I don't think I agree that a 25 point discount on the larger assault formations would be unfair. For its utility, I think the Astartes assault formation is a 150 point formation if I ever saw one. There's really not much you can do with it other than activation burn or maybe throw it in a THawk with a Dev formation.
Because if we're not adding activation premiums to units, then let's knock the Astartes Warhound singles down to 250 points apiece instead of 275. And, while we're at it, let's knock the Stormraven formation back down to 200 points. The whole reason I cranked it up to 250 was to prevent spam. I certainly don't think the formation is worth 250 from a utility standpoint.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but low-point formations have a value all their own, for which it is demonstrably standard practice to attach a point premium to. I can name even more formations throughout various lists if you like.
For that reason, I'm not taking a 25 point reduction to larger assault marine formations off the table just yet. As I said, I think it's very telling that no one is including them in their playtest lists. But, I do really like your idea of allowing 4-stand formations in addition to the 6 and 8 stand formations. Let's try your idea first and see how it goes. I have the feeling it will work quite nicely and we'll see more assault marines in Blood Angel lists. Those that want to take the larger formations may.
Putting that aside for the moment, I got a playtest game in with the Sanguinary Guard in against Volrath's Iron Warriors! They performed admirably and as predicted!!! Very pleased with the results. They planetfell in their Stormravens, and along with the Death Company, assaulted the Iron Warrior Reaver Titan and smashed it to little tiny bits! Then they promptly got shot up, the SC, being right on the front lines, promptly died and I had to flee to a corner of the table to keep the unit from being wiped. Ultimate glass cannon!
All told, it was 600 points for the 6 stands, the SC, and 3 Stormravens. Only 2 SRs and 1 stand of SG remained at the end of the game. 3+ armor really isn't all that resilient! But I think the unit did exactly what I envisioned - it's a glass cannon that you have to play very carefully with, and having the SC in harm's way like that is a big liability. Further, not wanting to sacrifice my BTS or wanting each friendly unit within line of sight to take a blast marker, I had to play very carefully with it. And that was the whole point of the "Honor of the Chapter" rule - to force people to play the formation with the reverence it deserves.
Volrath, my opponent, felt the unit was "in the right zone" - not too powerful for its cost.
I'm pleased as punch with the unit and think it's a great addition to the list. I hope others will give it a spin and let me know their thoughts.
The Storm Ravens, once again, utterly failed to impress!!!! Between the five of them I think I killed a single Predator.
Edit: Oh, and the Blood Angels won the match 3-2. I had Blitz, Take and Hold, and Break Their Spirit while the Iron Warriors had Blitz and Take and Hold. Very hotly contested match, both sides utterly devastated by the end of the game. As I said, I think the list is very close to being well balanced, if not there already!!
