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Hello everyone, recently I have come into a dilemma of sorts when trying to construct the 2nd part of my Elysian Drop Troops, the 2000pts. that I ill be running out of Codex Astra Militarium. As of now I am planning on running this:

-x3 "Drop Tanks" Pask Punisher and x2 Leman Russ Exterminators or Demolishers
-At least x1 Psyker
-x6 Sentinels with Lascannons or Autocannon and Hunter Killer Missile
-x2 Wyvern Mortar Tanks
-x1 Vendetta

All that is left for deciding is the infantry and I am trying to think, what kind of infantry would be better with this kind of list. As I already have an "Air Cav" style of army with my FWIA32E list (x5 Valkyries, x3 Vendettas and x2 Avenger Strike Fighters) I am wanting this list to have more of an "Airborne" approach and more of a footslogging style of IG list, however I cannot decide if standard Platoons or Veterans would be the best in this case and since I do care a little bit about fluff I want this to be as competitive yet fluffy as possible. When breaking them down:

Veterans:
-For 10pts. more you get BS4 when Compared to a standard squad
-x3 Special Weapons
-Doctrines
-x1 Heavy Weapon Team

Standard Platoon:
-Built in Orders with PCS
-Heavy Weapon Squads
-Numbers

There are more to each of them then that but I was just boiling them down to the basics. Now the question I am wanting to know from you guys is, should I take Veterans or Standard Platoons? And what makes each type of infantry unit good and what list they would fit into the best ect. Basically this is a thread to discuss these different troop types as well as helping me out with my army, thanks for posting and let he debate begin!

Fluff wise, I would suggest veterans all the way, it just seems like a better way to fit with an elite air cav unit.

In terms of actual army, I might be tempted to go with the platoons as it gives you more bodies on the table, as well as the orders you mentioned. Also, they would be more resilient than veterans, which I would prefer to run in chimeras to protect them from small arms/blast templates.

The other advantage of the platoons would be access to heavy weapons, giving you more potential for anti-infantry in this section of the army.

On the other hand, veterans gives you access to more special weapons, which would be more accurate given the BS4, and also access to cheap carapace armour, but would perhaps need protection in the form of chimeras. However, this may work well with an Aircav list as the rest of the army would be very mobile as well as the drop troops.

please note that I said I want this to be an Airborne army not an Air Cav, army. I already have an Air Cav army and im running it out of forge world Imperial Armor Volume 3 2nd edition. The goal with this army is to be an Airborne list, we have just dropped off or landed in drop zone and are pushing out so to speak.

 gmaleron wrote:
The goal with this army is to be an Airborne list, we have just dropped off or landed in drop zone and are pushing out so to speak.

Based on that, I'd say vets.

Vets are going to be a fluffier choice, and doctrines can somewhat help address their squishiness (either camo nets and stick them in cover, or carapace armour). The only issue is that anything with a heavy flamer (or equivalent) will be able to wipe the floor with your troops. Hell, even with carapace HB's will be shredding vets apart unless they are in cover.

So I would suggest having your longer ranged firepower in the sentinels & such be focused on anything that is going to move up and threaten your vets.

I'm running a list with it's inspiration in something akin to Airborne troops on the ground.

It is meshed into a mechanised company, and it's a comp list, so I'm actually running no flyers and a buttload of armour, but I've been using 4 squads of 10 vets with 3 meltaguns and forward sentries, and it's been working really well for me. Just something to consider for the strain of thinking.