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Here's what I got, but I seriously need some help assembling it into a force worth play (doesn't have to be competitive, but at least workable.)

I hope to make both Iron hands and Salamanders from this list, so please, try to work with it. I don't want to really buy much else, so try avoiding it unless the army can't function without it. I'm also Dread and Termie happy, but I would like to see a list that makes use of the Assault Marines. If you can't fit the army design into either the Salamanders or the Iron hands, just make a list, I'd love to see what people come up with! ALSO, BITS ARE EXCHANGEABLE ON ALL MODELS. I'M WILLING TO REMOVE SOME ARMS AND SUCH.

11ish (estimate) basic marines w/ bolters
8 sergeants - 6 with bolt pistols and chainswords, two with boltguns and chainswords, 1 with a power sword and a bolt pistol, and the other with a power axe and bolt pistol
1 Master of the forge/Techmarine w/ servo harness
Terminator Librarian
15 scouts - 6 with sniper rifles, 5 with bolt pistols and CC blades, 1 bolter, 1 heavy bolter, 2 missile launchers
16 terminators - 2 with thunder hammers, 3 lighting claws, 1 assault cannon, 1 chainfist
12 Heavy/Special Weapons - 5 missile launchers, 3 heavy bolters, 2 lascannons, 1 Multi-melta, 1 plasma cannon
20 Assault Marines - 2 sergeants w/ power swords + combat shields, 1 sergeant w/ power axe + combat shield, 1 sergeant w/ power fist + plasma pistol, 2 flamers, 2 plasma pistols
1 chapter master/captain w/ nothing
1 command squad w/ company champ + standard bearer + apothecary
Marneus Calgar's honor guard squad.
1 Whirlwind
1 Land Raider
1 Regular Dreadnought
3 Venerable Dreadnoughts
1 Ironclad Dreadnought

EDIT:

What's been Allocated to the Salamanders
Converted Vulkan Hestan
3 Tact squads worth of marines, including 1 powerfist, two flamers, two combi-flamers, two missile launchers, one multi-melta.
Rhino
Predator
Land Raider Redeemer
1 Dreadnought
2 Drop Pods
Converted Librarian
1 Ironclad Dreadnought
1 Land Speeder

Salamander Dreadnought Spam? might be difficult without drop pods tho...

1 Rhino? Each troop choice is best with a rhino.

In a salamander list, Flamer, MM, Powerfist in a rhino works well. 2 of them with a Librarian (Or vulkan) is a good place to start.

OK, so for a Salamanders army you WILL want to spend the $30 on Vulkan, or at east make an attempt to convert a model to a decent Vulkan substitute. He's probably the best vanilla HQ choice.

Then, if you still have the bits left over, break off the LC terminator arms and replace them with TH/SS arms. Vulkan makes them master crafted, and you get a 3+ invul and they're free points wise. This is a no brainer. Throw them and vulkan and a libby with null zone in the redeemer and you're a scary sight on the field.

Then, as Zambro said, you're gonna want to get a lot of meltas, multi-meltas, flamers and combi flamers in your army as possible. good loadouts for Tac squads include (flamer, combi flamer missle launcher) for hordes and (melta, combi-melta, powerfist and multi-melta) for tank busting.

I've wanted to try a master of the forge/6 dreadnaught list for a while now, but just don't want to spend the money on it, but since you already have all that you could give it a go. Vulkan + IC dreads with meltas and HF are DEADLY. Plus the master of the forge to heal them...that could be good. If possible I'd throw the MotF on a bike so he doesn't waste much time getting to the dreadnaughts.

The sternagaurd are also REALLY good in vulkan lists. You don't have enough, but if you want to get 5 more and a drop pod you can put a lot of hurt on an enemy by dropping 10 guys turn one, combat squading them and having 2 combi-meltas in each combat squad. assuming your drop pod doesn't go way off course you should be able to pop 2 tanks turn one no problem. It's pretty much a suicide squad, but if you can pop a land raider on the first turn then it's worth it. If you make it to turn 2 then combi-flamers can hurt anything that got out of said tank.

@ Zambro and Mongooll - Okay, sounds fair enough. How's this for a list?

