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I have always been partial to crimson Fists or imperial Fists and have all the FW bits to do the shoulder pads and vehicles that way. I would be interested in what the most competitive crimson fist or imperial fist (or both) list might be.

To get started below is a list of my SM models so far.

Characters:
Lysander
Pedro Kantor
2-3 Librarians in terminator armor
Chaplain w rosarius / fist
Regular librarians w plasma pistol / staff
Apothecary
Sgt Telion
Bits to make techmarine w convo Beamer
Chaplain
Terminator chaplain

Elite:
Box of assault terminators on sprue
Box of sternguard
Base dread with fist / melta or twin autocannons
Venerable dread box
Dread w fist / assault cannon
Tons of honor guard type units with force axes and such

Random terminators:
2 x assault cannon
1 x cyclone launcher
1 x Th/Ss
7 x storm bolter / fist

Troops:
Lots of tactical
Devestator box
Heavy plasma, bolter, lascannon etc to spread around

Scouts:
9 x sniper
6 x bolt pistol / ccw
7 x bolters
2 x heavy bolter
1 x missile launcher
2 x shotgun

Heavy:
2 x quad lascannon predators
Predator that can be built to any spec
Landraider

Misc: for conversions or whatever
Landspeeder
One bike
One assault bike
5 Rhino hulls with bits for any Razorback, two sets of multi melta from FW too

So what can work here? Would love any feedback. Want to get a list then focus on painting and getting to my local store to learn 8th!!

I’m willing to buy some stuff to supplement, and my budget is Essentially unlimited so FW etc is all on the table. I have Bags and bags of bits and such for conversions too!

Please suggest a list along with how it would generally perform (gunline, assault, mobile, mech, horde, etc)

How do you make Crimson Fist or Imperial Fist awesome in 8th! Thank you for your help getting a new player into the arena!!

Crimson fists and imperial fists aren't going to be "top teir competitive" but if you're only planning on playing casual games, they'll definitely be fun. I love the crimson fists personally, and you definitely have the right stuff for a solid list.
With what you listed, id take something like this:

Battalion Detatchment:
Pedro Kantor
Terminator Librarian with force axe/stormbolter

Troops: 5 man Bolter scout squad
2x 5 man tactical marine squads w/ a heavy Bolter

Vanguard Detatchment:
Captain with the power fist relic and a master crafted boltgun

Elite:
Terminator assault squad with thunder hammers/storm sheilds
5 man sternguard squad with just the special bolters
Dreadnaught with fist and assault cannon

Spearhead Detatchment:
Lieutenant with chainsword and master crafted boltgun (if you feel like spending an extra command point for a second relic give him the armor relic)

Heavy support:
2x quad lascannon predators
1x autocannon with lascannon sponson predator

Dedicated transports: 2x assault cannon razorbacks, 1x heavy Bolter razorback

Total 1999 pts

With all your tacticals and Honor guard, just kitbash yourself a captain and a lieutenant. This list will give you 10 CP to play with, 9 if you feel like snagging a second relic but it isn't nessescary.
Keep the captain and lieutenant with your predators for the re rolls, and use killshot strategem when you can. Stick the 2 tactical squads in the assault cannon razorbacks and stick the sternguard and Pedro Kantor with the heavy Bolter razorback.. Terminators can go where needed, but will definitely benefit from coming down near Kantor for the extra attack aura he's got. The librarian can take might of heroes and null zone for his powers to buff one of your other characters and potentially shut down some enemy invulnerable saves.
Have fun with them, crimson fists look really cool all painted up as an army!

the above looks decent but i'd make a few minor changes personally; dreadnoughts are amazing in 8th; I'd try to drop the terminators for a second dreadnought... Sternguard are fluffy but don't feel like they pull their weight imho... I'd maybe drop them and the scouts as well for a 3rd tactical squad, with plasma and combi-plasma, maybe sgt with a close combat weapon of choice as this squad moves with pedro

Crimson Fists over Imperial Fists IMO.

Some things I adore with Crimson Fists:
Sternguard. I would get another box and run a 10 man unit in a Rhino/Drop Pod
Assault Terminators, Honor Guard, or Centurions with Pedro in a Raven/Land Raider
Other than that the above suggestions are great too. You will be solid against casual to competitive light players and at least have a chance of winning, but if you go against someone that has taken time to tune their list you'll struggle.