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Okay, I have a a question and challenge. We are running a bunch of local games for practice. We are basing these lists around 1000pts. We are looking for what the optimal configuration for generic marines are at this point total. So what do you think the most optimal marine list is? It is a tournament play style with each list having to take on all comers. We are all playing armies other than marines, so are looking at a good basic marine list as a challenge for the lists we put together.

Okay, so no ideas on what the "perfect" 1000 pt marine force is?

Would the standard 6 man las/plas squads still be optimal? Should assault troops or devs be there? Speeders? A dred or a predator?

My intitial thoughts were a dread with AC, 2 land speeder tornados, as many 6 man las/plas squads I can fit and an assault squad or terminators.

Well, I guess I will continue having this conversation with myself.

We have come up with this, but it doesn't seem right.

HQ
Captain with LC, Jump Pack, Iron Halo, melta bombs

Troops
(6) tac squad Las/plas
(6) tac squad Las/plas
(5) scout squad

Elite
Ven Dread AC extra armour
(5)Terminator Squad 2 AC

Fast
land Speeder Tornado

The troops form a firebase, while everything else assaults. The Captain is held back where needed.

Well, not wanting to be a interference in your conversation, but I will suggest a 1000 pts standard marine list that I have used on the last games I played with some degree of success

HQ

-Chaplain with honours, jumpack plaspistol and crozius

-librarian with fury, plaspistol
-command squad (for librarian) with veteran pfist sergeant, apothecary, plasma gun and melta gun marines, and two bolter marines

TROOPS

-Tactical Squad A (5 marines + 1 honour guard); LasCannon and plasma gun
-Tactical Squad B (5 marines + 1 honour guard); Plasma Cannon and plasma gun

FAST

-Assault squad (7 marines; sergeant with power sword, honours and plaspistol, 1 flammer and 1 plaspistol)

HEAVY SUPPORT

-Predator Annihilator with heavy bolters sponsons, extra armour, smoke, etc...


With that list you have a pretty balanced force with enough long range dakka to engage any enemy in any shootout scenario. In addition you have your strongest assault unit deep striking, so your are almost sure to have "tactical superiority" because your will be choosing where and when to assault instead of being assaulted. The command squad is a secondary assault force (because of lack of mobility) that can work as an effective counter-attack force


Give it a try and post your comments

Thanks. I like the chaplain commander. The biggest problem I have had with the list is deciding his place. The chaplain in yours is very useful.

The other 1000pt list I have is this:
Captain with PShield and PS.

Ven Dread AC w HA, Smoke and in DP

Terminator Squad
2 AC

3 6 man Tac squads Las/Plas

2 Tornados

A no-hold- barred 1000 point list?

Epistolary Terminator: Fear/Fury
terminator command: 2x AC

6 man las/plas
5 man las/plas

Tornado

Predator destructor: HB sponsons, EA
Predator destructor: HB sponsons, EA
Predator destructor: HB sponsons, EA

You could drop the EA for the extra tac but I think EA is nice to have incase you get stunned.

Hope that helps.

ok heres one for you its not all that tactically sound but it was fun against orks
2 5 man troops squads 1 melta gun each 170 points
capt with 20 points of whatever you want
3 landraiders

simple yet wastefull

@winterman, that is pretty brutal at 1K

I would go with:

3 x 10 man tac squad, M.Gun or P.Gun, Vet Sarge, P.Fist, Drop Pod 220 each

Command Squad:
9 man, 2 x M.Gun, HtH weapons, Frags, Vet Sarge, P.Fist, Drop Pod 224
Chaplain, T.Honors, B.Pistol, Frags 117

Comes in at 1,001, But you have 40 marines on table, and a pretty feirce assault unit in the command squad, plus 5 special weapons. You have numbers and anti armor punch, and its a pod army, which we all know the benefits of.

Problem with pods below 1500 points is you don't have enough units coming in from reserve. You can't create 2:1 matchups very well and you can't block LOS as easily. I'd even venture to say that pods at 1500 is a bit too small for your standard lists (although multiple dreadnaughts and the apothecary network might still be vaible). YMMV