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Seeing IG become a super-elite army of undercosted Veterans hiding in their Chimeras has inspired me to collect a classic IG force that focuses on the lumbering behemoth, the Leman Russ. This isnt supposed to be the most competitive list, but I would like to still be able to win games with it. I have not yet begun collecting IG but I'm toying with the idea of doing so. Here is the lunacy I've dreamt up:

HQ:
CCS w/ Autocannon - 60 Points

Troops:
Infantry Platoon (PCS w/ Vox Caster, 2x Infantry Squad, Heavy Weapons Team w/ 2x Autocannon and 1x Lascannon) - 220 Points

Penal Legion - 80 Points

Heavy Support:
Leman Russ Battle Tank Squadron (2x LRBT w/ Heavy Bolter Sponsons) - 340 Points

Leman Russ Vanquisher Squadron (2x LRV w/ Lascannon) - 340 Points

Leman Russ Executioner Squadron (2x LRE w/ Plasma Cannon Sponsons) - 460 Points


As I said before, this isn't supposed to be anything super powerful and it certainly isn't min/maxed; it is mostly to have fun with a mass of tanks like classic IG. Even then, some thought has gone into the list. The idea is to sit the Penal Legion and the CCS on one objective and the Infantry Platoon on another. Orders being issued would be to buff the CCS' Autocannon, Platoon's Heavy Weapon Squad, or to order the Penal Legion into a 2+ cover save (if they are in a set of ruins). The Vanquishers sit back in an opportune position while the Executioners do the same but slightly forward due to their 36" range. The LRBT will also probably sit back but can be advanced along with the Executioners to apply pressure if it is needed.

What about Dozer Blades on the tanks? Since they mostly move 6" it could come in handy but at 10 points it is a bit pricey, especially when each tank has pretty good range.

This kind of build is always alluring to the new (or prospective) IG player. I know you haven’t min maxed and don’t normally run IG. So ill give you the rundown on the basics

IG is the easiest army to play, but the hardest army to master. The real reason way is because the pros are so easy to see but the cons take time to and effort to look for.

These are the rules of IG that I have been tested over and over.

1) leave the Swiss army knife unit at home, dedicate your units.

2) do not enter CC with IG

3) don’t buy stuff used in CC

4) quantity of fire out weighs quality of fire

5) never buy a bolter

6) don’t use rough riders, ogryns or ratlings.

7) you may not always use orders but remember you have the option

8) don’t use squadrons

9) don’t take named characters

10) make your army fluid, mixed guard don’t work

Keep in mind there are some exceptions to these rules. but before do, think hard about it.

As for your list, it would be fun. I think you will have a lot of luck playing most players, but don’t expect to get very far in a termy. LR just cost to much to field more then one or two. As for the blades, I immobilize about 30% of my vehicles in any given game, I still don’t feel they are worth the points.

Please don’t take what I’m saying as offensive, just my opinion.

komosunder wrote:Please don’t take what I’m saying as offensive, just my opinion.

I welcome all criticism, don't be afraid to post up anything and everything.

Thanks for the tips on IG as a whole, I've actually observed some of those points watching my friend main IG since the new codex came out.

In my case, I have a stable TAC build for SM and I have Tau coming along as nice as possible for such a tired codex. The one thing I've always stayed away from are heavy tanks as they always seem just too expensive. IG's ability to squadron their tanks, and the low model count for a tank heavy list helped lead me to what I posted. I'm not a tourney player and if I entered one I would play my SM, so that isn't a main concern. I just miss the days when IG was about lumbering tanks and strength in numbers so I thought it would be fun to try it out in 5th edition.

THanks for the info on the Dozer Blades, if they were 5 points like in C:SM I would probably jump on them but they seem a bit pricey at 10 points each.

As for the loadouts of the Russ tanks, any advice there? I have the LRBTs because they seem like good all-rounders and the Executioners are there to strike fear in the inevitable wave of GK and the newly restored Deathwing. They would be good against any MEQ though. The Vanquishers are the ones I'm least sold on because the BS3 direct shot. They could be swapped out for more LRBTs but that 2D6 for armour penetration sounds pretty darn good.

