Alright, guys. Time to really grab the bull by the horns, here.
I just got finished playing a game with teleporting assault marines at an additional 50 points. The game was against Iron Warriors. I got tabled. This is the first time anyone in the Los Angeles Epic group has been tabled. It's maybe the second time in a very long gaming career that I personally have been tabled, in any game. Ever. I will write up a batrep later.
First, I'm going to put this out there - I find it frustrating when people here assume that I have no skill at the game. I see some of the snide and sarcastic comments that even manage to make their way into other threads that have nothing at all to do with Blood Angels. While it is true that I don't have a huge amount of Epic experience, I'm known locally as a pretty strong gamer. I've won every league for every game I've ever entered and I've won several local 40k tournaments. Serious tournament gamers often request games against me for practice, even in games I don't play regularly. So, certainly while much of the blame for my poor performance with the BA list could have to do with me, I have a hard time beleiving that *all* of it is attributable to that.
I genuinely am not trying to brag or imply that I am infallible - The point I am trying to make is that this list in not in the hands of some yankee doodle dummy, and I'd love if I did not have to operate under that cloud of suspicion.
The issue, as it stands, is that close combat units, especially close combat units that do not have a shooting attack, are at a major disadvantage under the Epic rules. They have a harder time reaching assault, cannot set up crossfires, and cannot lay blast markers. This is a big deal. Perhaps a batrep of my latest trouncing can help to illustrate this.
It could be that teleporting ASM is not the answer to the list's problems. It honestly didn't help much in the last two games I used them in. That, coupled with all of the resistance to the idea makes me think that it is possible that I am not moving in the right direction with this.
If I root around in the BA lore, I am sure I can make a strong enough fluff case for it, but, I would agree that the fluff would not seem to necessarily mandate the inclusion of teleporting assault marines. In my mind, its inclusion was / is more of a game balance mechanic.
I am thinking that the answer to the list's problems has been staring us in the face all along. Perhaps we needn't reinvent the wheel, here.
Simply give Blood Angels access to Predator Annihilators and Land Raider formations. Simple.
So Blood Angels give up access to titans and vindicators and are saddled with the Frenzied liability. In return, we gain access to Stormravens, Baal Predators, Sanguinary Guard, and more assault marines. There you go. No more acrobatics to make the list work. And it brings everything in line with the current 40k Blood Angel codex.
The fact of the matter is, Blood Angels are not a particularly codex divergent chapter. In fact, they are relatively strict adherents of Codex Astartes. They have poor relations with the Adeptus Mechanicus due to their refusal to share their Lucifer pattern engine technology. Makes sense they would not have access to titans. But, other than that, they are really just Space Marines with a couple of extra toys. Furthermore, the 40k BA codex specifically states that it is not that BA have more assault marines than other chapters - simply that they prioritize allocation of resources and casualty replenishment towards strengthening their assault elements. And they have an affinity for flight due to Sanguinius' gene seed.
Therefore, if I am going to concede that there is no fluff justification for teleporting assault marines, then I need the concession that there is no fluff justification for the absence of predator annihilators, vindicators, and land raider formations in return. Nowhere is it stated that the Blood Angels have any less access to those tools than other marine chapters. I am assuming that their exclusion from the list was an attempt at making the list thematic and geared towards assault, just as my inclusion of teleporting ASM was.
In summary - we are at a crossroads with this list. As it stands, it is evident through playtesting that the list doesn't work. We have two choices: continue down the teleporting ASM path and all of the rigorous playtesting that entails, or simply give the Blood Angels the long range tools that they need to win games.
We can't have our cake and eat it, too, here. Either we make this list thematic from a gameplay standpoint - teleporting marines / no anti-tank - or we make it accurate from a fluff standpoint - no teleporting assault marines / access to anti-tank.
I believe that we are a lot closer to getting the list approved with the addition of predator annihilators and land raiders than we are with teleporting assault marines. For the record, I think I can make teleporting ASM work, but it will require more tweaking.
Please discuss and debate. But please keep all comments constructive. If you are going to comment on what you dislike, please suggest an alternative.
I am committed to making this list fun, balanced, and fair, and I intend to get it approved in 2014. Help me out! Let's make a list worthy of the Blood Angel name. Let's brainstorm. I'm listening.
_________________ Former Blood Angels Army Champion Epic Gamers Los Angeles Chapter Armies Played: Blood Angels Black Legion Codex Marines Imperial Fists
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