6 replies to this topic

[Doomarn]

So a local tournament is comming up in July and we are going to play the nova system, 5 objectives, quarters, VP, -win, loss.

I am a follower of Laeroths blog (implausible nature) and I have had an urge to test his defensive drop pod list for a while.
I have been playtesting it a few games just to get the feel of it, and ofcourse been reading Laeroths tactica for it. And i must say its damn fun to play with.

Here is the 1500p version i decided to make using Laeroths 2k list as base.

HQ. Castellan combi-melta, Frag G -Drop Pod
command squad 2x meltagun, 1x bolter
sergeant with bolter, Apothecary with bolter

HQ. Emperors Champion
accept any challenge

Elite. Dreadnought - Drop Pod
X-Armor, HF, Multimelta,smoke

Elite. Dreadnought - Drop Pod
X-armor, HF, Assault C, Smoke

Troops. Crusaders 5 - Drop Pod
1x Melta, 4x Bolters

Troops. Crusaders 5 - Drop Pod
1x Melta, 4x Bolters

Troops. Crusaders 5 - Drop Pod
1x Melta, 4x Bolters

Troops. Crusaders 5 - Drop Pod
1x Melta, 4x Bolters

Troops. Crusaders 5 - Drop Pod
1x Melta, 4x Bolters

Fast. Typhoon

Fast. Typhoon

Fast. Typhoon

[Marshal Laeroth]

I will admit, I'm rather fond of the DDP list. The 1500 point version you present here still has a lot of the MSU that is needed, as well as keeping the all important Typhoons in the list. Its a good adaptation. Your opponent will be similarily gimped on points, so your distraction force should be more than sufficient to block the majority of their forces for a good while. Plus, if you're playing Nova-style then two of the three missions favor this army significantly.

Just remember, as I note on IN, KP/VP missions are difficult to win without knowing exactly how you're going to get those points and executing your plan perfectly. Not impossible, but definitely something you need to be aware of. Dark Eldar will also be a concern for you, since they can simply fly right over you. However, not all DE forces are mechanized, so you'll have to adjust your tactics to fit the opponent. Some shouldn't use distraction drops, for others, it works just as before. Fortunately, their vehicles are paper thin and even bolters can bring them down (hint hint).

Good luck to you. Just try to get as much playtesting in before the tournament as you can.

[Doomarn]

Tnx Laeroth. I have been playtesting it a few times and i will continue to up until the tournament. I have indeed found it difficult to not give away so many KPs. versus Nidz i find the list to be excellent in taking objectives and above all quarters. (after all we are playing the nova system). I am seriously considering playing this at a big tournament in october but those missions isnt nova and most likely one of the rules will be that units inside transports cant claim objective, and dedicated transports cant contest objectives. So the drop pod list will be at a big disanvantage but i think i will have some fun.

[Doomarn]

Playing this Drop Pod list has been alot of fun and i have decided to take a 2000p version to a tournament in october.
In my opinion there is no other way to play a BT drop pod list than Laeroth do. I changed a few things due to the meta game
that we have here in Sweden and to suit my playstyle a bit. The changes are small. I wanted a power weapon on each castellan because in
my playtesting versus different opponents i most often end up in CC with the command squads since i use them to drop as a distraction or speed bumps.
I want to use the castellans initiative 5 to take out some bodies before they get to strike back.
The other changes where to take away the Multi Melta from the dreadnoughts and put back the Assault Cannons. Why? well i need more anti-infantry, If
12 meltaguns cant bust some tanks nothing will.

So am short 10 drop pods, so thats in my shopping list when i get the next paycheck. For the local tournament i made drop pods out of carbon boxes, same size as a normal drop pod, only more ugly.
They are accepted to play with since we are just putting together this small local tournament for fun.

Here is the 2k list

Castellan: power weapon, combi-melta - Drop Pod
command squad: 2x meltagun, apotecary all with bolters

Castellan: power weapon, combi-melta - Drop Pod
command squad: 2x meltagun, apotecary all with bolters

Emperors Champion - accept any challenge

Dreadnought - Assault C, Heavy Flamer, X-armor - Drop Pod
Dreadnought - Assault C, Heavy Flamer, X-armor - Drop Pod
Dreadnought - Assault C, Heavy Flamer, X-armor - Drop Pod

Crusader Squad 5 - Drop Pod
1x Meltagun, 4x Bolters

Crusader Squad 5 - Drop Pod
1x Meltagun, 4x Bolters

Crusader Squad 5 - Drop Pod
1x Meltagun, 4x Bolters

Crusader Squad 5 - Drop Pod
1x Meltagun, 4x Bolters

Crusader Squad 5 - Drop Pod
1x Meltagun, 4x Bolters

Crusader Squad 5 - Drop Pod
1x Meltagun, 4x Bolters

Typhoon
Typhoon
Typhoon
...............................................

[Marshal Laeroth]

I will admit, it took me about a dozen games to get good with the Defensive Drop Pod list. But when I did, it was very frustrating for my opponents to play. Not because the games were bad or not fun, but because it was so dang hard to get a foot hold against me! I love this style of play and I firmly stand by my opinion that its the way to do BT drop pods. It is both competitive against almost all opponents, but also extremely fun to play. Its just costly to build up the army.

As for the tweaks, I have no issues with them. In fact, I might do some playtesting with them myself. My list is a tiny bit light in the AI department, so that might solve that issue. Not to mention, it is more useful against those pesky Dark Eldar opponents. Which is one of the very few big weaknesses in the original list.

Edited by Marshal Laeroth, 03 July 2011 - 06:22 AM.

[Doomarn]

@Laeroth Yeah and i totally agree that its fun to play and gives the opponent a real challenge to play against. The Assault Cannons will do wonders against Dark Eldar and i love the extra firepower vs infantry.
The cost for 11 drop pods isnt fun, but when all is painted up it will look so good on the table.

I have tried a few games now with different senarios, one was a Victory points game vs horde nidz. It was hard since he had half the VPs from every drop pod when they came in. (imobile vehicle was half VP).
Other games have been objectives and quarters where this list really shines, other marine armies cant win against the BT drop pod on these senarios, especially if i can choose to go second. The List are so versitile against
all opponents that if they doesnt have experience vs this kind of list they are in serious trouble. Most ppl think its just to play bubblewrap like against a regular marine drop pod list, but they are so wrong. If they do there is
a 70% chance of me winning already. If they spread out to far and leaves units without support its the same thing. its just a great list. I recommend ppl to proxy the list and test a few games, i promise you will find it most
enjoying to play with.

[luckymutt]

I definitely like this list. A few tweeks for my preferences and I'm going.
My bank account won't like it. I've got not nearly enough drop pods nor any speeders but i've needed to add those anyway and i'll continue to proxy drop pods till I've got enough.
I will be experimenting with this come next week.