Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hi! I'm bulding a new SM army now that 7th edition is reselased, and after re-reading the codex I feel like nothing has changed, or at least not much.
So I wanted to start a new SM army, begining with 1000 pts, then upgrading it until 2000 pts (for example).
I already have a core army with the folowing:

Chapter tactics: Ultramarines

HQ
Chief librarian Tigurius

Troops:
10 man tac squad, flamer, rhino
sergeant: chainsword, combi-flamer, melta bombs

10 man tac squad, flamer, rhino
sergeant: chainsword, combi-melta, melta bombs

FA:
Stormtalon gunship
skyhammer ML

Stormtalon gunship
skyhammer ML

Heavy supp:
8 man devastator squad, lascannon, 3x ML
sergeant: bolt pistol, chainsword

Tacs are here only to keep objectives, tigurius goes with the devastators. Little more.
What should I do to upgrade it? I'm thinking with White Scars for an allied detachment.
Thanks.

Missile launchers are not very good on the Devs, may as well go Lascannons.

Imperial fists get tank hunters on devs so that would help you, I presume your going for Prescience on the big dev squad?

People may target your big dev squad hard, once that takes some hits your army could be in trouble. But just play it and you can see how it goes, it may be fine.

Never used Stormtalons, they sure are nice looking models.

Lascannons are much better than Missiles, changing them would be good.

I know that LC are better for vehicles and big armor enemies, but I use ML as anti-infantry. I normally keep them under cover and far from the center of the board, so I need ling range weapons for support.
@Scommy yes, I use prescience with Tiggy, I rarely miss any hits with the squad.
I've build another list, for 1500pts, I'll post it later.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I've revised the core and specialised every unit to a single role (anti-infantry, anti-tank,...) and the result, for 1500 pts is this:

Chapter tactics: Ultramarines

HQ
Chief librarian Tigurius

Troops:
10 man tac squad, flamer, rhino
sergeant: chainsword, combi-flamer

10 man tac squad, flamer, rhino
sergeant: chainsword, combi-flamer

10 man tac squad, meltagun, rhino
sergeant: chainsword, combi-melta

Elite;
5 man Sternguard vet squad, 2x combi-melta, heavy flamer, drop pod
sergeant: power fist, bolt gun

FA:
Stormtalon gunship
skyhammer ML

Stormtalon gunship
skyhammer ML

Heavy supp:
5 man devastator squad, 4x lascannon
sergeant: bolt pistol, chainsword

5 man devastator squad, 4x ML
sergeant: bolt pistol, chainsword

I think it's pretty ok now, with "something for everything". I was thinking on changing the ML dev squad for a Thunderfire cannon, and spend the 30 pts left givin melta bombs to every seargent.
The strategy is the same althought, Tiggy goes with the dev squad for support fire. Tacs conquer and keep objectives, with some anti-infantry firepower in two of the squads and anti- tank in one of them. Stormtalons take care of aerial threats and huge or strong enemies (I've use them agains a couple of daemon princes and a hive tyrant, and none resisted the firepower). The sterguard will drop wherever the enemy has the more armored units.
How is it?
I'll start thinking what to include for 2000pts. A 10 man assault squad in a stormraven seems good, with a chaplain, all of them with jumppacks. Opinions?

I like it, it's all rounded with no glaring weaknesses. Good Luck!

I'm seeing some wasted points here. Power fist on the Sternguard means you have to assault, which means the rest of the unit is screwed because you're using so many points on shooting that their close combat is lacking. You'd be better off with a Combi-flamer on your sergeant. And the sergeants in the Devs don't need Close Combat either. A bolter and Auspex maybe, just to provide that many more close-in shots instead of one extra attack in assault. Since if the big guns fire, they can't charge anyway, you may as well add another gun that can't charge in after shooting. Same issue with the Tac Squads. You're adding chainswords but keeping the 'if shooting, unit can't assault' rapid fire weapons. What's the point? Switch back to pistols that way they all can charge and shoot with pistols under 12" range.

