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So i'm a new warhammer 40k player and iv'e started building a crimson fists SM army. I want the army to have lots of long range firepower and I have gotten to the point where I just don't know what to go for next, I can't really say i'm opposed to any model in particular and I think all of the space marine models are fantastic looking so this is purely from a gameplay effectiveness point of view. I'm looking mainly for something to cut down infantry with and something to cut down tanks with but i'm also looking for general tips on expanding my army. Thanks a lot!

I have:

Pedro Kantor

Librarian in Terminator armour

2x Tac Marine squads (2x Rhino transport)

1x Scout Sniper Squad (5)

1x Sternguard Squad (10)

1x Assault Terminator Squad (5) TH/SS

You've got a reasonable array of ranged anti infantry. Boltguns work well enough, but heavy bolters are also free on the Tac squads.
Assault terminators are terrible at shooting
In terms of long range anti tank, good bets would be las/auto predators. The heavy weapon choices on TAC and Sternguard squads are also good since they're cheap. When you go to devastators everything starts getting expensive real quick. For heavy vehicles, the safest bets are always going to be melta, but thats not exactly long range so...
What sort of army size are you looking at though?

Thanks for the post, Haha yes the assault terminators are my exception unit, I just like them too much. I'm not really looking at a points cap, just the next logical addition by addition. How many preds would you recommend?

Well what to get sort of depends on what appeals, and what you typically verse. If there's a truckload of hoard players, thunderfire cannons will be gold. Lots of fliers, probably the best way would be to get either an ADL with a quad gun for the scouts, or your own flier like a stormtalon. For you, I would probably look at getting a transport for the sternguard and one for the terminators like a land raider crusader. I'm guessing you put the librarian with the terminators and pedro with the sternguard? For the auto/las predators it would be best to just get one to start off with. You dont want to go a fork out a heap to max out your heavy support then realise you want something else as well.

Yep I've been using librarian to gate of infinity them into peoples faces but I was considering a LR crusader. Drop pods for the Sternguard? Las/auto Pred vs TL Las/HB pred, or all Las pred?



*Edit* Came up with this for a 2000 point list, how is it?

HQ (275pts)

Chapter Master Pedro Kantor (175pts)
And They Shall Know no Fear, Chapter Tactics, Combat Tactics, Independent Character, Inspiring Presence, Orbital Bombardment

Librarian (100pts)
And They Shall Know no Fear, Combat Tactics, Independent Character, Psyker
Power Armour

Elites (745pts)

Sternguard Veteran Squad (285pts)
And They Shall Know no Fear, Combat Squads, Combat Tactics
Space Marine Sergeant (25pts), 9x Veteran (225pts)
Drop Pod (35pts)
Storm Bolter

Sternguard Veteran Squad (260pts)
And They Shall Know no Fear, Combat Squads, Combat Tactics
Space Marine Sergeant (25pts), 8x Veteran (200pts)
Drop Pod (35pts)
Storm Bolter

Terminator Assault Squad (200pts)
And They Shall Know no Fear, Combat Squads, Combat Tactics
5x Thunder Hammer & Storm Shield (200pts)

Troops (450pts)

Tactical Squad (225pts)
And They Shall Know no Fear, Combat Squads, Combat Tactics
Missile Launcher, Plasma Gun (10pts), Rhino (35pts) (Repair, Tank), 9x Space Marine (144pts)
Space Marine Sergeant (36pts)
Storm Bolter (10pts)

Tactical Squad (225pts)
And They Shall Know no Fear, Combat Squads, Combat Tactics
Missile Launcher, Plasma Gun (10pts), Rhino (35pts) (Repair, Tank), 9x Space Marine (144pts)
Space Marine Sergeant (36pts)
Storm Bolter (10pts)

Fast Attack (290pts)

Stormtalon Gunship (145pts)
Aerial Assault, Escort Craft, Hover Strike, Supersonic
Typhoon Missle Launcher (35pts)

Stormtalon Gunship (145pts)
Aerial Assault, Escort Craft, Hover Strike, Supersonic
Typhoon Missle Launcher (35pts)

Heavy Support (240pts)

Predator (120pts)
Autocannon, Lascannons (60pts)

Predator (120pts)
Autocannon, Lascannons (60pts)

Looks pretty solid.

I would swap one tac squad from a rhino to a drop pod, and keep the other on foot. If you have 3 pods, you get to drop two first turn. In most games you are going to need to camp your home objective, so you can have one non mobile scoring unit.

Take those points you save and buy some combi weapons for the sternguard. Even a handful of c-meltas would be nice, tanks are the one thing special ammo can't really touch. Pods can hold 12 guys, so you have space to attach characters. Running full 10 man squads lets you combat squad out if needed.

Thunderfire cannon is what I would consider a must in a shooty army. i would drop that terminator squad for more sternguard or a thunderfire, as the cannon can take down tanks just as well as the termies.

I agree that TFCs are a must. Even only one is fine. At only 100 points they are very good if used right.

My experience with predators has been poor, but this may be because my first army was guard, so I kind of expect my Predators to perform like Russ. In general though they are a good unit, AV13 is good and autolas predators are great at hurting light/mid vehicles.

In my SM gunline, I like to use 5 man devastator square with 4 missiles. 150 points, great against most targets.

I'm not seeing combi weapons in your Sternguard. Cheap combiweapons in a drop pod is part of what makes stern guard an exceptional unit. Dropping the Librarian would buy all 20 Sternguard combis.

Just my thoughts,
_ e

Suggest:

Troops: use Razorbacks with las/plas. You can combat squad if you wish for mobility.

Try some kind of skimmers: the two heavy bolters on skimmers or hvy bolters on attack bikes put out huge shootyness.

What, no Pred Auto/Hvy bolter combo? Super cheap hail of lead.

Good luck, there is no true "right way" it all depends on your method of play and what you think you will face.

I have found my Storm Talon risky since it has a tendency to show up late in the game. Facing horde armies I need shooting on turn one. Anything past turn 3 it is pretty much over except the crying.

I agree with drop pod and combi-weapons on the Sternguard. You have targets you want them obliterate so be prepared.

So would taking out the assault terms and subbing in a TFC and a scout squad be a good move?

Yo just a warning, but you have to take off the individual points costs for the wargear. Just post the unit's point total, it's against the forum's rules to post individual point costs.

Just thought I'ld let you know.

As to your list, it looks great, and should be a real treat to play!

Yes it probably would be, then the extra 100 can get combi's for the sternguard and then just put the librarian and pedro with a sternguard unit.

Thanks for everyone's fantastic input, one last question, what combi's to give the sternguard?

Melta for anti-armor and flamers for anti-horde. Depends on what you need, and if you have a 10-man squad combat squad em and do 5 melta 5 flamer. But I recommend plasma if they aren't in a drop pod or other transport