Dark Angels
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Codex Unforgiven  


Dropping Dreads - 2006/04/20 15:14 Hi all,

Tonight I will be playtesting a trio of droppodding dreadnoughts. This is my first time using either dreads or pods, so only the Emperor knows how it is going to turn out!

The Dreads are the only Pod units. The rest of the list is a mix of static shooting and mobile support.

I'm wondering if any of the rest of you have used pods in conjunction with static shooting?
How do they perform in your experiences?
Do the pods constantly scatter into your fire lanes?

If anyone is curious, the 2000pt list includes:

HQ:
1. Terminator Epistolary w/ Fury

Elites:
1. Dread w/ H.Flamer + P.Cannon + Venerable + Drop Pod
2. Dread w/ H.Flamer + A.Cannon + Drop Pod
3. Dread w/ S.Bolter + A.Cannon + Smoke + Drop Pod
(I had 3 extra points, and the smoke was modeled on the Dread already)

Troops:
1. Tac Squad (10) w/ Bolters
2. Tac Squad (6) w/ Plasma Cannon
3. Tac Squad (6) w/ Plasma Cannon
4. Tac Squad (6) w/ Lascannon + Plasma Gun
5. Tac Squad (6) w/ Lascannon + Plasma Gun

Fast Attack:
1. Ravenwing Bikes (4) w/ 2 Meltaguns + Vet Sgt (P.Fist + BP)
2. Ravenwing Attack Bikes (1) w/ H.Bolter
3. Ravenwing Land Speeder (1) w/ H.Bolter + A.Cannon

Heavy Support:
1. Dev Squad (6) w/ 4 M.Launchers
2. Predator Annihilator w/ TL Las + H.Bolters + Extra Armour
3. Vindicator w/ Extra Armour + Smoke


To convert the list to a zero-pods one, I exchange the 3 pods for a 90pt Scout Squad w/ 4 Snipers and an H.Bolter.

I also then switch the Dreads to the following:
1. Dread w/ S.Bolter + A.Cannon + Venerable + Tank Hunters
2. Dread w/ H.Flamer + P.Cannon
3. Dread w/ S.Bolter + A.Cannon + Smoke


Please feel free to comment on the list as well!

As for the pods themselves, I made them specifically for Dreadnoughts and I used plumbing supplies, styrene, and old vehicle bits. I'll post some pics as soon as I get a chance.

(Check out Thomas Schadle's inexpensive Pod instructions at http://www.minivault.com/ModelingDropPods.htm for inspiration and information)
"Thou art the whisper in the gloom,
The hinting tone, the haunting laugh:
Thou art the adorner of my tomb,
The minstrel of mine epitaph."
- The Dark Angel, Lionel Johnson
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Re:Dropping Dreads - 2006/04/21 10:08 I've been toying around with the idea of using a librarian in termie armour with fear of the darkness and a terminator command squad in a drop pod.
This results into a unit of about 400p, so that's a tad much to put in one unit, but I might try it some time...

In the mean time, definitely post how it went with your 3 dreads
Angelis Destructorum
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Re:Dropping Dreads - 2006/04/21 14:28 It went rather well.

I faced off against Grey Knights, so we both had deepstriking units. He discovered the hard way why DPs are superior to teleporting...

Basically, he had 2 teleporting GK Termie squads (one with the commander), 2 teleporting GK Tac squads, 2 footslogging GK Tac squads, 2 LC+ML Dreads, 1 Naked Inquisitor, 1 Eversor Assassin.


Because of the bunching up required for teleporting, I was able to wipe out one entire GK Tac squad the turn after it arrived with a well placed PC shot!

I managed to sandwich his force between my PC Dread and my AC+SB Dread on turn 3 (I didn't get any reserves on turn 2). And I also say first hand how important the bulk of a Drop Pod can be in blocking LOS. I managed to protect all of my Dreads from his Tank killing dreads by disembarking on the oposite side.

I only lost 1 Dread. The turn after it arrived, he managed to teleport a GK Termie squad directly behind it and took it out with Stormbolter shots to the rear armour. One 6 was all it took. Unfortunately, that same dread did not manage to wound anything with his AC when he arrived.

I did get revenge though! The next turn my 3rd Dread dropped right behind those same GK Termies and sprayed them with its Heavy Flamer and Assault cannon, killing 2. I then charged in with my Librarian and had a Force Weapon duel with the GK commander! That was fun. We ended up killing each other at the same time with succesful Force Weapon powers.

The PC Dread managed to kill a handful of GK Marines on his first turn, and then charged into the enemy Dreads on his second. Dread-on-Dread combat is fun, especially when yours is the one with the only Dreadnought CCW! He managed to stay alive for a while, but even his GK Dread's WS 5 didn't help him hurt me. I managed to pen 6 one dread. After which he charged me with the other one. I first Immobilized it, and finally killed it in the very last round of CC in the final turn.

The worst part of the whole battle (for my opponent) was when he lost half of his final GK teleporting Tac squad when it scattered and landed between one of my Tac squads and the very edge of the table. He ended up being able to place only 3 members of that squad. Ouch.

My opponent has now decided to invest in teleport homers. A very wise decision.

I did have a slight problem with the Pods blocking LOS for the rest of my list. But that was only because his army was concentrated on one side of the board. Had he had a higher body count spread across the board, I would not have had a problem with LOS at all.

All in all, I was very pleased with the Drop Pods' performance. I was able to utilize all of the advantages: LOS blocking, shooting on arrival, Flamer delivery system, Positioning Dreadnoughts for close combat.

I will definately have to playtest against other lists to get a more definitive idea of their average capabilities, but I think I'm sold!

I have the pieces to construct one more pod for a Termie Librarian + Command squad. Fear + Fury + 2 Assault Cannons at ~420pts is expensive, but should have devestating results, especially if backed up by the 3 Dreads.
"Thou art the whisper in the gloom,
The hinting tone, the haunting laugh:
Thou art the adorner of my tomb,
The minstrel of mine epitaph."
- The Dark Angel, Lionel Johnson
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Re:Dropping Dreads - 2007/09/09 01:53 I've actually seen that modeling droppod site, and after a really bad match against some space wolves i made a pod. if ya wanted to read up on it some more pick up WD316, it has a full artical on useing droppods which is followed by a tau vs drop poding deathwing battle!

its an effective way of geting anything across the board and it doesnt hurt that it can be used to screw up the enemy los. plus the guidence system rule prevents the pod from scattering into the mountain side or nearby trees.

the only downside i've had is that because the pod is guided by the machine spirit the BS:2 limits the pod to carrying the S.bolter. the deathwind m.launcher is deadly since its giving ya a strength 5 large blast but the bs2 holds it back, i just couldnt get it to work for me but if ya got the extra 20pts ya can try for it.

oh, and as for my pod i went and later picked up a pvc grated pipe cover so i could store extra models that couldent fit in my case!
in god we trust;all others must pay cash

at 20 years of age the will reigns,at 30 the wit, at 40 the judgement
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