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I currently play codex marines, and want to start a second army. I figure that now with the new allies list this is as good a time as any.
I used to have some catachan forces waaaay back, but they've all been eaten by the warp, so I want to start up another catachan force.

My problem is that I don't really know anything about the IG lists or how it works. I figure i'd start with the Catachan battleforce, but after that I'm not too sure.

Looking for some advice, since I don't really know where to go after that battleforce.

What do you want to use the Guard allies as? Infantry support? Mech killing? Objective holding? Kind of have to narrow it down then I can help.

riverhawks32 wrote:What do you want to use the Guard allies as?

This.

Why do you want to include guard in your army? If it's just for fluff, then it doesn't really matter what you take. If it's to make your list stronger, then I think you need to take a real close look at why you perceive some things as weaknesses in your army, that only guard can fix.

Also how do you play your marines?

Right, sorry forgot to mention this. I'm by no means a 40k expert, so i'm sure my list is far from perfect.... but basically i tend to castle up, play a gunline, and then rush for objectives.

My main goal is to start another army so i can play with my friends. That said, i figure i can go with an army that also works as allies with the new edition. I was thinking either IG, Tau, or GK. But went with IG cause i miss my old catachans.

I can post a list i guess if that helps more.

Well, in that case, I'd include a CCS for the HQ (because a vast majority of guard lists have a CCS), and then either an infantry platoon or a squad of plasma-toting vets in a chimera, as all serious guard lists have at least one of the two of those.

My understanding is that with the new edition flyers have become serious business. Would it be worth picking up a vendetta over a stormtalon?

The catachan battleforce comes with a catachan command squad, 20 infantry, a sentinel, and 3 heavy weapons teams.
Im not too sure, but i think the command squad is 1 standard bearer, 1 vox operator, 1 medic, 1 flamer and 1 officer. I believe thats the standard command squad right?

So really i was wondering what to do after that. Maybe a vet squad and a chimera makes the most sense.

Vendettas aren't a dedicated transport, so they can't be taken as an ally. I wouldn't jump on board the fliers train quite yet. They've got bonuses, but they've also got limitations.

If you're going to start a guard army, focus first on getting a solid 750+ points of troops and HQ. Only once you've got down the core of your list, then I'd start looking at toys.

... which is convenient that you can only take core units as allies. Will give you more time to figure out what kind of a guard army you want.

I have to agree with Ailaros A CCS and vets are a great start the only thing i wouldent agree to is plasma (yes im biased to melta) melta is IMO better (yes you sacrifice range but if ima rush an objective im gladly gona close on you).
Or If you are going for a gun line maby just Infantry platoons with some Heavy Weapon Teams to throw rounds out there and pin things down and then rush with the chimeras with boys in the back to hold.

Ailaros wrote:Vendettas aren't a dedicated transport, so they can't be taken as an ally. I wouldn't jump on board the fliers train quite yet. They've got bonuses, but they've also got limitations.

If you're going to start a guard army, focus first on getting a solid 750+ points of troops and HQ. Only once you've got down the core of your list, then I'd start looking at toys.

... which is convenient that you can only take core units as allies. Will give you more time to figure out what kind of a guard army you want.

You can take up to one Fast Heavy and Elite, 2 troops and one Hq with allies.

For me its a CCS, a blob and 2 russ tanks as allies to my gk

Blob to add numbers and the russ gives some nice long range low ap weapons

Been working a treat so far

So I guess I could even add a squadron of valkyries

That sounds pretty good Tuiman, think i may end up doing the same.
Thanks for the advice guys

Yeah, and it really depends on what your marine list is to what you need in your allies. As I say, as greyknights, I need some numbers and some long range high strenght low ap weapons that we dont really have.

A battleforce would be a good start as it gives you a HQ and a troops which is the compulsory part of allies done. Question is, would you use the sentinal?

For me, no. Because you can only take one FA slot, and both a hellhound or vendetta squadron would be much more usefull imho.

If you will use it then yes, I would start with a battleforce

Yea my main idea with a battleforce is i get 20 infantry a command squad and a sentinel for a decent price. If i also get the other catachan battleforce i would get an aditional 2 sentinel, 20 more infantry and what i believe is a chimera. I dont have alot of heavy Anti Armor generally, so im thinking some big tanks and some more scoring units would be nice.

Could i take a squad of sentinels? Maybe 3 lascannons would be nice to move in with my scouts?

What do you want from your IG force? Do you want help killing tanks? Help killing hordes? Help tying up enemy units for several turns? Help holding objectives against everything the enemy can throw at you? Help killing heavy infantry? Help killing flyers?
If you want to kill tanks I have three units that I can recommend as generally very good. Heavy Weapon Squads (can take up to five per platoon, go big or go home and take at least 5 full of lascannons and missile launchers), Manticores (due to the new rules regarding blast templates and armour penetration they are arguably the best light vehicle killer in the game with their long range, high strength, and the potential for multiple blasts), and vendettas (up to 3 per squadron, which is overkill unless you are hunting baneblades, but 3 twin-linked lascannons on a flyer is pretty terrifying so at the very least they will draw a lot of fire).

If you want to kill hordes the two easiest ways to do it are tanks (LRBT, demolisher, and if you like wasting points executioners are all great), and hordes of infantry (use FRFSRF with a PCS and get up to 135 str 3 shots in a single turn).

If you want to have a tarpit or objective holder look at platoons, spam platoons, fill them with infantry squads to the max, toss in a commissar and/or a priest you have 50+ wounds which can get a 3+ cover save by using "Incoming!" and are stubborn with the ability to reroll a failed leadership roll.

If you want to kill heavy infantry just take one of the tanks I already mentioned.

If you want to kill flyers take Hydra flak tank batteries, one tank should do it, if not a second one should definitely be enough.

So yeah, that is pretty much the easiest way I can break it down.

Get a Vendetta. Everybody needs more Vendettas.

TheCaptain wrote:Get a Vendetta. Everybody needs more Vendettas.

Or take two in a squadron.

DaddyWarcrimes wrote:

TheCaptain wrote:Get a Vendetta. Everybody needs more Vendettas.

Or take two in a squadron.

3 never hurt anyone either*

For good measure take 3 Vendettas.

Yea I think i will eventually get some vendettas... not looking forward to the price tag on three of them though...

I have now coming to me in the mail:
40 catachan guard
3 sentinels
1 command squad
1 chimera
3 catachan snipers

This should be enough to start playing with my friends against my SM, and i figure i can transition this into an army pretty easily.

Is there any use for basilisks? I've always thought those cannons were pretty awesome, maybe not quite big enough though...