Hello all!
It’s Thursday, which means it’s time for another of Raw Dogger’s randoms. Unfortunately, I will not be able to bring you my previously planned article titled Wave Serpents, What Up with That Dank Stank? and will instead have to solicit feedback and tactical help from you readers of Frontline Gaming. Last weekend at the No Mercy tournament in Sacramento, California I brought what I had thought was a tournament ready list and ended up going 0 -3. While one of the losses was in an inexplicable and frankly astounding way, taking all of those loses really opened up my eyes to the current tournament meta and the need to be able to reach out and grab objectives in the ITC format. The list that I brought would have been great if my opponents would just agree to sit still in open line of sight and let me shoot at them! What the hell, guys? So with hat in hand I traveled home after the tournament and began to re-write my list. Please keep in mind that the LVO is only a week away and I am working with the models I have and can get painted to the three minimum color standard by next Thursday.
Astra Militarum CAD
HQ
Company Command Squad (Kurov’s Aquila, Officer of the Fleet) – Basic command squad with the wargear item that gives all units from Codex: Astra Militarum the Preferred Enemy special rule. Officer of the fleet lets me potentially re-roll my reserves or give my opponent a -1 to theirs. Chimera so they don’t get squished turn 1 by enemy artillery.
Priest – Keeps the blob squad in line with the Fearless special rule and comes with some nifty war hymns in case I get into combat, which can only mean something has gone horribly wrong.
TROOPS
Platoon Command Squad (Melta Bombs) – Go into the Vendetta for a hopeful late game objective grab or line breaker.
Infantry Squad (Lascannon) – Combine with other infantry squads. In the Preferred Enemy bubble.
Infantry Squad (Lascannon) – Combine with other infantry squads. In the Preferred Enemy bubble.
Infantry Squad (Lascannon) – Combine with other infantry squads. In the Preferred Enemy bubble.
3x Sabre Platforms (Lascannons) – Excellent anti-air unit and with orders can potentially ignore cover. Wave Serpents better RECOGNIZE. In the Preferred Enemy bubble.
Veteran Squad – Bare bones because I needed another troop unit. Most likely held in reserve to come in on an objective close to my table edge or bubble wrap the Aegis in case of fast assaulters.
FAST ATTACK
Vendetta – What can I say about this guy that hasn’t already been covered? Three twin linked lascannons are the bane of fliers and are excellent against Imperial Knights as well. Carries the Platoon Command Squad.
Vulture (Twin Linked Punisher Cannon, Heavy Bolter) – A GREAT anti-infantry model with Straffing Run, the Vulture also puts the hurtin’ on Hive Tyrants, which should be abundant at the LVO.
HEAVY SUPPORT
Leman Russ Executioner (Executioner Plasma Cannon, Heavy Bolter Sponsons) – Great anti 2+ save with a decent range. Armor 14 is still pretty tough to get through. In the Preferred Enemy bubble.
Leman Russ Executioner (Executioner Plasma Cannon, Heavy Bolter Sponsons) – Great anti 2+ save with a decent range. Armor 14 is still pretty tough to get through. In the Preferred Enemy bubble.
Wyvern – A great anti-infantry tool that also can be used to blast enemy infantry hiding on objectives in the backfield. In the Preferred Enemy bubble but with twin link and shred in it’s weapon profiles it doesn’t really benefit from that.
FORTIFICATION
Aegis Defense Line – Hopefully will offer up some cover for the units in the backfield in the Preferred Enemy bubble.
Imperial Knight Ally
Imperial Knight (Rapid Fire Battle Cannon) – Taken as an ally instead of a Lord of War in my CAD to mitigate the bonuses to my opponent, the Knight really helps with getting up the flanks of an opponent while the Astra Militarum units do what they do in the backfield.
So what are your thoughts on this list? What are some tactics that someone with my low strategic skill level can employ using this list? How will it fare against the tournament meta likely to be seen at the LVO?