Vulkan - 190
Librarian with a storm bolter - 103
Tank busting squad (Power fist, multi-melta, melta) in a drop pod - 235
Infantry killing squad (combi-flamer, flamer, Missile launcher) in rhino - 215
Hammernators - 200
Dread/ Multi-melta w/ heavy flamer + extra armor in Drop Pod - 160
Assault Squad w/ Powerfist, Plasma pistol, flamer, meltabombs - 155
Land Raider Redeemer - 240

GRAND TOTAL: 1497

Sweet, your getting the gist of it!

few little tweaks tho. No point in putting a SB on the librarian, he will most likely opt to shoot his psychic power, A better spend of points would probably be in a SS. That way, he gets an invuln save (seeing as he is a PA marine, he could use a 3++ save).

I like your tank busting squad But remember, you cant use MM on the turn you DS, so they will likely get shot to pieces, seeing as they only have 1 Meltagun. Its just something to think about, the points would be the same if you swap to a rhino so its completely up to you.

There is generally a better investment of points than the points going into the Assault squad. 5 Marines with jump packs will get shot up pretty fast. And if they DS, they will get shot up just as much, but cant retaliate. LS with HF/MM is a better spend. 4+ cover save from going flat out and can roast tanks & infantry, all for 70 points each. You should get 2

Changing the assault squad to 2 speeders, is what i'd definately like to see, the rest is just advice which you can take or leave. But get those speeders

@Zambro - Thanks! Well, I can't get a storm shield unless I upgrade him with terminator armor, and that's a whopping 140pts for him. I wanted to throw it on originally, but points were hard to come by.

Really? I never knew that the Multi-Melta couldn't fire out of DS. Hm, I'll try playing around with the rhino vs drop pod idea.

Okay, I may have to go buy another, due to me already owning one (just found it) with a heavy flamer and Multi-melta. I'm sure I can afford that second one soon, so I'll make that my next purchase.

Thanks for the advice btw! Really helpful!

I am also considering another 500pts for a 2000pt tournament this month. I was thinking of adding another infantry hunter squad, same set up and everything. But also an Ironclad with Ironclad assault launchers, a meltagun, a heavy flamer, in a drop pod, and a whirlwind. My other option was two Vindicators along with the infantry hunter squad, but I cannot afford that right now.

Regarding the MM out of the Drop Pod, you count as moving when you DS, meaning you cant shoot 'heavy' weapons.

Also, you probably want a MM on your LRR. Just so you can choose that if you get a weapon destroyed result. And it give you some anti tank (something the LRR lacks). Not to mention, it makes the LRR benifit from vulkans ability (the flame storm cannons dont benifit)

With regards to your additional 500 points, a TFC would be awesome! 4 S6 small pie plates a turn, in a ruin with +1 to the cover save, is a garunteed infantry killer! You can get this to kill so much infantry, and for 100 points, its a must at 2000 points!
Ironclad dreadnoughs shouldn't have assault launchers. No real need. You get no benifit from them charging vehicles, and lets face it, if your not charging a vehicle, your doing it wrong A better investment of points is 2 HKM. That way, if you drop pod in, the turn you cant charge, you can shoot off 2 missiles to start the tank wrecking process.

I'm pretty sure my marines will survive one round of shooting (depending on what's going on around them)

I can probably find the points for that in 2000, due to me barely having enough for it.

Eh, I tried a TFC before. Two, in fact. I found them very underwhelming, sadly.

And sadly, I could not purchase a Drop pod in time for the 2000, so I could not use the Ironclad effectively. What should I use? (coming from the list of stuff I own)

@Demdiddydizzy: underwhelming, versus what else at 100 pts?

@leohart - Honestly, I didn't care too much for it. Great range and everything, but it doesn't fit my style all that well. Plus, I need large blast templates on the field against horde armies like Orks. Sure, I have TL flamers and meltas, but they won't do as much as a large blast template.

I would personally take a vindicator over a TFC. I know it's an extra 15 points, but even still.

I guess it is up to personal preference and what else is already in your list. I find TFC 4 small blast of Ignore Cover 2+ to kill will take out much more horde than a large blast Vindicator.

