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I have another post up of Imperial Fists using a bike strategy that I feel may just be muddled. I want to build an IF army that really lends itself to the chapter tactics, which I think can be very strong in this meta. This list I think is just better, and may even be quite good. I'm looking for feedback, again, I'm trying to maximize bolter drill and tank hunters, and I think in this gunline build I have achieved that. I have a pretty devastating gunline of 8 tank hunting lascannons with a shooty HQ unit of conversion beamer + plasma cannons which also confers a 3+ cover on the ADL. A land raider redeemer sporting 4 Grav centurions, this unit is one of the more devastating CSM can put out at the moment, 20 rerollable grav shots mobilized in a land raider is going to punish some armies heavily, they also have tank hunters, though its not really relevant on Grav. And finally just a butt load of mobile tacs for a ton of bolter drilling mobile scoring. Given the the lack of defense of my gunline I would probably keep one of the tac squads back with it to provide anti-assault - with that said, perhaps the tac+ rhino being kept back could be swapped for something more suited for protecting the gunline, not sure what though. Now that I think about it, for 10 points more I could drop the tac squad meant to protect the gunline and add a group of 3 Assault Centurions, by giving them the free hurricane bolter they still put out 9 bolter shots a turn, only 1 less than the tac squad, but would be able to much better defend the gunline from say deep striking terminators or the like, which the tac would probably fold to.


HQ – Master of the Forge w/ Conversion Beamer
2x Servitors w/ Plasma Cannons

Troops – 10x Tactical Marines w/ Flamer
Transport – Rhino

Troops – 10x Tactical Marines w/ Flamer
Transport – Rhino

Troops – 10x Tactical Marines w/ Flamer
Transport – Rhino

Troops – 10x Tactical Marines w/ Flamer
Transport – Rhino

Troops – 10x Tactical Marines w/ Flamer
Transport – Rhino

Heavy Support - 5x Devastator Squad w/ 4x Lascannon

Heavy Support - 5x Devastator Squad w/ 4x Lascannon

Heavy Support – 4x Centurion Devastator Squad w/ Grav-Cannons & Hurricane Bolters
Transport – Land Raider Redeemer w/ Multi-Melta

Fortification – Aegis Defense Line

Looks solid.

I'm thinking drop one of the TAC squads for a 6 man tac squad with Lascannon deployed outside a Razorback with TL-Lascannon to defend the gunline, they can spew off a few lascannon shots from behind the ADL, defend the devastators and HQ if something deep strikes in to outflank them, or hop in the Razorback to grab an objective if not needed on defense.


HQ – Master of the Forge w/ Conversion Beamer
2x Servitors w/ Plasma Cannons

Troops – 10x Tactical Marines w/ Flamer
Transport – Rhino

Troops – 10x Tactical Marines w/ Flamer
Transport – Rhino

Troops – 10x Tactical Marines w/ Flamer
Transport – Rhino

Troops – 10x Tactical Marines w/ Flamer
Transport – Rhino

Troops – 6x Tactical Marines w/ Lascannon
Transport – Razorback w/ TL-Lascannon

Heavy Support - 5x Devastator Squad w/ 4x Lascannon

Heavy Support - 5x Devastator Squad w/ 4x Lascannon

Heavy Support – 4x Centurion Devastator Squad w/ Grav-Cannons & Hurricane Bolters

Transport – Land Raider Redeemer w/ Multi-Melta

Fortification – Aegis Defense Line



Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also, tank hunters does benefit grav cannons right? When they roll for pen, 6s cause immobilized result with a hull point removed, tank hunters would let you reroll any non 6s, wouldn't it?

I'm digging the list. Looks fun to play.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also, tank hunters does benefit grav cannons right? When they roll for pen, 6s cause immobilized result with a hull point removed, tank hunters would let you reroll any non 6s, wouldn't it?

My only concern is the squishy nature of devs. One unit will literally just be 5 marines. A Dark Eldar army, for example, could in one shooting phase kill all your Devestators, including the MotF, if they focused everything on them. That leaves your list a bit lacking for anti-tank...

