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Made in ca
Regular Dakkanaut





I'm thinking of doing something crazy, buying two new plague marine boxes to make a squad of 10 close combat marines is it worth it? How would your optimal loudmouth look?
   
Made in us
Ragin' Ork Dreadnought




Not... Not a great idea. Plague Marines have too few attacks to be really intimidating in Close Combat, and most of their weapon choices don't really help. They can take a couple of... I think it's called a Plague Flail? It gives d3 attacks per attack, and the damage carries over between models, which isn't terrible but is still wasted on a 1A model.
   
Made in us
Wicked Warp Spider





I think you can do it if you do the following:

- Plan the buffs around the unit accordingly (so they will have at least 1 psyker giving them at least 1 buff)
- Plan the army accordingly (you can spend stratagem to make them reach the target safely and drop grenades/deliver mortal wounds)

I think they can work better against elite armies, not sure 2 flails is good vs hordes.
Maybe 2 squads of 7-9 in 2 rhino, with supporting characters buffing.

Generic characters disappearing? Elite units of your army losing options and customizations? No longer finding that motivation to convert?
Your army could suffer Post-Chapterhouse Stress Disorder (PCSD)! If you think that your army is suffering one or more of the aforementioned symptoms, call us at 789-666-1982 for a quick diagnosis! 
   
Made in us
Decrepit Dakkanaut




If they had 2 attacks base like they should, it wouldn't be too bad

CaptainStabby wrote:
If Tyberos falls and needs to catch himself it's because the ground needed killing.

 jy2 wrote:
BTW, I can't wait to run Double-D-thirsters! Man, just thinking about it gets me Khorney.

 vipoid wrote:
Indeed - what sort of bastard would want to use their codex?

 MarsNZ wrote:
ITT: SoB players upset that they're receiving the same condescending treatment that they've doled out in every CSM thread ever.
 
   
Made in us
Loyal Necron Lychguard





Working on it

I personally think this is a good idea, I personally will be running 2x 7 man melee squads with flails, cleavers, maces, Icons, Axes and Flamers.

It can be effective if you strategize right, using a Tallyman, Blight Bringer, Plague Caster, and pox walkers

<Dynasty> ~10500pts
War Coven of the Coruscating Gaze ~3000pts
Thrice-Damned Plague Corps ~3250pts
Admech (TBN) ~3500pts +30k Bots and Ulator

 
   
Made in ca
Regular Dakkanaut





Some of them get that extra attack though. When they bring double weapons which I would
   
Made in ru
!!Goffik Rocker!!






No reason to not exchange bolters for cc weapons if you ask me. They still have grenades left. And with the new strategems and a character that buffs them you can have a ~7-10 man squad - depending on how you deliver them - geared towards close quarter grenade throwing and mellee clearing up.

A flail is statistically 5 times more effective than double plague knives vs meq.
It's also exactly twice as effective as a bubotic axe on average.
Won't even calculate the plague cleaver - it's awful. There was no reason to make it -2 to-hit on a 1-attack model.
As for the mace, it's pretty counter-intuitive to what the squad wants to do. Wouldn't pick it either.

So, flails are a no-brainer. Or you could just go full plague knives and save 20 pts.

This message was edited 5 times. Last update was at 2017/10/09 09:27:10


 
   
Made in nl
Been Around the Block




Waaaghpower wrote:
Not... Not a great idea. Plague Marines have too few attacks to be really intimidating in Close Combat, and most of their weapon choices don't really help. They can take a couple of... I think it's called a Plague Flail? It gives d3 attacks per attack, and the damage carries over between models, which isn't terrible but is still wasted on a 1A model.


One of the most useful things plague marines can do is the blight bombardment. They want to be close for that.

That means it's good to be prepared to get assaulted. And it's good to avoid any temptation to start shooting instead of closing in.

Not to mention melee marines with dual knifes are the cheapest way to run them.
   
