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Right I've just got back into gaming and am looking to do 40K again so need an army, it was going to be Marines but the new codex will stop me doing the army I want, Guard is going to cost an arm and a leg, so, as I have always like Chaos (had a fantasy Slaanesh army), I will most likely be doing a Chaos Space Marine force.

Now before now I have never had an army I have truely liked (my Dark Angels were built up when I was just starting and my 'nids were scond hand) so this time round I want to do an army I actually like and contains what I like as I think that is an important aspect of the gaming. However I am fairly competative so want the army to be good (not beardy kill-all evil but good).

Now for every other list I have written for every other army this has been fine but for CSM I have never been able to make a list that is, in my eyes, good tactically and with what I like in it, so I was wondering whether you guys would be able to help me out?

I would like the army to include these units/concepts, unless of course they are pointless/degradational to the 'build', but not limited to these - feel free to include other units. (I haven't read the new codex fully so am not 100% on what changes have been - but I can garuntee that when it comes to list writing it will be the same as the last 2 versions - I also haven't seen any 'new' CSM forces so don't know how they play):

- Undivided Force
- Demon Prince
- Terminators
- Dreadnought
- Khorne Bezerkers/Khorne Marines
- Plague Marine/Nurgle Marines
- More men than tanks, though am not opposed to having some
- Chosen would be nice
- The background for the army is that of a piratical raiding force (a bit like the Red Corsairs)
- Blood Letters
- NO Tzeench
- Ideally NO Slaanesh
- Keep it accurate to the fluff (i.e. infighting between gods etc.)
- Balanced/Leaning slightly towards CC or close range fighting
- NOT BEARDY -> I want my opponent to enjoying playing me
- Capable of fighting most other armies without being at a dramatic disadvantage
- I think that is everything...

The list I am looking for is 1500pts, though if you want to toss in any 250pts add-ons to bulk it up to 1750pts (SMoH!) and 2000pts feel free.

Thanks for any help I appreciate it.

P.S. - I hope this is the write sub-forum for this, I mucked up last time.

it would be more helpful if you post a list and then open it up for discussion. the 4th, 3rd and 2nd to last points are very subjective so let us see what you want and then let us critique it.

i don't even know where to begin here...how bout you write up a trial list and then i can comment on it and suggest revisions?

Well, your listed criteria align pretty closely with mine, so I will throw a copy of my list up here and see if you like it.

Couple of explanations:
- Use CSM and Plague Marine squads for drive-bys. Remember you can fire two marines' weapons out the top of the Rhino, so don't feel the need to disembark if the Rhino isn't threatened.
- Remember, you can use Warptime every turn, even your opponent's!
- I use the Prince and the Khornate Raptors as counter-charge units. Keep them hidden behind cover for the first few turns of the game, until you find a suitable target.
- I tend to keep the Plague Marines back, hence the Havoc Launcher. I use them as a mobile reserve to plug gaps. It is almost always preferable for them to rapid fire and then take the charge (if there's anything left to charge them!)
- I typically send the 6-man Raptor squad tank/battlesuit-hunting. If the meltaguns somehow fail to finish the vehicle off, remember that the squad has Krak grenades and the AC has meltabombs. I've actually blown up more armor with the meltabombs than with the meltaguns =/
- Final, and most important point - remember to support your units. Just because they are marines doesn't mean they are going to survive on their own. Make sure to keep support units in place to countercharge or bail out another squad.

Daemon Prince
Wings, Mark of Nurgle, Warptime
-----
165

Chaos Space Marines x10
Icon of Chaos Glory, Flamer x2
Aspiring Champion, Power Fist, Combi-melta
---
Rhino
Combi-bolter
-----
255

Plague Marines x7
Plasma Gun x2
Aspiring Champion, Power Fist
---
Rhino
Havoc Launcher
-----
281

Khorne Berzerkers x8
Aspiring Champion, Power Fist
---
Rhino
Combi-bolter
-----
248

Vindicator
Daemonic Possession
-----
145

Obliterator
-----
75

Raptors x6
Meltagun x2
Aspiring Champion, Meltabombs
-----
160

Raptors x5
Icon of Khorne
Aspiring Champion, Lightning Claws
-----
170

1499 Points
37 Infantry
1 Monstrous Creature
1 Tank
3 Transports

for the raptor champion a PF would be more worth the points than the LC's. also i think instead of the vindicator i'd think more oblits would be a better idea for heavy support