THE FIRST COMPANY:TACTICA DEATHWING By ( Brother Azariah ) |
This article has been reproduced with kind permission from the author. It's use here is not intended as a challenge to the original authors copyright and is reproduced here for the sole purpose of enhancing he Dark Angel spirrit and the warhammer 40,000 experience |
The First Company: Tactics of the Deathwing, Vol I, Version IV Submitted for the Honour of the Lion, and the Glory of the Emperor by Brother Azariah Brother Marine, congratulations and welcome to the elevated ranks of the Deathwing. In the coming years there will much to learn, in your faith, of your history, and on the battlefield. On the matters of Faith, you will look to Interrogator-Chaplains for guidance and focus. I need not remind you to keep your eyes on the xenos, and your heart with the Emperor. Neither is instruction upon our chapter history my duty, for that you will study with the Masters and Grand-Masters. However, my role is to educate your body and mind, and ready them for the responsibilities you shoulder as a member of the Emperors' Elite First Company. Read this tome, commit the words to memory, and then destroy these sacred pages, lest they fall into the hands of our foes. Chapter I - Force Organization Our chapter organization was established long ago, modified by our wise Primarch, and left in the hands of our Venerable Inner-Circle. The Lion understood that a powerful force must be flexible, and hence malleable. Thus, our structure, while remaining traditional to the outsider, will fluctuate over time, to adapt to the foes we are facing. Recently, such a fluctuation has happened, and the Chapter Masters have seen, with the Emperors' Wisdom, that it's best to organize our forces in a new manner. Below are the new organizations of the Deathwing, and a brief description of their role. Characters: Force Commander: Master / Grand Master: An inspiration in battle, the Deathwing Force Commander shares his leadership with units across the battlefield. I find that this is an invaluable power in a Dark Angels Battle Force. Much of the power of this leadership skill is lost among the Deathwing, which are known for their stubbornness. His deployment costs are lower than the other characters, but he comes with no armaments, a fact that his costs do not belie. At this point in time, I find the Force Commander to be a less frequent inclusion in our forces. Interrogator-Chaplain: Reclusiarch / Master of Sanctity: The Revered Interrogator-Chaplain is the spiritual rock of our company. They have higher deployment costs than the Force Commander does, but comes equipped with powerful holy gear. In addition, he bestows such fervour upon any squad he accompanies, that they rarely miss on the initial charge into combat. If granted the Furious Charge ability by a squad he accompanies, he is a mighty force of the Emperors Wrath. When with a squad of Deathwing Assault Terminators, they form one of the most effective, and destructive forces on any battlefield. I feel his deployment costs are well justified, and never enter battle without a resolute Interrogator-Chaplain. Librarian: Codicier / Epistolary: The Librarian harnesses the emperors own gift if psychic dominance. Nearly all his talents make him more effective shooting, or assaulting. Although having the highest costs of any character, he comes with legendary gear, which can be invaluable in many situations, especially fighting demons and other horrors. I tend to field him with an attached command squad, giving them Heavy Flamers or Assault Cannons, both weapons which are fierce up close, or at long range. The Librarian and this squad will inevitably march across a field, shooting as they go, and wind up finishing off foes up close. An expensive selection, but nonetheless a devastating one. I feel his abilities are less generically useful than the Interrogator-Chaplains, but are in certain situations unparalleled. Deathwing Deathwing Terminator Squad: The recent restructuring of these squads have mandated to our Terminator Squads the role of ranged combat. Although able to hold their own up close against certain foes, these squads will always be armed with 2 cyclone missile launchers or 2 assault cannons. In addition to all that heavy firepower, all other members of the squad will have a Blessed Storm Bolter. I find the strengths of this squad to stay at maximum range, carefully monitor what has line of sight, and take out armoured targets. Deathwing Terminator Assault Squad: The masters have determined that the assault squad be armed only with lightning claws, or with the thunder hammer and storm shield. The thunder hammer and storm shield is a rather limited weapon option, great against a narrow spectrum of foes, but amazing against vehicles. If you are battling demons or demi-gods, the thunder hammers are choice, otherwise, I suggest you do battle with suits of lightning claws. Mechanicus: Dreadnought: The Dreadnought is a pinnacle of firepower in a Deathwing army. However, their deployment costs are rather high, and the foe can frequently find a chink in its tough army early in the battle. For this reason, I do not suggest fielding dreadnoughts in small numbers. You'll find our Land Raiders pack the same amount of firepower as multiple dreadnoughts, for the same costs, and tend to survive more battles. Venerable Dreadnought: A fallen brother of our very own company, the venerable dreadnought is revered for his improved marksmanship and melee prowess. Be warned Brother! Do not throw away this resource lightly. As with other dreadnoughts, they are highly vulnerable, and only to be fielded in certain situations! Land Raider: The primary transport of our company, every Deathwing force typically includes at least a single Land Raider. Not only do they safely move our men to forward positions, but they pack firepower not found elsewhere in the chapter. Hard enough to survive most battles, the Land Raider is often our only means of dealing with certain enemy armour. Brother, learn to respect the Land Raider, he will server you well. Land Raider Crusader: This variant is used as an elite assault vehicle. Loaded with anti-infantry firepower, I almost never go to battle without a Crusader. Land Raider Prometheus: The Command Vehicle Prometheus is also armed with anti-infantry firepower. It grants enhanced ability to call in reserves, and is a tool of specific situations. Many brothers report its uses to be many, I've not used this variant in recent memory. Land Raider Helios: The rarest of Land Raider variants, I can't justify the deployment costs associated with this vehicle. Granted, it's useful against many types of foe, but at times might be a needless devotion of resources. Chapter II - Pre-Battle Planning In this section, I will discuss the rationale I use when planning the forces I use in battle. I've found that war does not always allow you to custom tailor a list to whatever foes you are fighting, so an all-purpose discussion of units is often necessary. Headquarters: I find that the Interrogator-Chaplain is invaluable in combat. Characters cost much in deployment resources, and as such, are far more powerful in close combat than in shooting. Rarely do you send such individuals unaccompanied into battle, and the ability the Chaplain provides for his fellows is unmatched. When taking the field, I frequently attach a Deathwing Terminator Assault Squad with him, and mechanize them in a Land Raider or Crusader. With the new veteran ability "Furious Charge", this allows the squad to charge from the vehicle, striking in Initiative 5, re-rolling misses with the lightning claws, and re-rolling wounds as well. No foes should live through a single charge from this squad. The Librarian is the other headquarters option I frequently field. Although expensive, they can make a very effective "all around" squad. I'm fond of attaching a Deathwing Command Squad, wielding 2x heavy flamers, 1x power fist / storm bolter, and a Sergeant with standard gear. Loading these into a transport of their own makes them a squad, nearly as destructive as the Chaplain, but more flexible during the rounds of shooting. Of the librarian psychic powers, we can discuss more later. |
TACTICA DEATHWING |
