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So I thought I'd try something interesting out, and slap an entire company onto a table in a game.  This is solely for fun use, and I don't expect it to win every time.  I just don't want something that'll be a complete dud.  The list is roughly as follows.

Captain with trimmings
Captain with trimmings

Tactical Squad x10 w/ Plasma Gun
Tactical Squad x10 w/ Plasma Gun
Tactical Squad x10 w/ Plasma Gun
Tactical Squad x10 w/ Plasma Gun
Tactical Squad x10 w/ Plasma Gun
Tactical Squad x10 w/ Plasma Gun

Devastator Squad x8 w/ 3 Missile Launchers and 1 Lascannon
Devastator Squad x8 w/ 3 Missile Launchers and 1 Lascannon
Devastator Squad x8 w/ 3 Missile Launchers and 1 Lascannon

Nearly 90 Models with 1850pts.  A lot of fire power.  The only problem I see myself facing is lack of means to kill tougher things in assault.  IE, no Powerfists.  The sheer numbers should handle most things if I face an assualty army, but if I get a Wraithlord or Carnifex into my line, it's game over.  Any suggestions?

The problem is that you have a ton of points that can't do anything until they get someone to come within 12". And even then their ability to ear their points back is limited.

It'll work sometimes, but the lack of mobility coupled with a relatively small amount of pressure you'll be able to put on the opponent from a distance in some missions/boards will be a problem.

Go for it though.

Consider dropping a singe marine from each squad though for a lascannon. That one marine isn't going to make a difference, but suddenly every unit is a threat all game.

How about half a company? If you think about it, if a chapter is gonna devote an entire company to an engagement, they'd obviously support it with whatever rhinos/tanks/speeders they'd need. If you do half a company with supporting tanks/assault squads and stuff, it might seem more fluffy/fun for you to use.

Just my two cents.

Then it would look like every other marines list. He's going for a theme here.

How about the infiltrate Trait? That would let the tac squads set up in cover, within bolter/plas range of the enemy. If they're set up in a way to support one another, you can sit tight and plug away at 24" or move up several units to rapidfire if they approach.

A couple more suggestions:

Drop one of the captains, you don't need redundant powers.

Upgrade the remaining Captain to a Master. His biggest benefit will be giving LD 10 to your numerous marines. Pay the points to give him LD 10.

Consider adding a Librarian, but that could become points dependent.

Replace the Lascannon in each dev squad with another missile launcher. Lascannons are prohibitively expensive in Dev squads. For the cost of that one LC you get another missile launcher and a LC in one of your troops squads.

One idea I've tossed around when considering this theme is the trait "Honor your Wargear". Six dev squads still plays to your theme of hoard marines quite well. It also plays to the marines strength of heavy weapons in squads. It depends on how you feel about stretching away from 10 man squads though. Something I've considered using:

91- Maser w/power weapon and bolt pistol

115 = 6 man las/plas
x6

135 = 6 man dev w/ 3 heavy bolters
x3

168 = 6 man elite dev squad with tank hunter or infiltrate and 3 missile launchers
x3

I'm only at 1690 and 73 marines, and I've got TWICE as many heavy weapons.

There's quite a bit you could do with those leftover 160 points, and different options will allow for variability in your list from game to game. Contenders:

Librarian with fear, fury and jump pack.
2 landspeeder tornados for highly mobile end game objective grabbing.
Assault squad for some counter attack and mobility.

or you could always just bulk your squads up even more.

Each of those options offer different possibilities and something to play with so you don't get bored with the army.

Not a bad suggestion, but I can't do it. A long time ago I took a vow to never ever ever ever ever in my life field a 6 man Las/Plas squad. Not something I'm gonna do for just some fun rink a dink game.

I think I will toy around with switching some man power around for some other options though. I like the mixed in Lascannon with the Devs just incase I need a bit of that extra punch in a pinch, but I may swap them out for a few tac squads to become more static, and to get those extra points freed. Upgrade my captain to a master, then maybe swap the other with a Codicier for FotA or something.

