Incoming Blood Angels

[Gir]

The Black Box!! And the AWFUL new codex pic, of course...

With the full codex trim it actually doesn't look that bad.

meph is T4 and not immune to instant death

[url]http://www.lounge.belloflostsouls.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=419&d=1267811075[/url]

[entendre_entendre]

I saw the codex in my local GW today here is what's inside:

Cover (okay this is on the outside, but whatev...): Same as the one posted here on BoLS as the WD cover

Baals: Fast, Scout, replace twin AC for Flamestorm FOR FREE has access to heavy flamer/bolter sponsors. First turn barbeques will now be a common occurrence, so bring chips.

Pretty much every vehicle is Fast with the exception of LR (which CAN deep strike BTW)

Death Company: same as Bigred posted. For every 5, you can take a DC dread as troops.

DC dread: can fleet. 'nuff said.

Mephiston: PWNage covered in win sauce. Use up to 3 powers a turn, same cost as a regular LR. Tranfixing Gaze (if successful) allows re-roll to hit AND to wounds against an enemy IC.

Stormraven Gunship (aka Tantalus): quite literally a small thunderhawk. Option to swap twin linked Assault Cannon for a twin linked Plasma cannon (among other options). Twin Hvy Bolters are swappable for a Multi Melta and other weapons. Is a Heavy Support choice. Transport capacity is 12 (JP count as two) AND a Dreadnought. Assault vehicle (cannot assault on the turn it deep strikes).

Furiso Dreadnoughts: Elites choice, upgradable to Libby dread (so you can have 3... OMG). Regular FD can take a Frag Cannon (S6 Ap- Assault 2 Rending Template). I've nicknamed this gun the clusterf*ck cannon for obvious reasons. Libby dread can fly if you choose the flying power as one of your two powers. Tests on Ld 10 and Perils hits count as glancing hits.

Dreadnoughts: Heavy Support choices, standard gear iirc.

Assault Squads: Troops choices. Access to hand flamers, etc.

Dante: Bigred covered it.

Terminators: I didn't see any split fire rules here, but then again, I wasn't really looking. Same cost as codex SM. Yes they get the 3++ storm shields. Go clean up now.

Tactical Squads: seem the same as regular marines (i.e. bolter, BP, Frag & krak grenades, etc).

Sternguard make an appearance seem to be the same as SM ones.

Veteran squads are basically the same as Vanguards (they have heroic intervention & descent of angels- ouch!).

Sanguinary Guard (I think that's their name... anyway, the super vets): wrist mounted AP 4 bolters, access (if it's not standard) to two handed master-crafted power weapons. Very very pretty models. I'm surprised they don't sparkle.

Seth: has a two-handed mega chainsword that makes him S8 rending in assault. Every enemy roll of 1 for a to hit results in a S4 hit back. Did I mention he fights with his chainsword at initiative?

Tycho: Has two profiles: regular and DC statlines. They cost the same and the player chooses which one to use when they select him.

That's all I can remember, sorry.

My overall impression of the BA is this: They will be the Alpha Strike kings. They will bend you over and have their way with you on the first turn if you're not careful. The Codex seems amazingly easy to break (flying dreadnoughts with force weapons, Baals to the wall Flame spam, etc.). Hordes will hate it when they get charged by Seth as he'll single-handedly eviscerate of big group of boys or guants. The Stormraven will be quite a pain, but there's not model for it, there's not even a picture of it (maybe this is the "thunderhawk kit" we've been hearing so much about? Just some speculation on my part). There are also a lot of free swaps when it comes to the vehicles (at least to me). A heavy DS army is quite possible and actually a bit more reliable with only 1D6" scatter rolls.

Overall, I think BA players will be happy and that Goatboy will have his army of Blood Goats completed within the next couple of months. This codex will be the new bad boy on the block when it comes down to the power balance. Prepare the Whine! The Cheese is coming!



All I can think of now is what the Legions 'dexes are going to look like.
E.g.: Ahriman - 400 points. Special Rules: IMMA FIRIN' MA LAYZA! BLAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!: Place a hellstrom template from Apocalypse with the narrow end touching Ahriman and the wide end facing away from where Ahriman's mouth would be. All models under the template take a S10 AP1 Lance hit. That's what I'm hoping for anyways

[Vepr]

Again it sounds like Meph is an MC with none of the drawbacks unless he can't ride in a transport. If he does not have an invul save or eternal warrior then the swarmlord would be nastier because of MC ignoring armor saves the instant death from the boneswords.

[Bigred]

Excellent work entendre,

Your sighting is confirmation of blackboxes shipping in North America, so the partner level FLGSs should be getting theirs this weekend with any luck. Expect sprue and codex video reviews shortly...

[Madness]

Can't help to see the fluff behind the new vehicle and HOW they managed to get LR to infiltrate.
Personal best guess: Landraiderpult.

Not to mention the 'Eavy Metal bit.

[Duke]

LoL, "Land Raider-pult" Sounds Orky!

Seriously this codex is shaping up in an interesting manner... Mephiston, Lander, etc.

What I don't understand is GW and thier odd thoughts process.

GW guy 1:"Hey lets release a really cool rules for a lander model that would generate tons of sales and make sure this codex hits like a ton of bricks for sales."

GW guy 2: Yea that would be great, we could make people buy tons of them before they find out that it isn't as competitive as they had hoped!

GW guy 3: Hey here is the list of the models were releasing with the new codex...

GW guy 1 and 2: Ummmm.... Ahhh... WTF!?

GW g 3: what?

1 and 2: where is the lander? You know the thing that is going to make tons of money

3: Oh, right! Yea, we aren't going to release it until after people find out it isn't as good as they had thought.

1 and 2: WTF?!

3: Dont agree that this is an awesome strategy? Here, have some koolaid!

[lobster-overlord]

Can't help to see the fluff behind the new vehicle and HOW they managed to get LR to infiltrate.
Personal best guess: Landraiderpult.

Not to mention the 'Eavy Metal bit.

The Machine Spirit in Blood Angels Land Raiders have the USR Obfuscate. (for those who are rumor mongers...that's a vampire joke, not an actual rule...)

John >M

[Madness]

Could be worse, it could have Dementation, or Temporis. Brr.

[Bigred]

Enjoy everybody,

Duke, you can pick up your jaw from the floor now...

[DarkLink]

I'm very tempted to use my Grey Knights with these rules, once it comes out. I can use my Valkyrie as a lander...