Live and Let Die

Pondering how I can make my earlier victory with The Purge against World Eaters work for my Emperors Children and the upcoming battles of Skalathrax.  I cannot understand how I won that battle and yet lost the original game.  I am certain that despite better dice rolls in the second game, the World Eater player had a better strategy for the first battle.  The two armies despite the differences in points both looked similar, just fewer units.  As I was using my own list this time around I had more units in my list and at times was able to sacrifice one squad to save another or double team an opposing squad.  Suddenly a light bulb grows dim above my head…

Previously I faced six squads of Berserkers in Chaos Rhinos led by Kharn.  There were two large bike squads with Icon (of Khorne) and Aspirings, three Chaos Dreadnoughts a small squad of Chaos Terminators and a Chaos Lord with all the trimmings.  By my reckoning that makes thirteen squads in 3k points, my 1.5k list with The Purge had eleven units, although one of these was a 40 point Chaos Spawn.  So ten units in 1.5k points means that I should be able to double-up on fighting squads, or sacrifice a few to save the many.

Taking smaller units means that I will have to split my forces into those that crack open the transport vehicles and those that deal with the contents.  I am thinking three squads to crack open the armour and two squads of heavy infantry killers (plasma gunners).  I will avoid a Greater Daemon this time around due to wanting to slow the enemy down and not engage in close combat until as late as possible in the battle, fourth turn if I can manage it.

Off the top of my head I will be looking at:

Close Combat
Chaos Lord in Terminator armour
5 Chaos Terminators
6 Noise Marines (Aspiring with Doom Siren)
6 Noise Marines (Aspiring with Doom Siren)
6 Chaos Space Marines (with plasma pistol or melta gun)
6 Chaos Space Marines (with plasma pistol or melta gun)

Firepower
Chaos Dreadnought (Lascannon)
Chaos Dreadnought (Autocannon)
6 Havocs (3 Missile Launchers)
6 Havocs (3 Plasma Guns)
2 Obliterators

I will also hope to add a pair of Chaos Rhinos to the list as mobile cover, or to redeploy the squads as needed.  I will not be taking the customary Aspiring in each squad as the 30 point premium for Aspiring with power weapon is only marginally worth it; I need more warm bodies on the table.