This will be the final segment in discussing a potential, alternate CSM list that is a lot of fun to play and is decently effective outside the realm of Dual Lash lists.
The last topic I wanted to discuss is the math hammer. There are some of you out there who may have read these articles and shook your head going, “yeah right. My ________ shooty army will PEW PEW your right off the board on turn 1.” The only way you are going to believe how much damage a list like this can absorb and dish out is to look at the math hammer and “BELIEVE!” (like in kid’s movie) that it will work.
Don’t I need Marks of Glory so I won’t Run?
First, running isn’t really a bad thing for this list unless you are already below half strength on a unit and therefore likely already out of combat shape. Either way, you can still shoot while you retreat. Further, running back usually nets a safer position from assaults or “decides” for you which units of yours will fall back to hold objectives.
Chance to Fail a Morale Check with a 9 Leadership: 17%. (This means that one in approximately ever 5 you are required to take, you will fail.
Chance to Fail a Morale Check with a 9 Leadership TWICE (for regrouping): 3%. So, unless you are below half strength, you won’t keep falling back.
You aren’t too worried about this in an assault because you really want to run anyways, even if it might kill you. We want to fall back so we can shoot what attacked us.
Seriously, even with a cover save, I’ll blow your Rhinos away!
% Chance a BS 4 S 8 Weapon Stuns, Immobilizes, or Destroys a Rhino with Cover – 11%
% Chance a BS 4 S 9 Weapon Stuns, Immobilizes, or Destroys a Rhino with Cover – 15%
On average, how many Rhinos can 3 Long Fang Packs with 5 Missiles Stun, Immobilize, or Destroy in a Turn? – It takes 6 Rockets to have just a lousy 50% (coin flip) to hurt one Rhino in cover. Given that, expected return from 15 Rockets should be 2 Rhinos. (This is also why you can’t skimp on Rhinos and pay attention to what I was saying about moving up anyways if you lose your ride.)
A Vendetta, firing 3 Twin Linked lascannons only has a 43% chance to stun, immobilize, destroy a Rhino in cover. The expected return for 3 Vendettas is 1 Rhino a turn!
Remember that Stun does not equal destroyed. Remember that your Rhinos can repair themselves, albeit unlikely.
A melta gun with a BS of 4 at POINT BLANK RANGE only has a 28% chance to stun, immobilize, or destroy a Rhino in cover.
Will you play a game where you opponent gets insanely lucky and blows up half your Rhinos? Yes! It will happen. The thing to remember when it does is that this kind of thing happens to every list, not just this one. Also, the most important thing to remember is that for each time this might happen to you, it will happen MORE OFTEN that your opponent doesn’t kill a Rhino at all.
A dead rhino is as good a cover save producer as a live one.
Yeah, but what about Thunder Shield Terminators with 3++ saves?
A single plasma shot has an 18% chance to take down a terminator. A rapid firing plasma gun has a 33% chance to take down a Terminator. One in 3. So, basically, to take out 5 terminators, bring 15 Plasma Guns. That’s a lot!
Yeah, I know. 2 things though. You have 15 plasma gun or some combination of that and melta in this list. Second, 1 Terminator has a 41% chance to die if he charges your units. :P 1 Terminator really isn’t that much of a threat.
Bottom line? Use your Rhinos to block them so they can’t get to you. Tactics over firepower.
But also always keep in mind that for a lot of strong assault units, if you kill 90% of the squad, the remaining 10% probably can’t hurt you anymore. That’s not always the case, but it tends to hold true. Use that knowledge where applicable.
And last but not least, a Plasma gun standing still has a 24 inch range with one shot… much farther than assault ranges.
You can’t really start shooting after 1 turn can you?
12 inches forward. 2 inch disembark. 6 inch move. 12 inch shooting. 12 + 12 + 2 + 6 = 32 inches. Draw a picture!
What if the Rhino stays alive? 12 inch move, TWICE. 2 inch disembark. 12 inch shooting = 38 inches.
No, you can’t outrun a Rhino with guys inside that want to take your lunch money.
In the End
There’s probably more to say, but I think that’s enough for this series. Hopefully I’ve helped you come up with some ideas that may breathe some new life into your CSMs.
I’ll end this series with a list that I would consider to be very efficient.
HQ:
Kharn - 165
Elites:
5 x Chsoen + 3 x Melta + 1 x Plasma - 180
Rhino + Combi-Melta
5 x Chsoen + 3 x Melta + 1 x Plasma - 180
Rhino + Combi-Melta
5 x Chsoen + 3 x Melta + 1 x Plasma - 180
Rhino + Combi-Melta
Troops:
5 x Plague Marines + 2x Plasma - 190
Rhino + Combi-Melta
5 x Plague Marines + 2x Plasma - 190
Rhino + Combi-Melta
5 x CSM + 1 x Melta - 130
Rhino + Combi-Melta
5 x CSM + 1 x Melta - 130
Rhino + Combi-Melta
5 x CSM + 1 x Melta - 130
Rhino + Combi-Melta
Heavy:
5 x havocs + 3 x Plasma + 1 x Melta - 175
Rhino + Combi-Melta
5 x havocs + 3 x Plasma + 1 x Melta - 175
Rhino + Combi-Melta
5 x havocs + 3 x Plasma + 1 x Melta - 175
Rhino + Combi-Melta
just started following you blog. I have been thinking about building a competitive CSM list. I might drop a few guns to add in some power weapons but I guess the idea is to not get into Melee. If you do each squad is expendable and once killed will set up a shot for another squad to finish off the victors.
ReplyDeleteI might have to break out my Iron Warriors and count up how many special weapons I would need to add.
ColKG