Monday, April 10, 2017

Death Rider Squadron: The Lists

So I have begun work on my Death Rider Squadron army (80 Death Riders! See the 1st WIP post here)
First off a brief discussion on what Death Riders bring to the table, as well as their detachment
1- DKK- Since I HAVE to use the DKK rules, they get the benefits! This means immune to fear and no Break Tests for 25% Casualties from shooting/movement. They also may ALWAYS attempt to regroup within 6 or 12 (I forget and too lazy to check) inches of an Officer.
2- Death Riders have a 4+ save and 6+ FNP (Colonel also gets a refractor field and a 5+). They also get to re-roll all failed Dangerous terrain tests (which is great for Cavalry)
3- The normal Cav benefits of Hammer of Wrath, Fleet etc. etc.
4- All Death Riders in Death Rider Platoons (So not the company command squad) are ObSec
5- They all have WS4 BS4 and have 2 Base Attacks, 3 for Sarges and Officers. On the (first) charge they are S5, I5 AP3 (from their lances!). They have assault grenades too.
6- If two or more units of riders charge the same target they cause Fear (not super useful, but not unwelcome)
7- Only Mandatory units are 2 Rider Platoons (which can be 1 squad) and 1 Rider HQ (must be Warlord)
8- Access to a unique DKK Warlord table, though I will likely still use Strategic

Well, I guess it is time I begin to talk about (a few) of my lists for this Army. And there are some (suprise) Allies in with them! Also, I am not going to bother to type out hunting lance a million times. They all have it standard.
1850 Death Rider + SW w/ No LoW
Death Rider Squadron- 1390
HQ- Death Rider Command Squad (5)- 180: Colonel w/ Demo-Charge, Laspistol, P-Sword; Regimental Standard
Fast Attack- Death Rider Platoon- 660 Total
-Command Squad (5)- 135: Squadron Commander w/ Laspistol, Demo-Charge, Melta-Bombs, P-Sword
-3 x Death Rider Squadrons (10 ea)- 175: Ridemasters w/ Laspistol, Melta-bombs, P-axe
Fast Attack- Death Rider Platoon- 200 Total
-2 x Death Rider Squadron (5 ea)- 100: Ridemasters w/ Laspistol, Melta-bombs, P-axe
Heavy Support- Thunderer Siege Tank- 175: Camo Netting, Dozer Blade, Extra-Armour, Heavy Stubber
Heavy Support- Thunderer Siege Tank- 175: Camo Netting, Dozer Blade, Extra-Armour, Heavy Stubber

Allied Company of the Great Wolf- 460
HQ- Iron Priest- 130: Bolt-Pistol, Tempest Hammer, Thunderwolf
Elite- Iron Priest- 105: Bolt Pistol, Thunder Hammer, Thunderwolf
Elite- Iron Priest- 105: Bolt Pistol, Thunder Hammer, Thunderwolf
Heavy Support- Quad Mortar Battery- 60
Heavy Support- Quad Mortar Battery- 60

Variant on the above

1850 Death Rider + SW w/ LoW
-Remove the Thunderers from above
-Remove a Demo-Charge from a Command Squad
-Add Either a Macharius Vanquisher or a Cerastus Knight Castigator
-OR remove one more Quad Battery and a 5 pt upgrade as well and add a Cerastus Knight Atrapos w/ Ocular Augmetics

So these are the more "Competitive" versions of the lists. I use that word very VERY loosely in this case, as there is nothing competitive here I believe. However, I think the SW bring alot to the lists. With the Quad Mortars I can pop a few vehicles, ideally transports so I can use my 1st charge on Infantry. The Iron Priests all add some needed S10 AP2 to the large squads of Riders, and since they are on wolves, I don't lose fleet!

The Lords of War are all for fun and no particular reason to take those ones, Thought the Atrapos can add some much needed D and deal with other Super Heavies decently.

2000 Death Riders ALL 80!
HQ- Death Rider Command Squad (5)- 180: Colonel w/ Demo-Charge, Laspistol, P-Sword; Regimental Standard
Fast Attack- Death Rider Platoon- 485 Total
-Command Squad (5)- 135: Squadron Commander w/ Laspistol, Demo-Charge, Melta-Bombs, P-Sword
-2 x Death Rider Squadrons (10 ea)- 175: Ridemasters w/ Laspistol, Melta-bombs, P-axe
Fast Attack- Death Rider Platoon- 485 Total
-Command Squad (5)- 135: Squadron Commander w/ Laspistol, Demo-Charge, Melta-Bombs, P-Sword
-2 x Death Rider Squadrons (10 ea)- 175: Ridemasters w/ Laspistol, Melta-bombs, P-axe
Fast Attack- Death Rider Platoon- 480 Total
-Command Squad (5)- 130: Squadron Commander w/ Laspistol, Demo-Charge, P-Sword
-2 x Death Rider Squadrons (10 ea)- 175: Ridemasters w/ Laspistol, Melta-bombs, P-axe
Heavy Support- Thunderer Siege Tank- 185: Armoured Track Guards, Camo Netting, Dozer Blade, Extra-Armour, Heavy Stubber
Heavy Support- Thunderer Siege Tank- 185: Armoured Track Guards, Camo Netting, Dozer Blade, Extra-Armour, Heavy Stubber

So not much different than the lists up above, but this one is ALL the horses and is the reason I bought 80 of the guys. Just a lot to deal with IMO for any opponent. The Thunderers are just there because they would look SO COOL. I bought two and had them delivered at Adepticon, can't wait to build them!


1500 Death Rider Cav Only
Death Rider Squadron- 1390
HQ- Death Rider Command Squad (5)- 180: Colonel w/ Demo-Charge, Laspistol, P-Sword; Regimental Standard
Fast Attack- Death Rider Platoon- 660 Total
-Command Squad (5)- 135: Squadron Commander w/ Laspistol, Demo-Charge, Melta-Bombs, P-Sword
-3 x Death Rider Squadrons (10 ea)- 175: Ridemasters w/ Laspistol, Melta-bombs, P-axe
Fast Attack- Death Rider Platoon- 660 Total
-Command Squad (5)- 135: Squadron Commander w/ Laspistol, Demo-Charge, Melta-Bombs, P-Sword
-3 x Death Rider Squadrons (10 ea)- 175: Ridemasters w/ Laspistol, Melta-bombs, P-axe

70 Cavalry in 1500 points? Yes please! Seems like a lot to handle in a game that small?

For other lists (2500, 1250, 1000, 3000), I just use a mix of all the models I (Gothmog) put into the other lists. 

All in all it should be fun. I know I will likely lose most (if not all) my games, But those times I get an awesome charge off and crush my enemy... Man that will be nice. I think it will fair decently against MSU MEQ armies and drop armies. Grav doesn't do alot to them, and if I math hammered if right, a squad with bolters in Rapid Fire range gets like 3 wounds through on them. And in return their charge eradicates the squad.

Ultimately though, I am doing this to have a super fun thematic army. Even down to the Thunderer siege tanks (I just built two of them tonight. Man I love the way they look!)