2500pt White Scars

[carlisimo]

Hi everyone, after months of loving the White Scars novels but also telling myself that I didn't have time for a 30k army... I'm starting a 30k army.  I've been in and out of the hobby for years now, mostly focusing on Epic during my 'in' moments.  But I bought a Burning of Prospero box and some Mk II dudes that I'll use as veterans, so here we go.

 

The idea is a force that gets dropped off on a traitor-occupied world to go raid a target that's too well defended from enemy fleets for a direct attack.  That means no drop pods, no dreadnoughts (I'm fine with Terran dreads, but they're too slow), and potentially no air support.  I don't see Xiphons as very realistic but I could probably justify a Fire Raptor.  For the moment I'm not, so I have two list ideas based around what appear to be suboptimal anti-air options.  Here's the first:

 

Praetor on Outrider Bike: Cyber-hawk, Digital Lasers, Iron Halo, Mastercrafted Paragon Blade, Melta Bombs
[220pts]

Librarian on Outrider Bike [155pts]: Psychic Mastery Level 2, Artificer Armour, Force Axe, Melta Bombs
[155pts]


+ Elites +

8x Veteran Tacticals w/ Combi-meltas
- Sergeant: Artificer Armour, Power Glaive
- Legion Rhino Armoured Carrier: Dozer Blade, Pintle-Mounted Multi-Melta
[296pts]

10x Veteran Tacticals w/ Bolters
- Sergeant: Artificer Armour, Power Glaive
- 1x Nuncio-vox
- Legion Rhino Armoured Carrier: Pintle-Mounted Multi-Melta
[245pts]

+ Troops +

6x Jetbike Sky Hunters
- 2x Volkite Culverins
[260pts]

6x Outrider Bikes (Praetor joins them)
- Sergeant: Melta Bombs, Power Glaive
- 2x Power Axes
[235pts]

6x Outrider Bikes (Librarian joins them)
- Sergeant: Melta Bombs, Power Glaive
- 2x Power Axes
[235pts]

9x Tactical Support Marines w/ Volkite Chargers
. Legion Sergeant: Artificer Armour, Melta Bombs
- Everyone gets Chainswords
- Legion Rhino Armoured Carrier: Dozer Blade, Pintle-Mounted Multi-Melta
[267pts]

+ Fast Attack +

3x Attack Bikes w/ Multi-Melta
- Melta Bombs
[165pts]

3x Javelin Attack Speeders w/ TL Cyclone Missile Launchers
[165pts]

3x Javelin Attack Speeders w/ TL Cyclone Missile Launchers
[165pts]

+ Heavy Support +

Whirlwind Hyperios
[75]

 

Total: 2498

 

As an alternative to the 6 Javelins and Whirlwind Hyperios, I was also considering 10 Missile Launcher Heavy Support dudes (with flakk missiles) in a Rhino for similar points.  They could benefit from the Praetor's cyberhawk but if they Outflank then they're snap firing for a turn.

 

I'm also willing to replace the bolter veterans with more jetbikes, or attack bikes, or (if I maintain 3 fast attack choices) a pair of Predators or Vindicators.  Honestly not sure what to do with the FA and HS slots, or if krak missiles are actually good enough for my anti-tank needs.  

 

Oh, one more question, about the support squad - I'd like to keep an assault weapon on them since they'll be moving, so flamers or keep the volkite chargers?  The latter seem more versatile, especially with the cyberhawk in the air.

Edited May 20, 2017 by carlisimo

[Lord Asvaldir]

Overall I think you have the right idea. Biker focused white scar army supported by veterans is pretty solid.

 

Honestly I wouldn't worry about anti air. I rarely take an anti air option in list and if I do it's the deredeo which you don't want to take, so I'd say don't bother. Instead for heavy support I'd consider sicarans, which fit well with the speed of the rest of the army and provide solid fire support.

