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Hey all =)

I am soon to be getting back into painting and something I want to delve into was the playing side of things (I never really did so in the past) and the first army I will be painting will be an Imperial Fists one. I dont know much about the rules of the game or Imperial Fists but I will be learning - but was hoping to start painting sooner =) as I have a lot of unpainted bits and pieces and would like to use as much as possible from what I have while keeping true / tactically advantageous to Imperial Fists.

Here is a small list of what I have: (all unpainted so far)

Black Reach Marine set (I want to use all or as much of this set in the army as possible)
Space marine captain
5 x tactical terminators
1 x tactical marine squad
1x Dreadnought

Marine Battle Force
1x Space Marine Tactical Squad
1x Space Marine Combat Squad
1x Space Marine Rhino
1x Space Marine Scout Squad
1x Space Marine Assault Squad (5)

Others:
1x Terminator tactical squad
1x Terminator assault squad
1x Commander
1x Space marine assault squad (5)
1x Tactical Squad
1x Veteran squad MK I
1x Space marine command squad
2x Razorbacks
1x Devastator Squad
1x Lysander
1x Tech Marine

Im unsure what a good average army size is - around 3000 points? any pointers would be great - I guess I will buy Lysander weither I use him or not =) just as a center piece for the painting. Aynthing not used in the list above will be stockpiled for another marine army I will paint later =) if someone has some nice options for bigger armies too that is great as well =p

Thanks for any help

Traditionally Imperial Fists White Dwarf Rules made them ideally suited to Cityfight, I Have not used marines for a Long time but i remember they had some kind of Free Large Blast Once per game and when the last turn was over you could choose to add one more turn to the game (Feel free to correct me it was like 10/11 years ago) How this could translate im not sure there must be someone here with current marine experience who an do more than add 1 to your view count

Thanks for the reply =)

I will learn all the marine specific stuff when the time comes, but thing is I want to get into painting sooner rather then later and I dont have the time currently to read up the best advantages in an Imperial Fists army - Ive had a look round and scouts dont seem to be a big hit with most people for IF so think I will keep them aside.

I wouldn't use Lysander. I think negatives outweigh the benefits.

You need transportation for your marines. If you razorbacks you can the use magnets to change them to rhinos.

Between 1500 and 2000 is a good battle.

Otherwise how do you want to play and which models do you really like?

I think I would like to have heavy range power with my IF army, so assault squads and assault termies would be out the window.

rather then transports I would prefer more artillery based units / tanks - is there a minimum I have to have per 1000/points? IE I cant take 3000 points worth of devastator squads I would assume

Have you seen the FoC? You just need 2 troops and 1 HQ. Further to that you can take 3 Elites, 3 heavy, 3 Fast, 1 HQ and 4 troops.

So three squads of devs.

You will not get away with footsloging troops.
Unless you take bike squads as your troops but I guess you do not want that. Scouts are not strong enough to be the only troops really.

Razorbacks can carry troops and have long range.

From your description why not try the following:

Librarian would be the best HQ. Else use your guy as a chapter master for some fun.
3 tac. squad with melta or flamer, ML or lascannon and Razorback with some turret.
Dev. squad 4 ML, this keeps your combat squads company.
3 dreads, try 2 TLAC as a good standard. These can keep your Razorbacks company.
2 Thunderfire cannons, this is just for fun.

This requires buying 3 razorbacks, one dev. squad, 2 dreads(Forge world arms please). Maybe go for 2 dreads and one shooty termy squad, as you have the models so this means getting only one dread.

ok sounds good =) I will put the models I already have for that list aside for now. And will get a few razorback's to do at the same time once Ive completed some of my current models. I will probably get a devastator squad sooner though as I always loved them =) do you know if they come with 4 ML option or Ill have to buy those add ons seperate. Also not complaining about more dreads, I like them too =)

I had a look at the FoC in the Codex but admittedly I am a little new to this side of things :p once Ive been painting a few months I should have read through my codex and the rule book I got with black reach - so hopefully I will have my head wrapped around things a bit more - Thanks for the head start though =)

You have some great reading ahead of you. Also read other codices, it will help a lot. Also look at the FAQs, online at the GW website.
Start watching battle reports, once you start correcting rules for them you know you are ready.

I am pretty sure they come with 2 ML. You should use your existing ML for the squad then give your tac. squads the 2 lascannons from the dev. squad box, the other squad can have multimelta say.
This works as it is the cheapest way. Also means you can bring a few lascannons and direct them individually, whilst the missiles all hit missile sort of targets.

ok I bought 2x Razorback, will get a third just after christmas. Also got a devastator squad as well as Lysander and a tech marine (these are just for show and maybe alternate play)

sadly in the Devastator squad there was only one ML, but I might try to pick up some off ebay or bitzbox website.