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Decisions, overrun with tanks, or combined arms, decisions. Also what exactly is a blob.

CommanderRednaxela wrote:
Ok, so for starting how many Russes, Arty, Cadians, Kasrkins should I aim for? Also, what HQ should I go for?(I love this idea!)


Edit: You spoke of mechanized vs flying Kasrkins, whoch I assume os them in a chimera vs s valkyrie (which are gorgeous). What would be the advantages and disadvatages of each? (I know, I ask so many questions, but I getting really [excessively?] excited)

Start collecting, and a squad of kasrkins would be like 150 dollars CAD. Add a wyvern, vendetta, and another guard squad maybe? I don't know your budget but that would be a large collection of miniatures for just a starter army. (protip: buy these in pieces. Buying en masse will get you demotivated very quickly, I find it best works buying one box at a time.)

Chimeras don't have to come from reserve, and they are cheaper. Valkyries have to come from reserve, however they are much faster and harder to kill, while carrying more firepower but costing more points. If you can reliably bring them on from reserves, and can spare the points, I would choose the valkyrie. Otherwise, chimera. (and to note, the chimera costs less real life money if that's an issue)


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CommanderRednaxela wrote:
Decisions, overrun with tanks, or combined arms, decisions. Also what exactly is a blob.

A blob refers to a large unit pretty munch.

A blob refers to a large unit pretty munch.

Ok, so it was what I thought.

(protip: buy these in pieces. Buying en masse will get you demotivated very quickly, I find it best works buying one box at a time.)

The Will of the Emperor is all I need to stay motivated! (Will take your advice though)

a squad of kasrkins would be like 150 dollars CAD. Add a wyvern, vendetta, and another guard squad maybe

But my addiction to Russes (which is why Leman Russ became my favorite Primarcj) and Arty!

CommanderRednaxela wrote:
Decisions, overrun with tanks, or combined arms, decisions. Also what exactly is a blob.

The blob i use is 40 Guardsman (Power axes), 3 priests, 3 level 2 Sanctioned Psykers (or whatever they call them now) and 4 Lascannons. IG can "blob" their infantry platoons into one unit.

the net effect is a unitthat on a good day can gain a 4+ invulnerable save which can be re-rolled in melee, a unit which can re-roll to hits in the shooting and assault phase, and reroll wounds in the assault phase as well, and of course the added bonus of being fearless and carrying around 4 Power axes, 3 Force Mauls and an occassional smash from a Priest (not usually but sometimes). The Lascannons are encased in 40 dudes. the unit moves forward and strings the back couple guys out to keep the Lascannons stationary so they are firing every round to wreck on big boys, and the blob essentially protects them from ever being eliminated. To eliminate the Cannons, someone has to charge you...and if they are that foolish, then oh glorious day. It will end well for the Guard and not so well for their assailants most of the time.

Now you will absolutely require support to knock out the truly big boys. The 4 Lascannons, even though twin linked, can't do all the work. But if you have the artillery firing and the lascannons firing and the Leman Russ's firing it seems certain the enemy will wish to close and shut some of it up and when they attempt it, they will be engulfed by the blob. =)

The other nice thing about the blob is you can detach a guy as needed to go get an objective point later i nthe battle...or two or six. So it can death blossom into a bunch of scoring units when needed or rejoin when that isn't necessary any longer.

It takes a little practice to get it all down, because unlike most of my armies it relies on a metric ton of special rules being piled onto one unit. The net result is generally very impressive and dangerous. And you can make two of them if you ever felt like it, backed up by the artillery. Good times.

40 guardsman 3 priests 2 pyskers 4 lascannons got it. So 1, 2ish LRBT, with a single Arty in the back? (1,000 points with that)

3 psykers, 3 priests, 45 Guardsman (because you need the Platoon Command) and then a Manticore, Basilisk, Hydra, Chimera. I think the Artillery Formation also requires a Techpriest and a command squad.

So thats if I don't want LRBT? And instead get an Arty.

CommanderRednaxela wrote:
So thats if I don't want LRBT? And instead get an Arty.

No. You should still have points left for a leman Russ unit.

Ah, good. A Leman Russ Unit is how many points again?

Depends on which one you take but its about 600 points, maybe less for three of them

Three Russes, ok.
Also (yes I know I ask a lot of questions, I would be sorry, but I like talking about 40k) which are the correct Pyskers, the HQ or the Elites?

