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So Im looking to get started with the IG (want to pickup a Cadian Defense Force while there are still some floating around) and maybe one of the new Getting Started IG kits. I came up with this list and wanted to see if its viable. Mostly going for Gunline with support from the CCS and tanks. I favoured the better cover save of Forward Sentries over Carapace Armour. Demolitions was just a bit pricey at the 750\775 mark.

My two thoughts are I could give some thing's up to stick HS on the vehicles. I could also switch out the LRBT with HB for Exterminators with LC. The LRBT is just nice because the battle cannon should eat up MEQ fairly well. The swap of the LRBT would also allow me to go down to the 750 point mark less 5pts somewhere. In either case the 2 Tanks are my only counter to AV13\AV14 vehicles which could be a problem.


Company Command Squad
+Vox Caster
+Regimental Standard
+Heavy Weapon Autocannon
+Chimera (replace HB with HF)
+Camo Netting

10x Veterans
+Vox-Caster
+Forward Sentries
+2x GL

10x Veterans
+Vox-Caster
+Forward Sentries
+2x GL

10x Veterans
+Vox-Caster
+Forward Sentries
+2x GL

LRBT
LRBT

ADL

Total = 775

Thoughts\Suggestions?

Thanks

Mitchell,

Welcome to the guard! I do have 3 items of feedback:

1.) Become more mobile.
As I’m sure you know, 6th and 7th edition has punished static, gunline lists such as yours. You’ll struggle to grab objectives, especially during maelstrom missions. You should add something to your list that can gain you board control. As you gather more models, that will mean adding foot platoons, or advancing conscript hordes, or adding 3 or more mechvet squads. In the short run, given your low number of models, I’d say the only way you can become more mobile is by obtaining and using 2 or more chimeras (you can find them cheap on EBay). This will allow you to change at least 2 of your line firebase vet squads into mechvet squads. That way you will become far more mobile (plus IG lists which blend static firepower with mobile elements are more fun to play with and against).

2.) Give your Vets Better Special Weapons and/or Heavy Weapons
Grenade launchers are fun and fluffy for the guard. But they pale in comparison to meltaguns, plasma guns, or even flamers. I encourage you to upgrade your vets’ special weapons. You might consider using various bits to convert your grenade launchers into counts as meltaguns or plasmas. You can pay the cost for upgrading 2 grenade launcher vet squads to chimera meltavets or chimera plasma vets by dropping a Russ, the forward sentries, and the Aegis. In addition, give your remaining vet squad some sort of a heavy weapon (an autocannon, lascannon, etc.). That will allow it to do something while it sits back and holds your objectives.

3.) Vanilla vs. Other Types of Russ
You’re debating whether to use vanilla Russes or Exterminators. There are many online discussions as to the best type of Russ. In my experience, they are all a decent firebase unit in the right situation (even the ridiculously over-pointsed Demolisher). In the short run, I’d say go with vanilla Russes—they are a good sources of generalist firepower at low level games. In the long run, I encourage you to magnetize your Russes so you can use them as any of the variants. Note that my battlecannons are not good at tacking out AV13 and AV14 and you were concerned that your list couldn’t tackle heavy armor. I wouldn’t really worry about heavy armor at this points level (you can probably safely ignore it), but if really want to destroy it then I’d say give each of your chimera-mounted veteran squads 3 meltaguns.


Good luck!

Besides the good advice posted above I would add that you could really use some anti tank. Probably the simplest way to do this with the list you've posted would be to give your CCS in the chimera 2-4 meltaguns (I personally don't like this because they will have to be too close to the enemy to use them) -or- switch one or more LRBT to an Exterminator with Lascannon/Multimelta sponsons (this would be my preferred option). One LRBT and one Exterminator with the aforementioned setup could work very well together; the Exterminator can easily pop transports and the LRBT can bomb the contents once they spill out. Also consider arming your vetrans with either a lascannon or autocannon each, especially if you intend to keep them immobile in cover. I would probably drop the vox casters, standard and 1 GL from each squad to give the CCS a lascannon and each vet squad an auto cannon. Then I would drop one LRBT for an Exterminator with Las/MM sponsons.

Looking to ramp up from 750\775 to around 1000 points.

