number of attacks *bang* re-roll that, oh look its a good roll (4). And vs Toughness 3 my 5 Marines where wounding on a 3+ re-rolling 1's!

Vs the Imperial Guard:

I need to mech up everyone, or they are going to sit still and do nothing and probably die - even if I'm going to camp on a objective all game.

Again Living Lightning kicks ass, but I could do with some Choosers of the Slain to beef up the Rune Priests roll's to hit as I did roll a lot of 2's.

Take a page for the Guard book, send 2 units to do 1 units job. I sent my melta units in piece meal and they paid the price.

If I'm going to take wolf scouts then I should take 2 units (or 3) or none at all. As in both games the unit rolled poorly for their out flank and either died vs the Eldar or did nothing vs the IG. - Again goes back to 2 units doing 1 units job.

So after some note taking and some tinkering around this is the list I want to try next but I lack the extra 2 Rhinos, a melta gun or 2 and 2 missile launchers, and a Land Speeder:

HQ (315)

Rune Priest, Living Lightning, Murderous Hurricane, Chooser of the Slain = 110

Rune Priest, Living Lightning, Storm Caller, Wolf Tail Talisman = 105

Rune Priest, Living Lightning, Jaws of the World Wolf = 100 

Elites (292)

5 Wolf Scouts, Melta Gun =80

5 Wolf Scouts, Melta Gun =80

4 Wolf Guard (2x Power fist, 4 Combi Meltas) = 132

Troops (700)

10 Grey hunters, 2 Melta Guns, Wolf Banner, Mark of the Wulfen = 180

Rhino = 35

10 Grey hunters, 2 Melta Guns, Wolf Banner, Mark of the Wulfen = 180

Rhino = 35

6 Grey Hunters, 1 Melta Gun, Mark of the Wulfen =110

Rhino = 35

5 Grey Hunters, 1 Flamer, Mark of the Wulfen =90

Rhino = 35

Fast Attack (210)

Land Speeder Tornado, Multi Melta, Heavy flamer = 70

Land Speeder Tornado, Multi Melta, Heavy flamer = 70

Land Speeder Tornado, Multi Melta, Heavy flamer = 70

Heavy Support (230)

5 Long Fangs, 4 Missile Launchers = 115

5 Long Fangs, 4 Missile Launchers = 115

1747

I feel its better, I've basically dropped a few men and power weapons for transports, scouts, and wolf guard.

On the painting side of things I've 'dipped' 90% of the models now in the Army painter strong tone varnish and they look pretty nice even in a half arsed state. So I just to renovate 2 Land Speeders, buy a 3rd, 2 Rhinos, and some melta guns and I'm good.