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Someone posted elseware that the marine hord army is dead as of 4th edition.

Why?
What changed that made it so?
Do people still think the hord is a viable army (we are talking 90+ marines in 1850)?

I think it's still viable but overlooked because of other options available. Lots of 3+ saves with las/plas everywere can be quite effective. I have a build I am working right now with all infantry except the 3 tornados which are too good not to include.

Black Templars can "Horde" it up pretty well.

The demise of the Rhino Rush has an effect too.

A very effective 2000 point army in 3rd was 90-100 Black Templars in Rhinos driving up and getting in your face. The removal of that tactic means that it's harder to really bring your advantage in numbers of grunts to bear.

I run five man combat squads at 82 marines in 1850. This army has never lost a battle yet. Only armies I have yet to face are the IW pie party, IG conscript horde army, IG drop trop army, few others I cant think of as of now.  Only army I think would hurt would be the Lysander all termy drop in. One army I think would give me hell, then again I have 82 marine and they have around 40 ish if that. I just hate putting my leader vs a unit of termies. With out all my upgrades, one dead leader normally but I have yet to see it but know the out come thou.

A lot of people are going to say six, but then again that is MM and tournies dont like seeing that or so they say. Take a 10 man unit a break it into two five man units. Fill up your chart that way until you have all the slots full. I dont upgrade that much either, that way I have more bodies on the table.

I change the army up a lot deping on what I want to play. The core almost always stay the same. Its very tuff to face the all tank army IG thou. Three times I have and they died each time(diff player each time). Melta bombs helped me big time on that one. Jumping in and out of cover was not a problem for the tau, then again two five man units of assault troops with chaplin  cleaned out his back field on turn two and three. Twin mono was easy as well, being that they both died on the first turn.  AV 14 Dies fast to str 10 lascannons jk I know the rule and yes they still died to my lascannons and missle lauchers P.  Then again, the guy how ran three landraiders did not find it funny with all three dead on turn two.

Placement is key as most of your players in your area dont take the time to set up correctly. Then again if they do, you still will be able to burn them out of placement with 16 plus units to put on the board. Great way to line up what you want and force the other players hands. Time you get to elites, they will have finished and will be waiting on you to finish up. That gives you a chance to lay down two to three lascannon at str10. I myself run just one with one unit with a melta. My other slot I have been trying to work in a set of termies. This in turn has cut down my upgrades and has put a damper on my damage with my leaders and vets. Being that I have less upgrades in the army.

Oh ya, if somebody says that this army is slow. Well after victory points got total up for being in the other person deployment zone. Lets just say 3400 plus points was a big win for me. Any horde army that you have to face, well the bolter and should I say 60 something bolter is going to shread it. Two units of hormies at 64 never made it to my lines. One carny did and was smashed with a brutal power fist hit. The other two hive winged tyrants manged to kill two space marines before I down one in hth. The game ended with one carny and one tyrant both about to die.

Well, if I could get some more gaming in my area dfw it would be nice. Texas dfw if anybody wants to see the 82 marines. That is if I dont change it up on ya P.

 

So, do horde space marine armies work? Hell ya from exp... You just need to learn how to play them is all. Lot of things to look at as far as tactics goes and I have only mentioned a few of them here for ya.

 

Cant spell check at work, sorry for any type'os