Brothers in Arms

B.A.S.M. ... Kinky?

Games Workshop’s, Winter, “Battle Brothers” Doubles Tournament is nearly upon us and, in typical style, Gav and I only managed to sit down and agree on a list last weekend. While we were both completely sober in this endeavor we have had exactly no practice and I have the majority of 6^th Edition experience with less than 15 games played (over 1000pts). Oh, and add to that the fact that we’ll be using a Space Marines/Blood Angels list which neither of us have any experience playing (it’s been all Tyranids for me and Gav is Mr Space Wolves), and I think you can understand why expectations for success will be set rather low ... for a change!

When I said we had “agreed” on a list, what I meant to say is that we had agreed on 95% of a list but there is still a little discussion going on over fine details so without further ado here’s what we’re currently mulling over:

List 1

Codex: Blood Angels – Primary (830pts)

HQ
Librarian - Shield of Sanguinius & Unleash Rage (alt. Divination) – 100pts

ELITES
Sternguard – x8 with 3x Combi-Melta in a Drop Pod – 250pts
Sanguinary Priest - Brother Corbulo – 105pts

TROOPS
Assault Squad - x10 with 2x Flamer – 200pts
Scout Squad - x5 with 5x Sniper Rifles – 75pts

FORTIFICATION
Aegis Defense Line with Quad Gun – 100pts

Codex: Space Marines – Ally (670pts)

HQ
Librarian - Terminator Armour & Storm Shield,  Null Zone & Gate of Infinity – 140pts

ELITES
Assault Terminators - x5 with Thunder Hammers & Storm Shields – 200pts

TROOP
Tactical Squad - x10 with Plasma Gun, Multi-Melta, Sgt with Combi-Plasma and a Meltabomb  in a Drop Pod – 230pts

HEAVY SUPPORT
Thunderfire Cannon – 100pts

Pretty straightforward tactics here:
* The BA Libby and Corbulo go with the Sternguard to give us a nasty and durable alpha-strike, capable of threatening most units.
* The SM Libby ‘Gates’ the Assault Terminators into a suitably distracting position to give the opponent a decision to make between them and the Sternguard.
* The Thunderfire Cannon sits behind the Aegis with the Scouts who are manning the Quad-Gun to provide fire support.
* Finally the Assault Squad and Drop Pod Tactical Squad make for 2-4 mobile scoring units.

The only tweak I could see to this list would be to drop the Melta Bomb and Combi-Plasma from the Tactical Squad to give the scouts Camo Cloaks and thus a 2+ cover save behind the Aegis ... tempting.

List 2

Codex: Blood Angels – Primary (1045pts)

HQ
Librarian - Shield of Sanguinius & Unleash Rage – 100pts

ELITES
Sternguard – x8 with 2x Combi-Melta in a Drop Pod – 245pts
Furioso Dreadnought with Heavy Flamer in a Drop Pod – 170pts
Sanguinary Priest - Brother Corbulo – 105pts

TROOPS
Assault Squad - x10 with 2x Flamer – 200pts
Scout Squad - x5 with 5x Sniper Rifles – 75pts

FAST ATTACK
Attack Bike - x1 with Multi-Melta – 50pts

FORTIFICATION
Aegis Defense Line with Quad Gun – 100pts

Codex: Space Marines – Ally (455pts)

HQ
Librarian - Terminator Armour & Storm Shield,  Null Zone & Gate of Infinity – 140pts

TROOP
Tactical Squad - x10 with Plasma Gun, Multi-Melta, in a Drop Pod – 230pts

HEAVY SUPPORT
Thunderfire Cannon – 100pts

This list is almost exactly the same list as the one above, except that the Assault Terminators have been swapped with a Furioso Dreadnought with Blood Fists (or with Talons as I think Gav will want these – I prefer S10 AP2 though) and I’ve dropped the Melta Bomb and Combi-Plasma on the Tactical Squad Sergeant to give me a Multi-Melta Attack Bike as a third Distraction Unit.

The only tweak I can think of for this list would be to swap the Attack Bike for a second Sanguinary Priest to further bolster the Scouts’ survivability

The question of Furioso vs Assault Terminators is one of match-ups. Both are threatening and durable distraction unit. However, their durability is dependent on the list that they face off against. I can only assume that if we go with the Furioso we’ll see a lot of Melta and if we go with the Terminators we’ll see a ton of S3/4 torrent. I’ve got to admit that I slightly prefer the Furioso as I think there’ll be more Plasma and “torrent of fire” there than Melta, though the Assault Terminators are more of a threat and won’t be easily “tarpitted”.

I’m sure Gav will sensibly argue one way or the other and then we’ll be set. Keep an eye out next week for some battle reports as a way of helping us get over our