2000 pt. Mixed List: Gabriel Seth + Astorath the Grim

Just ran across this photo and thought why not design a 2k list around Seth and Astorath:

HQ:
Astorath the Grim
Chapter Master Gabriel Seth

Troops:
Assault Squad - 2 Melta-guns, Powerfist
Assault Squad - 2 Melta-guns, Powersword, Land Raider Redeemer
Tactical Squad - Flamer, Missle Launcher, Powerfist, Rhino
Death Company - 6 Death Company, Powerfist, Razorback (Heavy Bolter)
Death Company - 6 Death Company, Powerfist, Razorback (Heavy Bolter)
Death Company Dreadnought - Blood Talons, Drop-pod

Fast Attack:
Baal Predator - Assault Cannon, Heavy Bolter Sponsons, Dozer Blade

I think this list might actually do ok.  There is a good chance that one or two of the three regular Space Marine squads will suffer from the red thirst removing the need for Priests.  There are three scoring units that are tough.  Two very decent HQ's that compliment each other.  Fits the fluff of the Flesh Tearer's having more Death Company than most.

The first problem I see with it is the fact that there is Death Company present.  I think the rage rule really hurts DC, not to mention their high point cost.  But by fielding two squads of DC I believe this set back is some what mitigated.  The plan is to send them forward to their deaths right off the hop allowing my other troops to maneuver early in the game.  I think with the two squads, chances are I will be able to get at least one unit into hand to hand.  Hopefully I will have been able to do some damage with the Heavy Bolters as well.

I also plan to be aggressive with the Baal Pred and Dreadnought.  First turn using the scout move and drop pod to get into positions to support the DC.  The plan then is to present multiple threats right off in turn one.  The rest of the army I would meatball up and push forward first turn.  Allowing me to set up and control the center of the board in turn one: while my opponent deals with all the initial threat.

There you have it, It may not be the most competitive list, but I think it would be a fun to model and play.

An Idea

What about this list?

HQ:
Seth
Honour Guard - 4 Melta-Guns, Razorback

Troops:
Tactical Squad - 1 Melta-Gun, Multi-Melta, Power Fist, Rhino
Assault Squad - 2 Melta-Guns, Power Fist,

Heavy Support:
Vindicator

Seeing as the meta-game involves lots of melta spam, I thought I should focus on meltaguns rather than plasma guns.  Also, with the meltaguns, the Honour squad is more flexible by being able to support assaults.  The previous idea stays intact so much that the Honour and Tactical squad's first priority will be to head straight for middle ground and hold it.  I plan to try and utilize Seth in a more flexible role.  His job will be to support my Assault troops on a different flank.  After thinking about his strengths and weaknesses, I figure Seth can shine in close combat as long as he is not facing powerfists, boneswords or anything that can double him out.  Also, my defeat against the nids the other night taught me that I need more heavy weapon support.  Seeing as Seth is designed to take on horde type squads I feel I can skip on the Baal.  I figure that if I replace the Baal with a Vindicator, I still have the ability to face hordes with my s.10 large blast, but I can more effectivlyl deal with high toughness/armour.

 

Nice Video on Gabriel Seth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_3FOjMH06E

Fleshing out the Tearer's

One of the reasons I wanted to start this blog was to catalog the development of my armies.  I've mentioned that currently I have been working on an army revolving around Gabriel Seth.  The following is what I have completed to date as far as assembling and painting goes.  As it stands this is my first test model with respect to the Flesh Tearer colours.  The plan was to paint them up as fast as possible and keep the scheme simple.  I like the way the deep red and black turned out.  It really makes the white shoulder symbol pop.  I'm thinking though that I should have put more detail into the bolter.  I may go back and pull out some of the details on the bolter with green and bleached bone.

The next photo's image quality is not that great.  Thought I would include it just to show what is currently assembled, primed and based.

