Blood Angel noob

[baefull.wolf]

Hey y'all

I have been doing Warhammer 40K as a hobby for the last several years. With the release of the Blood Angels I was converted from hobbier to gamer. While I have actually only completed one game, I have played several partial games. The list I am running currently is becoming stale for me. I have several models that I can experiment with now (playing wise) but have no clue how to work them into my list, or any new list that I write. I am wondering how I can make everything work.

The list that I have been running; which is exactly 1000 points: Sanguinor, Astorath, a single Scout squad of 5 men, three Tactical Squads; 2 squads of 10 and 1 squad of 5.

The new models that I just acquired: a drop pod, 3 dreadnoughts (1 is a librarian), 2 storm ravens (1 unbuilt), 2 squads of terminators; one has thunder hammers and storm shields, 40 - 60 marines, 2 Marnus Calgar's, 1 Astorath, 1 Mephiston, 7 various tanks (ranging from old school predator to new baal predator to rhinos to land raiders), 3 landspeeders (1 is the old school metal one) and 2 space marine librarians

I really really have no clue how to write army lists. I am still learning my codex and the 6th edition rules. Any help would be appreciated.


baefull-wolf

[wittdooley]

Well three small points:


1. Put sanguinor back in your bag. He's not worth his points.

2. Decide what type of BA army you want to play: fun but fluffy or WAAC.

3. Get some jump packs. They're worth it.

[baefull.wolf]

here is how noobish i am. :o what is WAAC? I think the 40-60 I have on the shelf have jump packs. but im unsure.

[DWest]

WAAC is Win At All Costs, which depending on who says it is defined as anything from "playing as mean a list as is possible from your Codex, regardless of lore" to "twisting the rules until they squeal, cheating if you can get away with it", but generally the former.

As for list building, Assault Marines as Troops is one of the unique things available to Blood Angels, and are very good. Just don't expect to barrel into anything and everything and win; Assault Marines are best used as skirmishers and opportunists. Also if possible, get or convert a Sanguinary Priest (Apothecary)- they grant Feel No Pain to all friendly units within 6", which is a major survivability upgrade. Bury the Priest in the middle of the toughest unit you're fielding and keep the others close enough to get the effect. That's the very basics of Blood Angels; from here, it's a question of "what do you want to do on the table?"- the BA Codex has an enormous range of potential. Want to run an armored corps type of list? BA can do that. Tough, elite, close assault list? BA can do that. Plain, ordinary massed-fire Tactical squads? BA can do that. I'd recommend finding a theme first, then tailoring your units to fit in that theme, because the one thing BA can't do well is throw one of everything into the pot and expect to make soup.

[baefull.wolf]

Thank you very much. That is really helpful. I totally need an apothecary

[Phototoxin]

Firstly do any of your models have jump packs?

Assuming no:

Take: Libarian (blood shield and blood lance powers) - libarains are cheap, flexable and come with force weapons. Also they open up an honour guard which are good as they can take multiple special weapons, are veterans and come with an apothicary. To this end I'd use some of your tactical marines (painted gold if going by standard BA colours)

What do the scouts have?

Are your dreadnoughts furiousos or regular (if so what have they got?) If you are cheeky you can drop pod one of them 1st turn to cause disruption and jet the other 2 up on your storm ravens (obviously depends if you have the points!)

What has the other squad of terminators got? Terminators with TH/SS AND an apothicary are nasty as they are hard to kill (3++ and then feel no pain, and str 9 on the charge!!)

What 'various tanks' have you got - a new baal with assault cannons is good, 2 are better! Rhinos/razorbacks are good for transporting your marines but generally you want assaulty marines (ccw+pistol instead of just a bolter)

Land speeders are always good and cheap - 60pts will get you a multimelta and flamer combo for a bit of tank hunting or mopping up infantry.

PS: if you are not 100% sure of what stuff you have just post a picture of them all!

[Wolfshade]

Priests are very useful :)

But I would say, buy what you like the look of and enjoy painting.

Another important thing to note is that BA tanks based on the Rhino are all fast vehicles which can make an important difference.

[baefull.wolf]

Firstly do any of your models have jump packs?

Assuming no:
My death company do the majority of the time.

Take: Libarian (blood shield and blood lance powers) - libarains are cheap, flexable and come with force weapons. Also they open up an honour guard which are good as they can take multiple special weapons, are veterans and come with an apothicary. To this end I'd use some of your tactical marines (painted gold if going by standard BA colours)

What do the scouts have?
Usually camo cloaks as the only upgrade

Are your dreadnoughts furiousos or regular (if so what have they got?) If you are cheeky you can drop pod one of them 1st turn to cause disruption and jet the other 2 up on your storm ravens (obviously depends if you have the points!)
Furiousos with magna grapple, blood talons and the usual built in weapons

What has the other squad of terminators got? Terminators with TH/SS AND an apothicary are nasty as they are hard to kill (3++ and then feel no pain, and str 9 on the charge!!)
I always run my termis as th/ss, but have no apothicaries. I really don't like using proxies either.

What 'various tanks' have you got - a new baal with assault cannons is good, 2 are better! Rhinos/razorbacks are good for transporting your marines but generally you want assaulty marines (ccw+pistol instead of just a bolter)
1 baal predator, 1 old school predator, 4 rhinos, and a land raider

Land speeders are always good and cheap - 60pts will get you a multimelta and flamer combo for a bit of tank hunting or mopping up infantry.
I have three speeders, but I don't generally use them. One is the old school metal model, 1 is unbuilt, and 1 is a wip.

PS: if you are not 100% sure of what stuff you have just post a picture of them all!

I also have 2 storm ravens, 1 is a wip, 1 unbuilt still in box. I also have another couple of tanks unbuilt, and more guys unbuilt ... unsure of what the guys are supposed to be.

[Phototoxin]

Sounds like you have what is good to do a mechanised list.
By 'what do the scouts have' I mean do they have bolters, shotguns, pistols or sniper rifles?

[baefull.wolf]

By 'what do the scouts have' I mean do they have bolters, shotguns, pistols or sniper rifles?

One squad is magnitized to do bolters/pistols and swords, the other squad is sniper rifles

[Phototoxin]

I would suggest you try to take the scouts (pistols+swords - give the sgt a power fist) and the sniper squad, take the 3 land speeders with multimeltas, the 2 storm ravens. Put a librarian with a sanguinary priest (give the priest a power weapon) with the melee scouts into a storm raven. Put 5 terminators in the other one (with a terminator armour sanguinary priest?) and you will have a mobile and scary army. Depends a lot on your points and how much scoring you need though.