I'm thinking that perhaps you should take out the razorback, and give all your tactical squads a Lascannon. They will be Combat-squading in most games anyways, and this gives you more Lascannons to force enemy's to Jink/Go to Ground. If you can get them to do that, they will have a much harder time of actually killing you.

Also, I kinda like the idea of throwing in some Assault Centurions. Some games you may hold the Centurion devs behind the Aegis and send the Assault Centurions forward, while other games you might do the opposite. It gives you flexibility.

btw, I like the concept of the list I think Sentinels of Terra is one of the better supplements so far

Great points, yes, the devs are somewhat vulnerable, but I was hoping the 3+ cover save would help with that.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also, if I combat squad each of the TACs, throwing in a heavy weapon for each squad to provide more anti-tank, wouldn't multi-meltas be better than lascannons? Half the points and just as good if not better than lascannon for anti-tank.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
By dropping the two servitors which aren't really bringing great shots with BS 3, I can kit out the 4 TAC squads with a Multi-Melta/Melta Gun anti-tank package, then drop the razorback package for a 10 man TAC squad to defend the devastators behind the ADL, combat squad them giving them 2 Lascannons for extra anti-tank in the gunline. Would look something like this, again, for defense behind the ADL I can still go with the 3 Assault Centurions with Hurricane Bolters, but I feel like they might be wasted behind an ADL...If the opponent never tries to assault the ADL, they are kind of wasted points, at least the TAC squad brings 2 Lascannon shots.


HQ – Master of the Forge w/ Conversion Beamer

Troops – 10x Tactical Marines w/ Multi-Melta, Melta Gun
Transport – Rhino

Troops – 10x Tactical Marines w/ Multi-Melta, Melta Gun
Transport – Rhino

Troops – 10x Tactical Marines w/ Multi-Melta, Melta Gun
Transport – Rhino

Troops – 10x Tactical Marines w/ Multi-Melta, Melta Gun
Transport – Rhino

Troops – 10x Tactical Marines, Combat Squads, w/ 2x Lascannon

Heavy Support - 5x Devastator Squad w/ 4x Lascannon

Heavy Support - 5x Devastator Squad w/ 4x Lascannon

Heavy Support – 4x Centurion Devastator Squad w/ Grav-Cannons & Hurricane Bolters
Transport – Land Raider Redeemer w/ Multi-Melta

Fortification – Aegis Defense Line

I really like CT: IF for gun line tactics, bolter drill & tank hunter being a lethal combination if your foe has to bring the fight to you. Where it falls down though is in maelstrom games - gun lines are inherently inflexible, and despite all your TACs and rhinos it is not the most mobile of lists for capturing objectives turn on turn - do you know what missions you are likely to play this list in?

I always feel that gun lines are best complimented by a few fast moving ObSec units to grab points and keep you in the game - 2x Scouts&LSS would make it more agile. Also, if you are looking for a cheap unit to look after your DEVs, CCW fit out scouts are actually quite good - on the charge they are just as good a regular assault marines (minus hammer of wrath for the jump packs) and a lot cheaper.

I think I said it on your other post as well, but I would mix up the DEVs from just straight LC, incase your opponent is more Horde than Mech - a few ML in their will not hurt you since even Krak missiles with tank hunter are half decent. Also, to save points I would maybe go for more naked TAC combat squads with just bolters - a rapid fire reroll bolter is arguably of more value than another MG if you already have a lot of MMs out there.

Also, I don't think you can buff the ADL to 3+ with Bolster Defences - it says in the special rule that you cannot use it on a piece of terrain you have purchased as part of your army If he is not buffing the ADL, has no vehicles to repair, and is not taking servitors, then I would probably swap him out for a Level 2 Libby, who can sit back with the DEV and buff with certain powers (shrouding/invisibility/etc)

Didn't realize Bolster defenses worked that way, yeah, will change to a libby then rolling on telepathy for shrouded or invis, that will give the dev squad he is with a 2+ cover save and a lot of survivability . I was actually thinking of using a sternguard vet squad deployed outside of a Rhino for defense on the devs, giving them combi-gravs, they can put out 21 grav shots if a killy unit comes to attack the line, and can also hop in the rhino to move around if needed - or, if the opponent doesn't have a way of deep striking or outflanking into the gunline, start them in the rhino and flat out them to whatever unit needs destroying. This is an updated list:


