Implausible Nature
  • Home
    • Links and Contact Page
    • Site Index
    • Site Primer >
      • Casual vs Competitive Players -- Healing the Divide
      • Laeroth's Take On Building Fluffy Armies
  • Laeroth's Blog
  • The Njesta Crusade
    • Black Templars Army Lists
    • Njesta Crusade Fluff >
      • Black Templars Background Literature
  • Black Templars 101
    • BT 101: Where to Start >
      • BT 101: Unit Analysis
      • BT 101: Building Low-Point BT Armies
      • BT 101: Commonly Used Abbreviations
    • BT 101: Building an 9th Edition List >
      • BT 101: Building A Competitive 9th Edition List
      • BT 101: Building Another Competitive 9th Edition List
    • BT 101: Assembling Your Crusade
    • BT 101: Playing With Your New Army >
      • BT 101: Tactics
      • BT 101: Duality
    • BT 101: The Conclusion
  • Painting and Modeling
    • Black Templars Gallery
    • How To Paint Black Templars

Email: Looking for some timely feedback from a vet BT player

1/12/2011

4 Comments

 
Email:  Marshal Laeroth,

Simply because I have no idea how else I would introduce myself, my name is David.  I’ve been collecting BT (and Thousand Sons as well, simply because they look amazing) for a while now, and I’m about to play my first tournament this coming Saturday.  I think I’ve put together a pretty good list based on much of what I have read on your website, but I was looking for some feedback before I go get my proverbial ass kicked this weekend.  I have no experience fighting competitive lists from any army at all, and my casual games consist of CSM, Nids, and IG.  Anyway, here’s the list.  

HQ:
Emperor’s Champion w/ AAC (140)  

Elite:
Venerable Dreadnought (Tank Hunter, TL LC, Missile Launcher, Smoke Launchers) (168)  

Troops:
Crusader Squad (7 BP& CCW, 1 MG, 1 PF), in Rhino w/ Smoke Launchers (222)  
Crusader Squad (7 BP&CCW, 1 Flamer, 1 PF) in Rhino w/ Smoke Launchers (218)  
Crusader Squad (3 Bolters, 1 Plasma, 1 Missile Launcher) (96)  

Fast Attack:
Land Speeder w/ MM and HF (75)
Land Speeder w/ MM and HF (75)  

Heavy Support:
Predator Destructor w/ Lascannon Sponsons and Smoke Launchers (128)
Predator Destructor w/ Lascannon Sponsons and Smoke Launchers (128)  
Total:  1250  

This tournament is known as the Contest of Champions at the local game store, and is an escalation tourney that runs every other month, increasing the army list 250 pts at a time (the next is in March at 1500 pts, May at 1750, etc).  I would love some help with the list if you have the time.   Thanks a ton, the website is awesome.  

Sincerely,  
David

Reply:  Hello David!

Looking it over, there isn't a whole lot of work needed here.  Some minor optimization stuff.  So great job there!  Let's take a look.  :D 

HQ:
Emperor’s Champion w/ AAC (140)
This is fine as he is.

Elite:
Venerable Dreadnought (Tank Hunter, TL LC, Missile Launcher, Smoke Launchers) (168)
I'd take off the Missile Launcher and give him back his Dreadnought Close Combat weapon.  This will allow him to be a threat in close combat, which lets you use him as a defender for you shooty squad.  I'd also throw on extra armor and a heavy flamer.  In this configuration, he won't lose too much in the way of anti-tank either.
 
Troops:
Crusader Squad (7 BP& CCW, 1 MG, 1 PF), in Rhino w/ Smoke Launchers (222)
To increase optimization and allow you to squeeze some wound allocation funsies out of the squad, drop two initiates and add in two neophytes in their place.  This will be the EC squad.

Crusader Squad (7 BP&CCW, 1 Flamer, 1 PF) in Rhino w/ Smoke Launchers (218)
Like the previous squad, we're dropping initiates.  This time though, only drop one and put in two neophytes to replace the initiate.  Also change the flamer to a meltagun.  Its much more useful all around for the possible opponents out there.  The added anti-tank is never a bad thing.  Besides, you get quite a bit of anti-infantry from the bolt pistols and close combat here.

