Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hi, I'm new to 30k and was wondering if this would be a good use of the marines from two starter sets (ie. 80 marines, 2 spartans, 2 contemptor, 20+ cataphractii) plus a bunch more cataphractii.
What two (or more) forces would you split the marines between? I have a grand total of I think 55 cataphractii. Also the "chaplain and cataphractii" character box, and a leviathan.

Alpha Legion - 3000 - Pride of the Legion
165p Cataphractii Praetor, paragon blade
165p Exodus
130p Cataphractii Primus Medicae Centurion
180p contemptor dreadnought, melta cannon + fist
265p 10 headhunters, multimelta, fist + armor
255p 10 reconnaisance marines, nemesis bolters
135p 10 tactical marines, fist + armor
135p 10 tactical marines, fist + armor
455p 10 cataphractii, pf + cb, 2x ac + cf
350p land raider spartan dedicated
235p 5 cataphractii, pf + cb, ac + cf
265p 5 lernean terminators, axe + volkite, conversion beam
300p 5 tyrant siege terminators, pf + cb

3035p/3000p (so some trim needed)

AoB models used: 30 tacticals, 1 praetor, 15 cataphractii, contemptor, spartan

Iron Warriors - 3000 - no rite of war
165p Cataphractii Praetor, paragon blade
130p Cataphractii Primus Medicae
130p Cataphractii Siege Breaker
180p contemptor dreadnought, melta + fist
455p 10 cataphractii, pf + cb, 2x ac + cf
350p dedicated land raider spartan
235p 5 cataphractii, pf + cb, ac + cf
135p 10 tactical marines, fist + armor
135p 10 tactical marines, fist + armor
235p 10 iron havocs, autocannons
575p 10 tyrant siege terminators
305p leviathan, volkites, claws, phosphex

3030p/3000p (again tiny bit of trim needed)

AoB models used: 30 tacticals, 15 cataphractii, contemptor, spartan

If I did that I'd have 20 spare mk6 tacticals, some praetors, and another 20 cataphractii left over. Should I just make that into a third legion?

Does this seem like a sensible plan of action for a beginner? Right now I'm just trying to make decisions so I can build things.

You're going in hard for a beginner!

I don't know the traitor rules well enough to comment on what those specific lists may or may not be lacking, but from a glance, the Alpha Leigon list could use a touch more anti-armour. And depending on how exactly you plan on playing these lists, a couple of rhinos would likely benefit the power armoured units who are likely to get shot of the board before you get them where they need to go.


However, in regards to whatever left over minis you might have, I'd say leave them for now. Keep them in reserve for expanding on either of the other lists. Definitely wouldn't be expanding into a 3rd Legion just yet. Hell, i'd actually be inclined to say don't start two legions. Unless you're really keen to have both for whatever reason, then i'd just stick to one for now. Work out a solid list for whatever sized games you want to be playing and get that down pat first.
You've got enough raw materials to have a lot of scope for where you want to take your list/s. The spare tacticals are well placed to become any of a dozen units if you decide you need/want something in particular, from support or heavy squads, to seekers or any of the Legion specific units. Having a surplus of tacticals is no bad thing. Same goes for the Cataphractiii and praetors/centurions. With the centurions having so many consul choices, it never hurts to have appropriate spare models kicking about should you decide you need to branch out your command options.

Alpha, less common and much cooler

I would consider dropping the Tyrant Siege down to 5 strong and going for another unit of Tacticals. As well as that, go for the Hammer of Olympia RoW and upgrade your Tacticals with Shrapnel Bolts. Being able to do a special Fury of the Legion every single turn is very fun.

Snrub wrote:You're going in hard for a beginner!

I don't know the traitor rules well enough to comment on what those specific lists may or may not be lacking, but from a glance, the Alpha Leigon list could use a touch more anti-armour. And depending on how exactly you plan on playing these lists, a couple of rhinos would likely benefit the power armoured units who are likely to get shot of the board before you get them where they need to go.


However, in regards to whatever left over minis you might have, I'd say leave them for now. Keep them in reserve for expanding on either of the other lists. Definitely wouldn't be expanding into a 3rd Legion just yet. Hell, i'd actually be inclined to say don't start two legions. Unless you're really keen to have both for whatever reason, then i'd just stick to one for now. Work out a solid list for whatever sized games you want to be playing and get that down pat first.
You've got enough raw materials to have a lot of scope for where you want to take your list/s. The spare tacticals are well placed to become any of a dozen units if you decide you need/want something in particular, from support or heavy squads, to seekers or any of the Legion specific units. Having a surplus of tacticals is no bad thing. Same goes for the Cataphractiii and praetors/centurions. With the centurions having so many consul choices, it never hurts to have appropriate spare models kicking about should you decide you need to branch out your command options.

Yeah, I know it's a lot, I have a small variety of old horus heresy bits that I wanted to make use of between at least two legions for variety. I can think about some more anti-armor for the Alpha Legion, maybe support squads with lascannons or meltas or something that makes use of the basic marines. I'll probably not want to get too into vehicles at least not yet, plenty of infantry to build.

FeindusMaximus wrote:Alpha, less common and much cooler

Oh yes, definitely doing Alpha Legion, I just think I have too much stuff for one single legion.

Gert wrote:I would consider dropping the Tyrant Siege down to 5 strong and going for another unit of Tacticals. As well as that, go for the Hammer of Olympia RoW and upgrade your Tacticals with Shrapnel Bolts. Being able to do a special Fury of the Legion every single turn is very fun.

That's probably a good idea, good focus down on the basic infantry to start anyway.

If you have that many troops, I would split between 2 factions that hate each other so you see several ways to play.
Ultramarine/Word Bearer - you can have so much fun with the Calth theme
Dark Angel/ Night Lords - each would be fun to paint and they have very different playtyles
Imperial Fist/ Iron Warrior - both have similar play styles, so fun painting them
Space Wolves/ Thousand Sons - fun with the Battle of Prospero