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First of all, I'm new. I'm trying to use what I have from Assult on Black Reach and the SM Battleforce to make a casual army to get familiar with the game with. I don't see doing any tournaments any time soon until I learn the game a lot better. So I want to utilize what I have but at the same time get a "decent" army to cut my teeth on. I don't want to have to pick up a lot of bits - I'd really like to go with what I have to begin with and learn on my own what I like and don't like. So with that being said - here's where I'm at. I'm at 1450 and at a loss as to what to do next. :( I've been at this for days and I'm waiting for someone to say "looks nice". I know it's not perfect, and it's not going to be - because I'm not at the point where I can dump a bunch on bits and modify the models. I'm just getting the hang of glueing them! I just want to have a casual edge and have some fun and learn the game.

HQ: Space Marine Librarian (1#, 140 pts)
1 Space Marine Librarian @ 140 pts
...in Terminator Armour (Psychic Hood; Force Weapon; Storm Shield)

Elite: Terminator Squad (5#, 200 pts)
4 Terminator Squad @ 200 pts (Power Fist x4; Storm Bolter x4)
1 Sergeant (Power Sword; Storm Bolter)

Elite: Dreadnought (2#, 220 pts)
1 Dreadnought @ 105 pts (Dreadnought CCW; Multi-Melta; Storm Bolter)
1 Dreadnought @ 115 pts (Dreadnought CCW; Multi-Melta; Heavy Flamer)

Troops: Tactical Squad (22#, 430 pts)
9 Tactical Squad @ 205 pts (Bolt Pistol x9; Bolter x7; Flamer; Missile Launcher)
1 Sergeant (Bolt Pistol; Chainsword x1)
1 Rhino

9 Tactical Squad @ 225 pts (Bolt Pistol x9; Bolter x7; Meltagun; Missile Launcher)
1 Sergeant (Bolt Pistol; Power Weapon x1)
1 Rhino

Troops: Scout Squad (5#, 95 pts)
4 Scout Squad @ 95 pts (Bolt Pistol x4; Combat Blade x4)
1 Sergeant (Melta Bombs; Bolt Pistol; Power Weapon x1)

Fast Attack: Land Speeder Storm (1#, 65 pts)
1 Land Speeder Storm @ 65 pts (Multi-Melta)

Fast Attack: Assault Squad (5#, 130 pts)
4 Assault Squad @ 130 pts (Bolt Pistol x4; Chainsword x4)
1 Sergeant (Unit Type: Melta Bombs; Bolt Pistol; Power Fist x1)

Heavy Support: Predator (2#, 145 pts)
1 Predator @ 85 pts (Autocannon; Heavy Bolter (each side))
1 Predator @ 60 pts (Autocannon; Heavy Bolter (each side))

Thanks Everyone!
Oriphus

That second Predator should be 85 points like the first one

The one and only thing that I think needs to change in the list is the unit of Assault Marines. A 5 man unit is much too vulnerable, and will likely be shot up before it gets in combat. If you want to keep the Assault Marines I recommend making them a full unit with a Power Fist. You might need to make a few adjustments, but if they remain in the list the unit needs to be bigger.

Otherwise you could ditch them for another unit of Scouts in a Land Speeder Storm or perhaps another Tactical Squad on foot to hold your home objective and support the Terminators.

Either way, I think 90% of your list is ready to go, and aside from that one change it seems solid for what you want to do with it. It won't win a tournament, but for casual play...........looks nice

PS - The best way to learn if your force is going to stand up or crumple, and which units are good and which should be left at home, is to take it on a test run or fifty. You will lose, I guarantee you that, but you should learn something. Especially if you have friends or a group of gamers at a local gaming store that could potentially lend you models you are considering purchasing before you take the leap and shell out the cash for them. I played dozens of games using my Eldar as proxies for Space Wolves before I actually made the investment and bought the figures, and I still play proxy games when I'm interested in purchasing a new unit but I'm not sure if it will work the way I want. That's the benefit of casual games!

The list looks pretty solid. I agree with Aldarion about the assault marines, and just about everything else.

Remember that you need to list what powers you will be taking for your librarian in the army list itself.

since you seem to be going kinda mechanized, I'd swap the assault marines for a vindicator if you can swing it. But I'm biased... I love any unit that is as infamous as the vindi

Yeah I wanted to go more troop based, but I wanted a 2nd dread, because he always gets toasted in the first turn or two. Then my points started getting low and I didn't know if I should throw another tactical squad in there w/ rhino or go with vehicles. That's just what I came up with and I tried to go with multiples of some of the same units. If the assult squad fails, I'll ditch them for something else.

