The Dragon Cult of Mars

[psykerchild]

So this is the list I'm putting together for ITC format tournaments that I plan on attending next year. I think it was the day after Da Boyz I got the idea for doing a Void Dragon Cult themed Mechanicus list. I plan on heavily necronizing the models, probably a purple and silver theme with sky blue light work, centerpieced by the Atropos in full necron glory(now replaced by a crusader... *tear) and a display board based around a metal temple type structure.

What do y'all think of the theme?

Now the math on this list may look a little strange, but the War Convocation Makes all upgrades for any model in the formation free.

I don't particularly plan on using this locally except for practice purposes, nor do I believe that it will be allowed at next years GT, but I do plan on following it up with a similarly themed Necron force. I'm a bit tickled that it's still technically highlander

Also bits of it make pretty good allies.

@kozka: You wouldn't happen to have an extra plasma caliver hanging around, would you?


1850 Pts - Codex: Cult Mechanicus Roster
Total Roster Cost: 1843
Adeptus Mechanicus War Convocation

Cult Mechanicus Battle Congregation

1 Tech-Priest Dominus, 105 pts = (base cost 105 + Eradication Ray 15 + Conversion Field 5 + Digital Weapons 10 + Uncreator Gauntlet 35)

3 Kataphron Destroyers, 165 pts = 3 * 55

3 Kataphron Breachers, 150 pts = 3 * 50 (base cost 50) + Hydraulic Claw x3 30

11 Fulgurite Electro-priests, 198 pts = 11 * 18


Battle Maniple

9 Skitarii Vanguard, 81 pts = 9 * 9 (base cost 9) + Plasma Caliver x3 90 + Omnispex 10
1 Vanguard Alpha, -1 pts = (base cost 19 + Taser Goad 10 + Conversion Field 10 + Digital Weapons 10 + Pater Radium 20)

9 Skitarii Rangers, 99 pts = 9 * 11 (base cost 11) + Transuranic Arquebus x3 75 + Omnispex 10
1 Ranger Alpha, 16 pts = (base cost 21 + Taser Goad 10 + Conversion Field 10 + Digital Weapons 10 + Arkhan's Divinator 5)

4 Sicarian Ruststalkers, 120 pts = 4 * 30
1 Ruststalker Princeps, 20 pts = (base cost 40 + Conversion Field 10 + Digital Weapons 10 + Prehensile Dataspike 10 + The Omnicient Mask 20)

4 Sicarian Infiltrators, 140 pts = 4 * 35
1 Infiltrator Princeps, 20 pts = (base cost 45 + Conversion Field 10 + Digital Weapons 10 + Infoslave Skull 10 + The Skull of Elder Nikola 25)

1 Ironstrider Ballistarius, 55 pts = (base cost 55) + TL Cognis Lascannon x1 20

2 Onager Dunecrawlers, 180 pts = 2 * 90 (base cost 90) + Icarus Array x2 70 + Cognis Heavy Stubber x2 10 + Cognis Manipulator x2 50 + Mindprobe Scanner x2 20


Imperial Knight Oathsworn Detachment
1 Knight Crusader [KNI], 425 pts = (base cost 425 + Meltagun 5) + Rapid-fire Battle Cannon 5 + Twin Icarus Autocannon 35

The Adeptus Mechanicus War Convocation:
Made up of 1 Cult Mechanicus Battle Congregation Detachment,1 Skitarii Battle Maniple, and 1 Imperial Knight Oathsworn Detachment.

SPECIAL RULES:
The Machine Brotherhood of Mars: All units in this formation have the Canticles of the Omnissiah special rule(canticles are the pick one a turn and apply special effect), even though they do not all have the Cult Mechanicus Faction.
Alpha-Dominus: If this Formation’s Tech-Priest Dominus is your Warlord, you can re-roll the result when rolling on the Warlord Traits table in Codex: Cult Mechanicus.
Might of the Adeptus Mechanicus: All weapon and wargear options taken by units in this Formation, including any Relics of Mars or Arcana Mechanicum, are free. Furthermore, all weapons with the Gets Hot special rule carried by a model in this Formation no longer has the Gets Hot special rule

Cult Mechanicus Battle Congregation(Detachment)
SPECIAL RULES:
Divine Chorus: can re-use a Canticle of the Omnissiah

Skitarii Battle Maniple(Formation)
SPECIAL RULES:
Datalock: Models from this formation within 12 inches of an Onager Dunecrawler are leadership 10
Tireless Advance: All models in the formation have Crusader and Scout, but cannot outflank without using a different source for the rule.

