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.

well after getting into AoS, I want to get back into 40k (with some themed imps) but I only want to do a small force, something akin to 40k in 40min (if anyone remembers that) what should I aim to get if I want to start an imperial guard mini force? I was told that the whole HQ and 2 Troops no longer exists... so I could just take lots of 10 man units and call it done :/ just wondering what a good way to start off with a small force these days, do they still need a big tank? etc...

From what I read, the only thing that seems to count is that you and your opponent have matching points costs. IG sort of live by their armor, so I wouldn't leave it out unless you had some emplaced guns.
I'd start painting troopers, then add what looked cool and just toss it in. My problem is figuring out what to paint them, not actually winning.

New codices (7th ed) have faction-specific detachments. Most Necron armies, for example, will use a detachment called a decurion.

However the HQ+ 2 troops is now a standard combined arms detachment (CAD). CADs are very sensible for many factions (eg eldar with bikes).

I don't think the IG or astra militarum (AM) as they are now branded have new formations, so a CAD is the way to go.

You can always use the Adepticon's Combat Patrol scenario to help structure your army:

http://www.adepticon.org/wpfiles/2015/201540Kcp.pdf

It's been the longest-running continuation of the old "40k in 40mins" 400pt. game since the days GW included the rules in the 4th edition rulebook (and probably before that!)

Ignoring the old "1 HQ, 2 Troops" minimum is called an "Unbound" army and it can be fun but there are disadvantages when it comes to gametypes other than Annihilation/killpoints. For that reason, you don't run into too many Unbound armies.

If you're looking to do a small IG (they're called "Astra Militarum" now) force of about 500 points (I believe the old 40k in 40 minutes ruleset called for 400 points, but most smaller games are fought at 500 nowadays), I'd look at something like...

HQ
Company command squad (carapace armor, camo gear, heavy flamer, medpack, voxcaster, bolt pistol on commander) 122 pts

TROOPS
Veteran squad (2 plasmaguns, krak grenades, grenadiers, voxcaster) 120 pts
Veteran squad (2 plasmaguns, krak grenades, grenadiers, voxcaster) 120 pts

FAST ATTACK
Armoured sentinel squad (3 autocannons, 3 searchlights) 138 pts

oh, I forgot to ask, I want to use "empire state handgunners" as converted imperial guardsman (laslock rifles ) and that would be the sorta theme I would be going with in the army (and over time make it bigger and bigger)

just wondering what is the average size of a veteran squad? 10 man?

Yup, 10 man is the standard vet squad. And infantry squad. You get ten or you get nothing!

Also, 2 troops 2 HQs is totally a thing that every army in the game can take. So there's that.

the_scotsman wrote:
Yup, 10 man is the standard vet squad. And infantry squad. You get ten or you get nothing!

Also, 2 troops 2 HQs is totally a thing that every army in the game can take. So there's that.

that is good to know, I will be getting empire handgunners for my typical imps squad

Get an army builder app, and build away.
Battlescribe is generally free, and works on Android and Windows (and Apple, IIRC).

1HQ and 2 troops is still a 'thing'. It is, as has been said, a CAD, or Combined Arms Detachment. It is the basic force, as described in the 7th-edition rules. These are the old-style structures. CAD lets you re-roll the warlord power, and your Troop units get 'super-troop' objective claims.
Unbound armies are 'use what you have' structure.
Allies detachments are half-CAD, but that is an add-on, and not what you need yet.
Newer codexes get Decurion -style formations, which are very different, and replace all this, for freebie upgrades and abilities.

IG vet squads are 10-man, and can add in some helpers, like priests or commissars.

Most of my IG lists look like (40-bodiies):

HQ: Company Command Squad - 5-man, gives out orders (x2) - usually in a Chimera, as it can be used to give orders from inside.
Troops 1: Vetarans - 10-man, with 3 meltas, and maybe Demolitions upgrade - In a Chimera, to get them up the table
Troops 2: Platoon - Platoon Command Squad - 5-man, gives out orders - Keep it cheap, with flamers maybe.
Troops 2: Platoon - Infantry Squad - 10-man with HWT and special weapon
Troops 2: Platoon - Infantry Squad - 10-man with HWT and special weapon

If you want, blob-up the Infantry squads, and the 20-man squad acts with just a single order.
Platoons are easy to upgrade and add to, with SWS or HWS or more squads.

Add in tanks, walkers, HQ helpers, fortifications, whatever. Keep the 1 HQ and 2 Troops, and change them around, and add to them.