Every player has there own favorite load out for there Russ. Most aren’t worth fielding, but the ones that are can be devastating if used correctly

Hands down the best is the LRBT. Its cheep, the battle cannon is one of the best weapons you can field, and like all LR the armor is heavy. I also like the variation of the LRBT with 2 side sponson plasma canons. This build will eat 3+ saves all day long. Only down side is you will find your self using the 72” battle cannon a lot more then the plasma.

Next on the list is the bane of deep strike armies. A well placed LR exe will eat MC, space marines, terminators, light armor, or anything that the guy across the table has carelessly left In the open. To get the full effect you must run it with its side sponson plasma cannons to give it 5 str 7 ap 2 blasts. The down side……is the cost, you pay dearly for this tank, and most opponents have seen the chaos it can cause. Making it the #1 target on the field (that’s not always a bad thing though)

I’ve found that the LR punisher has its uses as well. With the right upgrades heavy bolter sponsons, stubber and pask, can be a very dangerous tank. And yes it brakes 3 of the rules, its very specialized and very expensive. But I have seen it used and used effectively.

One take I have never used but have seen more then once around tournaments. is the exterminator with pask, it’s a very powerful anti transport unit. But I find it hard pay for a LR that most codex can replace for a lot less points.

I’ve seen 9 LR demo lists. Very hard to deal with across the table, but I’ve never seen it in the finals table. Nor would a expect a one trick list to make it that far.

The vanquisher is a very week tank. Looks good on paper, but only really useful on med to heavy armor, and only a 50/50 chance of hitting in the first place. I would leave it at home

The eradicator is worthless, if you see one in the opponents list, its ok to make fun of it

As for upgrades keep in mind that the LR can only fire its turret and only one weapon if moving, if you want to keep it mobile then dont run side sponsons. If you want to make it a firing platform and don’t plan on moving it, then yea use them. Also watch the ranges, the heavy flamers and multi meltas are worthless because they have no range. Where the H bolters and plasma can keep up with most of the LR armaments. As for the H bolter or las cannon off the front, you almost always want to keep the heavy bolter. The las cannon only has a 50% chance to hit, that’s not that good. But if you are shooting at heavy infantry, MC or light armor that las cannon may just be worth the points, its your call.

Hope that helps your for tanks. But as I said they are all high on points, and I only really recommend one in a list.

komosunder wrote:

8) don’t use squadrons

9) don’t take named characters

I have to disagree with both of these points.

While squadrons should be avoided whenever force org slots allow, squadroning is great when it means getting more onto the table than would normally be legal.


Named characters aren't always the right choice, but they allow for different tactics and can really change a game when used correctly.

The biggest issue with your list (imho) is that it has only 40 scoring squishies, all on foot. Otherwise, why not?

I would switch the lascannon to the CCS. You don't want to mix heavies in HWS because each weapon has it's preferred target types. Also, I would want the single shot LC with the BS4. In any case, I would just try to find points to make them all lascannons, I find them more reliable. YMMV.

You need a vox in both the ordering and ordered squad, so you need at least one more. I don't even bother with them - orders are not critical, they are more like a bonus.

I like the fact that it all adds up perfectly to 1500 points!

but:

- Never take heavy weapons squads by themselves, they're weak and will die quickly. They are also not very brave and will almost certainly run away. Keep them hidden in with infantry squads or get a commissar to join them.

- Don't mix and match weapons, either go all autocannons or all lascannons. (I suggest autocannons to keep within budget)

I don't have much experience with the dozer blades really, so it's your call. Play a few games with them and a few games without then see which way you prefere and if you think it's worth it. If you find yourself running out of points, don't be afraid to bump it up to 1750.

EDIT: while i was listening to a 40K podcast (11th company) someone reccomended this tactic:
if you decide to pick up a Russ varient where you really want the shots to hit or it has a high rate of fire (i'm talking about the punisher here), pick up Knight commander Pask. Apparently he really improves your hit/miss ratio. correct me if i'm wrong but it's just what i heard.

I would drop One of the Plasma tanks there a Bullet magnet and a point sink, one is plenty Enough, I would drop it for some chimeras,

But thats just me and I play a Heavey Moblie army, with demolisherx3 and tons of demo vets.

