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Hello fellow dakkaites
So here is my tentative of semi-competitive Astra Militarum list that I built for a tournament. Sadly the codex is way outdated. Now that GK have their V9 codex, Guard is the oldest codex currently in use, and it shows. I'm admitting that as Astra Militarum we have many drawbacks and few strengths, so this may be a desperate, weird tentative to compete.
dedicated transport 1 : Chimera (65), multi-laser (0), heavy bolter (10). [75]
Heavy support 1 : *1* Leman Russ battle tank (140), 3 * heavy flamers (45), turret : demolisher cannon (5). [190]
Heavy support 2 : *1* Leman Russ battle tank (140), 3 * heavy flamers (45), turret : demolisher cannon (5), tank ace : up-armoured 2+ save (0 pts, replaces warlord trait). [190]
Heavy support 3 : *1* Manticore (145), 4 * storm eagle missiles (0), heavy bolter (0), tank ace : full payload (-1 CP). [145]
army total : 1000 points.
So basically, I grab just about what I own that remains quite competitive in our codex. I have opted for two ordinary LRBT demolishers, but in the nicknamed fireball configuration, because I think they can prove fairly good due to a number of 9th edition factors. To sum-up these are : the need to push forward, shorter lines of sight, smaller tables, so shorter combats ranges, more and quicker melee, the possibility for vehicles to fire non-blast vehicle weapons once in melee. As three of the four weapons don't use BS, I'm passing on upgrading the LRBT into tank commanders. Not being characters, this way I cut down the opponent's secondary objective "assassinate" too. The armour part is completed with a Chimera and one "full payload" Manticore, which I feel is almost mandatory.
As for the regiment traits, I reroll the D6 's on the tank's random heavy weapons, which are a lot in my list. For the second trait I reroll the advances on infantry. So that I can take greater advantage of move-move-move or simply advance then shoot assault weapons. I'm aware that my choice of taking two command squads with grenade launchers is a bit weird, but there is no plasma guns in the Valhallan miniature range. So it is what I have available. Plus grenade launchers on veterans are still cheap compared to plasma, and can pack a punch sometimes, so let's try ! Radios in infantry squads are not very powerful, but they are nice to have. They make positionning the officers and squads much less constrained in the perspective to take use of orders.
I will take this list in a 2*1000 points doubles tournament soon. I'm accompanied with an Adepta sororitas player, with quite a strong list.
Thoughts, comments, improvement axis ? Secondary objectives advice ?
Any help is appreciated. I have still a small experience of 9th edition, due to Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns.
This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 2021/09/14 12:46:55
Not too much that I think I'd change with this. The only thing that comes to mind is if you find you really need those vox caters. If not you could slap a pair of power fists onto your officers to take out a couple models if they need to charge something. And/or maybe have your command squads go for Flamer x3 Hvy Flamer x1, toss them both into the Chimara and drop them next to whatever large unit needs evaporated?
For your specific case, it really depends on what your partner is brining so you can each compensate for whatever weaknesses the other's list may have.
I like it, curios to see how the fireballs will work out. I've had good luck with astropaths with psychic interrogation for secondaries, but they'll open you up to psyker and character hunting secondaries...
Camkhieri: "And another very cool thing, my phones predictive text actually gave me chicken as an option after typing robot, how cool is that."'
Meercat: "All eyes turned to the horizon and beheld, in lonely and menacing grandeur, the silhouette of a single Grot robot chicken; a portent of evil days to come."
From 'The Plucking of Gindoo Phlem'
Tawnis wrote:Not too much that I think I'd change with this. The only thing that comes to mind is if you find you really need those vox casters. If not you could slap a pair of power fists onto your officers to take out a couple models if they need to charge something. And/or maybe have your command squads go for Flamer x3 Hvy Flamer x1, toss them both into the Chimara and drop them next to whatever large unit needs evaporated?
For your specific case, it really depends on what your partner is brining so you can each compensate for whatever weaknesses the other's list may have.
Powerfists are nice, but I'm tight on points, and the vox casters are very handy to cast a "move-move-move" from afar.
I'm glad you mention the flamers, because I had thought about them too. At a point I was even thinking taking the "pyromaniacs" regiment trait, to give rerolls to all these flamers galore. But I changed my mind, thinking "wait... am I making a meme list there ?" And pyromaniacs is just plain bad. I have tried the pair of 4* flamers command squads, and sometimes they made good shots... sometimes they were not reliable, and doing so they were all the time in a very exposed position, then were doomed next opponent's turn. So after a few tests the flamers were swapped for grenade launchers. The rationale being that 9th is based on very high attrition but is also has objectives as key scoring. I need my squads to permorm objective grabbing or claiming table quarters, thus a more cautious approach : grenade launchers can fire from greater distance, not needing to be in charge range, and benefit from the BS 3+.
Problem is, either way, these squads are too fragile, even while not being a big threat. Their Chimera is an obvious target, and is not very mobile compared to advancing infantry (especially around ruins & co). I had better success with scout sentinels before, so here is the first modification to my list. I don't say that chimeras can't work in a list, but I feel it's better to bring lots rather than just one.
CommissarKhaine wrote:I like it, curios to see how the fireballs will work out. I've had good luck with astropaths with psychic interrogation for secondaries, but they'll open you up to psyker and character hunting secondaries...
I have been subject to the "assassinate" secondary, it's not fun as a guard player, and this can be scored quite easily. Keeping the primaris psyker for now, maybe I will try a warpcraft secondary again in the future.
I'm fortunate to be in a club that has a great deal of terrain elements, so the games are fought within intersting board layouts. Testing has given me the impression that I lack no-LOS firepower. Opponents can hide pretty easily anti-tank squads then light up my tanks. Or simply hide cheap objective holders, then score lots of VP. Previously in 8th edition, I almost always had a squad of mortars to deal some damage above LOS-blocking terrain, and I feel the lack of them. I would have loved to take a Wyvern, but at 135 points, this tank has been nerfed to uncompetitiveness level, sadly. Apart from that, I'm under the impression that these LRBT 's are doing quite well (up until a doomsday ark or multimelta volley...). "Gunnery experts" has proven incredibly useful (on the Manticore too). So I'm keeping the general idea, but reworking my list. Here is a second version, in a spearhead :
Fast Attack 1 : *2* scout sentinels (2*35), heavy flamers (2*10). [90]
Heavy support 1 : *3* heavy weapons squad, 3* mortars. [50]
Heavy support 2 : *3* heavy weapons squad, 3* mortars. [50]
Heavy support 3 : *1* Leman Russ battle tank (140), 3 * heavy flamers (45), turret : demolisher cannon (5). [190]
Heavy support 4 : *1* Leman Russ battle tank (140), 3 * heavy flamers (45), turret : demolisher cannon (5), tank ace : up-armoured 2+ save (0 pts, replaces warlord trait). [190]
Heavy support 5 : *1* Manticore (145), 4 * storm eagle missiles (0), heavy bolter (0), tank ace : full payload (-1 CP). [145]
army total : 1000 points.
Apart from that, the 2*1000 tournament has just been postponed to an undefined date. So now I have plenty of time to test again, practice, practice... and maybe obtain some results with my list. My Adepta sororitas mate will probably make some tweaks in his list too.
This message was edited 5 times. Last update was at 2021/09/12 15:02:57
