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I am getting ready to play in my first 40k tournament, prior to this I have only played an Ork Player at 500 and 1000 points and a Tyranid at 2000.

As the tournament is 1000 points I've spent some time considering how to gear the fighting force, I am limited to only use fully painted pieces with full representation, which means no unfinished models. My dilemma has become being limited to what is complete. Here is what I have come up with for my force.

HQ
CCS
1 Adviser
4 Meltaguns
Chimera 175pts

Troop
PCS
4 flamers 50pts

Infantry Squad w/flamer 55pts
Infantry Squad w/flamer 55pts

Penal Legion 80pts

Veterans w/Demolitions Doctrine
3 meltaguns

Fast Attack
Vendetta 130pts

Heavy Support
Leman Russ Demolisher w/Heavy Stubber 175pts

Hydra Flak Tank 75pts

Hydra Flak Tank 75pts

Total 1000pts.

The plan is to mount the Veterans in the Vendetta and go for a 1st turn take down of a vehicle or two, advance with the chimera, platoon command and demolisher using the Penal Legion to provide cover and use the Infantry squads to run like hell for any objectives.
Thanks to the magic of magnets and the equal costs i can quickly change out any Hydra Flak Tank for a Griffin or the Vendetta for a Valkyre with Multiple Rocket Pods to shift from vehicles to hoard.

I am well used to hearing about how Chimera's are the way to go with the guard as fate would have it I happen to have one more completed chimera as well as two completed Leman Russ's with full magent work up. The HFT and Griffins can also be magnet swapped to become Basilisks however due to only owning two chaises I am limited to fielding a combo of two.

As I am knew to playing the Guard, and have never participated in a tourney I 'd enjoy any feed back or suggestions to make the list more competitive.

Problem is that your platoons and conscripts as equiped are just meat.
If you can get 3 meltas or 3 plasmas together you could have another vet squad to put in that extra chimera. Take LRBT, the demolisher, and squadron the hydras. Drop the platoon and conscripts, and the heavy stubber on the demolisher to pay for changes.

That leaves you with only 2melta vet squads for scoring, but they have a better chance than those foot soldiers.

If you can't squeeze more melta together consider finding a commisar and some power weapons for the blob squad

Dropping the Platoon will easily make up the points for the second vet squad with melta and a chimera. Dropping the Heavy Stubber off the Demolisher opens 15 points of upgrades. Dropping the Penal Legion would open another 80 leaving me with 95to play with still. I would prefer to find room for a 3rd scoring unit, if for no other reason than to spread out potential targets off the low number of vets

I do have a couple questions,
in a 1000 pt game is an Officer of the Fleet worth his price tag?
Additionally as the Scout ability does grant the initial pregame move and the vendetta is a Fast vehicle, can you make that into the signature all out 18in hop?

Oof is questionable at this level. It does stop people from reserving their entire army if you roll to go first.

Dettas can actually move all out in scout. GW put that in last faq.

3rd troop is great unless it's a wasted kill point.

Dropping the vendetta vets doctrine, adviser and the changes you suggested before could allow for swapping all the foot sloggers for melta vets in a chimera and melta vets with Harker for an infiltrating unit that can score. Drop the demolisher down to a Standard russ and upgrade some melta to plasma?

I love the guard, but there are just SO many options

This list needs troops. While being technically legal, it's highly inadvisable to spend as few points as possible as you can in this FO slot.

Ailaros, I am curious what your take would be on improving your troop out put. I have looked through a few of your blood conquers all campaign. I admit I enjoy both your art and the more traditional soldier based guard you run.
Returning to the original list I'd posted what would your recommend? I'd enjoy hearing the perspective of an infantry style in addition to the mech vet style of Leprousy.