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Hi all! I'm heading to my first tournament away from my home store, and I want to have a good showing. Here's what I'm thinking of bringing. It's not 'til March, so I have time to pick up a kit or two if needed.

HQ
CCS - x2 plasma guns, lascannon, Chimera - 155pts

TROOP
Platoon
PCS - x2 flamers, autocannon - 50pts
x2 Infantry Squads - flamer, autocannon - 130pts

x2 Veteran Squads - x3 plasma guns, Chimera - 340pts
x2 Veteran Squads - Forward Sentries, x3 meltaguns - 260pts

ELITE
Marbo - 65pts

FAST ATTACK
x2 Vendettas - 260pts

HEAVY SUPPORT
x2 Leman Russ Demolishers - 330pts
Manticore - 160pts

FORTIFICATION
Aegis - Quad-gun - 100pts

Notes: Non-mechanized Vets ride in the Vendettas, ready to drop on an objective late-game. Platoon and CCS sit behind the Aegis, probably with an objective. Demolishers draw fire. If you sit back, I hit you with the Manticore, Vendettas and autocannons. If you come at me, I wreck you with Demolishers and FRFSRF.

Thoughts? Weaknesses?

Looks pretty sound but a few points:

CCS; I wouldn't take both plasma and lascannon because they generally have different targets. Melta and lascannon... maybe but there is a massive range difference so probably not. Also yes they're BS4 but they're also your HQ. I would be tempted to switch them with the PCS so they hang with the infantry can untilise their orders. Then give the PCS a full loadout of plasma in a chimera for anti 2+ so when they eventually die it wont matter so much.

Forward sentries is expensive but I presume its for going to ground late in the game on objective so okay.

You've got a bit of anti tank with the melta vets in the vendettas and demolishers, but I dont think you have enough infantry to make good use of FRFSRF to combat alot of infantry. I think against a MC heavy list it would be difficult but they're not the most common.

Other than the CCS it looks good to me

Thanks, rahxephon!

I've struggled with how to outfit my CCS constantly. I prefer to keep them in the rear to deny a Warlord kill. On that count, the lascannon's been handy; they sit back and pop that one shot at whatever's scary. Doesn't tend to do much, but at least I could get lucky.

Trouble is, nothing can adequately back that up. Sniper rifles would match the range, but be useless on a lascannon's target. Nothing else has range.

I settled on splitting the difference between something mid-range that could help drop a light vehicle or elite squad, and also had multiple shots to help overwatch if the CCS gets overrun. My only other thought is flamer/heavy flamer, but that removes the range utility.

And yes, Forward Sentries is for objective-holding in the late game. Otherwise I'd either skip doctrines or try Demolitions.

 plus1jeremy wrote:
Thanks, rahxephon!

I've struggled with how to outfit my CCS constantly. I prefer to keep them in the rear to deny a Warlord kill. On that count, the lascannon's been handy; they sit back and pop that one shot at whatever's scary. Doesn't tend to do much, but at least I could get lucky.

Trouble is, nothing can adequately back that up. Sniper rifles would match the range, but be useless on a lascannon's target. Nothing else has range.

I settled on splitting the difference between something mid-range that could help drop a light vehicle or elite squad, and also had multiple shots to help overwatch if the CCS gets overrun. My only other thought is flamer/heavy flamer, but that removes the range utility.

And yes, Forward Sentries is for objective-holding in the late game. Otherwise I'd either skip doctrines or try Demolitions.

Ive run into the same threat myself. I usually run plasma and lascannon with a regimental standard. Standard because ive started using 2 platoons and I like to make sure my guys dont run so easily. The lascannnon because it great with bs4 and for bringing down bigger targets and vehicles. The plasma for mech/light armor and more shots when I overwatch.

I have run with melta which is pretty good as it takes down armor that gets too close and I like running flamers for great overwatch hits. I wouldnt waste the points on the heavy flamer though.

Rax, I get mixed results out of FRFSRF with a small platoon. I can often drop an MEQ squad (at least below a threatening level), between all the lasguns and autocannons. Against hordes I don't fare as well. That's where the Demolishers and Manticore come in. Still, a proper green tide can overrun my forces. That concerns me.

To be honest, I feel your CCS is better off with Camo cloaks sitting behind the ADL. You can now give your CCS Orders (BiD, make sure it is the last Order) and the plasma helps defend against DSing Terminators and drop pod shennanigans. I agree also with putting the Chimera with the PCS. Just give them 4x Melta guns to support the 2 Plasma Chimeras. Personally, I feel 3 Chimeras will not last very long, specially if your forced to come out behind the line. Rember that Sentries and Camo cloaks will give your guys a 3+ cover save behind the ADL.

I will also point out that your Melta Vets, while your set once you take the objective that is in cover, they will actually struggle to dislodge a unit that is already there. I would suggest a SWS with 3x Flamers. Yeah, they will not last if shot at, but they are still scoring units and the Flamers on them doesn't feel like the waste that they would be on Vets. You can also put your PCS with 4x Flamers (and a better leadership) in a Vendetta or go with two blobs and thus two PCSs.

I'm in agreement with blktom about melta vets being unable to contest objectives well. But they are his primary anti tank unit so he cant really drop them for flamers or something. He could always take another valk with flamers but then it just turns into another valk list.
Also plus1jeremy I know what you mean about things like horde lists. To combat it you have to sacrifice something else that opens up another void. I think the best option would be to change a demolisher to either a raw punisher or an exterminator with heavy bolter sponsons. Then you have something for hordes and MCs but it depends, some aren't so sold on those variants. I like the 4 tl autocannons but with heaps of other sources of them it can be a bit redundant.But I imagine it would sort of become a roadblock between enemy anti-tank and the demolisher. I find that specific themed lists like horde ones can be difficult to combat when you have a more TAC list. Thats just what I've found but then maybe my TAC lists just aren't that TAC.

I always forget SWS! Hmm... not a lot of bodies for objective-holding though. And they can't get camo cloaks. Nice and cheap though.

Bear in mind, while my Meltavets are scoring, not all missions have a bunch of objectives to worry over, or have so many the defender will be spread out. I've often cleared an objective with Manticore or Vendetta fire, then dropped onto it. It doesn't always work. I used to run this with Executioners which were more reliable for that, but then I was sorely lacking anti-AV14.

I will give that a lot of thought though. I can switch to maybe 3 Vet squads, two melta and a plasma, all in Chimeras. I'll think about mobilizing the PCS, too. That's an interesting idea.

A lot of good advice here, but if I may weigh in on the CCS.

I run a 2x Plas Lascannon CCS, and I find it works well if you are fighting a stationary battle. Generally, it's not hard for most armies to get inside 24 inches of you very fast, so having that kind of accurate lascannon fire shooting at them helps pop transports and other HS pretty quick if supported. The Plas is usually pretty good insurence if they get too close. And, they help pop any Deep Striking units with double tapped plasma on top of a point blank lascannon shot.
Of course, if you are more mobile with your CCS then filling it all up with Plas or Melta will be more effective.

SWS are a nice addition I must say. It's a cheap melta platform (65 points for a low-profile melta unit? Sure why not! With only 6 men, and the new cover rules, you can get them on target pretty intact if you are good about it) if you really need it, and even though they can't take transports or upgrades, you can but a line squad one and let them jack it first turn. It's just, with BS3 you can't rely on them too much. That's why we have vets to do that stuff They are mostly there in my lists just to add more redundancy if I feel like I need it in an area im weak at.