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( http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Downloads/Product/PDF/F/FWchaptertactics.pdf last page for those who don't know. For those who are stil not bothered to look, the Chapter tactics are skilled rider for bikers and scout for speeders, and all marines have stubborn.)

-HQ-
Warlord: Captain on bike ( Teeth of Terra, Artificer armor, bike)-165pts
--Command squad (x4 grav guns, x1 apothecary, bikes)

Master of the forge Armenneus valthex (conversion beamer)-145pts

-Troops-
8 strong Bike squad (x2 grav guns, combi-grav)-208pts
8 strong Bike squad (x2 grav guns, combi-grav)-208pts
6 strong Bike squad (x2 melta)-146pts
6 strong Bike squad (x2 melta)-146pts
10 strong Tactical squad (drop pod, Combi-weapon, Grav-gun)-200pts
----Valthex's Hellfire rounds to squad

-Fast Attack-
2 MM/HF speeder squadron-140pts
2 MM/HF speeder squadron-140pts

-Heavy Support-
Predator Executioner (Legend of Glory; Battle of Keylek (ignores cover, IA 2 remastered))-160pts
Thunderfire Cannon-100pts

__25pts left over___
__________________________

Idea is to have TFC, Valthex, and predator sit in back and provide covering fire while The army drives up the gut to hit them where it hurts. The tactical squad will drop on a Monstrous Creature like a wraithknight, or clear any high fire power position. The speeders can either scout up and drive towards the enemy, or outflank to hit from the sides.

What do you think? what should the 25pts go for?

Personally I haven't been too impressed by Valthex - he's a bit overcosted for what he actually brings, and conversion beamers are always a bit disappointing.

Is this for a Badab campaign or a general one? Lots of bikes are pretty fun, but you'll run into the Ravenwing problem if anyone brings a Heldrake or two.

badab wars, so no chaos in this campaign!

and aww, a little dissapointed by that. I'll try him out a few times, of course, but I'll keep that in mind. What unit did you give hellfire rounds too?

I gave hellfire rounds to one of my Tactical Squads. I usually run very infantry heavy rather than bikes (I only really use a couple of units unless I'm going all out), so I tend to take a couple of Tactical Squads and a couple of Sternguard squads. All bike armies can be really good though, especially with the Astral Claw doctrines.

You're a bit sparse on anti-air, but you'll know your group and if there's not going to be a lot of Stormravens or Talons about you should be fine. You don't really have that many high priority targets for Space Marine aircraft anyway, though I'd pity your poor Predator!

I'm guessing anti-tank is handled by your land speeders/meltagun bikes, which should be alright unless your opponents go really armour heavy, but again you'll know them better than I do.

Valthex isn't terrible if you go dreadnought heavy (I've recently fallen in love with Ironclads), but otherwise he's a bit disappointing. Certainly try him out though - he might surprise you! I've just found that he's either too far away to use his whips, or he's too close to use his beamer effectively. He's also a bit squishy, for someone in artificer with an invulnerable save.

The other characters are alright, Huron is amazing but don't make the mistake I did of sending him into cinematic showdowns with enemy heroes - he's much better at hacking down enemy infantry and being used as a bully unit.

Good luck with the campaign - Badab is a lot of fun!

Yea your right there is little anti-air. What can I do to fix it in a reasonable way? take out some outflanking speeders? I still have 25pts left over too. What should I use them for?

I'd ditch the thunderfire cannon and, combined with the extra 25pts, take a basic predator.... a Hunter or Stalker could be cool too and give you some air defense.

As for Valthex... ehhhhhhh he's not bad. But his abilities and stats are derived from that of a Forge Master which in itself is a rather *niche* HQ choice. His real strength isn't the fact that he has a conversion beamer it's that he can let you take an ass load of dreadnoughts and give a squad poison storm bolters. So only take him in a dread-heavy list or in an army with at least one squad of terminators.

Sorry to necro this thread but I was interested in Astral Claws...

I think astral claws should be approached with a large emphasis on the IG element.

Their tanks are much cheaper and pump out high ROF, high strength shots. Also the meat shields rules make ADL unnecessary.

The thing is Tacticals are not that great and a blob squad is probably more effective with the number of shots you get for the points.

So I am thinking the important units to pay attention to would be:

IG blob squads
IG tank squads
SM Flyer defense
SM Bikes

thoughts?