I've almost completed the first tac squad, and plan to move onto my assault squad next.  Following the assault squad, I think the three tanks will be next.  I plan to leave Seth and his honour squad until the last as I want to spend some more time painting them up.  Also, as indicated in my last post, I'm not sure if I will keep the my honour guard kitted out as they are modeled.  As far as the honour guard go, I think I made a mistake by using the legs provided in the command squad box.  Instead, I should have assembled them using legs from an assault squad.  That way I could have modeled the five members of the honour squad to be more dynamic and charging forward, they are after all accompanying Seth.  At any rate, I plan to leave then as is right now and proxy different load outs to see what suits my play style best.  

Back to the Drawing Board

Ok, after last night’s debacle I've been thinking some changes will likely take place with Seth and my Flesh Tearer's list.  So far this is what I have come up with.

HQ:

Seth

Honour guard with four plasma guns and basic razor back

Troops:

10 Man tac squad with plasma gun upgrade, missile launcher and power fist for sergeant in rhino.

10 man assault squad with two melta-guns and power-fist

Fast attack:

Baal Pred

The logic behind the changes has to do with the frailty of the rhino's.  I need to pack more punch with my dudes should their rides be popped. The plan is to keep the tac and honour squad together and head for middle ground.  If they disembark within 12 inches of a monstrous creature (ie, Hive Tyrant) they could put out 10 plasma gun s7 ap2 shots.  Also, I plan to meatball this list so that my assault squad will leap over the tac and honour squad to launch an assault.  Seth would then detach from the honour guard and join the assault squad.  The goal is to keep the three units plus Seth in the 6” bubble of the honour guard medic.

Seth's Last Stand

Well, things did not go well for Seth tonight.

Lord of the Rings?

1000 points of Seth

So this is the current 1k Flesh Tearer list I have been working on.

HQ:
Gabriel Seth
Honour Squad - 3 power swords, razorback

Troops:
10 man tactical squad with flamer and missile launcher upgrades for troops and power fist for sergeant.  Mounted in Rhino
10 man assault squad with 2 meltaguns, and power fist for sergeant.

Fast Attack:
Baal predator with assault cannon and heavy bolter upgrades.

I've played only 2 and a half games so far with the above list.  Game one was against Necrons where Seth's first action was to take out a monolith then he handily forced a phase out after systematically steam rolling through the Necron lines.  Game two was against the Imperial Guard.  Man can they pack a punch, at best all I could do was play for the tie.  Was not able to finish the game; however, as the store I play at was closing.  What can I say, I did not expect the Guard to hit so hard.  The amount of lascannons, autocannons, and plasma guns in a 1k list is sick.  The big lesson I took out of this match up was that the Flesh Tearer's must be played aggressively.  Get to the enemy lines as quickly as possible.  Otherwise they just get taken apart when they don't commit to an action.  The latest game I've played with Seth was against 1k of Eldar.  This was a very fun game which easily could have gone either way.  I won by a single KP.  The best part of this battle was when Seth and his honour guard bested Jan-Zar (spl?) the howling banshee phoenix lord and her supporting banshee squad.  Thing about Seth is he is not set up to duel IC's with his lack of a power weapon.  What he can do is soak up a lot of punishment allowing the honour squad to shine.

So there you go, one more post for my blog.

First blog ever

Well, here I go, first blog ever.  I've recently picked up warhammer 40k and warhammer fantasy as a hobby again after a 14 year hiatus.  So after exploring all the great blogs that support this hobby, I thought I would try my hand at my own.  Currently I have three armies that I am working on.  Eldar, Flesh Tearer's and Lizardmen.  All three are at various stages of incompletion.  Of the three I am currently working on painting up my Flesh Tearers's.  The purpose of this blog will be to catalogue my progress as I assemble and paint my various armies.  In addition I will discuss army lists, tactics and other aspects to this hobby as I continue to develop my armies.  Not exactly sure how this will all work though, as I have literally no experience with creating web pages or blogs or anything of that nature.