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So, I'm playing in an 1850 point league right now, and currently, my foot-russ list looks like.

CCS - plasma pistol, 3x snipers, standard

PCS - lascannon
PIS - lascannon, meltagun
PIS - lascannon, meltagun
PIS - lascannon, meltagun
PIS - lascannon, meltagun

PCS - lascannon
PIS - lascannon, meltagun
PIS - lascannon, meltagun
PIS - lascannon, meltagun
PIS - lascannon, meltagun

Vanquisher - lascannon, pask

Vanquisher - lascannon, multimeltas
Vanquisher - lascannon, multimeltas

Vanquisher - lascannon, multimeltas
Vanquisher - lascannon, multimeltas

In case it's not that obvious, my local store has a guard player who AV14 spams, and a local necron player who brings 6+ pieces of AV13, and a blood angels player who brings lots of predators, etc. etc.

Anyways, I've now got all of these russes all painted up, and now that I finally have a paint scheme that I like, and a method for applying it quickly, I'm more open to taking the plunge and just going mech.

I'm a bit limited in what I can field, but this is my first crack at an 1850 point mech list

Lord Commissar - plasma pistol

Vets - plasma pistol, 3x melta, lascannon, chimera with multilaser/heavy bolter
Vets - plasma pistol, 3x melta, lascannon, chimera with multilaser/heavy bolter
Vets - plasma pistol, 3x melta, lascannon, chimera with multilaser/heavy bolter

Vanquisher - lascannon, pask
Exterminator - lascannon, multimeltas

Vanquisher - lascannon, multimeltas
Exterminator - lascannon, multimeltas

Vanquisher - lascannon, multimeltas
Exterminator - lascannon, multimeltas

The problem with this list (other than I lose a LOT of infantry), is that I lose a bunch of long-range anti-tank. I lose 2 vanquisher cannons, and the equivalent of 5 lascannons. I'm gaining the equivalent of 4 meltaguns and two multimeltas, but those are short range. Of course, I gain a bunch of other low-level weapons, but they're not serious anti-tank at the level I'm playing at.

I haven't really done anything like this before, and I'm kind of scared that 6 russes means that I don't have enough to properly support the russes, and my strength at short-range makes me a little nervous because of the loss to long-range firepower. I suppose I could always just run six vanquishers and don't even bother with the exterminators, but that makes me feel like I'm going pretty light on anti-infantry, given that I no longer have nearly 100 infantry models to take up the anti-horde slack.

I'm kind of getting ready not to have to deploy and move a guard horde around, but I'm not convinced that a mech list is actually stronger in this case.

I think the vanquisher/exterminator combo is a bit, odd. Maybe squad vanquishers together and let the exterminators work together. The vanquisher builds are pure AT, but the exterminators will provide more varied roles.

A really nice thing in the guard codex is the ability to flat abuse gunslinger. I would get dual plasma pistols on your lord. Same cost as putting one on a sarge, but then if the sarge buys the farm the squad loses LD and the investment. Commissar is 1 bs higher, and has multiple wounds so he can get plasma burned a couple times and live.

If you are worried about hordes, what about a bolter boat punisher to go with an exterminator? You could even put a lascannon and melta sponsons on it to compensate for the loss of AT fire. Obviously, the cost increase is a factor.

Well, in this case, the tank squads are two lascannons and four multimeltas. Their turret weapons are somewhat ancillary. In this case, it's a spread of lascannons and autocannons for various just in case situations. I'd want to blend them, though, so as not to have my opponent target priority things well and leave a few russes less useful.

I'd also like to have those exterminators be punishers, but I don't have the 90 points to convert them all.

At BS 3 I personally am not a fan of the one shot Vanquisher. Even with Pask, you are paying a premium for a BS4, potentially STR 9 cannon. I would take a classic russ instead for an ord weapon and the fact that it can take on hordes/infantry.

Well, firstly, a vanquisher cannon is equal to about 2 lascannons against AV13, and secondly, I don't think I could take a LRBT here, as they are worse against literally every target in the game (other than marines in the open and AV14) than an exterminator. Plus, they have ordnance, which means they screw with the hull weapons, which is rather the reason I'm taking them in the first place.

I think some Demolishers will replace a few vanquishers quite nicely and fill a universal role. Have you considered the armored battlegroup rules? Are you already using them? Im also planing an Armor wall for the Nova Open but i think im missing how you have 6 heavies without IA:1 ABG rules.

This list seems light on troops choices.

CCS - 4x melta, chimera

Vets - 3x melta, chimera
Vets - 3x melta, chimera
Vets - 3x melta, chimera
Vets - 3x melta, chimera

Vanquisher - pask, lascannon

Vanquisher - lascannon
Exterminator - lascannon

Vanquisher - lascannon
Exterminator - lascannon

Total 1705

This list has 1 more troop and a better hq plus more armor saturation. You can use the remaining points to put the multi meltas back or give out power fists or maybe carapace armor.

 lonedrow02 wrote:
I think some Demolishers will replace a few vanquishers quite nicely and fill a universal role. Have you considered the armored battlegroup rules? Are you already using them? Im also planing an Armor wall for the Nova Open but i think im missing how you have 6 heavies without IA:1 ABG rules.

Ok i see where i was getting confused you had posted two versions of one list and i had assumed they were one list. Probably shouldn't post so early ha. General ians list above seems like an improvement. I personally would give up the exterminators for something that has a pie plate like the regular LRBT or demolishers. perhaps im missing your thoughts behind including them... I think a squad of melta stormies would go along way in this case too.

I prefer to have the hull weaponon my chimeras (especially with melta vets) to have the hull heavy flamer. I can't tell you how many times, I've appreciated that d*mn flamer. It really helps the vets push troops off objectives. Vanquishers and Exterminators are allright. I prefer Manticores, LRBTs, Vendetta Gunships, Medusas, Basilisks, etc. That's just me. Pasquishers can be fun. I understand the lure, but I feel like you could get more for less. That's just me though.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also, I'd skip the Lascannons on the Vets, they won't be firing them a lot of the time. The plasmna pistols are also very costly. I usually just run 3 plasma guns or 3 melta guns in a chimera. No other upgrades. Remember, when playing IG...

BOYS > TOYS

Let your troops do one thing, and your heavy support do another. Melta Vets are usually a suicide unit. I wouldn't want to drop 200 points on the squads.

Erik the Red wrote:BOYS > TOYS

Oh how I used to believe this was true. We're in 6th ed now, though. It's all about up-front killing power.

I could see fanangling things to get another vet squad in, but I'm really not sold on saving a few points if it means losing all of those cheap, durable multimeltas.