Also (I really have to stop asking questions) "May include up to two additional Leman Russ Battle Tanks, Exterminators, Vanquishers,
Eradicators, Demolishers, Punishers or Executioners in any combination for the points costs
listed above" means what exactly?

CommanderRednaxela wrote:
Three Russes, ok.
Also (yes I know I ask a lot of questions, I would be sorry, but I like talking about 40k) which are the correct Pyskers, the HQ or the Elites?

Also (I really have to stop asking questions) "May include up to two additional Leman Russ Battle Tanks, Exterminators, Vanquishers,
Eradicators, Demolishers, Punishers or Executioners in any combination for the points costs
listed above" means what exactly?

the Regimental Advisors, which are HQ, are the ones you want.

The entry means the squadron can be made up of any three you want. Executioners are great against heavy duty infantry and the like, while the best "all around" tank is probably the Eradicator. Normal Leman Russ battle Tanks are okay too, although cover is so prolific that I think I'd prefer the Eradicator in most situations. Just a personal preference. Ignoring cover is boss, and it kind of goes along with your artillery. Demolishers have limited range but are really nasty against multiwound models. So a good combination might be two Eradicators and a Demolisher.Just keep the Demolisher behind the other tanks until its needed since its very powerful and deadly but its range means to get use out of it you have to be patient and protect it until you can get close to the enemy or vice versa.. =)

Ok, I think I got it.
3 priests (not sure where to get them),

2 pyskers (I think you mean these ones: https://www.games-workshop.com/en-GB/Imperial-Guard-Primaris-Psyker)

a PCS (is this the one? https://www.games-workshop.com/en-US/Imperial-Guard-Cadian-Command-Squad)

4 shock troops (https://www.games-workshop.com/en-US/Imperial-Guard-Cadian-Shock-Troops)

2 LRBT Eradicator versions (https://www.games-workshop.com/en-US/Imperial-Guard-Leman-Russ-Battle-Tank)

1 LR Demolisher (https://www.games-workshop.com/en-US/Imperial-Guard-Leman-Russ-Demolisher)

1 regmental advisor (https://www.games-workshop.com/en-US/Imperial-Guard-Regimental-Advisors)

a manticore (https://www.games-workshop.com/en-US/Astra-Militarum-Manticore)

a Chimera (https://www.games-workshop.com/en-US/Imperial-Guard-Chimera)

a Hydra (https://www.games-workshop.com/en-US/Astra-Militarum-Hydra)

a techpriest (not sure which one: https://www.games-workshop.com/en-US/Techpriest-Enginseer-1-2016 or https://www.games-workshop.com/en-US/Imperial-Guard-Techpriest-Enginseer-2)

and then 4 heavy weapons team will lascannons (https://www.games-workshop.com/en-US/Cadian-Heavy-Weapon-Team-2)

Ok. Is this it? Also (if someone got a nickel everytime I said that) Commissar (played DoW, and CoH2 gotta love them), worth adding?

I said THREE Primaris Psykers that are level 2. but yes, thats him.

The Cadian Command Squad can be usedas a platoon copmmand squad, yes. Though the one here is the actual HQ choice. Just use random dudes forthe Platoon Command. No one cares about them.

Either one of the Techpriests is fine. Just different poses. You only need one of those.

Here is a priest you can also use as a Ministorum Priest: You'll want three of them in the unit. https://www.games-workshop.com/en-US/Grey-Knights-Preacher-with-Chainsword:

But yes that looks perfect otherwise.

EDIT:
This is also useful: https://www.games-workshop.com/en-US/Warhammer-40-000-Psychic-Powers

I said THREE Primaris Psykers that are level 2. but yes, thats him.

Got it, three Priests, three Pyskers.

The Cadian Command Squad can be usedas a platoon copmmand squad, yes. Though the one here is the actual HQ choice. Just use random dudes forthe Platoon Command.

Does it make any difference?

No one cares about them.

This is very true.

Either one of the Techpriests is fine. Just different poses.

Ok, as I thought.

Here is a priest you can also use as a Ministorum Priest: You'll want three of them in the unit. https://www.games-workshop.com/en-US/Grey-Knights-Preacher-with-Chainsword

Thank-you

And the Commissar, of any value?

Should I get any weapons upgrades (besides the lascannons) for tanks or infantry?

