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Given how cheap infantry squads are, is it viable to have say, in a 2k list, 15 squads of them all with a plasma and lascannon, and spread the squads around so the plasma and lascannon are at the back, with about 6 Russes and a few stormtroopers?

The guard could win most games by concentrating the Russes on the enemy troops and the PISs whittling down the enemy by attition.

Worth noting that PISs with can retain their hidden special and heavy weapons in this way, bar flanking maneuvers.

What do the vets think?

Seems certainly strong but limited. Tau, armies with strong flyer presence, and heavy mech armies will likely pose problems for this composition.

Further, in 6th edition you really need to have the ability to attack because there is a reasonable chance that you will need to move out of your deployment area to win. For instance, 5-objective scenarios with opponent placing three objectives, unfavorable mixes of objectives in The Scouring, or conceding First Blood early in The Emperor's Will will all force you to attack if you want to avoid losing. Thus, static gunlines are IMO on the way out.

I take your points, though I would imagine 6 Demolishers would be fairly effective at wiping out any unit under the sun, and soaking up damage as they do so. Coupled with deep-striking melta stormies I think the enemy would struggle to hold objectives in his deployment zone, let alone take yours.

Augment the PISs with 3 PCSs (possibly take 6 platoons just for the PCSs) and a CCS, all tooled up with melta or plasmas as appropriate, and you have an ungodly amount of models on the board, nearly all of which are scoring, along with durable as feth tanks with S10 pie plates.

 Testify wrote:
I take your points, though I would imagine 6 Demolishers would be fairly effective at wiping out any unit under the sun, and soaking up damage as they do so. Coupled with deep-striking melta stormies I think the enemy would struggle to hold objectives in his deployment zone, let alone take yours.

Demolishers can't even meaningfully target flyers, much less kill them. 2+ cover save units are not uncommon. The game has enough variety now that I think you need a more mixed composition.

Once you add both las and plas your squads cease to become speedbumps and are more "investments", at 70% more expensive than bare bones. Your proposed list has 1300 points in just dudes, now I'm not saying that can't work against some lists but certain armies could just castle up and you will never take their objectives. With 150 guys in a small deployment zone any opponent that is wise enough to run artillery, particularly whirlwinds or TFC which are fairly common, you are going to be in big trouble.

The unfortunate truth about speed bumps: They exist only to be run over.

They can be both, though. You don't want to take a speedbump only to have it ignored and, being without weapons, useless.

I've been running lascannon/melta MSU guard and it's been working pretty well. In this case, my opponent is taking a pretty serious risk of me rolling a 6 with a meltagun or lascannon if they're bringing fliers, and if they're bringing mech, odds are I have twice as many anti-tank weapons as they have vehicles.

The best part is when stuff gets close and you can sic a bunch of point-blank meltaguns on stuff. The melta hedge is still very much alive, and it works best with MSU.

 Ailaros wrote:
They can be both, though. You don't want to take a speedbump only to have it ignored and, being without weapons, useless.

That depends on what you're using it for. If, for example, you're using it as an assault screen to keep your artillery safe then the mere fact that it occupies space and blocks movement to the guns is enough to ensure that it can't be ignored, and you want to keep it cheap since it's going to get slaughtered anyway.

I'm going to be pimping him until he gets a bit of respect.
Try Creed.
On your turn, after you shoot the piss out of what's about to assault you, choose 1 "lucky" unit and have creed order "for Cadia". They get furious charge (which is funny) and Fearless (which is awesome).

Most units will struggle to do 10 wounds to guardsmen in a single round (after crossing the table taking fire all the way in), so when you lose combat, you don't break, but rather trap your opponent in melee for his turn. Since the order only works on your turn, you're back to normal suck-tastic on his turn, and will break (if anyone is left alive). Then when your turn rolls around again, your opponent is not safely in combat and you blaze away.
With a 24" command range, Creed's pretty good about finding units to send into combat.

-Matt