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So I am looking to make this army fairly decent after having only a couple games with them prior to the codex merger. I am looking on ways to make a list from the models I have and also wondering what other units to get that may help to bolster this. So far it looks like getting a LRC may be a good idea. or going with some more tac marines and some more scouts.

Anyway, here is my current list of models:

Emperors Champion
Chaplain w/ Powerfist
Commander with power axe and storm shield
25 Initiates (or tactical marines)
5 close combat scouts
5 assault terminators. 3 TH/SS, 2 Lightning Claw
5 tactical terminators. one with assault cannon and one with Cyclone. (BT used to be able to have 2 heavy weapons per 5 termys)
Drop Pod
Dreadnought w/ multi-melta and ccw

The Crusader Squad is one of the main strengths of playing Black Templars - you can take a special and a heavy weapon in squads of less than 10 models. Leave the CC to the Terminators.

Based on your existing list of models, I would recommend getting some Rhinos as soon as possible. A Land Raider Crusader is also a good choice. You also have no anti-air, which you desperately need.

A decent 1,500 list would look like:

HQ
Emperor's Champion 140 (joins the Assault Terminators)

Elites
5 Assault Terminators 225
-Thunder Hammer/Storm Shield
Land Raider Crusader 260
-Multi-Melta

5 Terminators 235
-Cyclone Missile Launcher, 1 Chainfist

Dreadnought 145 (he targets key enemy tanks or devastator squads)
-Multi-Melta, CCW & Heavy Flamer, Drop Pod

Troops
5 Initiates + 2 Neophytes 140 (the Neophytes catch bullets and increase the squad's resilience)
-Plasmagun, Multi-Melta, Rhino

5 Initiates + 2 Neophytes 140
-Plasmagun, Multi-Melta, Rhino

5 Initiates 90 (for home objectives)
-Lascannon

Fast Attack
Stormtalon 125 (modest but effective anti-air)
-Skyhammer missiles

TOTAL: 1,500

This is a pretty versatile list that can take on a variety of threats. Obviously it will require you to acquire various special/heavy weapons that are not included in the box sets. In games of 1,500 points or less you typically do not more than one character. If you can proxy this list with a friend to test it I would recommend doing so, to get a feel of how mechanized troops and terminators work.

I hope this helps!

Yeah this is a big help. It looks like to make this happen I would need to pickup:
LRC
2x Rhinos
Devastator Squad
Stormtalon.

My local gaming group is fairly light on flyers, So I may hold off on the flyer for a little bit. I also noticed that this only uses 15 of the initiates. Is that pretty standard?

My other plan was something a long this line.

HQ
Chaplain with PF and homer = 125
Emperor’s Champion = 140
Elite
Terminator Assault Squad w/ 3 TH/SS = 215
Terminator Tactical Squad = 200
Dreadnought , in drop pod = 135
Troops
5 Initiates with bolters, ML = 85
5 Initiates with bolters, ML = 85
5 Initiates with Lascannon = 90
9 Initiates Melta, drop pod = 176
Heavy Support
Land Raider Crusader = 250
Total
1501

I was going to put the EC with the assault terminators in the LR. The chaplain with the homer was going in the drop pod with the 9 initiates. The teleport homer is supposed to guide the terminators when they show up. Although it looks like having two drop pods would only provide to mess that plan up a little bit. Maybe I should switch that Dread to a more long range dreadnought. A gun platform of sorts and lose the drop pod.

I like to have at least 20 scoring marines in 1,500, but more is always better. Let me help with the list you have put together. My comments in red.

HQ
Chaplain with PF and homer = 125
I'm not sold on this guy. He's expensive and doesn't do much. The Terminators really don't need a homer. Can't Drop Pods still take Locator Beacons?
Emperor’s Champion = 140
Great in challenges. I would only take one of these HQ choices until you get to higher point games.
Elite
Terminator Assault Squad w/ 3 TH/SS = 215
I would avoid taking Lightning Claws if at all possible. TH/SS is just so much better in almost every situation.
Terminator Tactical Squad = 200
These guys need a heavy weapon to make them worthwhile.
Dreadnought , in drop pod = 135
I love Multi-Melta Dreads in Drop Pods. They are great in taking out key targets and causing some backfield disruption for your opponent.
Troops
5 Initiates with bolters, ML = 85
5 Initiates with bolters, ML = 85
Good scoring units. Keep these the same.
5 Initiates with Lascannon = 90
2 squads is enough static troop choices. These guys would really benefit from a Rhino.
9 Initiates Melta, drop pod = 176
Podding troops are good. I would recommend taking pods in odd numbers so you have more come down on the first turn.
Heavy Support
Land Raider Crusader = 250
Always, always, always give your Land Raider Crusader a Multi-Melta. The kit comes with one. It is a great value for 10 points and can split fire thanks to PotMS.


