I'd like to take a large Death Company against Orks, just for giggles (HQ of Mephiston, of course). The Rage rule makes you chase the nearest enemy, true, but it doesn't say you have to cluster up - closest model to closest model moves towards the closest enemy, but the rest can spread out so long as they remain in coherency.
Full 30 man squad with Lemartes and 6 powerfists comes in at 900 points, bolt pistols except for the powerfists and running. Spread out to cover the front line of your entire deployment zone (1.4" spread should cover the whole thing factoring in model base size - less if terrain's in the way). Stay spread out as you advance and only close up when you get near tough targets. Should be possible to engage several units at once, and if you're careful, you can finess the first engaged model into not losing until the second round of combat by controlling how many models are close enough to engage on a charge. Spread back out when consolidating. Get a little lucky, and you should be able to engage multiple units. Moreover, by being so spread out, you can probably ensure that most squads won't be able to see more than half of the squad to target, giving them all a cover save. With Feel No Pain and the cover saves, you'd essentially be running a huge, cheaper Terminator company. Cover saves would decrease effectiveness of heavy weapons, and spreading out would cut down on blast templates.
Orks couldn't even run Buggies through to make you turn around and chase after unless gaps opened up since they're not "Tanks." A couple of assault squads can follow behind and tag objectives.
I'm not saying this would necessarily be effective, but a long row of Death Company spread across an entire battlefield and running from one end to the other sounds pretty funny.
Last edited by Judge; 05-01-2010 at 10:37 PM.
A standard Chaplain will get 4 attacks on the charge, not 3 (re-rolling hits but not wounds).
Also, it's worth remembering that all Rage does is control where you move if there is a target in LOS. (and run, and consolidate - but remember you don't have to run with them if it's more beneficial to stay put). It doesn't force you to assault the closest unit if, at the end of your movement, there is more than one enemy unit within charge range. Yes, Rage is a real Achilles Heel at times, but the DC are still a nasty squad that will get your opponent's attention, and with a bit of skill (and luck), you can still make them count when they finally charge in.
I had a unit of 6 death co with a reclusiarch shred an ork mob on the charge. A unit of assault marines was already in there but I think I won combat by like 14 and 12 more went down thanks to fearless.
I'm currently trying out 9 in an extra armor rhino with 3 power weps and the reclusiarch. Could that be too much awesome?
letsagetabitarockin!
i tried a libby in my DC with unleash rage and sheild in a storm raven. it worked pretty good