I think it is important to mention that the imperial guard are facing an up hill battle atm. I hope you enjoy losing! Not that you will lose all the time. But each of your victories will most likely be hard fought. This isn't a point and win army!

The company command squad comes with more weapon options ie plasma and melta. Which is something you may be interested as well. Veterans in chimeras is another popular build.

I've also found that Wyverns are best used in a sqaud of 2. They drop 8 templates that are twinlinked, ignore cover and have shred!


Not that I'm trying to discourage you, I exclusively play guard and lose a lot but I don't play toy soldiers to win. I play to have fun with my friends, so as long as you have the right attitude and like a challange. You should be fine!

If you are going to have a mechanized force definitely get Chimera's for your main foot sloggers or you will leave them behind and of no use toss in some heavy weapons squads to act as defense for your tanks since they are mobile and can move around where needed maybe a walking tin can squad nothing like tin cans to move fast and side hit a target, but troops will be a large money drain on your forces but low point costs means lots of them.

Yes, playing the Guard is like commanding thousands of little Davides trying to kill several hunreds of Goliathes.
Note that Davides aren't that lucky as they were in the legends.

You will probably lose and die alot, but each victory would be a glorious one, compensating all the defeats. It's uphill battle, but it's worth it. You have to exploit every enemy's mistake and use every advntage you can get to its maximum potential to win and even if you are about to lose, the Guard is able to put up a good fight most of the times. Well, except few situations

Just a tactical advice, try not to field tank squadrons as they all have to shoot at the same target (tank commander is the only excetion). Field three separate and individual tanks.
But if you want to, field 2 tanks, not 3. It's wasted potential.

Ah, constantly losing, very well, "We [shall] die standing".
Anyway, I'm willing to preserve the defeats.

Also exactly what size is this army (point wise)?

CommanderRednaxela wrote:


And the Commissar, of any value?

Should I get any weapons upgrades (besides the lascannons) for tanks or infantry?

Commissar would be a waste. Ministorusm Priests make you a Zealot. done deal.

The Power axes are the preferred weapon for the sergeants and meltabombs i suppose would not be a terrible idea since a WraithKnight can be fought with meltabombs in close combat. other than that, there really isnt a need for more weapons in the blob squad. However, if you have a few extra points and wanted to add more, i don't see why not. I personally never do because the unit already gets expensive as is, but your build is differentthan mine so just see if you have the points left and if you do, do it. I generally would recommend meltaguns for the added weapons. All around tghe best weapon they have acccess to. Some will argue for plasma but this unit already handles anti-personell duties like a boss. So you really only need more antitank where you can get it for them. Its kinda nice to drop 4 Twinlinked Lascannons shots and 4 Meltagun shots into the WraithKnight before it charges and then meltabomb the rest of its wounds off in melee. The first time an Eldar player loses a WraithKnight to this unit, they usually dont want a rematch. If you dont have meltabombs in the unit and a Wraithknight charges you, that unit is stuck for life i nthat combat so you will definitely want to at least consider meltabombs.




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UrsoerTheSquid wrote:
I think it is important to mention that the imperial guard are facing an up hill battle atm. I hope you enjoy losing! Not that you will lose all the time. But each of your victories will most likely be hard fought. This isn't a point and win army!

The company command squad comes with more weapon options ie plasma and melta. Which is something you may be interested as well. Veterans in chimeras is another popular build.

I've also found that Wyverns are best used in a sqaud of 2. They drop 8 templates that are twin linked, ignore cover and have shred!


Not that I'm trying to discourage you, I exclusively play guard and lose a lot but I don't play toy soldiers to win. I play to have fun with my friends, so as long as you have the right attitude and like a challange. You should be fine!

I don't agree. You will lose at first because you don't yet know your army. After that you will lose because you arent yet familiar with their army. and then you will start winning because you are comfortable with both, know what to target first, know when to surge forward instead of firing and the other little things that come with beinig a good general.

Here is what i enjoy about the Astra Militarum: they have units and answers for literally everything in the game. Need a cheap survivable line breaking unit? Ratlings. Need drop troops festooned with special weapons? Scions. Want a counter charge unit? you have the Rough Riders (no one likes them like at all, but I have run an army with thirty of them and it was actually pretty cool. Not tournament quality but certainly competitive). Anti-air? you have it in spades with Hydras and Vendettas. Need heavy duty hitting power? Its all over the codex. need bodies? No problem. You want to go all armored corps? no problem.