I want to add a Vendetta or Valkyria (thinking Vendetta at 1K) so thats 190 if you run with the bolters. So in the list below I think I have 790 points, Adding the Vendetta and some Sponsons to my Tank Commander Round me up to 1K

HQ
Leman Russ Battle Tank HB
+Tank Commander

Troops
Platoon Command Squad
+Heavy Weapon Autocannon
+Taurox

10x Infantry Squad
+GL or Flamer

10x Infantry Squad
+GL or Flamer

10x Infantry Squad
+GL or Flamer

6x Special Weapon Squad
+3x Melta
+Taurox

6x Special Weapon Squad
+3x Flamer
+Taurox

Heavy Support
Leman Russ Exterminator HF
+Multimelta Sponsons

Oh I should add that I realize Chimera's are all around better than Taurox transports I just dont know if I have the points for Chimeras.

I could drop one Taurox at 1000 (as the Special Weapon Squad can use the Vendetta) and that would give me 50 points for one of the following.

+Upgrade remaining 2 Taurox's to Chimeras and leaving me 20 more points for upgrades.

+Another Infantry Squad

+a 20 Man Conscript Squad if I can dig out 10 points.

only issue with the list above is that the platoon counts as 1 troop choice which would make you unbound so to make a CAD you need to drop some points for veterans also if you have the choice get the chimeras in terms of leman russ I always found the exterminator to be a good choice and ok anti air in a pinch equipping it to take out light vehicles is ideal as many transports have low armour when that vehicle is dead I would obliterate the contents with the battle tank

Missed that and I definitely want to field CAD not unbound!

HQ

Leman Russ Battle Tank HB
+Tank Commander

Leman Russ Exterminator HF
+Multimelta Sponsons (Or would I be better off with 3x HB?)

Troops

Platoon Command Squad
+Heavy Weapon Autocannon
+Chimera

10x Infantry Squad
+GL

10x Infantry Squad
+GL


6x Special Weapon Squad
+3x Melta
+Taurox

10x Veterans
+1x Heavy Flamer
+Taurox

So to upgrade to 1000 I planned to drop the Special Weapons Squad Taurox and put them in a Vendetta. Also would add 2 more flamers and Grenadiers to the Vets.

I was considering adding a Wyvern to take care of infantry blobs but I was reading Death from the Skies which apparently takes Skyfire away from the Valkyrie (Vendetta isnt mentioned but assuming its the same).

Should I take a Hydra instead so I have something with Skyfire or just rely on my Vendetta with snap shots and twin linked and go infantry destroying Wyvern?

*EDIT*
Disregard. The Wyvern anti-infantry is more important to me having a Skyfire Hydra.

The first army list had potential and played at IGs strengths: numbers, orders and durability.

1) Move the CCS Chimera to a Veteran squad, and give that squad 3 meltaguns. Now you have a mobile force to capture objectives or threaten the opposing force.

2) Give the CCS a lascannon. LRBT:s are for anti-infantery, not anti-tank (that mission is covered by a Vanquisher or Pask-Punisher).

3) Drop one LRBT. Use the points to either get two Wyverns, or one Wyvern and better weapons for your Veterans. Autocannon are useful in low points game. Or if you want to playtest IG you could add either an Astropath for the psychic phase or an MoO for heavy artillery.

HQ

Leman Russ Battle Tank HB
+Tank Commander

Leman Russ Exterminator HB
+HB Sponsons

Troops

Platoon Command Squad
+Heavy Weapon LC
+Chimera HF

10x Infantry Squad
+GL

10x Infantry Squad


6x Special Weapon Squad
+3x Melta


10x Veterans
+Grenadiers
+3x Melta
+Taurox

Fast Attack
Vendetta (Special Weapons Squad here)

Heavy Support
Wyvern

That should be exactly 1000.

Anti-Infantry will be done by the 2 LR and the Wyvern.
Anti-Armour by the Special Weapon Squad, Vets and Vendetta.

Infantry Squads will footslog and hold objectives backed up by the PCS. I dropped one GL in order to give the 3rd Melta to the vets.
Cant afford to go buy another Wyvern at the moment so Ill have to make do with the LR.