Lots of Lists! Dear lord what to play!

Howdy! So its been a little while since I've chimed in on the gaming side of things on this site, outside of a couple of lists. In honesty, its been because I've been a bit stuck recently for ammo, purely because I've just been playtesting/learning some Grey Knight lists. Not to mention when I had full intentions of getting a couple of posts up while Venerable was away, I got struck down with the worst case of food poisoning. But anyway, apologies for not getting anything up over the weekend!

Right now, I am sort of stuck as what to play. Its not quite burn out, I still am eager to go down and play, but I can't quite get set with what I want to use. Grey Knights have been taking up most of my gaming time, but in honesty I can't quite get settled with them. Its leaving me in quite a bad position of indecision. We have Brighton coming up in early November, which means if I want a new army I do need to get started on the painting side soon. I'll certainly have another event after Brighton, and maybe look for 1 or 2 more before then (looking like maybe Tolworth Mayhem in October if I can get a place).

So the long and the short of it, I desperately need to settle, and quick!

There are a few options I have at my dispossal, the only painted option is the Deathwing, which is a serious option to consider, then there is the WIP Grey Knights and option to run pretty much any Marine Codex, the learning curve would certainly be hit with GK or BA's quickest, as outside of DW, they have seen the most play time and testing.

If I am to start a new project for October/November Tourneys, this does give me time to get painting done - largely construction is done, especially on things like tanks and the GK's.

If I stick with Deathwing, this certainly alleviates some problems I'll be having. First off I can put in a lot of time and effort to the next army, or even "speed" one via airbrush methods and finely construct another (giving me more options in the future ..)

Anyway, nothing is complete with out lists right? Really these are the sort of things I am looking at:


GREY KNIGHTS:

Coteaz

5xPurifiers (Halbx2 PsyCx2 DH) - Rhino
5xPurifiers (Halbx2 PsyCx2 DH) - Rhino
5xPurifiers (Halbx2 PsyCx2 DH) - Rhino

5xGKSS (PsyCx1) - Psyback
5xGKSS (PsyCx1) - Psyback
5xDCA - Psyback
4xAco (MGx2) - Psyback
4xAco (MGx2) - Psyback
3xAco  - Psyback

Psyfledread
Psyfledread
Psyfledread

This is where I am at right now. I was actually running 5 troops, 2 of which were Psykers in Chimera's and I did quite like the dynamic of it, but I felt it was a bit boring to play (and unreliable) - plus I was really apprehensive having no melta. This way I get 4 melta - which not much they can punch forward, I have plenty of objective sitter options and chasis's to block. Purifiers in Rhinos have been far more effective for me than the Psybacks (which I have 6 any way so its no major issue ...) and it allows me to get those remaining dudes back into a tank and top hatch if required.

Of all the lists I am looking at - this is by far the most balanced, even if its not perfect in itself.

The other alternative with the GK's was the Crowe based list:

Crowe
6xPurifiers in Psybacks
3xDreads

Just spammy. This is probably the best GK list for me to curve into as it does play very similar to DW, and simply put, remove the 2+/3++, but add in mobility and flexibility, your still playing with fearless troops expected to handle pretty much everything. Better yet - no one really seems to play this army!

Final list is just a variation on a theme:

Libby 
Inquistor w/ Psycannon
10xTerminators (or 5xPaladins)
4xSquads of GKSS 
3xDreads

Actually, oddly enough out of most of the lists I've played, this was probably the most enjoyable, but I still feel it has the least amount of tools.

BLOOD ANGELS:

Mephiston 

2xSang Priest (LCx2)

5xRAS (MG) LasPlas
5xRAS (MG) LasPlas
5xRAS (MG) LasPlas
5xRAS (MG) LasPlas
5xRAS (MG) LasPlas

1xMM Attack Bike
1xMM Attack Bike
1xMM Attack Bike

RifleDread
RifleDread
RifleDread


1715 atm. 

Really this is just a way of fitting in my desire to play Mephiston. I'd love to bosh a LRC with Terminators in there, but I guess better sense of judgement held me back there. It has a bit of everything - fast melta, plenty of AT and the riflemen can help out on both sides of the game, while only S7, with 5 lascannon shots and plenty of melta going around, there is less of a dependence on them to de-mech than say in my GK list. This does need improvements (and 35 more points ...)


THE DEATHWING

Bel....

Well this list isn't changing. I've played pretty much every variation I've seen, been "told to play" and none have the right balance I find. I've certainly heeded Venerable's words of "fuck it" when it comes to my tendency to sometimes be overly passive.

The other 4th Ed Terminators ... Black Templars:

I tried a foot list the other day, and I just didn't really get on with it. I didn't beef up the troop choices enough, but they were still dealt with way to handily for my liking. I am looking at trying a mech variant.

Emp Champ (Witch)

5xTerminators (2xCML) - Tank Hunters
5xTerminators (2xCML) - Tank Hunters


5xInitiates - LasCannon/Plasmagun - TL-Lascannon Razorback (Search Lights)
5xInitiates - LasCannon/Plasmagun - TL-Lascannon Razorback (Search Lights)
5xInitiates - LasCannon/Plasmagun - TL-Lascannon Razorback
5xInitiates - LasCannon/Plasmagun - TL-Lascannon Razorback


Predator - AutoLas (SL)
Predator - AutoLas (SL)
Predator - AutoLas (SL)

Its lacking the Typhoons, and I do feel a bit light on troops due to having quite pricey razorbacks. Tempation would be to drop one predator for a vernerable tank hunting dread (maybe with ML as well) and change to dakka preds. With 4xTL-Lascannons, 9xS9 missiles and TL S10 lascannon, I think the anti-infantry might be wanted, and that would make up for the lack of typhoons. With that I'd still have the same mech (7 hulls, a ven AV12, 2xAV13 and 4xAV11) and still the same bodies.


SISTERS OF BATTLE?

This is the perfect option for me if I decide to run either Deathwing (or Black Templars,which need the least amount of work since 33% of the infantry is done!). I could take my time painting them to start running them more in the new year full time. Given that my DW has the most experience I could run these in the "grey plastic" mode to see what's what ...

I was not impressed with the initial half of the codex, like many others. We saw so many issues, like non-scaling faith points and less than impressive powers. There are some bits in there I do like, Saint C looks cool (and probably top 3 favourite model of all time), and I do like the idea of Jackobus - though I wish the confessor took that role as I much prefer his model, and looks like he'll be essential in any army.

For me, the second part will go a long way to shape what I plan to do. I think most people agree, cheap enough units and some decent wargear options / maybe FOC swaps will do the army some justice. But I really feel like I want to be running SoB - it has absolutely gorgeous models, despite them being 2nd Edition metals, and I have a couple of great colour schemes in my head. 

But I really am just hoping for some nice dynamic options in the 2nd half, otherwise, I just get the sinking feeling that playing SoB will be liking playing the 3rd Ed Codex, but actually in a worse position!

Yeah ... really no closer 

Truth be told, I'd say my "simplest choice" is with Deathwing or the Coteaz list. The deathwing I really do feel attuned with so to speak, it gives me a lot more time to do everything I want to do (paint, play SWTOR in Nov, dick around with the new PC in the meantime). The Coteaz list is great, but so many people run variants of it, that you just feel like you'll play playing a lot of mirrors.

Can someone just batter some sense into me please! I'd actually love BroLo's take on some Black Templar list's, they have been intriguing me the msot recently I have to say - been reading a lot of Nike's back dated bits on Bringer of Victory as well as BroLo's stuff on 3++