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Because 7 Valkyries hurtling at you looks awesome.

I'm hoping to start up a fluff-based semi-competitive pure air cavalry army.

Here's what I've got so far:

HQ

CCS
Commander has PW, Plasma Pistol and a Bodyguard
Medi-pack
Meltaguns x 3
A Master of the Fleet and Astropath as a retinue
and everyone has carapace armour
225 pts

Troops

Veteran Squad x2
Veteran Sergeant has a PW and Plasma Pistol
Meltaguns x3
Shotguns for everybody!
Grenadiers
300 pts

Veteran Squad x2
Veteran Sergeant has a PW and Plasma Pistol
Plasma Guns x3
Grenadiers
330 pts

Veteran Squad
Veteran Sergeant has a PF and Shotgun
Meltaguns x3
Shotguns for everybody!
Grenadiers and Demolitionists
175 pts

Fast Attack

Valkyrie x4
Rokkit Pods
520 pts

Vendetta x3
390 pts

Heavy Support

Leman Russ Battle Tank* x1000
0 pts because Guard.

Oh right and

Elites

Psyker Battle Squad
60 pts

for the lulz

Which totals to 2000 points on the dot.

*That's not serious. :U


How should I split my Valkyries, 2-2 or 3-1? I'm thinking the CCS can ride in the 1 if the Valks are split, and can ride in the spearhead of the Vends otherwise.

I'd like to be able to switch out the Psyker Battle Squad for Marbo (because a S4 pie plate doesn't seem worth it, especially since Valks and Vends have no firepoints), but I can't think of any 5 points to shave off.

On the other hand, I can scrap the Psykers and make my two other melta squads into Demolitionists as well.

The reason I only have one CCS is because IMO it doesn't make sense for there to be two company commanders.

Also, I kept the lasguns on my Plasma squads because I figure if I'm up against MEQ with their grpqtlzx armor saves, volume of fire, especially if I can get a FRFSRF off, is better than having assault 2 weapons.

As a final query, would it be better to have Forward Sentries as compared to Carapace Armour? Fluff-wise, I can go with either, seeing as I haven't detailed the lifestyle in their home world, although admittedly having everyone in camo cloaks gives the feel of Vietnam-style soldiers in thick jungles which is pretty awesome.

I wonder if you can bump.

BUMP!

Made two variations of my Hybrid list.

It will be a smaller Air Cavalry force (only 4 flyers compared to 7) supported by a long ranged armour column.

Variation 1)

HQ

CCS
Commander has PW, Plasma Pistol and a Bodyguard
Medi-pack
Plasma Guns x 3
A Master of the Fleet and Astropath as a retinue
and everyone has carapace armour
Chimera
225 pts

Troops

Veteran Squad x2
Veteran Sergeant has a PW and Laspistol
Meltaguns x3
Shotguns for everybody!
Grenadiers
290 pts

Veteran Squad
Veteran Sergeant has a PW and Plasma Pistol
Plasma Guns x3
Grenadiers
165 pts

Veteran Squad
Veteran Sergeant has a PW and Laspistol
Meltaguns x3
Shotguns for everybody!
Grenadiers and Demolitionists
175 pts

Fast Attack

Valkyrie x3
Rokkit Pods
390 pts

Vendetta x1
130 pts

Heavy Support

Hydra x4
Camo Netting
380 pts

Leman Russ Vanquisher
Camo Netting
Lascannon
190 pts

Total: 2000 pts

Lose the Bloat.
Lose the Grenediers and Carapace. You already have a Medic in the CCS.
is that 1 Russ?

Yeah, long range russ.

First time playing Guard, so I'm none too good with the list making.

I replace the Russ with a Manticore in my other list. :U

Variation 2) is a lot more like my earlier list (5 planes)

HQ has Plasma Guns instead of Melta Guns

3 valks and 2 vends

3 Hydras and 1 Medusa with Bastion Breachers.

As a final query, would it be better to have Forward Sentries as compared to Carapace Armour? Fluff-wise, I can go with either, seeing as I haven't detailed the lifestyle in their home world, although admittedly having everyone in camo cloaks gives the feel of Vietnam-style soldiers in thick jungles which is pretty awesome.

