Hold the line vs. Smash the line
We mentioned earlier how different the Force Organisation chart is in Planetstrike and how building your army can be radically different to a normal game of Warhammer 40,000. Unlike a standard game, you need to arrange with your opponent beforehand who will be the Attacker and who will be the Defender - you don't want to arrive with six Elites choices and six Fast Attack choices only to find out that they've done exactly the same thing.
To help you along, we all had a look in our respective Codexes and came up with a few Planetstrike armies including the nimble Dark Eldar and the soulless Necrons. All of our forces come in at around 2000 points - an ideal size for a Planetstrike game.
Space Marines as the Attacker
Space Marines are a very versatile army and they're pretty forgiving if your tactics go awry (which they frequently can in Planetstrike). The Assault Squads can soak up firepower that would obliterate lesser infantry before launching themselves into combat. Equip the Sergeants with melta-bombs or a power fist and you've got several units that can ruin bastions with ease. By deploying the Dreadnoughts in Drop Pods not only do you get them into the enemy base early on, but you've also got the opportunity to upgrade the Pods with a locator beacon, enabling you to deploy your Terminators right where you need them.
Orks as the Defender
Ever heard the saying 'the best defence is a good offence'? Well that saying certainly applies to Orks. With access to six Heavy Support slots they can field a huge number of Battlewagons and Deff Dreads. Combine this with several large units of Ork Boyz and you're ready for war. The real key to the army are the Mekboyz. By giving them Kuston Force Fields you can protect Da Ladz from the inevitable deluge of missiles and bullets that will fall down upon them. Then all you need to do is stride out and meet them head on. The mobs of Orks should keep the enemy away from the objectives while the Battlewagons either run the rest over or blast them to bits (both ways are pretty satisfying).
Dark Eldar as the Attacker
Dark Eldar are well known for their ferocious assaults so it's no surprise that they will excel in a Planetstrike. Be warned though, you will still need some firepower to back up your Troops, as without it you may struggle to destroy fortified buildings. Ravagers are the perfect solution to this. You also have access to more Hellions, Reaver Jetbikes and Beastmaster Packs, all of which can tear across the battlefield and hold up the enemy in Close Combat very quickly. Don't forget to take the Hellish Cacophony Stratagem, too. That should really give the Defenders a fright.
Necrons as the Defender
The implacable nature and immense firepower of the Necrons makes them perfect for the role of Defenders. Annihilation Barges are very cheap in points, so several of them, combined with a Doomsday Ark (or two) will really cause a mess. Ghost Arks are also particularly useful - you can keep them safely behind cover to avoid them getting shot, all the time repairing nearby Necron Warriors and returning them to the fray. For a little added terror, why not Deep Strike Flayed Ones and Deathmarks behind the enemy advance - that should slow them down a bit.