There's another way to run Crusader Squads that harkens back to 4th edition tournament Space Marine armies (if you played then)... the 6-man Las/Plas squad!

HQ
The Emperor's Champion 140 (Or the Chaplain, if you really want him. He joins a Crusader Squad or the Terminators.)

Elites
7 Assault Terminators 315
-Thunder Hammer/Storm Shield
Land Raider Crusader 260
-Multi-Melta

Dreadnought 145 (he targets key enemy tanks or devastator squads)
-Multi-Melta, Heavy Flamer, Drop Pod

Troops
6 Initiates 134
-Plasmagun, Lascannon, Sword Brother with Meltabombs

6 Initiates 134
-Plasmagun, Lascannon, Sword Brother with Meltabombs

6 Initiates 134
-Plasmagun, Lascannon, Sword Brother with Meltabombs

6 Initiates 119
-Plasmagun, Lascannon

6 Initiates 119
-Plasmagun, Lascannon


Total: 1,500

This list is a much different approach, obviously. Getting your hands on all of those Plasmaguns, Lascannons, and Thunder Hammers isn't as difficult as you think... Look up "Magic Mold" or "Instant Mold" on amazon.com (your local non-GW LGS may even carry it) EDIT: Link here.

This list gives you a hard as nails CC unit that can walk through whole armies if not properly dealt with. In addition you have a Dreadnought who drops down turn 1 and causes havok, destroying support units (like basilisks or devastators). Finally you have 30 scoring marines armed to the teeth with low-AP weaponry. Enemy transports will not last long and most players will pour firepower into your Terminators over the Initiates.

Again... proxy before you buy anything. This list certainly isn't for everybody.

Okay, I played this list last night against an Imperial Fists CT army.

HQ
Chapter Master w/ power axe, storm shield, artificer armor, melta bombs = 185
Emperors Champion = 140
Troops
6 Initiates, 1 Neophyte, las/plas, sword brother
6 Initiates, 1 Neophyte, las/plas, sword brother
6 Initiates, 1 Neophyte, las/plas, sword brother
6 Initiates, 1 Neophyte, las/plas, sword brother
Elite
Ven. Dreadnought w/ multi-melta, heavy flamer, extra armor in Drop pod
Assault Terminator Squad w/ 4 TH/SS
Tactical Terminator Squad w/ cyclone launcher


The mission was Crusade and there were 4 objectives. we deployed along the long edges of the board and I set up all my las/plas squads in some type of cover. My Tactical Term squad and the dread were in reserves and I put my two HQ in the assault terminator squad to footslog across the board. I was looking to use their 2+/3++ to provide a delivery system for my two beatstick HQs.

By end of the game I only lost one full unit, it was one of the las/plas squads that was making a run for the 3rd objective across the board. he sent an assault squad after them and they got cooked. My assault terminators and HQ s ended up wiping out a full ten man Tac Squad, the assault squad and a sternguard squad. Most of the terminators got shot up on the way there so all of those kills pretty much went to the HQ units.

The dreadnought in the drop pod was awesome as it came down right behind the rhino with the enemies warlord and command squad. Multi-melta blew it up and then next turn, he survived the onslought to make a charge. They made a Our Weapons Are Useless check and failed giving me first blood and slay the warlord in one go.

I took the win pretty handily, but it looked like we were both playing with some experimental lists and were proxying some things. I think the riskiest thing was footslogging the assault termies with two HQs in it. Although to get this list down to 1500 and ass some things I may take out the Sword brothers and neophytes and may swap out the tactical terminators for a land raider crusader.

Wait... you played against other marines... then you should know if they loose combat. and run... and if they are catched... they still live due They shall know no fear!

¨Refering to this part¨ they made a Our Weapons Are Useless check and failed giving me first blood and slay the warlord in one go. ¨

:

Our weapons are useless means you can fail a morale check to run away. This would override the ATSKNF which means they stay locked in combat.

Otherwise they would have stayed locked in combat the whole time and would have slowly been chopped down by a dnccw.

EDIT: oh wait I see what should have happened. He made the our weapons are useless check to run, he failed, and instead if dying we should have just stayed in combat. And then next combat he could have tried again. Makes sense.

Thats what i ment y.

Glad to hear that you won! Hopefully you like the list and continue to get victories. I like the addition of Neophytes to your Crusader Squads but I do not like the Sword Brothers, as they don't do much.

Yeah the only reason I added the sword brothers was for points, because that list used up all my models and I had nowhere else to spend it.

But I am looking at getting some new models in and dropping those guys to squeeze in either a drop pod delivery system for a crusader squad or a second dreadnought. I have a fluff back story for the Halifax Crusade that revolves around two Dreadnoughts. Actually to the back story, one should be a chaplain dreadnought, but I don't anticipate ordering one of those any time soon.