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Following the advice I got in a previous post on the subject, I now finally have my tiny 500 point SM army painted and ready for action
It's set up as follows:

Librarian
100 points

10 Tactical Marines with Missile Launcher, Flamer, Powerfist
Dedicated Transport, Rhino
230 points

5 Scouts with CCW/BP, Powerfist, Combi-melta
110 points

1 Land Speeder Storm with Heavy Flamer
60 points

Now what I'd like some help with is deciding how to expand on it. The more serious players around where I live apparently play 1750 points, so that's where I will eventually want to end up (although obviously it'll take a little while). Could anyone give me some points on how to expand this list to 1000 points? I'm not looking for something madly competetive since I mostly play friends, but I don't want to invest in models that aren't any good either. Some form of middleground would be nice

Worth noting is that since I needed the rulebook and all that other jazz, I finally invested in the Black Reach set. Which means I have a powerweapon captain, tactical squad with ML/Flamer, regular terminator squad without any special weapon (boo ) and a no frills Dreadnought available. Hence if any of those models could be incorporated, it'd be nice for my wallet.

Moveing up to 1000 points I'd suggest getting rid of the Scouts, CC scouts arent all that good, and adding another tactical squad. After that you may want to look into getting either some more fast attack or some fire support. For fire support I'd suggest either a couple of AC/HB Predators or AC/AC or AC/PC dreads.

Both the Dread and the Tacticals can be easily incorporated. Not so much the Captain and the Termies.

I would go with something like this, Dread pods in close to the LSS and hels out with either blasting a tank or flaming some infantry. The Speeders can move fast to respond to the same.

This is a close range army something that I think works ok in a 1k list. What I would do for a 1.5k or 1.75k list is to try and incorporate some ACLC preds and similar long range AT units

HQ:100
Libby = 100

Troops:550
10xTacticals (ML+MG+Combi-Melta) = 185
Rhino = 35

10xTacticals (ML+Flamer+Combi-Flamer) = 180
Razorback = 40

5xScouts (CCW+PF+Combi-Melta) = 110

FA:200
LSS (HF) = 60

Land Speeder (MM/HF) = 70

Land Speeder (MM/HF) = 70

Elites:150
Dread (MM+HF) = 115
Drop Pod = 35

Another tac squad. A dread. Then some tanks!

I guess the point of contention for me is: Rhino or Razorback? At the moment I'm using a Rhino and while it's nice being able to ferry the entire Tac squad around, I'm left with a Librarian that has to literally run/gate behind said Rhino to avoid getting blasted.

Now 500 point games don't last long so it's not really a problem, however I'd like it if I could squeeze in a transport for him now that I'm moving up pointswise. But assuming I get a Razorback for my second transport I'll have 5 marines out in the open.. any thoughts on how to solve this or should I just suck it up?

I was actually even contemplating a Land Raider of some variation, but I take it that'd be very much overkill when all I want is a ride for my Librarian (don't even have any assault terminators or similar close-range nasties to put in the LR)?

Well I'm not a veteran by any means but I'll offer up a 1k list and try to include models you already have or can buy/upgrade on the cheap and see if you like it.

Librarian
*Nullzone/GoI
5 Terminators w/CML (You can buy a CML bit on ebay for a few dollars)
Dread w/LC (Again ebay for a 5 or 6 $ for the LC arm)
Tactical squad w/ML/MG/ Rhino
5 Scouts in LSS w/HF
2xDakka Pred or Typhoon ML Speeder/Daka Pred (This is the only realy buy but if you magnetize these you can play play around with load outs later and speeders and Predators seem to be popular among other veteran gamers)

I hope its helpfull but tbh I cant say if its uber competative or not. Allthough you are short on troops maybe you could reserve the scouts and LSS in most games and try to grab/contest objectives late game with them.
The rest of the army starts on the board and shoots with GoI for fun with the termies/Libby.

GL

Imo razorbacks become useful in higher point games. If you think about it, they're rhinos with extra firepower and a smaller carrying capacity.

If you just want a ride, take a rhino. If you want a ride that can support your troops after dropping them off, take a razorback. It's up to you.

I like Tedurur's list it builds on what you have and has a similar playing style.

The DP Dread and the other Land sopeeders will really help support than LSS squad and stop them from being a total suicide unit.

Personally though I'd probably go with 2 LSS squads in stead of the 2nd tac squad. But I like aggressive play. Then you'd have 50 points to spend on extras. Like a PF for the Tac sargeant, or epistolary status for the Libby or some extra cubbins for him (i.e. Terminator armour).

But his list incorporates most ofthe black reach stuff too so is a nice building block.

Aldain wrote:I guess the point of contention for me is: Rhino or Razorback? At the moment I'm using a Rhino and while it's nice being able to ferry the entire Tac squad around, I'm left with a Librarian that has to literally run/gate behind said Rhino to avoid getting blasted.

Now 500 point games don't last long so it's not really a problem, however I'd like it if I could squeeze in a transport for him now that I'm moving up pointswise. But assuming I get a Razorback for my second transport I'll have 5 marines out in the open.. any thoughts on how to solve this or should I just suck it up?

I was actually even contemplating a Land Raider of some variation, but I take it that'd be very much overkill when all I want is a ride for my Librarian (don't even have any assault terminators or similar close-range nasties to put in the LR)?

I would rather have a 5 man combat squad sittting in the back field taking pot shots with the ML than have the Libby run around all by himself. A single krak missile will spell the end for him. Team him upp with the flamer squad for some mean 3 templete fun.

While you dont necessarily have to play your transport as a Razorback you should always buy the razorback kit. For the same cost (money wise) as the rhino you get an extra turret. Simply put, you can make a Razorback in to a Rhino but you cant make a Rhino into a Razorback.

tedurur wrote:
I would rather have a 5 man combat squad sittting in the back field taking pot shots with the ML than have the Libby run around all by himself. A single krak missile will spell the end for him. Team him upp with the flamer squad for some mean 3 templete fun.

While you dont necessarily have to play your transport as a Razorback you should always buy the razorback kit. For the same cost (money wise) as the rhino you get an extra turret. Simply put, you can make a Razorback in to a Rhino but you cant make a Rhino into a Razorback.

Yea I realized I should've gotten the Razorback kit a couple of days after I had already splurged on the Rhino Still, with this list the Rhino is useful so it's not a total loss.

Really nice that I can put both the Tac squad and the Dread to good use. I may end up tweaking the list a little but overall I like it very much, now I know what to aim for. Thanks everyone for your help