Moving Forward with Knights, Scions and Elysians
I've got my Black Legion army in a pretty good place, just starting to turn the crank on the paint, but I'm not the kind of person who can't have a building project going on! My Imperial Knights seem like just the ticket, the only question is aside from the Adamantine Lance formation, what else do I add?
Adamantine Lance Formation:Knight Errant: 370 (Warlord) Knight Paladin: 375 Knight Paladin: 375
Total: 1120
This will be the core I'm going to work from, partially because it's what I've got built, but also just because the Adamantine Lance formation is AMAZEBALLS. For no extra points, they re-roll failed Ion Shield saves when within 3" of another knight, as well as re-roll failed charge ranges and cause D3 Hammer of Wrath if they started the assault phase within 3" of another knight. No reason not to do it really. After buying this core formation I have 730 points to spare, so the real question becomes, "what next?"
Option A: Militarum Tempestus
Commissar: power sword: 40
10 Tempestus Scions: 2 Hot-shot volley guns: 150 Taurox Prime: Taurox battle cannon, twin-linked autocannon: 80
10 Tempestus Scions: 2 Hot-shot volley guns: 150 Taurox Prime: Taurox battle cannon, twin-linked autocannon: 80
9 Tempestus Scions: 2 Meltaguns: 138 Taurox Prime: twin-linked Taurox gatling punisher cannon, twin-linked hot-shot volley gun: 90
Nevermind that, I like this list more:
Tempestus Command Squad: 4 Plasma Guns: 145
9 Tempestus Scions: 2 Meltaguns: 138 Taurox Prime: Taurox battle cannon, twin-linked autocannon: 80
10 Tempestus Scions: 2 hot-shot volley guns: 150 Taurox Prime: Taurox battle cannon, twin-linked autocannon: 80
Valkyrie: multi-laser, multiple rocket pods: 135
The thing I like about this detachment is that it gets me a solid force of troops that can rapidly move across the board to capture objectives. The firepower that they also bring to the table helps a lot with drop marines, who don't particularly care for facing a load of AP2/3 firepower.
Option B: Elysian Drop Troops (or AM)
Elysian Company Command Squad: 4 sniper rifles : 80
Elysian Veteran Squad: 2 Meltaguns, flamer: 105 Elysian Veteran Squad: 2 Meltaguns, flamer: 105
Vulture Gunship: twin-linked Gatling Punisher Cannon: 155 Vulture Gunship: twin-linked Gatling Punisher Cannon: 155 Vendetta Gunship: 130
Definitely a bit lighter on the scoring compared to the Tempestus Scions, but instead, I've got a boat load of air support. The Command Squad would just sit back in cover plinking away, while the 2 vet squads would deep strike and hope to hit priority targets. Now, I'm aware that not all tournaments allow Forgeworld Army Lists, especially since Elysians are a bit out of date as of the new Astra Militarum Codex, so if I go this route, I'd also be able to make this alternate list with little trouble:
Company Command Squad: 4 Sniper rifles, Officer of the Fleet: 88
Veteran Squad: Missile Launcher, grenade launcher: 80 Veteran Squad: Missile Launcher, grenade launcher: 80
Vulture Gunship: twin-linked Gatling Punisher Cannon: 155 Vulture Gunship: twin-linked Gatling Punisher Cannon: 155 Vendetta Gunship: 170
In the end, this is a very similar list to the Elysian detachment, the biggest difference being that I have to deploy my veterans instead of deep striking them (and so have a missile launcher instead of short ranged weaponry, also because Elysians don't have autocannons).
Option C: Tempestus + Elysians (AM)
Company Command Squad: 4 Sniper Rifles: 68
Veteran Squad: Missile Launcher, grenade launcher: 80 Veteran Squad: Missile Launcher, grenade launcher: 80
10 Scions: 2 Hot-Shot volley guns: 150 Taurox Prime: Taurox Battle Cannon, twin-linked autocannon: 80 6 Scions: 2 meltaguns: 102
Vendetta Gunship: 170
What's life without a little compromise? I get some more boots on the ground, as well as maintaining a Vendetta for a little air support. This list is totally changeable honestly, it was more of an after thought... If I ran it as an Allied Detachment, I could drop a vet squad and the squad of 6 scions, to add a Thunderbolt or Avenger for example.
So those are the directions I'm debating on going, either a strong ground presence, or a strong air support for the Knights. I could possibly do the second faux-Elysian list with some Tempestus as Elites to get a bit of both, but that'll cost me a precious flyer. What do you guys think?