There isn't anything that the Imperial Guard don't have an answer for. Their frailty is of course the problem. You have to invest in ways for them to outlast the enemy so that they can express all that stuff. That's really the genius of the Priest+Psyker combination. it takes that enormous mass of humans and actually makes them tough enough to press on and to prevail in multiple phases.

in movement they have their orders so if they need to they can shoot and then run, which allows their unit to move, string out to keep the lascannons stationary to shoot them, the Psyker powers to twinlink them and then the Orders to make it move forward again! Its terrific and when you learn that combination, you realize that "wow, i can conceivably move this unit 12" and fire all its weapons twinlinked!". In the Psyker Phase, the presence of the Psykers generally allows them to bounce psychic attacks on a 5+ instead of a 6+, which is a really big deal because they also are startings with 6 dice plus what the enemy rolls. So on an average of 9 dice, the unit can very reliably bounce at least one power a turn and thats usually all they need to bounce. the enemy is forced to use many more dice to cast on you because you'll average three successes which means they need 4. they'll need to chuck a whopping 8 dice at it just to get that ONE power off and HOPE they roll average 9and 50% of the time they wont!). that's a really strong Psychic defense. and if a Level 1 psycher tries anything on the blob, it will even be stronger, bouncing them in 4+.

In the shooting phase of course you are talking about he Guns of navarone. With 38 dudes plus 4 Lascannons, you are piling out a lot of shots. Some people even pile 50 guys into that unit! And in some turns you can use First Rank, Fire! Second rank, Fire! to really pile it on and if you twin link it with your Psyker powers, even better (though you will often want to value movement over that order, its still true that you can).

In assault, the unit performs dangerously. 4 attacks onthe charge per Force Staff, 3 o nthe charge per piest and 4 on the charge per Sgt with Power axes is enough without help to worry most any target. Add in 32 more angry guardsman? Could be a party. re-rolling to hits AND wounds? Oh yeah...it's a party. Re-rolling their 4+ invulnerable saves? Mm hm. super sweet.

I've lost the entire unit just three times thus far. it's that hearty and that scary.

So take heart, IG players. While it doesnt work 100% of the time, nothing does. It works way more often than it needs to to be awesome though. Hope you like rolling dice. You will be rolling a lot of them.


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CommanderRednaxela wrote:
Ah, constantly losing, very well, "We [shall] die standing".
Anyway, I'm willing to preserve the defeats.

Also exactly what size is this army (point wise)?

Its about 2000. I havent done the math but there's about 600 points int he Artillery and support units for that formation. 225 in Psykers, i think... Priests are what...25 points? i forget on that. so in theory 75 there. 370 or so for the blob plus weapons so perhaps... 430? i dont have a codex but im kind of running off memory here. Then you have the lemanRuss squadron, with three fo the beasts so those are about 200 apeice. Call it 600 or maybe less for them.

So it easily scales between 1850 (tournament standard) and 2K (my local players usually like to play 2K games out fo tournament). Once you calculate it all out with the codex I think you'll find that scaling it up or down will be as simple as going with one eradicator vs. 2 or something like that. Again, no codex here to look at.

Ok I think I only have three questions left (I hope)
1. I know what is twinlinked means (fire once and if you miss you can fire again), but how exactly do a I get it (is it an upgrade, a rule ect?)
2. Wyvern vs Hydra for the arty formation?
3. What did you mean magnetize the tank?

CommanderRednaxela wrote:
Ok I think I only have three questions left (I hope)
3. What did you mean magnetize the tank?

think they meant magnetize so you can switch out weapon loads.

Asterios wrote:

CommanderRednaxela wrote:
Ok I think I only have three questions left (I hope)
3. What did you mean magnetize the tank?

think they meant magnetize so you can switch out weapon loads.

Sorry being the noob I am, I don't know how to do that.

Edit: Ok did the math, 1 ccs (regmintal advisors + arty formation) + 3 pysker + 3 priests + techpriest + 1 pcs (required for the IG blob) + 4 squads infantry + 2 eradicators + demolisher + basilisk + chimera + hydra + manticore + 4 squads of heavy weapons team with lascannons = 1655 points. Which size catogery would that fit into (is there a 1750k 1700 ect).

CommanderRednaxela wrote:

Asterios wrote:

CommanderRednaxela wrote:
Ok I think I only have three questions left (I hope)
3. What did you mean magnetize the tank?

think they meant magnetize so you can switch out weapon loads.