Should I reconfigure somehow so I don't have so many vehicles? I'm not particularly a vehicle person, but I felt the army didn't really have anything to shoot nice long distances and give a nice wallup.

One thing I could do is drop both preds and pick up a tact squad melta/ML and a combi-melta on the sgt w/rhino. That would put me at 1500 on the dot. Would that be better or should I keep the 2 preds? That or drop some stuff and pick up more terminators.

Thanks again for the advice!

Keep the Predators. 5th edition has a strong emphasis on mechanized lists, and the more vehicles in a list the merrier. Space Marine armies in general will not have a whole lot to shoot on the first turn unless you make your list into a gunline with Razorbacks instead of Rhinos and everyone sitting back shooting. Your list is designed more around short ranged combat with the Terminators and the Assault Marines working together with the Tactical Squads and Predators for backup. Most of your weaponry has a 24" range with the exception of the Missile Launchers on the Tactical Squads and the Predator weaponry. Because of that your first turn is largely going to be focused around getting into position for a 2nd turn strike. Move 12" and use smoke on the Rhinos to get into position. Use the Rhinos to give the Dreadnoughts cover, and move 6" with the Predators and get a couple of Autocannon shots on light vehicles. The Terminators are large enough to provide cover to the Assault Marines, or both can hide behind the vehicles for cover.

Cover saves are very important in 5th edition and knowing how and when to get them is also important. That will come with practice.

Once you have closed the distance with your opponent you should have a lot more firepower to bring to bear between the Terminators, your Tactical Squads and the Dreadnoughts.

I've gone ahead and ordered two chainfists for my termies as well as a CML. I've also ordered a powerfist for my scout Sgt. Hopefully it will help things out. I had the points so I figured why not. I'll play and see how I like the assult squad and decide what to do with them later. For now they'll be my reckless tank hunters.

There you go! That really was a wise purchase, as Terminators without a CML are really not that effective, and the Chainfists help them deal with the vehicles they might not otherwise be able to get penetrating hits against.

That really depends on what you're using them for. Yes a cyclone missile launcher will help you against mech but if you want your terminators taking out reams of infantry a less costly alternative is the good ol' heavy flamer.

Attach vulkan or librarian with avenger and infantry are toast. literally.


That said, for sheer versatility and range CML is a great choice

I've taken this list and ran with it. The only thing I was going to change was adding a power fist to one of the tactical squad's sarg's. Problem is, that puts me at 1505. I made a few minor changes like giving the scout sarge a power fist, so if I don't go with the power fist on the tactical squad sarge I'm at 1495. Should I remove the storm shield from the librarian to make room for the points, or just give the sarge a power sword like I had originally planned on doing? Is having 5 unused points a major deal?

So far I have about half of this assembled and have beaten my tau buddy silly playing a 900 point game. What a hoot!

Oriphus

List is good and I agree that Assault marine thing but I usually play either, ironclad dread nought (wich goes to CC) or dreadnought with ML and LC (and target to tanks or MC) but it works that way you are playing it too.

Agreed on the assault squad, buff if up or drop, however you should probably take another power on your librarian as the only one he has is the insta-smite from his force weapon, otherwise is a good, solid all-round list.

I've been working on this list but I've given the scout sarge a power fist and dropped the melta on him. My big question is - should I leave the melta on the assult squad sarge or is it a waste?

Oriphus wrote:Yeah I wanted to go more troop based, but I wanted a 2nd dread, because he always gets toasted in the first turn or two

Thats because they are easy targets. They need to be within 24" to use the MM, which means they can be targeted by other MM. If you want your dread to survive, make him more long ranged.

Oriphus wrote:Should I reconfigure somehow so I don't have so many vehicles? I'm not particularly a vehicle person

If you want to go with few/no vehicles, then there are a few good ways to do it.
* Use drop pods. They are great for getting your troops where they need to go

* Use sternguard. They are great foot sloggers, with lots of options. Toss a few combi-melta/plasma on them and they can become scary quickly.

* You can add shrike as your commander. He unlocks 'Fleet' for troops. If you want to run with assault scouts, fleeting terminators, etc.. It rapidly makes for some very scary combos.
Don't feel bad if your marines are blue. If you want to play a 'style' then don't let the color scheme stop you.

Thanks for the feedback. I guess that brings me back to my original question. If I have a sarge with a power fist - is it a waste to give him melta bombs for anti-tank?

It is kind of a waste since only a couple of vehicles have 14 armor all the way around them

Azzedar101 wrote:It is kind of a waste since only a couple of vehicles have 14 armor all the way around them

This....

So what can I change to make a nice 1500pt army by dropping the assault marines? They have proven to be a waste with only 5 of them.

Thanks in advance,
Oriphus