Second Strangelooper on infiltrate. I vote for a fist and either a lascannon or heavy bolter in each Tactical squad. If you go FotA Codicier, I'd put him in a Command Squad with the Master so they can infiltrate as well. It MIGHT also be worthwhile to consider Take the Fight to Them - run ten man squads with heavy bolter, flamer, and fist with pistols while the large lasplas squads stay with boltguns - and of course the fist on the sergeant.

Posted By djones520 on 12/06/2006 10:12 AM
Not a bad suggestion, but I can't do it. A long time ago I took a vow to never ever ever ever ever in my life field a 6 man Las/Plas squad. Not something I'm gonna do for just some fun rink a dink game.

Well, the 180 points left over will give you 12 marines.  Put two in each tac squad for a total of 8 each.  85 marines is close to the amount you had in the original list, and it still has x2 heavy weapons.

Your other ideas are good too though.

Drop all the lascannons in the devsquads and use the points to put lascannons in all the tac squads.

Take Tigurius and a Chaplain on a bike with artificer armor, terminator honors and a thunder hammer.

Make up the points however you have to, but I think a bike mounted fisty 2+/4+ chaplain and Tigurius will give you a lot of edge that you're missing. At least the ability to take out crisis suits in assault and similar.

I've played against a similair list but it was exactly 100 men and it had no wargear (2000 points IIRC). Even the commander had basic weaponry. But every unit had a long ranged weapon (except the command squad IIRC): An utterly static and boring list but he had some limited success with it.

If you're set on a full on marine horde with 10 man squads, I'd suggest something like this:

Master: Naked 75
Reclusiarch: BP 86
9 man command squad, bp/ccw, vet w/ bp/PF, 2x flamer 177

10 man tactical: Las/plas 175
10 man tactical: Las/plas 175
10 man tactical: Las/plas 175
10 man tactical: Las/plas 175
10 man tactical: Las/plas 175

10 man devestator: 4x HBs 210
10 man devestator: 4x HBs 210
10 man devestator: 4x HBs 210

Actually you could tweak the HQs a bit to suit (chappy w/ jump pack and captain leading command squad; librarian instead of chaplain; plasma guns instead of twin flamers etc.) Or you coudl strip it some more and go with 100 marines (more viable at 2000 though).

Also note this type of list will work better using the rumored Dark Angel rules (18 seperate units...).

Hope that helps.

Ok, a bit tweaked. Master is only there for Morale, and the chance to get a couple extra shots in on something that may assault the tac squads. Codicier will also sit back attempting to Pin units, and act as brace in close combat as well if needed. Assualt squad will be for counter attack, and if needed an objective taker. Everything else should be self explanatory.

Master: Storm Bolter 80pts
Codicier: Fury of the Ancients, Close Combat Weapon 104pts

Tactical Squad x10: Lascannon, Plasma Gun 175pts
Tactical Squad x10: Lascannon, Plasma Gun 175pts
Tactical Squad x10: Lascannon, Plasma Gun 175pts
Tactical Squad x10: Lascannon, Plasma Gun 175pts
Tactical Squad x10: Lascannon, Plasma Gun 175pts

Assault Squad x8: Plasma Pistol, Vet Sgt w/ PF 206pts

Devastator Squad x8: Missile Launcherx4 200pts
Devastator Squad x8: Missile Launcherx4 200pts
Devastator Squad x8: Heavy Bolterx4 180pts

84 Models
1850pts exactly.

I think you're off by 5pts on the cost of the assault marines. Looks good though. If I was doing this list I think I'd drop the Codicier for more marines.

I am 5 points off on the squad, but it still totals up to 1850. I need the codicier, simply because I need some means of shutting a farseer down. He gives me that option.

Come to think of it, I'm upgrading to an Epistolary. I've only got 4 Lascannon models anyways.

How do you plan in dealing with escalation and objective grabbing? 1 assault squad isn't that hard to kill off.

cheers

P.S. This last list looks much better than previous ones.

Can't plan for every contingency. Like I said, just a fun list, not something I'd be worried about with tournament play.

Played the list against an Iron Warrior army tonight. Seek and Destroy mission. The game was over by turn 3, my favor. Granted, it was his first time playing with a chaos army, but he had a solid list. I just had the advantage of having a Missile devestator squad on each end of the table with good line of sight with everything. Popped his Vindicator turn one, and it was down hill for him from there.