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Hi! I am going to play a game or two with a friend of mine this saturday. He plays CSM and I play Orks/SM (some of you may remember this from the "Am I that guy" thread.

I remember one suggestion in that topic was to try black templar chapter tactics and go with an assault black Templar army. So I have been playing around with the idea, but dont really know how to make the list come together. Our match will be a 2500 game so think big and without knights or LoWs.

Now obviously their characters and crusader squads are fluffy additions (which I want to bring for 100% certain), but beyond spamming those I really dont know where to go when making a functionally fun and fluffy templars list. Any suggestions? Are hidden Power fists worth it? Throw in some range support or go all in assault?

I truly think you need some long range support.
I don't recall Black Templar having an objection against vindicator, or thunderfire.
Thunderfire is well known for being a good unit, and it can add a good long range firepower for cheap.
What I can tel you for certain, is that Land Raider with an assault unit and vindicators work well together.
At least for 2 000 pts^^
As there won't be super-heavy, I think they will sustain his firepower.
Vindicator aren't expensive, are scaring, and he will have to choose to destroy either your vindicators or your land raider

Did you think about vanguard veterans ? I had good success with them and a chapelain, and there are many builds (cheap with melta bombs as antitank, power weapons heavy, etc...).
I think the "First Company Strike Force" is a good formation, and you can run it fluffy with vanguards veterans or terminators.
I saw people suggesting Honour Guards in pods, but I really don't know.
2500 pts, the table will be full of models, do you think you can take a Chapter Master, you just have to say he is a senechal or whatever^^
His bombardment won't miss !
Do you have access to the Inquisition ?

If I had to make an assault heavy SM army using Black Templars chapter Tactics I think I would do something like this:

CAD + FCSF

CAD:
HQ: 320
Helbrecht 180
Emperor champion 140

TROUPS: 890
10 initiates, 1 power axe, 2 neo squad in LRC
10 initiates, 1 power axe, 2 neo squad in LRC

FAST: 255
Stormtalon 115
Land speeder typhoon 70
Land speeder typhon 70

Heavy Support: 350
thunderfire 100
vindicator 125
vindicator 125


FCSF:
5 vv, 3 melta bombs, 1 power weapon jump packs 130
10 vv jumps packs, 4 powers weapons, 2 ss 265
5 sternguards, 1 melta, 4 combi melta, drop pod.

2395 pts

I did this list quickly, trying to be fluffy:
you have the Black Templars' HQ, one in each crusader squad,
you have a good armored wall to protect your guys,
you have long range support,
you have anti flyers with the stormtalon
the LS are here to be annoying units, cheap, quick, to destroy transport, to grab objectives and to make your opponent waste is long range firepower,
I added the 5vv with melta bombs to improve the anti tank of the army.

I think a power axe in the crusader squad to be worth it: hidden, hit strong, enough body to protect it, and cheap.
Do you really need a power fist over a power axe ?
Do you fight a lot of multi HP T4 models ?

You need some long range.
Black Templar character seem ok for me (S6AP2 at initiative melee weapon ? yes !)
Helbrecht who give the special rules when you decides, etc...
I didn't take Grimaldus beecause, IIRC, he can't join a unit with his servitors ?

Remember: I never played Black Templars !

May the Emperor show you the path to Victory !

Chaplains with holybonkers is super fluffy they designed the landraider crusader so it seems like a fluff take. Crusader squads loaded into those is fun and fluffy.

You gotta have at least one Venerable Dreadnought.

Because Tankred endures.

In all seriousness though, an Emperor's Champion is a must. This is Black Templars 101. After that I would probably load up on 2 Crusader Squads with 16 models each.

After that it's mostly to sprinkle stuff to taste. BTs are, on paper, an assault-based army but they're mostly based on the Crusades, which were large armies fighting religious wars, which would include conventional elements like artillery. Generally just think brute force.

If you want a fluffy choice, maybe take some Vanguard Vets with Storm Shields and Power Swords. Fits the whole "invincible knights" theme and function as good Sword Brethren, but just be warned this combo is hellishly expensive and not all that durable (basically don't expect it to actually be effective, just for flavour).

you should probably use the white dwarf warlord traits table

According to GW now, just a squad. They'll take on the whole planet.