Made in us
Fresh-Faced Inquisitorial Acolyte



Seattle, WA

Running a squad of 7 up the board in a Rhino with 2 flails, champ fist, and axe/shivs with a putrifier, blightspawn, and Tallyman or Lord sounds like a lot of fun to me, if threat saturation is great enough to keep the heat off, that is.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2017/10/09 16:49:37


 
   
Made in us
Death-Dealing Devastator




Tampa, FL

I have been experimenting with a 20 man melee unit. 2 flails, 2 blight launchers, 5 axes, 9 dual knives, 1 bolter (for the banner) and the champion with PF and Plasma Pistol. So far it has been a lot of fun. I am still waiting to get off the super mega death grenade trick though >.<
   
Made in us
Wicked Warp Spider





 koooaei wrote:

There was no reason to make it -2 to-hit

I thought it was a -1, did I miss something?
Also, probably sub-optimal, but I do wonder if a unit with 2 melta, 1 Fist, 2 Cleaver, 2 maces if you really want to spend points (don't) could be useful for "big game hunting". One would argue that is more for predators, hellbrutes and such but dunno, maybe vs a Tank Company.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
ballzonya wrote:
Some of them get that extra attack though. When they bring double weapons which I would

2 Knives, Axe + Knife, or Axe + Mace marines have 2 attacks.

This message was edited 6 times. Last update was at 2017/10/13 02:44:07


Generic characters disappearing? Elite units of your army losing options and customizations? No longer finding that motivation to convert?
Your army could suffer Post-Chapterhouse Stress Disorder (PCSD)! If you think that your army is suffering one or more of the aforementioned symptoms, call us at 789-666-1982 for a quick diagnosis! 
   
Made in ru
!!Goffik Rocker!!






I'd honestly not bother with anti-tank. They're very bad at it in mellee for points. Your best bet vs tanks are actual buffed grenades imo.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2017/10/13 05:36:59


 
   
Made in nl
Crazed Spirit of the Defiler




 Kaiyanwang wrote:
 koooaei wrote:

There was no reason to make it -2 to-hit

I thought it was a -1, did I miss something?
Also, probably sub-optimal, but I do wonder if a unit with 2 melta, 1 Fist, 2 Cleaver, 2 maces if you really want to spend points (don't) could be useful for "big game hunting". One would argue that is more for predators, hellbrutes and such but dunno, maybe vs a Tank Company.

.

Too niche I'd say, if you want to go antitank with basic marines get 3 plasma guns within 18", get a reroll 1s to hit from something and put them on overcharge. Although Blightlord Terminators are probably better for such things because they stand a chance of surviving the incoming fire a plasma squad is going to attract. PMs seem to be best either sitting on objectives and harassing stuff with blight launchers or as an anti-MEQ melee squad with axes and flails.
   
Made in us
Death-Dealing Devastator




Tampa, FL

I agree with the above sentiments. In Plague Marines for anti-tank I would either go with 3 Plasma, or a 5 man unit with the only special stuff being 2 melta. If you want to CC a tank to death go for Hellbrutes or Mortarion (even then I would prefer shooting them with Plagueburst Crawlers).
   
Made in ca
Regular Dakkanaut





I wouldn't use them anti tank but maybe a close combat squad for marines of terminators even...is that viable? maybe all axes knifes and maces. and a power fist
   
Made in us
Death-Dealing Devastator




Tampa, FL

I think against other Terminators your best bet is to go with Plasma. The thing I use my melee Plague Marines for is a utility tool. They CAN kill just about anything, but they aren't likely going to be the best at it. They are really durable though if you support them well. In my games this has led to a lot of disheartened opponents making poor decisions to stop them. To me the 2 flails are mandatory because of how good they are. After that put in enough axes to do the job you want them for and the rest knives. Don't forget that if you pop VOTLW on them with Putrescent blades you will be putting out a lot of Mortal Wounds on a big squad. This has been key to their success in my games, and if the axes can handle the job I don't bother.
   
 
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