Dakkaborn?

Hi all -

After assembling the majority of my army, I find myself left with the parts to make 9 Trueborn (my troops choices are already maxed out). I refuse to run Blasterborn - mostly because I use Reavers & Scourges to fill that role, since I think they do the same job for fewer points. My local meta is less mech'd up than most, I believe.

Having said that, I'm trying to figure out a solid load-out for a very shooty unit of Trueborn. I am positive I will give them 2 Splinter Cannons, but beyond that I can't make up my mind. Should I max Shard Carbines? Sprinkle in Shredders or do a mix of Shredders & Blasters? Give them all Haywire Grenades (this one I am really considering - especially if the unit has no Blasters).

For a bit of context, I run up to 3 units of Kabalites (Shredder/Splinter Cannon) and up to 3 Wych Squads, 1 or 2 Ravagers, Reavers w/heat lances & Scourges w/either heat-lances or haywire blasters. I usually keep my HQ cheap with either a Haemonculus or Succubus, but occasionally I'll switch it up with a tricked-out Archon. I don't yet run a WWP with the new 'dex (I always ran them with the old one, so I'm trying out a Raider-rush/Deep-strike combo now).

OK, this post is getting longer than I intended. Basically, I'm looking for those who run or have tried out similar Trueborn units - what do you give them and what are your experiences with the unit?

I think overall they are a unit vastly overshadowed by the Venom.

If you have only 9 bodies and you run a DS/Rush list - are you using the Duke?

I agree... the Venom is a great value. I just don't have one. So, I've been sticking to 'vehicles fight vehicles and infantry fight infantry' in my lists - with Scourges being the exception.

I have not used the Duke yet... he would be the natural next step here. For now, it's at 9 bodies because that's how many I have the parts for, but it doesn't have to be that many. My next conversion project is to make a Duke, he'll look similar to the Archon artwork from p34 of the codex.

I could always just shelve the sprues for now to use as conversion fodder at a later date.

Use shredders if you like gamble a bit cuz they scatter so you have chance to hurt your own troops, but I have very positive exp with them so why not.
2SC+4Shredders= comes around 150 pts....and puts load of shooting(you have spare guys to get hit).
Adding blasters gonna make them bit pricey....so they gonna focus more atention and enemy fire.

My advice, run them with shreders/granades and look if you ned more at in them.

I asked about the Baron because he can affect what sort of Trueborn build is best.

I personally suggest avoiding Blasters or grenades if your goal is dakka Trueborn - Trueborn can be really good at lots of things, but if you try to make them good at more than one thing I think you make them too expensive to be worth it.

I advise against grenades - the Dakkaborn's job is to dakka infantry, not to pop vehicles. If you need the ability to pop vehicles buy a unit that does that, don't make your Dakka Trueborn waste time assaulting things they shouldn't be assaulting.

I like GreenAcid's Trueborn build okay.
Giving them all Shardcarbines is about the same point total and will give you more range and less randomness in the mix - also I think the poison AP5 is actually overall more useful than Str 6 AP-

Thanks for the advice. It has been helpful... at 6 models, the squad is priced right where I want it, points-wise. I couldn't get it to work with 9 models.

I'm going to proxy a squad both ways and see what feels better over the course of a few games, either 4 Shard Carbines or 4 Shredders mixed with the 2 Splinter Cannons. I have a feeling I'll prefer the Carbines, simply for the extra range.

That will also leave me 3 models for other conversions.

Thanks again, I'm off to try this out...

I always use the Duke and he never leaves home without his splinter toting Trueborn.

4 Kabalite Trueborn,
2 Splinter cannons, 2 Shardcarbines
Venom, Night shields, Flickerfield, Splinter cannon, 153pts.

18" and under (moving) = 14 Splinter shots
18" and under (still) = 18 Splinter shots
Over 18" (moving) = 8 Splinter shots
Over 18" (still) = 12 Splinter shots

All of the above wound on a 3+ due to Duke's poisons.
You also add 12 Splinter shots from the Venom too.
And you've got a semi decent chance of having Feel No Pain.

I'm also working on a stream lined version, taking away a Trueborn and all of the Shardcarbines which brings the cost down to 131.

They've done reasonably well, taking a lot of wounds off a Nob squad, some Lootas, Kairos. They never survive. And that's my Dakkaborn story.

You want my real advice? A Venom does everything they do. 5 Wyches in a Venom can take Haywire Grenades, shoot lots of Splinter shots, take out AV14 and score. Trueborn can't score.

So that's that. I take Dakkaborn to make the most of Duke's special rules and give him a fluffy bodyguard unit. I'm also always going to use them. I just wouldn't use them if it wasn't for The Serpent.