 

In terms of anti armor, overall your list is alright. Javelins are awesome and melta is still useful despite armored ceramite being prevelant. However, you're going to really struggle to deal with heavy armor like Spartans. Easiest fix to that is take a lightning with kraken missiles, which means you'll have a little air support.

 

For your support squad I'd take volkite chargers over flamers.

 

 

One last thing to consider, if you can find the pts a command squad on bikes with an apothecary is pretty solid, you could replace a biker squad with them.

[carlisimo]

Thanks for the pointers, I see the logic in them.  The command squad is a tough call - doesn't score, but gets artificer armor and a lot of weapon options.  Does seem like it's worth a shot...

[Grey Mage]

I think its always worthwhile to have *some* aa in a list. But between the Hyperios and the twin-linking on the javelins I think you should be able to handle it.

You might consider switching out the Culverins on the skyhunters for more MMs, but I figure thats a matter of taste and how many spartans etc you see in your meta.

[carlisimo]

I've tweaked the list for a couple of reasons.  One: money.  It'd help to use the Terminators from Burning of Prospero (and the Land Raider Mk IIb is relatively affordable), and Javelins have the worst money/points ratio out of the whole army list, from what I can see.  Two: I thought my bike squads needed more staying power so I've gone with one larger Outrider squad and one larger Attack Bike squad.  I didn't realize Attack Bikes had (2+1) attacks each - maybe the Praetor should go with them instead?  I would've liked to take a second Apothecary for them, but that (and pintle-mounted weapons on the Rhinos) will have to wait until the 3,000 point version.  Similarly, I can't get command squads to work without making the army smaller.  First turn could be ugly anyway, if I hold too much in reserve.

It's still a ground-based force traveling long distances to the target, so I'm deliberately avoiding flyers and infantry without transports.  

The Land Raider, Outriders, and Attack Bikes can go after heavy armor.  The Jetbikes, Veterans, and Support Tacticals work against infantry.  Still just the one source of anti-air.  If the Sicaran Arcus's rules don't change, it'd be a straight swap for the heavy support squad.  


White Scars, 2,498 points
Rite of War: Chogorian Brotherhood

HQ:

[200] Praetor: Bike; bolt pistol; Paragon blade; digital lasers; iron halo; Cyber-hawk

Elites:

[235] 5 Terminators (Tartaros) w/ 1x power fist; 1x lightning claw; 2× chainfists; 1x plasma blaster;
Sergeant w/ power glaive;
[230] Land Raider Phobos w/ dozer blade

[75] Apothecary on Bike w/ power sword

[298] 9 Veteran Space Marines w/ 2x plasma guns, 7x combi-plasma; melta bombs;
Sergeant w/ artificer armour & power glaive;
[40] Rhino w/ dozer blade

Troops:

[375] 9 Outriders: 3× power weapon; melta bombs; Sergeant w/ power glaive
(Praetor and Apothecary join this squad)

[260] 6 Jetbike Sky Hunters: 2× volkite culverins

[220] 10 Tactical Support Marines w/ volkite chargers & chainswords;
Sergeant w/ artificer armour & power glaive;
[40] Rhino w/ dozer blade

Fast Attack:

[275] 5 Attack Bikes w/ multi-meltas; melta bombs

Heavy Support

[210] 5 Heavy Support Marines w/ missile launchers & flakk missiles;
[40] Rhino w/ dozer blade

 

[Ultramarinebo]

Sweet list man,

 

I'd definitely recommend a vanilla Arcus, maybe armoured cera for survivability. It will give you so much point return compared to the heavy support squad (the Ap 2 is invaluable).

What's your plan with the CC tactical squad? Feels a bit expensive and not capable of much considering they won't be assaulting out of the disembark. The Volkite's cool though.

Attack bikes are awesome, good idea putting the praetor with them - they need the Ld boost plus he can absorb power weapon hits in Assault

[carlisimo]

Yeah, that's true about not assaulting out of the Rhino.  I haven't really played a game yet, so I don't know if I should expect them to get a round of shooting off then die, or shoot then get charged but survive long enough for the chainswords to matter.