Army lists for Arcanacon are due in a couple of weeks so it’s time to start thinking about 
what to take. Before Christmas I was all set to take Ultramarines. The list doesn’t need any work, I know the kit and it is a balanced combined-arms force.
So, in a near re-run of last year, I’m going to take Chaos.
I’ve drawn up a new list with three design constraints in mind. I want to:
– use an Arc bound list
– paint a minimum of models
– minimise upgrades
By using Arc bound I get an extra 10 points and I need all the help I can get.
Minimum upgrades is because I inevitably get to the end of a game and find I’ve been playing with a self-imposed handicap by ignoring up to 100 points of goodies. This is not a good look. So WYSIWYG and not too many extras to remember will help make things cruisy. This can be particularly important on day 2, especially if the weather is hot.
Draft list for The Coven Malleus
The Apostate found the Sorcerer’s commitment to a single Chaos deity somewhat distasteful, but the Word Bearer needed him for the moment. The Slaneeshi sorcerer had promised to teach the Word Bearer some of his warp knowledge and in return the Dark Apostle has for the moment bound his war band to walk the path of excess.
Sorcerer level 1 psyker with mark of Slaneesh (terminator armour)
I’ve been enjoying the psychic phase and a psyker will be a bit of fun
Dark Apostle with the black mace
basically a delivery mechanism for the black mace
Two squads of 10 cultists, each with a flamer
for objectives but mostly to soak up damage around the DA
7 Noise Marines; three sonic blasters; icon of excess
flavour, because I haven’t used them for a while
15 Chaos Space Marines; icon of vengeance; champ with power sword
these guys will be hard to get off an objective
5 Chosen; aspiring champ with lightening claws; 4 flamers; veterans of the long war;
rhino with dirge caster
this squad is very effective with its toasty goodness and a bit of choppy-chop
Landraider with twin-linked las
for the NM and Sorcerer to ride about in
Vindicator with siege shield
S10 AP2 pie plate; don’t leave home without one
The sorcerer is the only model I need to paint. This is a plus. No daemonettes, but given the slap allies recieve in comp I’ve tried to keep the Slaneesh vibe by using the noise marines. There are two things I don’t like about this list. I’ve made the Sorcerer the warlord so the noise marines become a troops choice; this feels cheesy. The other is no fast attack. The chosen in a rhino will fill this role but it detracts from a more balanced org structure.
Discuss.
Faith&Steel 