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I've become increasingly more enamoured with the idea of a foot guard list. However, I'm torn between 20 or 30 man blobs. Behold to nearly indentical core lists (no extras, just the basics for 1500-1850 level games)

20 Man Blobs - 1060

Company Command Squad - 3x Plasma Gun, Astropath/125pts

Platoon Command Squad - 3x Melta Gun, Al’Rahem/130pts
2x Infantry Squad - 2x Power Sword, 2x Meltabombs, Commissar, Power Sword/175pts
2x Infantry Squad - 2x Power Sword, 2x Meltabombs, Commissar, Power Sword/175pts

Platoon Command Squad - 3x Melta Gun/60pts
2x Infantry Squad - 2x Power Sword, 2x Meltabombs, Commissar, Power Sword/175pts

Platoon Command Squad - 3x Flamer/45pts
2x Infantry Squad - 2x Power Sword, 2x Meltabombs, Commissar, Power Sword/175pts

30 Man Blobs - 1065

Company Command Squad - 3x Plasma Gun, Astropath/125pts

Platoon Command Squad - 3x Melta Gun, Al’Rahem/130pts
3x Infantry Squad - 3x Power Sword, 2x Meltabombs, Commissar, Power Sword/235pts

Platoon Command Squad - 3x Melta Gun/60pts
3x Infantry Squad - 3x Power Sword, 2x Meltabombs, Commissar, Power Sword/235pts

Platoon Command Squad - 3x Flamer/45pts
3x Infantry Squad - 3x Power Sword, 2x Meltabombs, Commissar, Power Sword/235pts

Now list A may or may not be more or less stolen from a well known foot guard player on this site...But, the question here is what core list is better? The two lists are five points in difference, have the same number of power weapons, but list A has 10 less guardmen and two more meltabombs in total. Otherwise they are identical, only different in organization. Is one superior to the other?

Also, when building my army list for 1500pts, is it even advisable to bring any vehicles? I will bring 3x eviscerator priests in each list, bringing the totals to 1240 and 1245 respectively. It seems that the strength of a foot guard list is that you present 100+ bodies, of which there are no priority targets or deathstars. If I brought a Russ, or a Basi, or a Manticore, it would be targeted by every lascannon, missile launcher and Autocannon on the field. Would it be better to bring some autocannon or missile launcher HWT?

I'm just not sure what to add from here...rough riders, Ogryn, HWTs, artillery, random upgrades, sentinels...so many options. Thoughts and opinions appreciated to bring my list to 1500pts using either core list from above.

Creedis required in foot lists for 24" order range. Artillery goes well as static placement.

If I was going to take a special commander, I'd probably take Straken for counter-attack and his ability to punch people in the face. Is the 24" range all that important though? With 30 man blobs, and one outflanking, I'm fairly confident there will be at least one guardsman from two platoons within 12" of my CCS. Plus I don't have to rely on orders to give my troops Furious Charge if I take Straken.

I'm thinking of bringing a Manticore, but I'm worried it'll get downed Turn 1 by every Dark Lance, Lascannon, Missile Launcher and Autocannon in the enemy's arsenal.

Any thoughts on the difference between blob sizes?

20-man blobs are pretty squishy. If you plan to send them out to accomplish something, 30 will work better. Plus it gives you an extra NCO to execute

I don't understand why you are outfitting all of your squads in this manner. Who is going to do the shooting? Blobs will often just give your opponents assaulting units a place to hide from your shooting. It's sometimes better to feed them a squad at a time and shoot the crap out of them in between.

HWT are useful, but you need extra if that's what you are going to rely on as they will run away at nearly every opportunity.

Without a place to hide, AV-12 vehicles will have a tough time of it. If there is some good cover, they can do well.

Valkyries/Vendettas are an option.

I want my blobs in close combat - and win too. Sheer volume of dice and power weapon attacks plus stubborn and re-rollable hits in the first round gives a good chance of taking down anything short of the hardest hitting deathstars in the game. I'm thinking of bringing a Lord Commissar along and bubble him with two HWT. I figure a manticore or two would be nice, as I could hide them behind LOS blocking terrain.

I am leaning towards the 30-man blobs though.

It sounds as if you should go with 30, 20 may not last long enough to get into combat.

You should consider adding a melta gun to those squads.

20 won't last very long if anyone has a gunline.

Also if you're playing Eldar and for some reason they decided to take Dark Reapers, they'll kill an entire blob before they even get to move, (it's happened to me.)

30 or bust. They're survivable enough to get into close combat and by the time they do, if you have 25 left it's a super dangerous unit because it's capable of wiping out a unit without losing much, (it's harder to give multiple power weapon wounds to the same model.)

Blacksails wrote:If I was going to take a special commander, I'd probably take Straken for counter-attack and his ability to punch people in the face. Is the 24" range all that important though? With 30 man blobs, and one outflanking, I'm fairly confident there will be at least one guardsman from two platoons within 12" of my CCS. Plus I don't have to rely on orders to give my troops Furious Charge if I take Straken.

I'm thinking of bringing a Manticore, but I'm worried it'll get downed Turn 1 by every Dark Lance, Lascannon, Missile Launcher and Autocannon in the enemy's arsenal.

Any thoughts on the difference between blob sizes?

So you want to take 5 guys inc Straken into combat? Not so good idea. But if you really must take the standard and also a Priest, make sure Priests are in as many Platoons as possible if you want to go combat. Also hidden power weapons work well Though, as mentioned, in foot lists Creed works best.

The Manticore shouldn't get touched if you've hidden it well - you that worried get a camo net for it so +1 cover save bonus