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1,000 point Space Marine army based on Chinese chess

I was helping a friend paint his Space Marine army and this idea came out of nowhere. I'm Chinese and I've always wanted to create a Chapter that payed homage to our culture without taking it too seriously. Somehow this Chinese chess Chapter concept came about. Each unit represents a different piece, taking its name as its shoulder emblem while mirroring its chess moves in its tactics.

The irony (literally moving chess pieces inscribed with their literal names while playing Wh40k in reality) is so obvious that I'm certain many people did this idea before me, but anyway. I'm humbly seeking your advice on the effectiveness of the following list please (by each entry, I noted the related Chinese chess piece, where the colors of the 2 sides are traditionally red and black.)

HQ & Elites @ 460 points

1 Librarian (帥 red marshal, equivalent to a king)
w/ The Gate of Infinity + another psychic power depending on the opponent type

6 Sternguard (士 black guardians, no equivalent in Western chess)
w/ 3 combi-melta, 2 combi-flamer, and Drop Pod

1 Dreadnought (相 red minister, equivalent to a bishop)
w/ multi-melta, heavy flamer, and Drop Pod

Troops @ 410 points

10 Space Marines (卒 black warriors, equivalent to pawns)
w/ 8 bolters, 1 flamer, 1 missile launcher, and Rhino

10 Space Marines (兵 red soldiers, equivalent to pawns)
w/ 8 bolters, 1 flamer, 1 missile launcher, and Rhino

Heavy Support @ 130 points

Vindicator (砲 black catapult, no equivalent in Western chess)
w/ extra armor

Total: 1,000 points

I put this together after reading many vanilla Space Marine lists and unit guides. I wanted something competitive yet fun to play. The basic tactics are:

- Troops Rhino-rush, popping smoke, with Vindicator following
- Dreadnought drop, melting tanks and flaming infantry
- Librarian and Stenguard drop, then teleport around with Gate

In addition to any feedback you may have, I've some specific questions please:

- how's this list against Marine equivalents?
- how's this list against Horde armies?
- should I switch Troops transports from Rhinos to Drop Pods?
- will the Vindicator be too rich a target?
- finally, what's a good name for this Chapter?

Thanks in advance.

I really like the idea think that is brilliant!

As for the list you have 2 full tac squads which is about right troops wise at 1,000 points. Most people will tell you to have either 2 dreads or 2 Vindicators rather than one of each. It gives you redundancy and duel threat. Though it may damage your theme.

Libby + Gate + Sternguard CAN be very effective. But you have 3 meltas which will pop tanks but then the rest of the squads shooting is wasted. If you go with 2 Dreads then I'd advise putting locator beacons on both as gating around can be dangerous. You shouldn't then need the meltas on the sternguard, but I'd then melta up both the tac squad to compensate. Then just combi-flamer the sternguard and consider taking a Heavy Flamer or 2. Avenger also works well with this unit then it is gate, flamey death, rinse and repeat

Then the Tac squads are your all rounders, your dreads pop armour and MCs whilst your sternguard toast infantry be they MEQ, Horde or even MCs with the hellfire rounds!

Your only weakness then would be wave Serpent spam but at this points level you'd be as well equipped to deal with that as any.

I would drop the Extra Armor on the Vindicator. Extra Armor doesn't do anything for a shooting vehicle, really. It allows you to continue moving in case of a stunned result. If the Vindi isn't shooting, it's not going to accomplish much more by moving (okay, maybe sometimes). Personally, I buy the Siege Shield for mine to ignore terrain. With that, I can plow my way through ruins with impunity 6" every turn while firing, and get to a position to be hull-down and in range. Changing to this configuration will save you 10 points. May I suggest a Meltagun for one tactical squad, and a Plasma Cannon for the Other? (or one of either for each)

This is excellent feedback, thank you both. Just to follow up with some questions:

Re: 2 Dreads or 2 Vindies. Your consideration for the theme honours both my culture and yourself, thank you. Which would you recommend please, paired Dreads or paired Vindies? Paired Dreads would be 相 (minister) and 象 (elephant.) Paired Vindies would be 砲 (stone catapult) and 炮 (fire cannon.) Both work well thematically, but I think Dreads provide an edge with the beacons you mentioned.

Re: Siege Shield. I see your point, that makes a lot of sense. I'll make that change and I may arm my Troops with power weapons or something.

In appreciation, here's a fun fact regarding Chinese chess. In case you're wondering why I'm choosing a Gate Librarian for the HQ (not a Captain,) it's because a special move a Chinese chess "king" can make. Normally, it's very limited in its movement (even more limited than Western chess,) but it has 1 special move where it can teleport fully across the board, but only for checkmating the other "king." Just sharing by way of thanks to you.

I look forward to other opinions and perspectives!

With this list so far including the gating Libby I'd suggest 2 podded dreads because you can get the locator beacons and because Gate is so dangerous without them. That also means you have great anti-infantry fire with the gating Sternguard and great anti-tank with the Dreads (supported by meltas on the tacs). MEQs you can do with the Sternguard and libby too and just weight of firepower from other sources. Your only weakness is TEQs. A couple of plasma cannons in the Tac squad would sort that right out. It will proobably require droping the Sternguard unit by 1? I apologise for my ignorance of Chinese Chess I hope 6 isn't a significant number for the black guard.

But it is definitely seeming a very cool army with a solid core too.

Pawns don't have to be mediocre, do they?

Get Plasma Cannons. Fo' realz, yo.