Problem is, Fluff lists are hard to advise because they are... well, fluff lists. Most of those have choices that don't work very well competitivily but for fun, sure, do what you want.

My fluff is extremely flexible. I'd just like some advice gameplay-wise: For an AirCav list, would it be better to get camo cloaks or carapace armor? I'm thinking camo cloaks for the plasma users and carapace armour for the melta users.

tuckles wrote:My fluff is extremely flexible. I'd just like some advice gameplay-wise: For an AirCav list, would it be better to get camo cloaks or carapace armor? I'm thinking camo cloaks for the plasma users and carapace armour for the melta users.

In my opinion, neither in most cases. you shouldn't waste points on bloat.
For example, do troops flying around in a transport need a camo cloak? IMHO,
they go in and kill their target and die. Or die trying.

Interesting list, I love the air cav idea, I also have everyone has shotguns. If I had a bunch of money I would make I list like this. . However this list seems very ATTACK ATTACK. drop all camo clokes/forward sentrys and give carapace. (keep the neting on the russ if it aint gunna move)

hammer_of_the_emperor wrote:Interesting list, I love the air cav idea, I also have everyone has shotguns. If I had a bunch of money I would make I list like this. . However this list seems very ATTACK ATTACK. drop all camo clokes/forward sentrys and give carapace. (keep the neting on the russ if it aint gunna move)

If he has 'A' Russ, at 2k it won't last long.
plus it doesn't fit the "AirCav" idea.

Aye. I think I'll drop the Russ as heavy support. I just need some anti MEQ's to balance it out. Any suggestions?

No camo cloaks in the army, everyone's got carapace.

Can you please point out what the bloat is in my army?

Sorry, I'm a nub with IG (this'll be my first IG army, I've never seen anyone play them in my local hobby shop, and I'm a pretty inexperienced player overall)

tuckles wrote:Aye. I think I'll drop the Russ as heavy support. I just need some anti MEQ's to balance it out. Any suggestions?

No camo cloaks in the army, everyone's got carapace.

Can you please point out what the bloat is in my army?

Sorry, I'm a nub with IG (this'll be my first IG army, I've never seen anyone play them in my local hobby shop, and I'm a pretty inexperienced player overall)

To me Carapace is bloat. they aren't supposed to last forever. But there are supposed to be lots of them. well, IMHO anyway.
That's 140 pts. you could use for another Vendetta.
All those Plasma/Melta Vets are good AntiMEQ. Add another Vendetta. A Manticore would also be a good investment. not sure about
breaking the theme. you have the Hydras so why not.

You have a point. I'll swap out the Russ and carapace armors for another Vend and a Manticore. I'll see if I can sneak in another squad of Vets as well.

I'll post the revised list up for review in a bit.

Thanks a lot.

Tbh the big problem that ive seen w air cav is that the vendettas and valks have to be in squads which limits their effectiveness, especially when being used as transports. If you like valks/ vendettas, id suggest 3 in 1 man squads. That lets yu minimize the damage that any particular source can deal you at a time. Also lets you take advantage of their maneuverability more. My suggestion, drop it down to three and put the rest in chimeras. Trim the fat off the vets and the ccs, which shouhld give you enough to beef your fairly low vehicle count

With only 3 planes it ceases to become an Air Cavalry list. :c

Meh you saidfluff was flexible, was trying to give you advice for competetiveness

Here's the modified list.

