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Hi,

I'm new to the forum, I played third edition and got back into painting which is leading me back into playing...anyway I really like the cadian infantry plastic sets and want to build an infantry based army. My idea is for a hammer and anvil with a solid block of 50 troops acting as the core of my anvil. As I build out the army I'll take a second and third etc.

My idea for my first anvil is as follows:

5xInfantry squad
Attached to the infantry squads:
3xLascannons
5xSniper rifles
3xCommissars
1xVox unit

The idea would be that these units combine and sit still or on top of my objective with a commanding line of fire and just constantly repeat fires using the first rank fire, second rank fire order. The Sniper rifles would hopefully help pin enemy units in place so if they survive the onslaught from the Lascannons I can do it all again the next turn.

Following this I'm thinking of supporting this with a hammer consisting of two Chi-melta veteran squads and a squad of storm troppers mounted or unmounted.

I DONT OWN A RULEBOOK OR A CODEX (I want to finish painting my infantry block before I get into this) but am about to order some more troops. If this concept if workable I can save myself £15 on a unit of regular cadians because the troops I sub out for snipers and lascannons will give me 11 spare men.

So what do you think is this workable???

I do plan on buying the new ruleset and codex once I have finished painting my anvil up!

I am also aware that I need an hq etc...

Cheers

I think what you are saying is that you are trying to create
a massive infantry blob. I myself am not a big fan of this but some people like them and say they work well.

The trick with a infantry blob is to use them in CC and wear down an enemy in a battle of attrition rather than at long range.

So first, strip the infantry squad of the snipers and the lascannons as your blob would be moving towards the enemy so they can't fire their guns.

Next, get power weps or fists for your commissars and sergeants. A priest is also good for letting your entire group reroll to hit on the charge.

As far as your other units melta Vet's are very good in chimeras but stormtroopers aren't worth it. Stormtroopers are as expensive as marines but much weaker.

Blobs work Very well with ranged, especially when Orders are involved.

The trick to Ranged Blobs is to have them with Heavy bolters or Lascannons in 20-30 man groups. They do everything a Piecemeal platoon can do but do it more efficiently(order-wise).

OP: Your 5 Snipers are fine if you use them "Count-as" ratlings; you do not want infantry men wielding sniper rifles due to BS3, and Vets are a waste of points with them(ratlings are cheaper).

Get 3 Heavy Bolter teams, and 3 Grenade Launchers; this will give you a nice 30-man blob that can put out enough fire-power to take out an opposing 30-man unit at range(read Ork Slugga Boys, or Hormagaunts) on average 4 running gaunts/boyz should reach your line on turn 4, if the squad hasn't fled from shooting already.

Use your remaining 2 Lascannons and 14 troops (along with 2 plasmaguns) to pop transports/MCs at range.

Thanks for the response. I've read elsewhere that snipers dont work well with guardsmens' terrible BS however i would have thought that five snipers firing twice a turn in a combine squad would stand a good chance of pinning their target preventing enemy units from closing with my shooty blob. Is this wishful thinking?

the proplem is you can only shoot at one unit/turn if you blob.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I would go with 30 guys and get some more units...

tomt wrote:Thanks for the response. I've read elsewhere that snipers dont work well with guardsmens' terrible BS however i would have thought that five snipers firing twice a turn in a combine squad would stand a good chance of pinning their target preventing enemy units from closing with my shooty blob. Is this wishful thinking?

Well, 5 snipers will only fire once per turn no matter where you put them, and using them Count-as ratlings means you get a Cheap effective 5 man BS4 sniper squad

Here is my Tourney list:
CCS
Creed
Kell
Lascannon
Medic
2 Body guards
carapace

CCS
Power fist
Melta bombs
Medic
3 Melta guns
2 Body guards
carapace

PCS
Power Fist
Melta Bombs
Heavy Flamer
2 Flamers
Medic

PIS
Commissar
Power Weapon
Heavy Bolter
Grenade Launcher

PIS
Heavy Bolter
Grenade Launcher

PIS
Heavy Bolter
Grenade Launcher

PIS
Commissar
Power Weapon
Lascannon
Plasma gun

PIS
Lascannon
Plasma gun

PCS
Power Fist
Melta Bombs
Heavy Flamer
2 Flamers
Medic

PIS
Commissar
Power Weapon
Heavy Bolter
Grenade Launcher

PIS
Heavy Bolter
Grenade Launcher

PIS
Heavy Bolter
Grenade Launcher

PIS
Commissar
Power Weapon
Lascannon
Plasma gun

PIS
Lascannon
Plasma gun

Vet Squad
Harker
Heavy Flamer
2 Flamers
forward sentries
Demolitions

Murdog is right, a 50 man blob although It would be awesome to use orders on that bad boy is probably too limiting. Not only can they only fire at one target, but if they get in CC thats 50 guys tied up.

Blobs add durability and can be versatile. It's best if you pick specific role for them e.g. fire support, cc , but I can see a ranged blob with power weapons and a commisar working for when they eventually get assualted.

Kel: take it your not an AC fan?

SpankHammer III wrote:
Kel: take it your not an AC fan?

Quite the Contrary I love them; just had extra points and nothing to do with them so they got upgraded to Lascannons

Why HB over AC then? Same points but AC gets more Strength and range for 1 less shot.

Most scenarios are written as such that the range never comes into play; I would rather have the extra shot vs Hordes.

My most common opponent is the wife's Orks I need the extra shots to prevent 7-8 Slugga Boyz from reaching my lines.

My main opponent is my friends orks, but he likes lootas so the range helps. Can see what you mean about most scenario's not needing it though.

Thanks everyone, will keep you updated