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Hey guys, finally finished getting my Diploma (yay), which of course means I have time for events and whatnot again. Trying to put together a list that can keep up with the tournament scene, using Salamanders. Heres my idea so far:

CAD

Vulkan He'Stan

Command Squad - 4 Storm Shield and Melta, 1 Apothecary, Drop Pod

2 x 5 Scout Squad

1 x 9 Man Assault Squad - Plasma Pistol, 2 Flamers, Drop Pod
1 x 10 Man Assault Squad - Plasma Pistol, 2 Flamers, Drop Pod

Librarius Conclave - All level 1, all force axe, pick powers based on opponent

Skyhammer Annihilation Force
2 x 7 man Assault squad - 2 Flamers, Plasma Pistol
1 x 7 Man Devestator - 4 Grav Cannon w/Amp, Drop Pod
1 x 8 Man Devestator - 4 Multi Melta, Drop Pod


As the list is now, thats the entire skyhammer force, Conclave with command squad, and Vulkan with 9 man assault squad, for 10 units on the board (not including scouts) turn 1, with everything being insanely close to my opponent from deep strike or infiltrate and scout moves. 72 models count, which is pretty high for a marine army. More rerolls than I may be able to keep track of, and a solid answer for anything that will on the table first turn.

Ideally, I'd be hoping to cause enough damage on the drop that should my opponent be rocking 1 or more fliers, I either completely ignore them and wipe the ground forces, or use all those melta rerolls to pop it out of the sky. Theres enough melta to take down 2-3 vehicles a turn against mech and knights, or pound wounds off monstrous creatures. Grav cannon drop and psychic shrieks can take out anything that might only be wounded on 4s against melta (wraithknights mostly). 8 flamers and 1 heavy flamer to wipe infantry quickly too.


Any blaring weaknesses? Tough matchups I should plan against? I know the strong marine army is a battlecompany, and 13 some odd free drop pods sounds nuts, but I currently own 3 drop pods. I'm not sure I can justify buying $500 worth of transports just yet haha

Never buy plasma pistols.

When using a Librarius Conclave's ability, only one model may cast, and he can cast only many powers as he has mastery levels. So make the Librarians level 2.

Buy transports on eBay.

Cut the MC pistols for mastery levels. Easy enough. Whether or not I use the conclave ability is going to be dependent on the situation. I think for the most part I'll just end up spamming witchfires to blow things up, unless I get lucky and roll invisibility.

Anybody else? Assuming I switch the MC plasma pistols out for mastery levels, will this do ok?

Vulkan He'Stan

Command Squad - 4 Storm Shield and Melta, 1 Apothecary, Drop Pod

2 x 5 Scout Squad

1 x 9 Man Assault Squad - Plasma Pistol, 2 Flamers, Drop Pod
1 x 10 Man Assault Squad - Plasma Pistol, 2 Flamers, Drop Pod

Librarius Conclave - All level 1, all force axe, pick powers based on opponent

Skyhammer Annihilation Force
2 x 7 man Assault squad - 2 Flamers, Plasma Pistol
1 x 7 Man Devestator - 4 Grav Cannon w/Amp, Drop Pod
1 x 8 Man Devestator - 4 Multi Melta, Drop Pod

OK...Remember you are salamanders Fire and Craftsmen. You are paying the Vulkan tax so you also want to maximise melta and minimize the squad size to increase your number of characters to get a free master crafted weapon. And never forget FLAME ON!!

Vulkan

1 x 7 Man Sternguard Sgt with MC Combimelta, 1 more Combimelta. 2 x Heavy Flamer in Drop Pod (Cheaper and better than your command squad IMO)

Either 2 Scout Squads 5 man Sgt w MC Combi Flamer and Meltabomb in Landspeeder Storms w MM
or 2 Tac Squads 5 Man Sgt w MC Combi Melta and Melta or Flamer in Drop Pod

2 x 5 Man Assault Squads = Sgt with MC Eviserator and 2 Flamers w Jump Packs

Skyhammer Annihilation Force

2 x 5 Man Assault Squads as above
2 x 5 to 7 Man Dev Squads with MM and Sgt w MC CombiFlamer, Plasma or Grav. ( 7 is tax to ensure survival of multimeltas)

Librarius Conclave

Where to spend the points you save?
Switch out an assault squad for vanguart vets with jump packs and a mix of power weapons. (Think about what to arm your sgt with
Change some or all of your drop pod stormbolters for deathwind launchers.
Add an ironclad in a drop pod or regular dread with MM and heavy flamer in a drop pod.
Make your assault sergeants veterans.
Add some positional relays and homing beacons to ensure your assault/vanguard can drop in without error. Check the rules and make sure they work for jump packs not only terminators.
BTW don't forget power mauls or force staves what you give up in AP you make up with +2 S and you dont give up initiative like you do with power fist/axe