Gottacon 2014 - Chaos Iron Warriors

Lots of ramblings and discussion.

First thing I need to decide is allies or not.
I have both guard and orks, but think I would need more models for the guard side, and I do not really want to spend money on my Guard army.
The orks have some hard units, like a large nob biker unit and warboss on bike. Tons of boyz to use as a blob?
I could also use the IG as cultists?

For the core army, what is a good place to start.
I have lots of marines, but few special weapons (can get more).
I have the DV set of cultists only.
Any HQ I want.

I was thinking a daemon prince HQ, tzeentch or nurgle.
Terminators are good or bad? I love them and would rather play fun and fluff than to win, but also don't want to be hammered.
I have plague marines and khorne berzerkers as well.
Forgefiend?
Obliterators?

Ok, thats enough for me to panic on to start.

Its really whatever your after.

Terminators, you either expect them to die, or you give them something to get them there.

A Spartan, or Storm Eagle are solid options if your open to buying one.

If you drop them in, I would consider MoN on the Terminators, as it at least will help a bit.

Walls of Troops can be ok, but CSM has issues with ranged power, the IG solution could be a good one there. Orks...depends again. You could just ram them at someone (Biker Boss, Bikers is a stand alone option HQ + 1 Troop) and actually Loota's for fire support take 5, or 7-9.

HQ, again, depends.

Mace Prince = Gold, but fragile. Daemon of Nurgle or Tzeentch.
Secondary HQ, Sorcerer + JP, Termi, or just nothing.

If you have bikes, they are an ok option.

The Mauler is good.

1st test list

Dp w/wings, power armor, 2x psyker, MoN
5x Terminators, MoN, 2xPF, Combi Melta, reaper
5x Terminators, MoN, 2xPF, Combi Melta, reaper
20x Cultists, heavy stubber, 9xautopistol, 9xautogun
10x Marines, champion with power weapon, missile launcher, rhino with havoc
10x Marines, champion with power weapon, missile launcher, rhino with havoc
Landraider, havoc, warpflame gargoyles
3x Obliterators, MoN

1747 points

changes?

2nd test list

Same DP (wings, PA, MoN, 2x Psyker)
5x terminators, 2x PF, Reaper autocannon, combi-melta
10x Marines, PW on Champ, ML
10x Marines, PW on Champ, ML
3x Oblits, MoN
Landraider, w/havoc, warpflame gargoyles which affect all weapons

allies
ork warboss on bike, Power Klaw
5 nob bikers, painboy, Big choppa, 3x Power Klaws

As mentioned, you really need to try and find a way to get the mace on that DP. :]

Revised list

Daemon Prince w/wings, power armor, psyker 2, Daemon of Nurgle, black mace
5x Terminators w/ 2x Power fists, combi melta, reaper autocannon
10x Marines w/ Power weapon, heavy bolter, bolters, bolt pistols
7x Marines, w/ Power fist, ccw/bp/bolters
14x Cultists, w/ shotgun, 6x autopistol, 6x autogun, heavy stubber
2x Obliterators, MoN
Landraider, combi-bolter, warpflame gargoyles

Warboss, bike, power klaw
4 nob bikerz, 3x power klaw, 1x big choppa
1 painboy

Nice!

Now if anything, I would drop that Power Fist, and do a Plasma Gun, or just change it for a Lightning Claw. Since you must challenge, a fist is a death sentence.

could you drop all the upgrades to the cultist squad, to give the assault marines a Rhino? I know it delays their assault, but if they concentrate a little more on special/combi weapons instead of the fist, I think it would give you a bit better Troop pressure up the table. the transport could take cover using the Raider, and even be used to add/block threats while your termies pile out.... extra armour/dirge casters could also be very usefull. Three threats moving up is troublesome, but to add that there might be an untouched scoring unit sneaking in too....

I could drop the autoguns, and the powerfist and 3 cultists to get a rhino? worth it?
I'd have a squad of 10 cultists then.

Pure IW flavour (hence the 4 HS)
It really comes down to this or my Nob allied list for what I feel like I could enjoy. So i guess I better test/refine both of them.

Daemon Prince w/wings, power armor, psyker 2, Daemon of Nurgle, black mace
5x Terminators w/ 2x Power fists, combi melta, reaper autocannon in Land Raider w/warpflame gargoyles
9x Marines w/ Power weapon, bolters, bolt pistols in Rhino
7x Marines, w/ lightning claw, ccw/bp/bolters in Rhino
9x Marines w/ Power weapon, bolters, bolt pistols
11x Cultists, w/ shotgun, 9x autopistol, flamer
2x Obliterators, MoN
2x Obliterators, MoN
Predator, lascannon, lascannon sponsons w/warpflame gargoyles

nice list. for optimization (maybe filling out the marine squads) I don't think you need the psich levels on the prince; he's so expensive, and the Mace is enough of a threat by itself. good Vs hordes
also I think the warpflame gargoyles don't match the jobs those tanks will be doing. Giving Soul Blaze tokens maybe could be effective, but only to light infantry: both your tanks will mostly be shooting lascannons, likely at vehicles, where Sould Blaze will do nothing.

i don't recall the points for gargoyles, but all that might almost be 70pts or something.... another cult squad, or more marines, or another oblit.

Gargoyles are 5 pts.
Dropping the psyker levels would give me 50 pts, could probably adjust and get 3 more, maybe 4 more marines.
Is the DP good enough with the mace and wings and all?

Yeah, I could drop the psyker levels and one cultist, then I could get 10, 10 and 9 marine squads. and still have a 10 man cultist unit.

Special Weapons, Melta Guns for example, would go a long way in those units.

I've got some molded plasma and meltaguns if you need a couple extra.