Community!

This will be the first in a series of staff-moderated tactica threads. The goal? To provide you all with a DS staff-condoned reference for playing your squads! Everyone is free to share his thoughts on the squad under review. I will be updating the first and second post, making sure you won't have to go through the entire thread to find what you need.

So you think you know the Cultists like the back of your hand? Share your wisdom with us!




Undivided

Get two experience increases? Roll a +1 S and a new skill? Hello Heavy bolter. (Submitted by: DoZer)

Khorne

Slaanesh

Facing a bunch of Eldar squads in your area? Then this is the one for you. Move and strike just as fast as other Eldar, but with a better chance to rise in toughness. Slaanesh I feel should really be about Shooting and Scooting, and they just so happen to also be good at CC. Everything should be laying down a withering amount of firepower, and only get into CC when it is absolutely necessary. (Submitted by: DoZer)

Nurgle

Mark of Nurgle is always worthwhile. +1 to Toughness is huge in this game. That puts [a Chosen] almost on the level of the Space Marine. He's cheap, and can tar pit units in hand-to-hand, or shield Aspiring Champs to allow them to do there thing. (Submitted by: DoZer)

Tzeentch

5+ Inv......need I say more? Alright, more you say......how about choosing one psychic power. Or the ability to fly. (Submitted by: DoZer)




Officers

Chaos Space Marine
This guy needs to be in front. You do not have the toughness, nor the numbers to place recruits up front and expect to walk out alive. He needs to take the brunt of the fighting, getting in close where his high strength, toughness, and armor can be used to the best of it's abilities. (Submitted by: DoZer)

With Mark of Slaanesh:
Keep the CSM floating in the middle of your line, counter-attacking any units that get to close to your recruits and Officers (think of him like a sweeper in football (soccer for us Americans), cleaning up on the defense wherever he is needed). (Submitted by: DoZer)

Get this guy a Sonic Blaster ASAP. With potentially 4 shots a turn (if you position him right and don't move) you can unleash a hail of fire. At S4 AP5 most regular troops, regardless which squad, will die in droves. Don't be afraid of close combat, either. Sure, he may be focused on shooting, but with a bolt pistol and sword supplementing his Sonic Blaster, combined with WS4, T4 and a 4+ armor save and 2A... you really don't have that much to be afraid of, especially in the early campaign. Finally, get him a Space Marine Helmet soon, too. -1 cover save? Yes, please... (Submitted by Arachas)

With Mark of Nurgle:
Now that you have given him MoN, do not even BOTHER with the basic SM Helmet. Go right to the Helm of Pestilence. It can negate a critical hit once per game on a 3+, gives all the bonus's of a SM helmet except for the infra-red goggles (+1 to Armor Save, ignore stun on 4+). That is HUGE for you, since basically the only thing that can really bring down your Plague Marine is critical hits. Something else to think about, is taking the True Grit skill which allows you to use your Boltgun like a pistol in hand-to-hand, which will save you some credits. Your going to be taking a LOT of guys OOA with him, so Diseased Body dark gift is also something to look into. Another big one for you is to get the Manreaper (or what we affectionately call it, the Manraper). When using it you have the potential to regenerate any wounds that you had received. (Submitted by: DoZer)

Aspiring Champion
These guys need to be your shooters. Their higher BS over the Chosen is more ideal. They can plug a line, and guide your cultists to victory. But, do NOT get to happy with these guys. Play them smart, have them drop targets, but be wary of OOA results. These guys might take on your CSM, and this early in a campaign will see them dumped on there ass if you try to take on your leader. (Submitted by: DoZer)

With Undivided Mark:
I like the idea of [an] Undivided [Champion] with a Heavy Bolter, but if you only run one like that, then you don't stand a very good chance of getting that strength increase which is all important to use the Heavy Bolter. I would suggest, if you intend to get that Heavy Bolter, to run both Aspiring Champs with Undivided as it exponentially increases your chance to get it. Even if you only get the HWS skill, remember you can still use the Heavy Stubber. (Submitted by: DoZer)

Or make this guy your sniper. Give him a boltgun, rope and hook, the Hasted Fire Magazine, and a telescopic sight. Pick a spot with an elevated field of fire, and take two shots 30" away. (Submitted by: DoZer)

With Mark of Khorne:
Get this guy a chainaxe, likity split. Your mark of Khorne (+1 WS, +1A) puts you at WS5, the Chainaxe will give you another. Although it does not help you when you hit, it immenesly helps any attacks back at you. Get another WS increase, and anything WS3 or lower will be hitting you on 5+. Rage of Khorne and Permanent Daemon Talons are also something that you will definitely want (Rage of Khorne gives +1 WS, +1 A, +1 S upon the initial charge, Permanent Daemon Talons are exactly like it sounds). Carrying flash and smoke nades will also help this unit, as it can screen or blind any enemy units trying to hit him as he moves to get up close and personal. (Submitted by: DoZer)


Chosen
Probably my (ed: DoZer's) favorite unit. Reason being is you can customize these guys to do just about ANYTHING. You want CC guys in your officer class? Slap MoK on them and get a +1 WS and +1 A. Instantly better than your Aspiring champions in close combat. Give them a pistol and a CC weapon, and now you have base 2 attacks plus 1 for the off-hand. Give them an axe, and watch them cut down any units in there way (axe has the -1 to armor save, which this early in a campaign no one but for leaders of various squads has an armor save better than 6). (Submitted by: DoZer)

Recruits

Cultists

Second post reserved for future edits.

Clever... almost like the whole thing was planned in advance.

HAHA! In Arachas defense (not that he needs any), much of this stuff came from Laney's Dark Mechanicus discussion. I found that thread an eye opener ( ... and I helped making and testing the Squad!), so I'm VERY happy someone took the initiative of preserving this knowledge.

STICKY!

I thought I'd fill in some information at hand, so everyone would be able to see the general shape intended for the tactica. Laney's thread was a good starting point.

But we want tons more! Play with the Cultists and tell us what you think!

Funny. I was just about to post my first cultist list when I saw this thread.

I equiped both my Asp. Champs just with lasguns cause I wanted them to be Heavy-Bolter-totting maniacs. And what do you know. That's exactly what Dozer recommends.

My Chosen is tooled up for CC with swords, pistols, armour and MoK. Again, a thing he recommends.

Happy to see I'm doing something right