Thursday 3 November 2011

3rd Salopian Airborne Rangers - Part 2

First up on the list of things to do is to work out what I want and more importantly, what I need. As this is going to be a more themed list than my usual lists I may not always be selecting the most competitive of choices but I'm sure you'll forgive me, right?

Now my idea of flak armour has always been that it is a cloth based armour - the second edition wargear book lists is as "different layers of ablative and impact absorbent materials" which always gave me the impression that it was a cloth like material similiar to kevlar. The Cadian models however have "large rigid plates" of "ceramite molded to fit parts of the body" which is the description of carapace armour from the same book. Although I've removed the shoulder pads from the models I've left the chest piece and intend to claim that this is carapace armour over flak armour fatigues (no in game effect though).

Now the very first selection we need to make is the HQ, a Company Command Squad is the ideal option, lots of special weapons, the option to take advisers, the ability to issue orders, and completely expendable, er i mean "leads from the front".

We'll take one, max out on the special weapons with 4 melta guns and take an astropath for the reserve/ outflank bonuses. This unit comes in at 120 points.

Next up we need troops. When your troops are T3 5+sv models you're going to need a lot of troops, but we also need to balance this with our limited transport options.

We'll start by taking 5 squads of veterans, each has (the almost obligatary) 3 melta guns, and nothing else. 100 points each, brings the total to 620 points

Next we need the actual airborne part of the list. We currently have 6 squads so we'll take 6 Vendettas (and lose all our friends no doubt) in 3 squadrons of 2. Upgrading the Vendetta to carry 2 heavy bolters for 10 points is a steal and adds much needed anti-infantry fire to the list. Coming in at 140 points each, 6 takes the total to 1460 points

290 points to spend to shore up our weaknesses. The one major weakness I see is long range anti-vehicle fire, only 3 units can fire past 12 inches and they aren't all that survivable. We need some autocannons - enter the hydra, now we are 10 points short of taking 2 squadrons of two of these so we'll go back to the company command squad and remove 2 meltaguns and replace them with 2 flamers for some moping up capability against any dismounted infantry.

Now while the Hydra doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the list it can be represented as a light armoured vehicle with anti-air capabilities (and I already have a conversion in mind ;-))

Our list therefore is

Company Command Squad (110)
- 2x Melta gun, 2x Flamer, Astropath

Veteran Squad (100)
- 3x Melta gun

Veteran Squad (100)
- 3x Melta gun

Veteran Squad (100)
- 3x Melta gun

Veteran Squad (100)
- 3x Melta gun

Veteran Squad (100)
- 3x Melta gun

Vendetta Squadron (280)
- 2x Vendetta with Heavy Bolters

Vendetta Squadron (280)
- 2x Vendetta with Heavy Bolters

Vendetta Squadron (280)
- 2x Vendetta with Heavy Bolters

Hydra Squadron (150)
- 2x Hydra

Hydra Squadron (150)
- 2x Hydra

I'll start playtesting it soon and it may receive a few tweaks before its finished.

Comments and Criticism is welcome as always

5 comments:

  1. Hmmm, im disappointed that you opted to add in tanks to an airborne list.

    I made a fully airborne list about 2 months ago (still have 2 more vendettas to get before i can use it)

    And it is composed, as follows:

    CCS - 105pts
    Carapace Armour, x2 melta, Power weapon, Krak grenades.

    Lord Commissar - 90pts
    Power Weapon, Carapace

    x2 Storm Troopers - 105pts
    x2 melta

    Storm Trooper - 115pts
    x2 Plasma Gun

    x3 Vets
    x3 Melta, Carapace

    Vets - 115pts
    Forward Sentries, Autocannon, x3 Snipers

    x3 Valkyries - 390pts
    MRP

    x2 Vendetta - 260pts

    x2 Vendetta - 260pts

    I know most people dont approve of the Carapace, but the list was more themed for the Harakoni Warhawks and they drop into combat wearing Carapace.
    Plus i find it somewhat indespensibe. But thats just me.

    So good sir, i have trumped your 6 Vendettas, and added some anti infantry in the form of Valkyries (whatever use they will actually be is disputable. But i hope that 3 of them in a squadran will help to kill off infantry quite quickly) and it is totally airborne.

    I still dont understand (and havent since the codex came out) why every guard player thinks the Hydra is the best unit to take in the HS section.
    Its very flimsy at the best of times, and the gun is severely under strength for what its supposed to do. I mean you need a 5 to glance the vendetta/valkyrie, or Stormraven, or Eldar tank, and 4 for most other tanks, i.e. Rhinos and Razorbacks.
    I just dont understand everyones obsession with the Hydra, or everyones obseesion with the Autocannon. It isint the best gun in the game, in my opinion.
    If the Hydra Autocannon was up to str 8, then i could understand. But its not.
    At the moment, the only thing i can see going for it is its cheap price.

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  2. The list is the codex IG version of my current secret project for next years NWG tournament where they allow forgeworld units - hydras will therefore be replaced with Vultures.

    I picked hydras as they will end up looking like small air portable tanks similiar to a cross between the the CVR(T) vehicles in use in the british army and the LAV.

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  3. Could you scratchbuild the hydras to look like low flying skimmers or flyers with quad autocannons under the wings? keeps with the theme but allows you the hydra shots?

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  4. Hmmmm, i actually like that idea.
    It could be a Vulture armed with 4 Autocannons on its wings. It would fit better with the list instead of having ground support units.

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  5. Duce your faith in my scratchbuilding skills is welcome, but misplaced, I can modify kits but scratchbuilding an entire vehicle is a little beyond me TBH.

    Death Korps, the idea of a Vulture with 4 autocannons is a nice one. The problem is to be tourney legal it'd need to be about the same size. Plonking down a couple of vultures will probably not go down too well

    Although thinking about it, to get it the right size as a hydra, it'd be too small to be operated by a pilot, maybe a UCAV sort of vehicle?

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