Sorry being the noob I am, I don't know how to do that.

magnetizing is a simple easy manner, its wear you attach a magnet to a weapon point that will adhere to another magnet on a vehicle or such. if you are a novice I'd suggest going to your local gaming store and asking them about magnetizing figures and such.

and here is a video to give you an idea of it:

Thanks, (of course I have questions)
1. By drill he means with one of these:
2. Is it better to do it at the pre buit, built but not painted or at the end.

(hey I'm now a Guardsman with a flashlight!! Does that rank system mean anything?)

CommanderRednaxela wrote:

a squad of kasrkins would be like 150 dollars CAD. Add a wyvern, vendetta, and another guard squad maybe

But my addiction to Russes (which is why Leman Russ became my favorite Primarcj) and Arty!

Well, that was just the start

CommanderRednaxela wrote:
Thanks, (of course I have questions)
1. By drill he means with one of these:
2. Is it better to do it at the pre buit, built but not painted or at the end.

(hey I'm now a Guardsman with a flashlight!! Does that rank system mean anything?)

no think much much smaller, like maybe a dremel at most but most likely smaller then that if not good with a dremel.

Ah more along the lines of (ignoring the bit, believe that ones for sanding)
That makes life easier, (and I get an excuse to add the my collection of power tools)
SO now all thats left is Hydra vs Wyvern, When to drill, how to get twinlinked, and what size game a 1655 army would fit in(2k? 1750k?).

When installing magnets, I use a pin vice. Check google

CommanderRednaxela wrote:
Ok I think I only have three questions left (I hope)
1. I know what is twinlinked means (fire once and if you miss you can fire again), but how exactly do a I get it (is it an upgrade, a rule ect?)
2. Wyvern vs Hydra for the arty formation?

The Imperial Guard commanders can issue orders to their men. There is a list of them in the codex. In addition among the Psychic powers you can roll for, is onethat allows your entire unitto re-roll its misses called prescience. You should have no problem getting the powers you need with six rolls to try but, of course, there is always a chance you wont. However Prescience is the Primaris power and as such, any time you take ALL your powers on a GIVEN Psyker from Divination, he will automatically get Prescience also.

As for the Hydras: your force has no answer, other than twin linking, for Tyrant spam and other earial predators so I recommend the Hydra. The Artillery formation might even REQUIRE the Hydra. I cant remember. But you already are dropping blasts everywhere with this army. The Wyvern is world class as vehicles go. You could add to the mess nicely with a Wyvern. But this comes down to a meta question. If you are seeing people bring flyers and flying monstrous creatures, HAIL HYDRA! If you really arent seing but maybe one, then go Wyvern.

If you clip the bit on the gun barrell of the hydras when you put them in the slot, they can easily be pulled out again. This simple conversion allows the vehicle to be a hydra or a Wyvern whenevr you want it to be!







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CommanderRednaxela wrote:

Asterios wrote:

CommanderRednaxela wrote:
Ok I think I only have three questions left (I hope)
3. What did you mean magnetize the tank?

think they meant magnetize so you can switch out weapon loads.

Sorry being the noob I am, I don't know how to do that.

Edit: Ok did the math, 1 ccs (regmintal advisors + arty formation) + 3 pysker + 3 priests + techpriest + 1 pcs (required for the IG blob) + 4 squads infantry + 2 eradicators + demolisher + basilisk + chimera + hydra + manticore + 4 squads of heavy weapons team with lascannons = 1655 points. Which size catogery would that fit into (is there a 1750k 1700 ect).

Dont forget: You also have to pay for the 4 Power Axes (60 points total), 4 Meltabombs (20 points total),

Normal tournament size is 1850. But of course you can agree with normal opponents to any size game you want. Also I think you will need one more troops choice. You have a blob, but you need two troops choices for a Combined Arms Detachment. So i guess just 10 Demolition Veterans maybe? would complete the picture.




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 kronk wrote:
When installing magnets, I use a pin vice. Check google

There are also sets of magnets that come with the perfect sized drill bit with them. This way you can very easily drill the hole, lay the magnet inside the hole. Very cool. It "seats" the magnet in there nicely. You will want to do this because the pull on those magnets can be so great that they kind of pull each other off the models themselves. A little less surface area being exposed helps limit this and it lasts longer. Just dont drill too far. =)