HQ:

CCS
Commander with PW, Plasma Pistol, Melta Bombs and Bodyguard
Medi-pack
Melta Gun x3
Master of the Fleet
Astropath

210 pts

Troops

Veteran Squad
Shotguns x6
Power Weapon
Melta Gun x3

Veteran Squad
Shotguns x6
Power Weapon
Melta Gun x3

Veteran Squad
Shotguns x6
Power Weapon
Melta Gun x3
Demolitionists

Veteran Squad
Power Weapon
Plasma Gun x3
Plasma Pistol

Veteran Squad
Power Weapon
Plasma Gun x3
Plasma Pistol

630 pts

Fast Attack

2x Valkyries w/ Missile Pods

2x Valkyries w/ Missile Pods

2x Vendettas

780 pts

Heavy Support

Hydra w/ Camo Netting

Hydra w/ Camo Netting

Manticore w/ Camo Netting

380 pts

Total 2000 pts

Yeah, the biggest problem for 'Air Cav' lists is the sad fact that your limited to 3 fast slots. That means those 3 slots can only fire on 3 targets (you can not split fire, it is squad on squad).

If you actually read the Squadron rules, specially for skimmers, it is /really/ scary.

A 2000pt list that can't kill 3 AV 12+ targets a turn (so /all/ of your valks/Vendettas because you have 3 squadrons) is a bad list. Can /you/ kill 3 AV 12+ targets a turn? Sorry to say, but no, not reliabily.

The best you can do is all Vendettas (since you can't mix) for 3 units to kill AV 12+ reliabily, depend on your Manticore for anti-hoard (along with the Hydras) and the Hydras can also do AV 12 or less vehicles/transports.

If you drop the power weapons, plasma pistols, and stuff like the medic and even the demolitions, you can get a second Manticore and squad up the Hydras. Get a melta gun for the Medic or upgrade them to plasma guns, get bolt pistols for your sergeants with any extra points. Only take a Astropath if your going to consistantly outflank 3+ units a game.

This is how your list would look with my suggestions in mind.

CCS - 140pts
4x Plasma guns, OotF

Vets - 102pts (x5 - 510pts)
3x Melta guns, shotguns, bolt pistol

2x Vendettas - 260pts

2x Vendettas - 260pts

2x Vendettas - 260pts

Manticore - 190pts
Camo Netting

Manticore - 190pts
Camo Netting

2x Hydra - 190pts
Camo Netting

BlkTom wrote:Yeah, the biggest problem for 'Air Cav' lists is the sad fact that your limited to 3 fast slots. That means those 3 slots can only fire on 3 targets (you can not split fire, it is squad on squad).

If you actually read the Squadron rules, specially for skimmers, it is /really/ scary.

A 2000pt list that can't kill 3 AV 12+ targets a turn (so /all/ of your valks/Vendettas because you have 3 squadrons) is a bad list. Can /you/ kill 3 AV 12+ targets a turn? Sorry to say, but no, not reliabily.

The best you can do is all Vendettas (since you can't mix) for 3 units to kill AV 12+ reliabily, depend on your Manticore for anti-hoard (along with the Hydras) and the Hydras can also do AV 12 or less vehicles/transports.

If you drop the power weapons, plasma pistols, and stuff like the medic and even the demolitions, you can get a second Manticore and squad up the Hydras. Get a melta gun for the Medic or upgrade them to plasma guns, get bolt pistols for your sergeants with any extra points. Only take a Astropath if your going to consistantly outflank 3+ units a game.

This is how your list would look with my suggestions in mind.

CCS - 140pts
4x Plasma guns, OotF

Vets - 102pts (x5 - 510pts)
3x Melta guns, shotguns, bolt pistol

2x Vendettas - 260pts

2x Vendettas - 260pts

2x Vendettas - 260pts

Manticore - 190pts
Camo Netting

Manticore - 190pts
Camo Netting

2x Hydra - 190pts
Camo Netting

I disagree. at 2k, he needs more than 3 troop choices.
I'd drop all the camo netting, the second Manticore and get 2 more Hydras(4 total, in 2 squadrons)
and try to get as many troops as you can to fill up 1-2 more birds.

I gave him 5 troop choices... and the CCS to ride in 6 Vendettas...

BlkTom wrote:I gave him 5 troop choices... and the CCS to ride in 6 Vendettas...

Dude, i goto go to bed!
My bad!