[Brother Dextus]

Inspired by Uverons project log and the stack of unpainted, unloved chaos models which have been acquired since the obliterators were metal and normal space marine sized, Ive decided to start an Iron Warriors army.

I currently have around 15000pts of Templars w. Guard & Inquisition allies which is all assembled but in the slow process of painting, so I wanted to spend some time planning out a similar size force (albeit smaller to start off with) as this approach seems to be working for Uveron... Measure twice cut once I believe the saying goes.

Anyway, I have planned out three primary detachments formed of distinct playable army sizes - 2000, 1750, 1500 as well as smaller renegade forces drawn from the IA 13 book.

I am somewhat stumped by my heavy support options though for one of my armies. I WANT to fill it with havocs, but also with crazed hellmachines.

So far the force consist of:

HQ - Lord on bike w special flamer + power axe
HQ - Warpsmith
TRP - Marines MoT (ranged load out in rhino)
TRP - Marines MoS (close support load out in rhino)
EL - Hellbrute w plasma cannon powerscourge
EL - Hellbrute w autocannon pf
EL - Ferrus Infernum Dread (IA13 choice)
FA - 5 bikes w flamers + power axe
FA - 5 Spawn (plan to make these out of various bits of left over tank etc)
HVY - Obliterators x 3
HVY - Forgefiend
HVY - Defiler

I'm not sure how i feel about swapping out the forgefiend and defiler to havocs.

I would like to keep the list very mechanical as I may (but somewhat undecided) ally some dark mechanicus to this particular list. I haven't quite decided yet.

My initial thoughts are the infantry level is OK at the moment and so adding more infantry in havocs may unbalance it, but then again I do play templars normally so am used to amassed infantry, which could be clouding my judgement.

Anyone have any thoughts or opinion of the Chaos heavy support slot and what to fill it with?

 

[neferhet]

Well, i'd just replace the defiler with some nice autocannons havocs + an eagis defence line.
Also, MoTzeentch on regular troops is one of the most shiteful (it's not a word but it explains it well) thing game desiners ever made. I'd drop that entirely and use the points for some icon of vengeance... even the ferrus infernum dread is meh...same points are almost 2 normal helbrutes!

 

[alt-f4]

I agree with neferhet remarks, and would add that, fluffy speaking, Iron Warriors are closer to Khorne than to other Chaos Gods.

I would then make a first CSM unit with Icon of Vengeance, and the other (close combat oriented) with Mark of Khorne (or even swap them for Berserkers).

Why the Spawns instead of an additional Daemon Engine (Maulerfiend or Helldrake, for instance) ?

 

[DaisyDuke]

How about swap the ferrus for a normal brute then use the hellbrute data slate. Freeing up your elites slots for some deep strike Terminaters or lone mutilater back line fun. If you take neffs option and go for a defence line, you could add a coms and make sure your reserves come in when you want.
I have used this tactic to great success on many an occasion. Opponents normally have to do something about 3 dreads coming down with the access to shoot rear armour with a multi melta, or plasma cannon the wrong side of their cover.

 

[Kreuger]

Or why not include other daemon engines such as the decimator, blood slaughterer, or a chaos knight titan?

 

[Squire]

A chaos knight would be ideal for Iron Warriors. If your meta isn't big on superheavies you could give it a miss, but otherwise it would be a solid choice

Initially I looked at the flamer bikes and thought they're doing a job your troops could do, letting you giving them melta guns and melta bombs as an anti tank threat. Then I noticed the chaos lord. It's a pretty solid unit but I'd be looking for a bit more from the lord. How about mark or khorne and axe of blind fury? You could then split off the bike lord from the bikes if the situation is right and both could deal with separate units. At that point I'd just go with the melta bikes

One of the CSM units could then be a full unit of ten with bolter, BP and CCW and a pair of flamers. In a rhino of course. Good at pushing enemy units off objectives and then holding the objective themselves, and they'd fill the fast flamer role the bikes otherwise had

For the ranged CSM squad a cheap, small unit could be a plasma gun, combi plasma and havoc launcher on the rhino. For a unit of ten I'd normally take two plasma guns but for Iron Warriors I'd be looking for a way to use that lascannon you get in the upgrade kit and would have to go lascannon/plasma gun.

FWIW I don't think I'd be able to resist a vindicator for IW too. Back when legion rules existed it was their own special unit they could take, plus vindicators are good

 

[neferhet]

:goodpost: