Dark Angels Themed BFA Fleet

[KenshiValion]

First, I'd like to apologize in advance for the massive wall of text that follows.

My gaming club has recently gotten into BFG and I would love to create a fleet to compliment my 40k army, which is Dark Angels Space Marines. To accomplish this task, I have chosen to use the Battlefleet Armageddon fleet list so I can use Imperial Navy vessels to cover the weaknesses of the SM ships. The fleets I can be expected to face in my club are Eldar, straight up Space Marine, Chaos, and Adeptus Mechanicus. My goal is to create a competent and semi-competitive list to have fun games with my friends while still staying true to the fleet's theme.

Being a SM fleet, the theme is to have the core of my fleet be SM ships while having the IN back them up. In gameplay terms, that means starting with SM ships, and then picking IN ships to cover their weaknesses. The following is an attempt at just that, with reasonings as well.

Fleet Admiral 50
- 1 re-roll 25

From researching all the various fleet lists, this seems to be the stock choice in fleet commander, I would assume because of it's cheapness.

Space Marine Strike Cruiser x3 435
+ fast
+ maneuverable
+ T-Hawks
+ 6+ armor
+ bombardment cannon

- short range
- 1 shield

I feel like the Strike Cruiser is the iconic SM ship and as such should be the "core" of my fleet. Fluff wise, the SC are pushing through the enemy to get to whatever their objective is while the IN support them in this goal. Obviously, I squadroned them up to attempt to increase their survivability, but the only solution to their short range is to rush them in while other ships lay down cover fire. Which leads me to

Imperial Emperor Class Battleship 345 (or 350?)
+ all long range
+ carrier

- no lance
- no nova

The great thing I found about this ship was that ALL of it's weapons are 60cm, which aside from NCs is the longest range any IN weapon can fire. Bonus is the great carrier capacity of the ship. This also seems to be a stock choice for most fleet lists I've seen, so I must be on the right track. I do have one question though, the profile lists Shark AB in the launch bays, but then says you can purchase Sharks for 5 points. Is the profile right and 345 is the price for with Sharks, or is it 350 with the Sharks?

Imperial Lunar Class Cruiser (NC) x2 400
+ lances (short range)
+ nova cannon

- short range other then NC

I debated on this section, at first I had Mars battlecruisers, but ultimately I felt they were too expensive. This gives me 2 NCs in my fleet, as well as some lacking lances for when they close. Not much else to say on this.

RSV Firestorm x5 225
+ fast
+ lances

- fragile

I felt like I needed more SM ships, that I needed some escorts, and that I still lacked some lance firepower, so the Firestorm fit the bill for all 3. I originally went for Novas, but I found I was able to fit an extra ship in the squadron if I went for RSV Firestorms and all I was losing was speed.

Total 1480 (or 1485)

The idea of the list is to have the SM vessels rush the enemy while launching T-Hawks to get their short range guns to bear, while the IN vessels use their longer range guns and ordnance to close more slowly and support the SM ships. My biggest concern is simply that I don't have a lot of ships to my fleet, but I wanted to at least try to come up with a list before asking the more knowledgeable at large. So my ultimate question is, is this an effective strategy/list for non-tournament play, or am I way off my rocker here and don't know what I'm doing in the slightest? Any help would be much appreciated.

Slightly off-topic, obviously my SM ships should be painted in my chapter's colors, but is there a standard for IN ships or are they as varied as IG regiments?

Thank you very much to any responders.

[ThePov]

Honestly, this is just me talking, but as one SM/IN player to another, but if you want the fleet to be SM with IN back-up, I'd suggest a Battlebarge over an Emperor, because as huge as battleships are, they tend to be the focal point of the fleet. Plus, then your Admiral can be a Master of the fleet, which is better LD and cheaper re-rolls

As for the supporting IN fleet, while the Mars Class may be expensive, trust me, you waon't regret it. The ability to lauch dedicated fighters and bombers is invaluable, as are the long range dorsal lances, so it's definetly worth the points. I'd say one NC Lunar and one Mars is a good combo.

As for painting IN ships, there's not set scheme. I've got a blue-with-white-and-gold prow scheme, but I've seen Black and gold, red and grey, green and blue, all over the place, really.

[the_killer23]

The Emperor is 365/370 with SABs.

[KenshiValion]

My only issues with using a Battlebarge are that it's again short range, that it's expensive, and I'm afraid I won't have enough SM vessels to represent the idea of SM fleet supported by IN. With a BB, it seems more like an SM ship commanding an IN fleet, which doesn't particularly seem to gel well with the theme in my eyes. Fluff wise, I was imagining the IN ships engaging the enemy fleet while the SM ships push through the line to attack a planet/capture a specific objective/etc.

As to the leadership/rerolls, a FA with 1 extra vs a MotF with 1 extra are both 75 points, and if the FA is put on the Emperor (which I assume would be the logical choice), his leadership would be 9. So it's only a very slight advantage to SM in that regard.

I'm not trying to be argumentative, I fully submit to the knowledge of those other then myself. I in fact have yet to even play the game, but I would really like to have a fleet list down before I buy anything because I'm on a fairly tight budget at this time in my life. Dark Angels are a notoriously independent and mysterious chapter who notoriously mistrust anyone outside the chapter. Can anyone give me some more pointers on how to create a fleet out of this background information?

[ChaosPhoenix]

I can't help you with your problem, but I'm interested in the solution ;-). I want to start a Dark Angels fleet too but I'm even more clueless than you, because I'm trying to get into BFG at all. But good luck with your fleet and I'll follow the discussion

[ThePov]

My only issues with using a Battlebarge are that it's again short range, that it's expensive, and I'm afraid I won't have enough SM vessels to represent the idea of SM fleet supported by IN. With a BB, it seems more like an SM ship commanding an IN fleet, which doesn't particularly seem to gel well with the theme in my eyes. Fluff wise, I was imagining the IN ships engaging the enemy fleet while the SM ships push through the line to attack a planet/capture a specific objective/etc.

As to the leadership/rerolls, a FA with 1 extra vs a MotF with 1 extra are both 75 points, and if the FA is put on the Emperor (which I assume would be the logical choice), his leadership would be 9. So it's only a very slight advantage to SM in that regard.

I'm not trying to be argumentative, I fully submit to the knowledge of those other then myself. I in fact have yet to even play the game, but I would really like to have a fleet list down before I buy anything because I'm on a fairly tight budget at this time in my life. Dark Angels are a notoriously independent and mysterious chapter who notoriously mistrust anyone outside the chapter. Can anyone give me some more pointers on how to create a fleet out of this background information?

Honestly, it shouldn't be that much of a problem that the Battlebarge is short range. Range seems great in theory, but because your WB have significanly less power the father away you get, long-range WB are good, but not the be-all-end-all. And anyways, you should NOT be using a Battlebarge like an IN battleship. I should be just like your Strike Cruisers, rushing forward, using its guns and BC to soften up the enemy's largest threat, then boarding it into oblivion.

And Personally, I think that a Battlebarge fits the fluff better anyway, because while I can imagine an IN admiral relasing some cruisers to Dark Angels command once in a while in times of need, I can NEVER imagine th Dark Angels submitting command, even joint command, to an IN Admiral.

[KenshiValion]

Hmm, you make some interesting and very true points. I will have to review the boarding rules and take a long hard look at a revised list and get back to you. Thank you for all your input.

[ThePov]

Yeah, if you're playing SM, boarding is your bread and butter. The guns and rampant hit and runs are only to soften ships up enough to make boarding a forgone conclusion.

[the_killer23]

And Personally, I think that a Battlebarge fits the fluff better anyway, because while I can imagine an IN admiral relasing some cruisers to Dark Angels command once in a while in times of need, I can NEVER imagine th Dark Angels submitting command, even joint command, to an IN Admiral.

Then what's with the Space Marine appeal chart then?

[ThePov]

I said DARK ANGELS, not Space Marines in General. The Dark Angels are very secretive and seculusive. They don't work with ANYBODY unless it's on their terms.