That doesn't even begin to get into the relics or wargear...

[chaoscraig]

I only like the dragoons when in huge units. It seems like two is the perfect number for killing. If you max out it makes it a unit I do not care to try to eliminate. But overall.... Really solid and would like to give it a go.

[psykerchild]

Yeah, The dragoons are better enmass. I had to take at least 1 though, and didn't want to put the points into too many more.

I gave them the jezzails to be longer ranged skirmishing units, Plus with the canticles that I think I'd end up using for the first turn or two(because of one of the detachments I have the ability to reuse one) they would have a 2+ cover save standing in the open(5+ for Censer Shroud, Plus stealth and shrouded for the canticle).

My other option would be to swap out for a single Ironstrider ballistarius with a twin linked cognis lascannon and then max out the ranger squad and take another transuranic Arquebus. Not sure offhand which way I'll spring yet.

[dudeisuck]

How are you taking the atropos? If not taken in a LoW slot in a force org, you can't take it unless you take a regular knight, just like all of the FW knights.

I like the idea of a void dragon army, however.

[psykerchild]

Huh. I see what you mean. I'll look into it.

[koszkamade]

tech preist dominus started at 105 i thought.

Any who I'm down with what you have started with. Even though the phase taser is awesome, i'd recommend putting the omniscience mask on the rust stalkers. The power of that unit is in their subsequent combat power. AP2 melee from 2nd round on is amazing, the hard part is getting them to stick until then. the mask solves that issue. Also, I'm under the assumption they have the chordclaws and transonic razors for them as well. If you take the transonic words you lose those awesome assault/haywire grenades.

In all honesty I i would stick with those phosphor blasters for your destroyers. Their ability for re-rolled charges and -1 cover are really helpful.

Breachers are really underwhelming, but are still your 3+ save unit that may still get the job done.

If you are trying to shift points, id go the way of a single ballistri, and use the excess points to get some more rangers and electro preists.

Also, have you thought about using the raiment of the techno martyr? it gives a unit in your army the cognis rule, which can be game breaking when you need to have a really strong overwatch turn, or you desire to target a flying thing. ( 18 bs2 grav shots is no joke!!!)

Psyked about the direction of this army. I still think you'd get more value from just using an admech/skitarii army. No free wargear, but you have more freedom of choice ( and you can use ad mech with CAD for obj. sec. servitor units and you can fit in another dominus so you can have him tank hits for your electro priests.

[psykerchild]

Yup, it does, numbers are off a bit but I've done the math by hand and it works out in the end.

Yup, I stuck with the chordclaw and Transonic razor pair. I didn't see the benefit of the dual transonics. There's no specialist attached to them that I can see. Plus those sweet grenades! And I did change out the Phase Taser for the Omniscience mask. Zealot is pretty awesome for the fearless plus rerolls. I only stuck the phase taser on there because I didn't know what else to put there. Thanks!

Yeah, looking at what the phosphex blasters do it's better than the wall of fire stuff, especially combined with an omnispex. They should be fine on overwatch anyway.

Eh, the reason I picked breachers over another squad of destroyers was to maintain highlander, but I'm thinking I'll magnetize at least one of the units for both grav and torsion cannons. Probably run double grav and drop the eleventh electropriest to make up the point difference when using them at ITC tournaments.

Yup, I've gone the way of the Ballistiari, lets me max out the rangers, pick up an extra arquebus and add an 11th electropriest, which as above could be traded out for changing the breachers to destroyers. Still trying to figure out whether the arquebuses are worth it or not or if I should go for more calivers

Oh yup. I'll probably use the Raiment for an allied detachment of Dominus and Destroyers in some games while I'm building the rest of the army.

Thanks for the critique Kozka! I will likely use a cad eventually for some things. Might be fun to do a Mechanicus vs. Tech heresy game some day eh? ^.^

[psykerchild]

Ooo... and one of the holiday bundles is a full battle Maniple for 25% off!

[koszkamade]

Oooooooo. I may may need to pick up that maniple! I want to bulk out my admech stuff quite a bit.

[psykerchild]

Pre-orders are up for them, got mine in already

[koszkamade]

Dammit. I still need to pickup my betrayal at clash box

My pockets are hurting this holiday season

[psykerchild]

So much beautiful plastic crack...

[theblackknight]

Oh how I wish for a well paying job.