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Hi guys,
I've been watching the dakka community for ages. But this is my first post.
As a Mordheim hardcore fan and WHFB player, I don't know much about 40k.
That's why I'm asking your help.

Want to start an Imperial Guard small army.
500 pts.

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The Elysian Theme
I fell in love with the Elysian theme.
http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Elysian_Drop_Troops
First I wanted to sculpt or 3d print new heads for this guys. Then, I fumbled on the Forge models, and my heart brake.
Love the Imperial Guard's vehicles, especially flying ones like the Valkyries.
I also like the idea of using transport vehicles for my men. Something with Valkyries and Chimeras.
I've heard about other transport vehicles, maybe out of the Forge. Are they official ? I don't even know. I wish I could be introduced to them.
This guys, this is not a quick and dirty efficient army I'm trying to build.
This is a painting challenge.

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List purpose : fun > über-efficient
I don't want to win every game or to be unbeatable. I just want to have enjoyable games, both for me and my opponents.
So why I'm asking advices for ? I fear that my army could maybe loose every game. How ?
Well, only 500 pts, with this sticky idea of at least one flying vehicles. What's the damn use of a fast attack airplane ? Maybe kinda weak with so few points.
As weird as it could be, I still want to put one in my army list.
I know I will face a lot of ennemy troops : especially Orks on foot with elite guys (I think I've heard about a truck and a Big Boss), but also an other Imperial Guard army with a lot of men (and a kind of Leman Russ with an enormous gatling or something).
But I've said enough. Here is what I came for :

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HQ
- Company Command Squad
60 pts
special notes : don't know what to do with those guys : so few spare points

Troops
- Veterans (x10)
60 pts
- Veterans (x10)
60 pts
- Chimera
65 pts
special notes : not a single one special weapon or whatever. don't know what to do exactly

Fast Attack
- Valkyrie
125 pts

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Seems like the Core of the list.
Here we have no option, nothing to win a fight.
And only 130 points left : to try to put a hell out of that.
I've heard that the Valkyrie is really bad against troops, but that you could replace his hellstrike missiles with two multiple rocket pods. Ok, check.
Should I also take a pair of sponsons with heavy bolters ? This isn't cheap.
I'm not sure about the pair of heavy bolters. What do you think, guys ?
Let's say bolters and rocket pods are necessary to make this unit a bit more worth his price in this small 500 pts army.
This fully upgraded Valkyrie cost me 30 points more.

Well... I only have 100 points now.
For only 25 men.
And there is so much options ! I feel really lost with the special weapons choices.
I feel like I don't have a lot of choices, because of so few spare points.
What can I do now ?

- Veterans special team : Shotguns & Demolition Charge
I heard the Emperor voice in my dream. He tells me about this demolition charge. I can use the Valkyrie to put it down somewhere. But where is it ? I don't even know. I'm trying to figure out an airplane maybe coming only at turn 3, trying to take a squad in front of the eye of the ennemy commander. A squad with big showy melta-bombs and a demo charge. And then, I take off... I fly over 40 infantry imperial guard or 40 elite orks... And yeah. I'm supposed to drop in the mid of them, set a charge, and... Well it seems like a good story, but I feal not sure it can lead me to anything.
Still, I kinda like the idea.
I'll have to build shotguns myself ! Sounds fantastic.
What do you think ? Useless ?
Let's say we spend all our points on this precious "Special Team".
I also feel like, if it's going to be a special team, I should add a Vox Caster so they can hear clear orders about their special mission.
All this special thing for 35 pts.

And now, only 65 spare points.
- Full specialists on the HQ : Astropath, Master of Ordnance, and Officer of the Fleet. 65 pts
- One more chimera, we throw out the extra heavy bolters, and we can add a Master of Ordnance. 65 pts

What should I do ?
I feel I've totally missed the thing about using special and heavy weapons on the teams, and all my 25 little men in HQ and troops are probably worthless now.
I feel I should maybe build a team in a way they could be worth something in the Chimera. I really don't know how. Guys are talking here and there about melta-guns. I'm probably be facing a lot of infantry, so I'm not sure about this melta meta.
I feel I'm trying to build something without a Hellhound against infantry, in only 500 pts, and it seems really hard, especially for me.
Still, I want to match the Elysian Theme.

Well, thanks for reading.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
I don't want to paint something wacky without a chance of being worth anything : but I'm not trying to win, with like say 3 Hellhounds and forgetting the Flying units.

Please help me !
--
Arge

Hi. I personally understand the struggle of creating a fluffly and a bit competitive army list especially when the options are so few (i mean i love small points games and drop infantry but those don't match well). I play AM too.
Sooo let start with your list:
Hq:
Command squad: 75 pts
Flamers x 3

Troops:
Vets 1: 90 pts
2 plasma guns

Vets 2: 165
Demolitions
Chimera
Heavy flamer

Fast:
Vendetta: 170 (command goes here)

Tot: 500 pts bodies: 27

I'd go with something like this, an option would be to leave demolition doctrine at home and to buy carapace for the footslogging guards (increasing their survavibility even with their on plasmas) and to add specials on the command or the others vets but of course is not very fluffy....
Other attempt (more similar to your):

Hq: command squad: 140 pts
2 plasmas
Taurox (to me taurox seems to fit well)

Troops: 130 pts
Vets 1:
2 meltas
Taurox

Vets 2: 95 pts
Flamer
Demolitors

Fast:
Valkyrie (vets 2 goes here) : 135 pts
Rocket pods

Tot: 500 pts bodies: 28

The main problem with flyers is their late deployment. I know that you'd like to play them as soon as you can but to me this will give you troubles. Of course if don't mind winning so much you can try )
Shotguns don't seem to me so hard to customize: have you tried cutting the top of a lasgun? With some green stuff or plasticard you could get a good compromise...