So, over in
the Superheavy thread, I alluded to an interesting little list idea involving a Hellhammer and an Emperor's Wrath detachment. Here's that list:
Combined Arms DetachmentCompany Command Squad w/Carapace, 2x Melta, Vox, Astropath
Part of the Hellhammer's "escort". They hang with the Techmarine and hide behind the giant tank. The Astropath has a 1/3 chance to get either Invisibility or Shrouding, and Psychic Shriek is always useful for trying to kill MCs or even Wraithknights.Plasma Grenadiers w/ 2x Plasma, Vox
Plasma Grenadiers w/ 2x Plasma, Vox
The rest of the Hellhammer's "escort". They act as speedbumps if needed, add weight of fire to targets that need it, and, if any of them survive (and 1-2 tend to), they secure an objective somewhere.Banewolf w/Dozer Blade, Hvy Flamer
Assault deterrent. Drives around where needed. Anybody who gets close gets roasted. Anybody who assaults a vehicle is goop next turn. Well, assuming they aren't rocking Terminator saves.Avenger Strike Fighter
For those unfamiliar, this is a Forgeworld flyer with a pair of lascannons and a nasty, MEQ killing rotary cannon. It can also deepstrike. This is for me to get at those targets I can't otherwise hit (for whatever reason) or to hunt enemy flyers, Flying MCs, or the rear armor of troublesome vehicles. Handy plane.Hellhammer Superheavy Tank w/Pair of Sponsons
This thing puts out an absolutely *stupid* quantity of firepower. 1 Demolisher Cannon, 1 Hellhammer Cannon (i.e. OUCH), 2 Lascannons, 3 TL Heavy Bolters, and an Autocannon. All weapons can shoot at separate targets, so it can engage and do serious damage to several targets at once. It is also damned hard to kill without using Str D weapons.Emperor's Wrath Artillery CompanyCompany Command Squad w/Carapace, Mortar, Master of Ordnance, Volkov's Cane
--in Chimera w/Multilaser, Hvy Flamer
The Cane means the artillery tanks nearby pretty much always follow orders. The Master of Ordnance is just to beef up the number of pie plates. Manticore
Basilisk
Basilisk
The 1812 Overture, 40K styleEnginseer
Hangs with the Combined Arms CCS, repairs vehicles as neededOverviewThis list drops 6-8 pie plate blasts (or larger) just about anywhere on the board, most of which can ignore cover when necessary (or have tank hunters or monster hunters or pin or...). My warlord would be the Artillery Company Commander, since he is not likely to go anywhere near the front lines and die. I could shave the carapace armor off the Artillery CCS and buy the Banewolf a Heavy Stubber or something, but I'm not sure that's precisely worth it.
I've run some "tests" with this list (basically me playing against myself on a simulator) and, while hardly real games, it has performed very well. The amount of carnage the artillery and Hellhammer can wreak is impressive indeed. The cheap psyker gamble I'm taking with the Astropath has paid off more often than not.
I wouldn't argue that this list is unstoppably good by any means (hell, what IG army is these days?), but it is certainly an army that can win games, and convincingly. It would struggle a lot against Death Stars (not sure there *is* an IG solution to deathstars), and anything with Invisibility would eat me alive. I stand by its ability to munch on bikes with nigh impunity, though, and nobody can outrange or outshoot it easily.
Anyway, there's my idea. What do you think?