HQ – Level 2 Librarian w/ Terminator Armor, Force Axe & Storm Shield

Troops – 10x Tactical Marines w/ Multi-Melta
Transport – Rhino

Troops – 10x Tactical Marines w/ Multi-Melta
Transport – Rhino

Troops – 10x Tactical Marines w/ Multi-Melta
Transport – Rhino

Troops – 5x Tactical Marines w/ Multi-Melta
Transport – Rhino

Elites – 7x Sternguard Veterans w/ 7x Combi-Gravs
Transport – Rhino

Heavy Support - 5x Devastator Squad w/ 4x Lascannon

Heavy Support - 5x Devastator Squad w/ 4x Lascannon

Heavy Support – 4x Centurion Devastator Squad w/ Grav-Cannons & Hurricane Bolters
Transport – Land Raider Redeemer w/ Multi-Melta

Fortification – Aegis Defense Line

The core components of the list are nice, being 3-4 Tac squads for objective securing, min/max tank hunter squads, and a huge threat of the grav cents in a LRR.

For and HQ I'd consider a librarian with the Bones of Osrak to improve your psychic performance. The TAC squads will be on the move so just give them a melta and melta bombs.. best combo for the points and is very effective within 12", which is where you want them because of close range bolter drill.

As for the Aegis, if drop it. There's so much 4+ cover out there since ruins are a bit better, and you don't want your Devs going to ground anyway.

You need anti air, so is pick up a two stalkers, or a Stormraven. If you're open to Forge World, the Fire Raptor is amazing.

Also, Coteaz adds a lot to this type of list thanks to divination.

I would adjust to be something like this:

HQ
Librarian - level 2, bones of osrak

Troops
Tactical Squad (10) - rhino, melta, melta bomb
Tactical Squad (10) - rhino, melta, melta bomb
Tactical Squad (10) - rhino, melta, melta bomb
Tactical Squad (10) - rhino, melta, melta bomb

Elite
Centurion Devs (3) - grav x3, omniscope
LRR w/MM (dedicated)

Heavy
Stormraven - MM, Lascannons
Dev Squad (6) - lascannon x4
Dev Squad (5) - lascannon x4

Inquisitorial Detachment
Coteaz

Thanks for the advice, I'm unfamiliar with the bones of osrak.

It's from the Sentinals Of Terra supplement - they use a slightly modified version of the Imperial Fists chapter tactics.

And what is the main reason many spikey lists bring coteaz? Just for a cheap source of divination?

Coteaz is a beast.

I'm thinking of trying this:


HQ – Master of the Forge w/ Servo Harness (will try to deploy the two devs with him into ruins that he can bolster for a 3+ cover. Running him bare bones to save points while also providing a pretty killy melee unit to protect the devs from a charge)

Troops – 10x Tactical Marines, Combat Squads w/2x Melta Gun, Melta Bomb (kitted out for anti-tank should the devs get focused)
Transport – Rhino

Troops – 10x Tactical Marines, Combat Squads w/2x Melta Gun, Melta Bomb
Transport – Rhino

Troops – 10x Tactical Marines, Combat Squads w/2x Melta Gun, Melta Bomb
Transport – Rhino

Troops – 5x Tactical Marines w/ Melta Gun, Melta Bomb
Transport – Rhino

Elites – 6x Sternguard Veterans w/ 6x Combi-Gravs (anti-elite unit package, the razorback assault cannon and combi-gravs will hopefully be hunting whatever unit can realistically reach and destroy my devs/HQ)
Transport – Razorback w/ TL-Assault Cannon

Heavy Support - 5x Devastator Squad w/ 4x Lascannon, Sergeant w/ Combi-Grav (if they are trying to take this unit out with long range they will be met with tank-hunting lascannons with a hopeful 3+ cover, gave the sgt. combi-gravs to help with an anti-assault from a TEQ unit)

Heavy Support - 5x Devastator Squad w/ 4x Lascannon, Sergeant w/ Combi-Grav

Heavy Support – 4x Centurion Devastator Squad w/ Grav – Hurricane, Omni 340 (pure destruction lol)
Transport – Land Raider Redeemer w/ Multi-Melta