Black Wing: 2000 pts of Black Templars (another Christmas wish list idea)

[ReveredChaplainDrake]

40K Army: Space Marines

Before I start, I swear that this had nothing to do with the thread started by Reflex. First of all, it's actual Black Templars, not black-painted Deathwing. Second, I'm using a Dreadnought. I've been tearing my hair out about trying to find a Black Templars list that won't utterly suck, and Neophytes always tends to bite me in the butt because after a while, they effectively drag down the WS of my entire squad. Not good. And my shooty BTs have met with some pretty intense failures, obviously. So I want to try something different: ultra elitists! Terminators are my most (and only) destructive units historically, so I'll just max 'em out. Everything else is filler designed for covering my Terminators' weaknesses, or is the Emperor's Champion.

Black Wing: 1999 pts

Emperor’s Champion: 140 pts
-Accept Any Challenges

I can't think of any other Vow that would help, except maybe Abhor the Witch. If I do take Abhor the Witch (which will obviously only help against Eldar and anybody stupid enough to use a sorcerer in an IW army), I plan to join the Champ into one of the other Terminator units to give that Terminator unit the benefits of freebie Crusader Seals, and the rest of the surplus points would go into Crusader Seals for the unaccompanied Terminators.

Marshal: 125 pts
-Terminator Armor
-Stormbolter
-Power Weapon
-Crusader Seals

As simple as humanly possible.

Terminator Command Squad: 240 pts
-2 Terminators w/ Stormbolters & Power Fists
-2 Terminators w/ Assault Cannons & Power Fists
-Terminator Sergeant w/ Stormbolter & Power Weapon

First of two Command Terminator squads.

Chaplain: 140 pts
-Terminator Armor
-Stormbolter
-Crozius Arcanum
-Rosarius
-Crusader Seals

Another minimally-sized character. Litanies, Fearless, free Crusader Seals, and getting to bound forward in any direction I feel like are the main perks I'm after.

Terminator Command Squad: 240 pts
-2 Terminators w/ Stormbolters & Power Fists
-2 Termiantors w/ Assault Cannons & Power Fists
-Terminator Sergeant w/ Stormbolter & Power Weapon

Same Terminator Command Squad as the Marshall's.

Venerable Dreadnought: 165 pts
-TLed Lascannon
-Missile Launcher
-Tank Hunter

My first elite is a makeshift devastator. This guy'll put out plenty of firepower and any shooting from the Dread will likely sap away AP2 fire from my Terminators. In the meantime, I'll blast those pesky tanks away as soon as they show themselves.

Terminator Squad: 240 pts
-3 Terminators w/ Stormbolters & Power Fists
-2 Terminators w/ Assault Cannons & Power Fists

Terminator Squad: 240 pts
-3 Terminators w/ Stormbolters & Power Fists
-2 Terminators w/ Assault Cannons & Power Fists

I think you could see these guys coming from a mile away...

Crusader Squad: 117 pts
-4 Initiates w/ Bolters
-1 Initiate w/ Plasma Gun
-1 Initiate w/ Lascannon

Crusader Squad: 117 pts
-4 Initiates w/ Bolters
-1 Initiate w/ Plasma Gun
-1 Initiate w/ Lascannon

Lasplas squads galore. There are six guys because I expect these guys to take a ton of fire that would otherwise go onto my Termies, but are diverted because people feel heavy bolters and battle cannons are useless against them.

Black Templars Assault Squad: 235 pts
-9 Initiates w/ Bolt Pistols & CCWs
-1 Initiate w/ Bolt Pistol & Power Fist

A bulletcatcher unit. Like a very, very expensive version of what my scuttling-only Genestealers do for my Tyranids. I also need some kind of fast anti-Tau assault and I really hate having to use LRCs.

[Wraithbone]

Second, I'm using a Dreadnought. I've been tearing my hair out about trying to find a Black Templars list that won't utterly suck, and Neophytes always tends to bite me in the butt because after a while, they effectively drag down the WS of my entire squad. Not good. And my shooty BTs have met with some pretty intense failures, obviously.

My experience with my Templars has been mixed as well, but I think Neophytes are very useful in the right circumstances. Templar lists must be tuned to the enemy more than standardized marine chapters, because they can be easy to predict on the board. I suspect most serious gaming groups are going to get mouthy about your terminator heavy list, but if you don't mind getting accused of all sorts of evils, don't let it deter you.

Neophytes are cheap wounds, and soak up enemy fire. I put those squads on screening duty, and when an assault hits with the remnants of my Crusader Squad, and the backup of a heavy hitting squad, I think the points were well spent.

The Assault Squad is a must for any BT army, IMO, and I trick them up with some suicide pistols (plasma), for some added versatility. Keeping them out of harm's way for the first few turns, until I know where the battle is going to be fought, is key to my usual strategy.

I like the dread, and that's my configuration except for Tank Hunter and Venerable, since I prefer putting more boots on the ground, over increased effectiveness in one model that is definitely going to draw fire.

I'd cut down on the HQ's and field more troops. The chaplain makes a great addition to the BT crusader squad, so that's the HQ I'd part out. With the extra points from chaplain's HQ's, I'd throw in a healthy sized Initiate/Neophyte squad, and give the chaplain some servitors to improve their mobility. Add the Champion to that marching mass, and you're going to get a ton of attention. Most players I've seen, regardless of the actual kill ratio, would rather face a terminator squad than a full strength Crusader Squad with two characters. It makes people lose their water if you can navigate them through terrain into assault range.

I really like assault terminators, but drop pods are essential to get them where you need them in most battles I've played. Like you, I don't like the LRC, even though I've seen other players use it very effectively.

Unless you are bent on fielding Templars, it might be worth your time to wait on the DA Codex if you want to throw a ton of terminators on the field. There's nothing wrong with it, but your model count is pretty low for 2k pts, and they aren't very mobile. I see your dread and lascannon squads dead very early, and then you're in a chase trying to get terminators into battle range. Against a mobile army or with a lot of ground to cover, you're going to bleed you way to the enemy.