Interesting to hear about the Stormtalons. Have not really seen them in use but its good to hear they do the damage. Can you bring them both on in same reserve roll (as in 1 escort the other?) Cant argue with taking down a daemon prince lol

Maybe its just my bad scatters but I have not found tfc to be all that great. If that first roll scatters you wont be doing much damage. I guess tiggy could prescience the tfc if he really needed. At least the ML devs give you some antitank and some anti infantry so...

I would drop the heavy flamer from the sternguard for a combi flamer, or maybe a melta. Sternguard are good for combi weapons and special ammo. The various ammo types can handle most everything but armor, so melta is a big winner. The heavy flamer is only good against infantry but the combi melta still has the ignore cover ammo if needed, while still providing hellfire or ap3 shots.

@SharkoutofWata I don't see your point with the tac. Their base equipment is a bolt pistol and a boltgun, so if I want to assault and I'm under 12" I can choose to fire the pistol instead of the gun (flamer and melta are assault weapons), and throw a frag grenade with the serg if needed (if not I can choose not to fire). Sure I won't get the bonus attack with the serg, but that doesn't bother me much.
Dev serg can't take auspex, and chainswords are free. I use them mainly for the signum, they rarely fire.
You're right about the stenguard, I better change to 3 combimelta (1 for the serg, with power sword), 1 meltagun, 1 combiflamer. That keeps the points to 1500 and specializes the unit (with small anti-infantry support).

@Scommy that's what I thought, but I've seen so many hype about it I wanted to try it.

@Dr. Serling noted, and changes made. I really didn't thought about the special ammo. I'll keep only a combi-flamer for anti-infantry and change the heavy flammer for a meltagun. If I want to keep then moving, I lose the fire of the HW.

I think the list, for 1500 pts is pretty clear. Time to move to 2000 pts. I still want a CC unit, and jumpack assault with chap, in a stormraven is my main idea. But I'm also considering a VV (chap an SR included). What are the big differences between one and another? I've never used Stormraven, I'm not sure how to equip it neither.

I'd actually argue in keeping the Heavy Flamer. It is a very helpful charge deterrent and can put out a good amount of damage.

First of all, welcome to playing space marines! I like the list you posted at 1500 for a few reasons:

The tactical squads make good use of the CTs and are a nice way to secure objectives; I like the matching special and combi and rhino.

As for the Sternguard, I think you should use them as anti-MC because your devs with Tiggy will destroy vehicles. I'd give the Sternguard 3 combi grav actually so they are basically all wounding on 2's with some AP sprinkled in.

Other than that, looks solid.

In regards to the Stormraven for future builds, I'd actually recommend (if you're open to Forge World) the Fire Raptor. It has been an absolute beast for me ringing in at 225 but the sacrifice of transport capacity for a ton of firepower is awesome! That escorted by a stormtalon makes quick work of anything on an objective.. And then you can just drop a scout squad down and dig in.

For the moment I'll stick with 1500 pts, with the following list. Once I finish to paint all the miniatures, It will be september, and I'll have more time to playtest it. Then I'll focus on a 200 pts.

Chapter tactics: Ultramarines

HQ
Chief librarian Tigurius

Troops:
10 man tac squad, flamer, rhino
sergeant: chainsword, combi-flamer

10 man tac squad, flamer, rhino
sergeant: chainsword, combi-flamer

10 man tac squad, meltagun, rhino
sergeant: chainsword, combi-melta

Elite;
5 man Sternguard vet squad, 2x combi-melta, 1x combi-flamer, 1x meltagun drop pod
sergeant: combi-melta, power sword

FA:
Stormtalon gunship
skyhammer ML

Stormtalon gunship
skyhammer ML

Heavy supp:
5 man devastator squad, 4x lascannon
sergeant: bolt pistol, chainsword

5 man devastator squad, 4x ML
sergeant: bolt pistol, chainsword

Perhaps I'll add an allied detachment of WS as initially planned, we'll see.