2000 pts of Dark Angels

I'm actually rather fond of the Dark Angels, and I've been trying for a while to come up with a playable list that "feels" like a Dark Angel list. lots of trial and error but i think I've got something.

2000 Pts - Dark Angels Roster

Total Roster Cost: 2000

HQ: Belial, Master of the Deathwing (1#, 130 pts)
1 Belial, Master of the Deathwing, 130 pts

Troops: Upgraded Deathwing Terminator Squad (5#, 290 pts)
4 Upgraded Deathwing Terminator Squad, 247 pts = 4 * 43 (base cost 43) + Cyclone Missile Launcher 20 + Apothecary 30 + Standard Bearer 25
1 Sergeant, 43 pts

HQ: Sammael, Master of the Ravenwing (1#, 205 pts)
1 Sammael, Master of the Ravenwing, 0 pts
1 ...on Jetbike, 205 pts

Troops: Upgraded Ravenwing Attack Squadron (7#, 355 pts)
1 Upgraded Ravenwing Attack Squadron, 0 pts
5 Bike Squad, 240 pts = 5 * 36 (base cost 36) + Meltagun x2 20 + Apothecary 15 + Standard Bearer 25
1 Sergeant, 65 pts = (base cost 40 + Power Fist 25)
1 Attack Bike, 50 pts

Elite: Dreadnought (1#, 135 pts)
1 Dreadnought, 135 pts = (base cost 125 + Missile Launcher 10)

Elite: Dreadnought (1#, 135 pts)
1 Dreadnought, 135 pts = (base cost 125 + Missile Launcher 10)

Troops: Tactical Squad (6#, 205 pts)
4 Tactical Squad, 82 pts = 4 * 18 (base cost 18) + Meltagun 10
1 Sergeant, 43 pts = (base cost 18 + Power Fist 25)
1 Razorback, 80 pts = (base cost 50 + Twin-Linked Lascannon 30)

Troops: Tactical Squad (6#, 205 pts)
4 Tactical Squad, 82 pts = 4 * 18 (base cost 18) + Meltagun 10
1 Sergeant, 43 pts = (base cost 18 + Power Fist 25)
1 Razorback, 80 pts = (base cost 50 + Twin-Linked Lascannon 30)

Fast Attack: Ravenwing Support Squadron (1#, 75 pts)
1 Ravenwing Support Squadron, 75 pts = (base cost 65) + Typhoon Missile Launcher 10

Fast Attack: Ravenwing Support Squadron (1#, 75 pts)
1 Ravenwing Support Squadron, 75 pts = (base cost 65) + Typhoon Missile Launcher 10

Heavy Support: Predator (1#, 95 pts)
1 Predator, 95 pts = (base cost 70 + Heavy Bolter (each side) 25)

Heavy Support: Predator (1#, 95 pts)
1 Predator, 95 pts = (base cost 70 + Heavy Bolter (each side) 25)

I know it's kinda all over the place, 1000 pts of spammy goodness, with 1000 pts of fluffiness tacked on. If my opponent is nice enough to allow IA, the dread become Mortis AC dread (ironic DA cant take Mortis Dread in a pure codex enviroment, but vanilla, blood angels and space wolves all can), and I haev 50 pts to play with.

Comments/criticism?

I like it.

It'd be neat to see how it performed on the table.

You don't like the TL Plasma Gun / Lascannon turret on the Razorback?

it looks neat, but when you said fluffy i was a little disappointed not to see more plasma in all your unit choices; arent dark angels known for having a higher penchant for that kind of weaponry than other chapters

LW: DA can't take the las/plas combo unless you use IA rules. Pure codex is whats in the Rback kit.

DT: Yeah, I would've like more plas for flavour but it can be done by switching the meltaguns to flamer/plas. The Dreads can switch to Plas Can for free. IF I use IA, I can just upgrade all the meltaguns to plasma and give the 2 tactical sgts PPistols.

I'm a big fan of plasma cannon dreadnaughts, but I think my view on that is in the minority.

I just think that a S7 AP2 blast shot has lots of tactical options for a player against most lists.

I'm not really a fan of them. I find a single, inaccurate str7 shot is pretty useless against vehicles and against infantry its str of 7 doesn't instant-kill multi-wound models. I guess if you were shooting plague marines in the open, that were bunched up, for a few turns in a row...

Heavy Plasma is effective against Armour 10/11 transports (Trucks, Raiders, Rhinos, Razorbacks) and generally effective against the contents of said thing. Also, if your opponent isn't careful, you're getting 3-4 hits wounding on 2's with only cover or invul saves.

Think of the Dark Eldar, where your S7 is still instant-killing models.

I don't think it's something you'd want to spam, but if my choice was a Missile Launcher, or Plasma Cannon, I'd take the Plasma Cannon.

I can think of worse things to put on a dread, like T/L Heavy bolters...

Plasma doesn't do Light vehicles as well as T/L AC, b/c you are getting one hit rather than 2, and it's not linked. It's way better vs infantry(assume maybe 3 on anblast hit, wound on 2's , negate the save: maybe 2 1/2 dead? A T/L AC is roughly 32/36*5/6*1/3=~1/4 dead dudes), but honestly thats what the massed bolter fire and other stuff are for. As TIm put it, you're still looking @ roughly 4+ rounds to eliminate a Tact. Squad. I'm tempted to try it out anyways.

I found myself pleasantly surprised by the DA codex... as much as everyone says it sucks, there are quite a few positives.

DA Tactical are better or cheaper than Vanilla marines, with the sole exception of a 10 man squad.

While most choices are overpriced (slightly) this is usually offset by something like cheap Typhoons.

The Supreme Grand Master dude rocks. 225 for a 2+/4++ save, relic blade, 5 attacks, and a combi plasma + gives any attached squad a 4++ save? nuts.

A dreadnought with a CC weapon is a HtH tarpit which can kill ICs. At least with a multi-melta or a TL lascannon it can threaten vehicles in the shooting phase also. The MM has the additional advantage of being cheap. If I'm looking across the table at a MM dreadnought and a plasma dreadnought which one am I going to target first? I will ignore the plasma one and shoot the MM one before it gets to shoot me. Every time. Unless I'm playing some weird all-foot army or something. With the prevalence of cover saves in 5th edition all plasma does is reduce a marine's save by 1.

True enough, Tim. Just saying I can see where dropping a bunch of "wound on 2+, nerf your save" templates could be fun. Lord know John's IG @ ToonCon did.

For DA, a Multimelta dread, a PlasCan dread, and a Mortis pattern (IA only, go figure) are all 125 pts.

Fluffy doesnt have to = Bad though. The plas cannons are acceptable on the dreads, but plasma pistols and plasma guns instead of melta on close up stuff? boo to that. all those sergeants dont even get an extra attack off the pistol as they have pfists.

Plasma pistol has to be the most overcosted and innefective upgrade in 5th edition. a single shot combi-melta will win its points back nearly every game, and has no chance of killing your 80 point sergeant on a gets hot roll.

I agree, it's a lousy way to spend the points, just pointing out to DT it's fairly easy to throw some Plas in there if he feels it's lacking.

My original comment was to the fact that roughly half the force was meant to be trim, lean and as effective as possible (ok maybe 80-90% min/maxed), but the other half was a lot of points on Special character and attached Deathwing/Ravenwing squads. The fluffy side of me says I *HAVE* to have a Ravenwing squad. The crunchy side says I'm being stupid and to drop them.

My wife says I should quit talking to myself.

they say talking oneself is a sign of intelligence...lol