TPSOhuzzar wrote:I would drop One of the Plasma tanks there a Bullet magnet and a point sink, one is plenty Enough, I would drop it for some chimeras,

But thats just me and I play a Heavey Moblie army, with demolisherx3 and tons of demo vets.

By the sounds of it, i don't think he wants his infantry to be mobile. I think the infantry is just there to hang back and hold objectives and provide covering fire with the heavy weapon teams. Still drop one Excecutioner but instead of chimeras what about some more infantry to use as a distraction away from your Russes. 20 - 30 more conscripts should do nicely, then you would have a few more points to play around with!

Your playing your army would be like playing Halo:

a bunch of nooby little dudes with guns (the grunts) running at you and distracting you while the big tanks and the real men (Wraith tanks + elites) set up in the back, ready to pound you to bits once the noobs (grunts) are dead/dying!

if you don't get what i'm talking about, google it.

bloodyclutch wrote:

komosunder wrote:

8) don’t use squadrons

9) don’t take named characters

I have to disagree with both of these points.

While squadrons should be avoided whenever force org slots allow, squadroning is great when it means getting more onto the table than would normally be legal.


Named characters aren't always the right choice, but they allow for different tactics and can really change a game when used correctly.

I did say there are exceptions to the rules. if you look hard enough you will find one for each of the points. but using squadrons of LR should be avoided if at all possible. If you need more fire power take a manticore. But I could be wrong but I don’t really see a named character in the codex worth his points. Perhaps Pask but even then its iffy. But I will concede in saying they are a lot of fun to use.

As well these rules aren’t for a seasoned IG player. There for a player starting off with IG and learning the ropes

komosunder wrote:

bloodyclutch wrote:

komosunder wrote:

8) don’t use squadrons

9) don’t take named characters

I have to disagree with both of these points.

While squadrons should be avoided whenever force org slots allow, squadroning is great when it means getting more onto the table than would normally be legal.


Named characters aren't always the right choice, but they allow for different tactics and can really change a game when used correctly.

I did say there are exceptions to the rules. if you look hard enough you will find one for each of the points. but using squadrons of LR should be avoided if at all possible. If you need more fire power take a manticore. But I could be wrong but I don’t really see a named character in the codex worth his points. Perhaps Pask but even then its iffy. But I will concede in saying they are a lot of fun to use.

As well these rules aren’t for a seasoned IG player. There for a player starting off with IG and learning the ropes

Captian Al'rahem is worth his points if use correctly,

Command sq in a chimera, melts and of flamers, and then 2 Infantry sqs with flamers , and out flank them.. Nothing says hello like a platoon coming up on the left feils into there Tanks / Sq thats bee paying down no stop fire, And if you want to get Real crative with it take Creek and give a tank Scout and out flank it with the Platoon.

Holy cow this thread took off!

As for the Vanquishers, I was going to rely on them to break AV14 as they are essentially 72" meltaguns but I can just take more LRBT with Heavy Bolters for the same cost.

The Executioners are there because of the insane power of Deathwing with Apothecaries and the ultra-inexpensive Belial making them scoring. The Executioners did set off alarms in how expensive they are but coming from SM I'm of the impression that in 40K tanks one is none and two is one. Is this not true with Executioners?

I've switched the Lascannon into the CCS as advised. As for the HWS it will blob up with the rest of the Infantry Platoon so they won't be extremely vulnerable to ranged fire.

I appreciate all input but as some have clarified I'm not particularly interested in loading up with Chimeras. This idea is strictly focused on getting a mass of heavy tanks on the table just to have fun. I have SM and Tau with well-balanced TAC builds so this IG force is pure lunacy for fun's sake!

SonicPara wrote: I have SM and Tau with well-balanced TAC builds so this IG force is pure lunacy for fun's sake!

haha, when i began my lizardmen army i had no idea on how to build an army. i think i ended up with 7 hero units and a gakload of other stuff! the point is, i did it because it LOOKED cool. i didn't care about the rules then, but now that i looked back, i want to forget that i wasted so much money on a pointless army... so now i'm trying to make a well structured IG army to make up for my past mistakes - these boys better win me some games!!!!

(p.s IMO lunacy armies are always the best because you get lists that go wild, and aren't on a strict budget! the list are always very reflective of the person who made them and they have lots of personality. although, sometimes it is better to go for tactics over "ooh that looks pretty ")