Help me set up a decent army!

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**skbak**

I am new to the tabletop gaming hobby as a whole, so please be gentle

I started out with 3 boxes of the Assault on Black Reach set, as a foundation for my army. I also picked up some extras...

All in all, I have:

4 Tactical squads (but I only know where 3 are)
3 Terminator squads
1 squad assault marines
3 dreadnoughts from AOBR, with fist and multi-melta
1 ironclad, with seismic hammer and hurricane bolter
1 razorback
1 land raider (not sure of config yet)
HQ is Master of the Forge (so I can field terminators and dreads as heavy support or elite)
1 scout squad with sniper rifles

That's all I have right now.

Is it a good setup? Should I add some things? Remove? I'd like to play 1500 pt games ideally as a beginner, but if I had to trim to 1000 points what should I field?

Any and all help is greatly appreciated

**wuestenfux**

You already have a decent amount and variety of models
so that you can field a semi-competitive army.

**skbak**

Should I add a chapter master instead of the MOTF? Or should I go the double HQ route and trim points elsewhere?

**Tony the guardsman**

I think chapter master is better, just personally

**General_Chaos**

skbak wrote:Should I add a chapter master instead of the MOTF? Or should I go the double HQ route and trim points elsewhere?

Chapter Master is not worth the extra points better off just using a Captain. I love my Librarians and Chaplains personally. You next purchases should be transports (rhino, razorback, land raiders, or drop pods) depending on which way you want to go.

**skbak**

General_Chaos wrote:
skbak wrote:Should I add a chapter master instead of the MOTF? Or should I go the double HQ route and trim points elsewhere?
Chapter Master is not worth the extra points better off just using a Captain. I love my Librarians and Chaplains personally. You next purchases should be transports (rhino, razorback, land raiders, or drop pods) depending on which way you want to go.

I already have a Razorback and a Land Raider - was thinking of configuring it as a redeemer, but then again I still have not played an actual game yet. And as far as drop pods go, definitely. But how would you set it up? deep strike a dread? termie squad?

**Catyrpelius**

Two words....Dread Spam

So unfluffy but so awsome. Also it lets you use that master of the forge and get some conversion beamer action going. Only down side is loading out standard dreads correctly since you cant get autocannon arms, except by makeing them or going with FW

**skbak**

What's the benefit of using an autocannon?

**rashad**

Long-range high-str multiple hits- really good for popping transports at range.

Stealth scouts with beamer MoTF hiding in cover and a tac squad in the rhino, assault termies in raider is a rough start. Get in dreads of varying type and you come close to 1,500 pt list easily. Lots of armor and a good mix.

**BlutEisenRegel**

Sounds pretty good to start, just get more transports and maybe a land speeder storm for your scouts, that what I got and they are very mobile on the battlefield. Plus it can deepstrike, so you can deepstrike it in to save em or what not.

**Borris the Blade**

Don't waste money on a Rhino. Instead get a Predator or Razorback and check youtube for how to magnatize your vehicles. Thus they can pull double duty as Rhinos or Preds / Razorbacks. I can't stress enough on learning how to use magnets on your vehicles even your troops. If you magnatize your Land Raider it can become a Redeemer or Crusader in a matter of seconds, again please take the time to look into magnatizing your miniatures.

http://www.kjmagnetics.com/products.asp?cat=10

Silly question but needs to be asked: Do you have the Space Marine Codex?

Also since you are new another thing you may wish to check out is http://www.wolflair.com/index.php?context=army_builder

**skbak**

I do indeed have the codex... not just the codex, but the special edition rule book too... paid 180 bucks for the book and international shipping =P.

magnets are definitely a good idea, thanks for the suggestion.

as far as autocannons go, I'll look into picking a couple up. while I am looking at forgeworld, any other weaps I should pick up? or am I better off with dual autos (since I am outfitting 2 dreads)?

**skbak**

Bought 2 drop pods, FW is a bit pricey but if it's worth it I'll order some stuff.

Like I asked, aside from autocannons is there anything else I should pick up from FW?

**skbak**

Any more advice would be amazing!

**Honersstodnt**

another drop pod... 3 is a better number of pods than 2. (lets you drop 2 on turn 1 instead of just 1)

try to pick up some cyclone launchers for your terminators off ebay, they make them much better.

land speeder typhoons are amazing as well. nothing in the marine codex equals their firepower for their cost.

**HadoukenAvenger**

Just a heads-up, the AOBR dreads have a storm bolter as well.

**Catyrpelius**

I like running my dreads with one TL-AC and a PC, both arms either come from forge world or you make your own...

As for FW orders, expect to be waiting a couple or three weeks to get them

**Madman49**

The land raider must be a crusader, pop a 10man termi sq in it and your chaptermaster/motf (whichever you want) and drive it 12" and charge 1st turn, is the assult sq 10man or 5man?

**thrawn**

Madman49 wrote:The land raider must be a crusader, pop a 10man termi sq in it and your chaptermaster/motf (whichever you want) and drive it 12" and charge 1st turn, is the assult sq 10man or 5man?

Might want to double check your codex. In standard space marines, the LRC has a cap of 16 models = 8 terminators.
I run mine with 5 AT & Vulkan @ 2k points and 7 AT & Vulkan+Cato @ 2500 (<- still modding list)

One thing to consider is what you will be facing. If this is available it helps you focus your attention. A well rounded army comes from well rounded experience which is gained from trying and testing. I started as a long ranged space marine army. Anything to shoot my foe at range. Now, 2 months later, I'm running a salamander army with most weapons @ 24" or below.