But then Vindicator probably will survive longer.

no, the vindi will not survive longer. Ask anyone around these forums and your looking at a dead vindi in turn 1/2. Thats why people take more than 1 vindi, cause they are high priority target.

With a TFC, you get +1 to your cover save. So sitting in cover is the better option.

But how much killing power doe the TFC have? I know the whirlwind doesn't have too much, but is the TFC good enough to go out and spend 50 bucks on it?

EDIT 1
Maybe I should get two Devastator Squads? Or maybe another Predator, then run two Preds in my list?

EDIT 2: Actually, how about a five man suicide combi-melta/flamer Sternguard squad in a Drop Pod?

TFC > Dev Squad any time (C:SM).

Pred and TFC and Vindi are personal preference mostly.

TFC can cause consistently 10-12 wounds to T4 squad. You can't get that from Vindi.

I can't afford a TFC in time, unless I save for one more week. And even then, I still need around 180 pts worth of stuff to include in my army. What do you suggest?

If money is tight, I say you stick to the PRed you already have and add a combi-melta to the melta squad. Then make Rhino into a Razorback. That should eat up the last 180 pts for cheap.

What weapon should the razor have? Lascannon + TL plasmagun?

That is the best option for all cases. Unless you know for sure that the razorback will sit in the back and pop transport, then take TLLC. TLLC is easier to find though.

And what should the Predator carry?

AC, LC sponson if you want anti-meq and anti-transport (most of the time)

AC, HB sponson if you are fighting horde. Personally I haven't had a problem with AC+LC setup.

Ah, the basic setup. Good, cause that's what I have. I think I need more long range anti-tank weapons anyway. And it's only 85pts of firepower. Does more than a Whirlwind in strength. Sadly, no large blast templates for me so far.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Here's my list so far!

Vulkan - 190
Librarian with a storm bolter - 103
Tank busting squad (Power fist, multi-melta, melta) in a drop pod - 235
x2 Infantry killing squad (combi-flamer, flamer, Missile launcher) in rhino - 430
Hammernators - 200
Dread/ Multi-melta w/ heavy flamer + extra armor in Drop Pod - 160
x2 HF/MM Land Speeders - 140
Land Raider Redeemer w/ multi-melta- 250
Pred w/ AC + LC sponsons + Dozerblade - 120

I have 172pts left. Where and what should I buy with them?

Your pred is priced wrong. I make it 120 for the Auto/las set up, +5 for dozer blade? anyway, it isn't 90 points.

I'd suggest running another pred.

And remember, drop pod your dreadnought first, slightly more survivable

Oops! Accidentally grabbed the HB sponson point cost instead! Sorry for the confusion!

Ergh, I'm not sure if I could afford one before the Tournament. If I can't what do you suggest as a backup?

I was planing on doing so, so I have a multi-melta shot to fire into the back armor of any tank unfortunate enough to have my Dreadnought land next to it.

A tactical squad would be alright if you cant afford a pred by the tourney. Come to think of it, it would actually be more to buy the squad and a rhino? Unless you already have one lying around

A box of sternguard would also do to. £5 cheaper than the pred.

I don't think I could afford any of that. But if I converted a squad to sternguard, what would they have?

They will have bolters or combi weapons. Just check the book.

There are only two ways to run Sternguards that I know of:

(if you have Pedro Kantor) 5-man with 2x Lascannon sitting on an objective in the back field blowing stuff up
(generalist) 3 combi-melta for every 5-man sternguard in a Drop Pod.

The third one is the typical mass Razorback tactics with Sternguards in them. Cost way more points than Grey Hunters or BA Assault Marines so you rarely see this.

So, I'm taking my pred, a third tact squad, and an Ironclad in a DP for 500 more points for a 2000pt list.

Or you can take 2 Ironclad Dreadnoughts in 2 Drop pods. Each Dreadnought has 2 HK missles. Then a third drop pod full of troops coming down with your HQ.

At 2000 pts, this will blow up a lot of stuff. And at AV13 front and side, you just can't hurt it fast enough. Next turn, someone is going to be very very dead.

I cannot afford two more drop pods before the tournament.