Space Puppies Bite Back (Count As Star Wars!)

 So one of my many many drafts has made it live!! So shut it Ven!

I've been tinkering with the thoughts of some lists that will both be fun to play, won't shoot me in the foot because they suck and have game against most things. Deathwing was A LOT of fun to play, but had so many little problems. I played them well, and felt I could win any match up, but just a bad run of luck would see me going from a sure win to a loss in the matter of a turn or two. Plus I gamed them for a meta that didn't exist (I expected lots of pred Blood Angel lists, lots of Imperial Guard and Hybrid Wolves ... I never faced a BA list with more than 2 pred's). In play testing I frequently had turn 2 concede's from absolutely brutal alpha strikes, in tournaments, I rarely saw those mech gunline lists ... if ever.

So, while figuring out if I want a list for 2012 (and thus what I would look to play), I started with a at the more traditional armies. Out of the most recent codex's, Sisters just disappointed me (if they had a good codex I doubt I would have quit the game, I actually rage eBay'd my entire force since I'd make a profit off kitchen table fluff bunnies), Necron's do nothing for me (absolutely hate the models), Grey Knights bore the socks off me, and while Dark Eldar are pretty interesting, it would take far too large an investment for just casual play.

So as the title suggests, I am looking at puppies today. My bits box and left over sprues support pretty much any MEQ force, especially if I do them as Star Wars count as (which I have extensive bits for, which I never sold in my mass eBay spree)



I wanted a list with plenty of shooting, like the Wolves can achieve, but still have a ton of scoring bodies or units, with a "dedicated" scorer. Now lets face it, the Wolves lists have been thoroughly explored, so I am not going to be fare off the beaten track, but lets see what I've put up:


Wolves 1750 Roster:

Rune Priest - Choser (110) (Jaws and LL or MH)

9xGrey Hunters + MG(5)+Rhino(35) - 175
9xGrey Hunters + MG(5)+Rhino(35) - 175
8xGrey Hunters + MG(5)+Rhino(35) - 160
5xGrey Hunter +MG(5) - 80

WGx5 (90) + CML (45) + 4xCombi (20)+ 3xPF(75)+ LasPlas (75)
Rifleman Dread - 125
Rifleman Dread - 125

5xLong Fangs - 4xML - 115 + LasPlas
5xLong Fangs - 4xML - 115 + LasPlas
5xLong Fangs - 4xML - 115

1750 on the nose by my memory. I haven't seen the codex in about 3 months though!

Theory Behind the List:

The first thing I wanted to do was start with a solid core, which was to be around 30 MEQ to push midfield and be tough to deal with. I've seen how effect 30 GH's can be in the midfield, and pretty much can deal with anything the game can throw at them, especially paired with some hidden power fist action.

Next up I knew I wanted a bit of a mobile gun battery in the rifleman dread. S7 is not to be sniffed at, and considered a beast before the Grey Knights hit, so its still good. By choosing 1 and knowing I had WG, it ruled out Scouts or Loners since I feel both need to be in pairs, since both choices are unimpressive on their tod. A pair of riflemen allows me to play the corners game.

I don't know how many old farts the wolves have, but its probably more than any of their other unit types, since everyone has three. I am no different. Its just hard to argue with 12 S8 shots at 6 different targets. They are also a "you need to deal with them" target, that don't go away with one shot.

Rounding out my core is the wolfguard. Reason I've chosen 5 to get the CML is I wanted to fit in a 5 man "foot squad" of GH's. In objective missions the plonk themselves in cover and sit tight with 2 S8 shots a turn. Oh and not to mention the CML offers a PW if anyone gets too close. There's 1 bullet catcher WG for a fang squad as well.

So I have 30 MEQ pushing midfield, and 21 with 2 dreads sat in the backfield.

What else?

Really its just "fillers" now. I wanted a LasPlas or three - finding I had exactly enough points was a joy. The reason for the split of 2/3 razors to the fangs and 1 to the WG is that while I want deployment options for Dawn of War, I also want the "threat" of deploying a mini-deathstar in a razor and zooming them across the field. Better yet, I can tuck the 5 man foot squad up in that razor if needs be, which I really like.

The CC is not quite there - 3 PF's and a couple of PW's tucked up there are "ok" but not amazing. I have the option of dropping a dread for a couple of thunderwolfs with a single LC (same unit) or could drop 2 of the lasplas and have 2 LC'd Thunderwolves.

Another option is that I could drop both dreads for 2 lone wolves, or take 2 units of scouts and just go the "harass" route.

All I can say is there are options.

That would leave me in a position where I'd just build that core and the odd model I need to swap in / out and would be pretty happy.

Star Wars Count As Potential?

I've said from the get go that if / when I do another army it will be Star Wars Count As.

This force still fits the bill - and maybe more so than my Grey Knight list I originally planned. Better yet, the codex presents so many brutally great options for conversions and alternates that it would be quite easy to run the count as theme not only accurately but without being too "outlandish".

Most of the list is explanatory in what it would be as count as:

Rune Priest - Vader or Papa Emps
Grey Hunters - Storm Troopers
Wolf Guard - Shadow Guard / Royal Guard
Riflemen - AT/ST
Tanks - Transports (may convert a little bit)

The Long Fangs I thought about as "gun droids" which might be cool - using Tau shield drones as a basis, but I want scouts to be probe droids so not sure if that would over lap. Other cool things would be Dewbacks for the thunderwolves, a "real" vader as some stupidly disgusting Wolf Lord. Speeder bikes I'd love - I do actually like the idea of blood claws on bikes - low priority but would be a really nice counter attack unit. 

Next Up:

Blood Angels - potential there for Count As Star Wars and actually be both fun and a tool box. Mephiston in my eyes is the best Darth Vader count as in the game, so definitely worth a look on that merit.