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Hello from a first time poster here on Dakka. After a long hiatus I've been tempted back to the hobby by the new(ish) Imperial Guard. Thought I'd post a list and get some thoughts, before trundling to the FLGS since I'm no longer savant on trends or good army building ideas. I'm not a competitive player and like to keep fluffy if possible. Bearing that in mind, here's my list:

Tank Commander squadron with 2 Vanquishers each with 3 heavy bolters

Veterans with 2 flamers and shotguns in Chimera

Veterans with 2 flamers and shotguns in Chimera

Vendetta

Vendetta

2x Armoured Sentinels with Lascannons

Leman Russ with Hull Mounted Heavy Bolter

Leman Russ with Hull Mounted Heavy Bolter

Leman Russ with Hull Mounted Heavy Bolter

Total = 1500pts

It’s pretty bare bones and seems quite spammy. Low on scoring units but should be kill happy enough. One important aspect for me though is that the formation fits with an idea of the background. A small force of main battle tanks, advancing with a mechanised infantry escort, behind a token reconnaissance element, with a little air support and anti fighter coverage, all pushing forward to punch through enemy lines. Still I’d probably be accused of spamming.

The target priority is opposing armour and anti tank capability, and the force should have enough manoeuvre to go after it wherever they hide, especially with two out of the three Warlord traits being useful. D3 Outflankers, either to Sentinels or Veterans, or Preferred Enemy to the HQ sqn tank hunting. Draconian Discipline would generally be a waste. The Vets would be either held back and used for late objective grabbing or very reluctantly sent out to flush concentrated entrenched anti tank infantry. After anti tank is eliminated, whatever is left can be mopped up with Battle Cannon and Heavy Bolters. That’s the plan anyway.

I could drop one Vendetta and tool up a bit more, like I’d like to give lascannons to the Leman Russ', or convert one to an Executioner, or beef up the veterans etc. I have also considered changing one of the vanquishers to a normal Leman Russ or an Executioner, and including Pask (though his fixed warlord trait would mean no outflanking potential). It might look something like this:

Knight Commander Pask in a Vanquisher with Lascannon and Hunter Killer Missile, accompanied by an Executioner with 3 Heavy Bolters

Grenadier Veterans with 2 flamers and shotguns in Chimera

Grenadier Veterans with 2 flamers and shotguns in Chimera

Vendetta

1x Armoured Sentinel with Lascannon

2x Armoured Sentinels with Lascannons

Leman Russ with Lascannon

Leman Russ with Lascannon

Leman Russ with Lascannon

Total = 1500pts

I could easily swap one of the Sentinels and tweak the list to get in 5x Rough Riders or put an Enginseer with some servitors into the Vendetta. It would also be possible to get a small Storm Trooper squad to be carried in the Vendetta or for some deep strike melta goodness, but that doesn’t seem too fluffy to me and would probably mean dropping a few lascannons.

Of course I'm very very troop light, but should I really take more mech vets? What do you guys think? Which of the two lists do you prefer? Any other suggestions on changing the army?

I think you should take more mech vets.

The only thing I'll say for certain is ALWAYS take a heavy flamer. Now that it's 10 points I do 2 meltas and a heavy flamer or two plasmas and a heavy flamer.

Other than that, a few tweaks to better your killing power and that list looks fun. For list one, I'd drop a vendetta and take a third vet squad. And with so few troops and at only 15 points, give them all carapace.

I'd recommend trying something like:

-Tank commander w/ vanquisher and las, w/2 executioner autocannon and las squadron.

3 vets with 2 plasma and 1 hvy flamer and carapace in chimera with hvy bolter and multilaser

2 Leman Russ w/ battle cannon and hvy bolter
1Leman Russ w/ punisher and 3 hvy bolters

Without my book, that should leave you 50 odd points.

I usually take little to no air and lots of troops, but I'd play that list as a foray into tank heavy if I was keeping to an all armour/mech theme.

For fun, it seems pretty decent. If you're wanting to be at all serious with it, you need more troops. Two Vet squads is a roadbump and you won't be able to defend any objectives with just tanks, unfortunately.

I still don't think Rough Riders are worth it. But Enginseers are for sure.