Crusader Squad (3 Bolters, 1 Plasma, 1 Missile Launcher) (96)
For this squad, drop the Missile Launcher and add in a Lascannon if possible.  If you're going to have a minimum sized squad like this, its better to just cough up the 5 points for the superior weapon.  Though, I have a feeling that mob armies are a concern for you considering the flamer and missile launcher.  The Dreadnought Heavy Flamer should help that, plus if you get him in combat with a mob of infantry, they'll be sorely pressed to actually kill the Dreadnought.  You also have the Land Speeders.
 
Fast Attack:
Land Speeder w/ MM and HF (75)
Land Speeder w/ MM and HF (75)
These are perfectly fine as is.
 
Heavy Support:
Predator Destructor w/ Lascannon Sponsons and Smoke Launchers (128)
Predator Destructor w/ Lascannon Sponsons and Smoke Launchers (128)
Drop the smoke launchers.  While they are nice to have if you have extra points, we can use those points elsewhere.  Otherwise these are also good to go.
 
Total:  1250

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ok.  Here is how I would run your list:

HQ:
Emperor’s Champion w/ AAC (140)
 
Elite:
Venerable Dreadnought (Tank Hunter, TL LC, Heavy Flamer, Extra Armor, Smoke Launchers) (173)
 
Troops:
Crusader Squad #1 (5 BP& CCW, 1 MG, 1 PF; 2 Neophytes w/ BP&CCW), in Rhino w/ Smoke Launchers (210)
Crusader Squad #2 (6 BP& CCW, 1 MG, 1 PF; 2 Neophytes w/ BP&CCW) in Rhino w/ Smoke Launchers (226)
Crusader Squad #3 (3 Bolters, 1 Plasma, 1 Lascannon) (101)
 
Fast Attack:
Land Speeder w/ MM and HF (75)
Land Speeder w/ MM and HF (75)
 
Heavy Support:
Predator Destructor w/ Lascannon Sponsons and Smoke Launchers (125)
Predator Destructor w/ Lascannon Sponsons and Smoke Launchers (125)

Total:  1250

Doing it like this, you gain back the CC ability of the Dreadnought and another method to deal with mob infantry.  The first crusader squad gets SLIGHTLY less effective in close combat, but you really do need the neophytes in there for wound allocation.  The second squad actually gains effectiveness, as you've added another body.  The last crusader squad just switches out the missile launcher for the lascannon for a slight upgrade in AT firepower.  Other than that, you pretty much had the core of the army spot on.  Be sure to stick that shooty squad in cover, as it'll get targeted early for elimination.  Go to ground if you have to (with the new FAQ, Righteous Zeal cancels it).  Focus your strength/firepower with proper target priority and you should do just fine.

Hope that helps!  Good luck in your tournament and be sure to let me know how it goes!  :D
4 Comments
Trignama
1/13/2011 12:01:06 am

Well another thing that might help here, is having the correct points for the crusader squads. The first squad should be 183 pts not 210. The second squad should be 199 not 226 :) hope that helps :)

Reply
Marshal Laeroth (Admin) link
1/13/2011 06:12:38 am

I used AB to work the list out. But I'll quickly make sure it didn't mess up. *sec* They are correct as listed sir. :/

CS#1) 7 initiates and 2 neophytes w/ meltagun and powerfist. 7*16=112; 2*10=20; 10+15+53=78; 78+112+20=210

CS#2) 8 initiates and 2 neophytes w/ meltagun and powerfist. 8*16=128; 2*10=20; 10+15+53=78; 78+112+20=226

Reply
Trignama
1/14/2011 04:16:55 am

Oh wow how did I screw that up? Lol sorry

Reply
Marshal Laeroth (Admin) link
1/14/2011 07:16:42 am

No worries man. Its all good. :)

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Laeroth's Blog

    This blog is devoted to the Black Templars chapter and the tactics, list building, and general musing associated with them.  Readers will see occasional posts from Marshal Laeroth.

    Check out the Implausible Nature YouTube Channel!

    Follow me on Twitter!

    Like what you see and want to help support Implausible Nature?  Click the link below and donate!

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    December 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    March 2016
    November 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    September 2014
    May 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009