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Noise marines -

Pros - ignores cover a lot of the times and can be deadly with blast masters
can be relatively cheap
Nothing stopping you from building an assault version with dirge caster support
can get FnP but you do have to pay a lot for it
Fearless so will not run off your backboard edge even if beat down


Cons -
tends to be more static if going with blast masters
countered by spreading out a lot though doesn't really help vehicles much
still just str 8 vs front armor most times
still dependent on transports to get across map

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Plague marines

Pros: very resilent and hard to budge
Built in defensive and assault grenades
can take 2 plasma/meltas each
very hard to ignore their FnP
Nurgle lord can join with nurgle oblits and nurgle spawn (though spawn not necessarily in this list)


Cons: barebones can be more expensive than noise marines
No really long range options and will have to depend on oblits/drakes for long range fire
still dependent on transports to get across map


Please evaluate assuming my backfield is going to be oblits + drakes (probably just 2). And that these guys will be my scoring units. Assume lord with mark and nothing particular set in stone about his wargear choices.

I'd go for the noise marines. Cover is so important these days the ability to ignore it is pure gold.

I'm a Slaanesh fan, so I'm going Noise Marines all the way. The fact that I'm currently building an army of OOP ones helps. I also have ten damn blast masters and don't need that many!

I like both but prefer Plague Marines. My mileage has been much better with them,

Plague marines every day, and twice on Sunday.

They are nearly immune to small arms fire. Given the increase of small arms you are seeing in games today, its a significant advantage.

I play both, but not often together. Normally which one I take defines how the list will be put together.

I like Noisemarines more because of their fluff, but it also helps that they are awesome.

My current 1750 list has 5 blastmasters, but I really want to squeeze in 6. I still pray for a day when I can take them on Havocs again.

Neither. Minimum 2 squads of standard CSM and then some allied troops that are actually good.

 Therion wrote:
Neither. Minimum 2 squads of standard CSM and then some allied troops that are actually good.

I'm kind of curious as to what troops from another codex is better? Honest question, I'm not seeing that many better troops in other codexes.

I prefer plague marines.

Plague marines aye hands down the best troops in the game

As someone who habitually listens to their music at unreasonable levels, I'd go noise marines from a fluff standpoint. Lots of very good shooting is a plus too.

As troops, plague marines all the way. T5, FnP, fearless... they are just so tough to move off an objective.

Dalymiddleboro wrote:
Plague marines aye hands down the best troops in the game

Wow, that's a pretty bold statement.
I would say they are top notch in the CSM codex. Don't think they are the best in the game though.


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 sudojoe wrote:
I'm kind of curious as to what troops from another codex is better? Honest question, I'm not seeing that many better troops in other codexes.

I take plague bearers from the daemons codex. I find they make good, cheap objective holders. I can also use them to deep strike to gain linebreaker.


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 ectoplastic wrote:
As troops, plague marines all the way. T5, FnP, fearless... they are just so tough to move off an objective.

Don't forget plague knives. If you run the math, you will see they are as good as chosen in assault, and better when they are assaulting (which admittedly is fairly rare)
It takes STR 10 shots to remove their FNP. This means if your getting a 5+ cover save from area terrain, they have a 55% to not take a wound from a lascannon! Those are good odds.
They have defensive grenades so they also get stealth if they are shot from 8" or less. This means when that MG is shooting them from a deep striking squad your getting a 4+ cover save, then a 5+ FNP save.
They are also one of the only units that does not play the 'champion tax' that other CSM units pay. (chosen being the other)

They have some weakness' -- mass STR 7 shooting. They have a hard time vs necron flyer spam simply due to the number of shots. Massive STR 6 eldar shooting can also cause some problems.
They are also mid-field troops. If your outside 24" you don't need to worry about them. This can be a big drag as you can't stop the land raider full of terminators until its on top of you. It also means they make crappy deck chairs as they are expensive and can't effect the battle.
They also can't tackle top tier assault units by themselves. If someone throws Abbadon at them, they will become plague scraps. This is why I've been bringing a GUO with my PM's. This has helped me greatly.

I find PM are the best for winning games.
They are so resilient and hard to move off an objective.
You also have Heldrakes to make a mess of anything hiding in cover so the NM just become redundant.

I voted for the Noise Marines, out of pure rule of cool.

But if your list can contain them both and remain viable, thats just even better.

Sex, drugs and rock'n roll. So I've voted for Slaanesh. Noise Marines with blastmasters are decent units to field.

I forgot to vote when I wrote my answer. Lol. It was corrected.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I forgot to vote when I wrote my answer. Lol. It was corrected.

If a decked out squad of plague squared off against a squad of noise, both at 36" in a rhino,

Noise wins...nearly every time

 sudojoe wrote:

 Therion wrote:
Neither. Minimum 2 squads of standard CSM and then some allied troops that are actually good.

I'm kind of curious as to what troops from another codex is better? Honest question, I'm not seeing that many better troops in other codexes.

have you looked in the IG or SW codex before?


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I believe plague marines are better because they are easier to use. Noise marines are more powerful, but more difficult to use.

PM are like marines, but more durable. Their increased damage potential from plague knives and extra special weapons moderately compenstate them for their cost, but not really. They are durrable marines. Use them like you use any other marine and you are likely to do well.

NM strike at init5 and ignore cover. When used correctly, these can be devastating. But they have to be used correctly. Getting that transport popped and then landing that blastmaster template require skill to corridante together, but when you get it, it really pays off. Charging in and striking first can also be a huge advantage against some of the best units in the game.

Because PM are easier to use, they show up in more lists. They are more often taken.

I can agree with Greg hunters but vets and blob aren't the be all end all of troops either though.

I'm kind of surprised at the poll so far actually