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I've been reading Brotherhood of the Snake by Dan Abnett recently and it has really inspired me to work on building an Iron Snakes army. This list is more intended to be themed along the lines of the Iron Snakes than anything. Since they work based on squads and sometimes only tiny groups or even single marines and do not organize into companies I wanted to keep the model count low to place emphasis on individual marines like they do in the background. I've opted for units of veteran units because they do just that, they allow me to apply a more personalized and individualistic feel to the army. I won't be including Damocles Squad specifically in the list, but I've taken some things from their mannerisms, tactics and equipment loadout because its the largest exmple of the Iron Snakes. Here is the list:

Captain: Relic Blade, Storm Shield, Meltabomb
150

Librarian
100

Command Squad: 1x Lightning Claw, 1x Thunder Hammer, 3x Meltagun, 4x Storm Shield
235

8x Sternguard: 4x Combimelta, 2x Combiplasma, 2x Combiflamer, 1x Lightning Claw
Drop Pod: Locator Beacon
290

Tactical Squad: Flamer, Multimelta, Powerfist
Rhino
230

Tactical Squad: Flamer, Multimelta, Powerfist
Rhino
230

5x Vanguard Veterans: 5x Storm Shield, 1x Meltabomb, 1x Thunder Hammer, 1x Lightning Claw, 1x Relic Blade
250

Land Raider Redeemer: Multimelta, Extra Armor
265

TOTAL: 1750
MODELS: 46 (41/5)
KILLPOINTS: 11

I'm not overly excited about the inclusion of the Land Raider, but I really wanted a delivery system for the Command Squad/Captain. It also takes up a fair chunk of points, allowing me to keep my numbers down like I wanted to. The Librarian is a loose mirror to Petrok from Abnett's stories. The Sternguard + Pod is designed to illustrate how the Iron Snakes believe they can apply pressure in the correct place to win the day, even if that pressure comes from only a handful of soldiers. The Librarian rolls with them (standard SG tactic more or less). The Command Squad is extravagent and overly-equipped but each model will have unique wargear, as will the Vanguard unit. The Vanguards were taken because they can be highly individualized as well. They're a massive points sink, but I'm chasing the theme here. I slapped the Locator Beacon on the SG Pod to try and make them a little more when they land so it is easier to set up Heroic Interventions with them. The prevalence of Storm Shields is to show the Greek Spear/Sword/Shield theme that runs very deep within Iron Snakes tradition and I tried to put them everywhere I could. The Relic Blades are going to be modelled as large hunting/fighting spears to help reflect this. One sticking point I have right now is the tactical squad loadouts, I don't really like them being identical. I considered trading a Multimelta for a Missile Launcher or Plasma Cannon and a Powerfist for a Combi-flamer/melta and then upgrading the Flamer to a Melta/Plasma as well. I'm just scared of not having enough AT weapons that don't require me to be virtually standing next to the tank I'm trying to kill.

I'm looking for ideas to improve upon the theme of the list, to help make the army have a more individual feel and a greater focus on the individual marine. The army is still in the planning stages but I'm looking to get rolling with it in the near future. I'll eventually start collecting more models than this list, but I want to have a target and cohesive list/idea to work towards at first so I can have a plan and get moving with it.

I like it!

Have read the books - loved the absorb poison / spit in Dark Eldar's face. Big fan of Abnett.

Remember an article by Jarvis J in an older white dwarf about his 'Dark Grey Marines' where he comments its less about an optimised list and more about understanding how to use YOUR list in all circumstances. JJ mentioned he ran heaps of stats and came up with best you can bias your chances are 1 in 10 or 1 in 16, something like that.

Through the threads on this site I have seen a heap of comments how annoying "Win at all costs" opponents are.

Those Sternguard are mean and I think so long as you understand the limitations of this line up its hard hitting against both MECH and Horde - I say go for it, Iron Snakes were a little different from codex marines, embrace it.

I'm not familiar with the Iron Snakes, so if I tread (ha) on any fluff, excuse me.

That command squad is a huge point sink. If I recall, command squads are 5 men. 1 of these is an Apo. and cannot have wargear. This leaves on man holding and LC, and TH and a SS at the same time. I think this unit needs to be streamlined.

Sternguard Rock. I like the idea behind your squad, but it lacks focus. If you're going to pod in, you'd do well to just go for a set type of target, rather than preparing for all comers. I favour combi-meltas.

Do you need to buy vanguards their jump packs?

Overall, I think you need more troops, and less wargear. Hope that's helpfull and not bothersome.

You could give one sarge a power weapon and pistol, that would let you figure out a fancy spear lookin thing with a bolter on it like the grey knight stormbolter on the spear or on his arm. Also check out chapterhouse for shoulder pads, he has one that has a snake on it it looks pretty good.

@iamthecougar: Yep, I'll be picking up all my shoulderpads from Chapterhouse, though I really wish the IS pads they sell weren't trimmed in Chainlinks. I would have preferred a flat trim like the other pads. I'm actually going to order a vritble pile of stuff from them for this army though, they really have some great stuff And there will be spears everywhere in the army once it is modelled, I'm planning on using them for just about every close combat weapon possible haha.

@Iboshi2: Yep, the CS is a massive points sink. I was trying to follow the theme rather than go for competitive. If I was building a competitive SM list, it would not look much like this one. Iron Snakes are not organized by company at all, and fight on a squad based level. They literally send one unit of Marines to deal with nigh impossible circumstances sometimes. This brings a very personal feel to the army, and I really wanted to display that. Thus the piles of un-necessary wargear to create unique models and the inclusion of Vanguards at all (they're terrible). The Sternguard should not have the combiplasmas, I just forgot to change them to combimeltas before I posted the list. It should be 6x combimelta and 2x combiflamers. Mathematically speaking it takes an average of 3 half-range melta weapons to kill a vehicle of any AV, so with 6 I can average 2 dead tanks. The combiflamers are also extremely helpful in combination with Gate against hordes. Also, great catch on the Vanguards, I compeltely forgot about that. It seems so silly to have to buy them their Jump Packs, that it didn't even register in my mind. I'll edit the list accordingly to find the points for them.

Chapterhouse's pads are pewter right? If they are you can file the chains off.