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Noob player here (played a lot of 4th and 5th ed., getting back into 40k a decade later). Basically, I want to include a small contingent of Astartes alongside my AM (for fluffy reasons mainly, although having tough infantry units in an AM roster probably wouldn't hurt competitively).

I've been looking at different datasheets to figure out which one(s) would best represent lore-accurate Astartes (not that something like an Intercessor is radically weaker, but there are significant disparities between their tabletop stats and those in the lore). I like the idea of Astartes being a tanky, hard-hitting ranged shock unit that can strike where needed, and can help take on moderately tough enemy commanders, monsters and elites while leaving grunts to my guardsmen. I'd be willing to sacrifice ObSec if necessary (Astartes take ground, Guardsmen hold it).

In my mind, lore-accurate Astartes woould ideally have:
- Small unit sizes (as low as 2-3 minimum, or even individual models)
- At least M 8"
- WS/BS 2+
- Sv 2+
- At least W 3
- At least A 3
- At least Ld 9
- At least AP -1 on their boltguns, which could also be either S5 or D2
- Some flexibility re: loadout options - nothing major, maybe stuff like chainswords or combi-weapons

I realise that's a tall order though.

Some of the closest datasheets I've found are actually Custodes units like Sagittarium Custodians (or even Allarus or Aquilon Custodians)... although those seem slightly TOO powerful, especially when it comes to their invulns (or melee weapons on the latter two). Custodes do have small, powerful, flexible units though, as well as cool rules or strategems relating to deep striking, heroic interventions/pile-ins toward enemy characters, and something pretty much identical to Gene-Wrought Might. They're still Astartes-ish without actually being from the Astartes codex.

Units like Intercessors and Heavy Intercessors feel slightly too weak, or just compromised in weird ways (e.g. Heavy Intercessors moving slower than Guardsmen). As far as I'm aware (correct me if I'm wrong), maybe the most accurate datasheet in the Astartes codex is something like a Lieutenant, who could be taken 2 per HQ slot and allowed to roam independently... but even then his stats aren't quite optimal, and you end up paying a premium for usless auras and single-model strategems.

So my questions for DakkaDakka:
- Does anybody know of any units I don't that would fill the criteria better than Sagittarium Custodians (currently my top pick)?
- Would there be any issues using Custodian rules for Intercessor models? This would be fine in my personal gaming group, but what about other venues?
- Would it be better to soup those allies with my AM, or should I try to include them as a separate detachment?

Thanks.

I would probably go for Custodes of some kind. For a while, I was planning a movie marine 'army' (back when you could have pure HQ detachments) consisting purely of Custodes heroes. Sure, it would be disastrously bad on the table, but it would be a lot of fun!

I'd go for sternguard veterans in drop pods supported by a leader like a librarian or a captain and possibly a drop pod. Maybe even some vanguard vets with jump pack to add that melee punch. They will deliver the pain with their decked out special weapons, and also their recent buff to 2 wounds will make them slightly beefier, but they might feel a bit like a glass cannon.

This forces you to use them with good positioning.

Otherwise i'd go for terminators deepstriking down.