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Any suggestions for an IG gunline army? Is there a standard build? I dont have any units yet. I like the look of Griffon for starters tho may as well start at the back..
Ta
Scruzan

There are really a lot of ways to run an IG gunline, depending on how aggressive you want to be with it. You can fill HS with artilery and then just put hundreds of infantrymen with melta/LC infront of them, or you can take russes so you can push forward if you feel the need. Either way, the core of the gunline will be infantry platoons behind an ADL, a CCS with standard, and the bulk of the heavy lifting comes down to the HS choices, either russes or arty.

Sounds good thanks a lot. I really like the idea of pounding the enemy with artillery, forcing them to come at me thru a mass of troops and lascannons in the way.

here goes 750 points lemme know if its trash
1 hq + moo
platoon command
5 infantry squads + 3 lascannons
3 heavy weapons + 5 lascannons
1 griffon

Well, you seem to have the basics down, but there are a few things I'd suggest changing. Firstly, your HQ will need to carry the regimental Standard, as without it, your infantry will be running off the board before you can say 'hold the line'. The re-roll of morale tests really is vital for this kind of list.

You also only have one troops choice, as the PCS, IS and HWT all count as a single slot on the FOC. I'd suggest something like this:
PCS, 4x flamer: 50
PIS, LC: 70
PIS, LC: 70

PCS, 4x flamer: 50
PIS, LC: 70
PIS, LC: 70

That fills out you basic troops requirement, and mean you don't have squad without lascannons, which are largely pointless in this kind of list. I'd suggest avoiding HWTs completely, you gain so much more from putting them in your infantry squads. Better Ld (and therefore more reliable orders), more ablative wounds, and more casualties needed before they run.

The Gfriffon is good, nice and cheap but accurate. For a 750 list, along the same lines, I's suggest:

CCS, LC, standard: 85

PCS, 4x flamer: 50
PIS, LC: 70
PIS, LC: 70
PIS, LC: 70

PCS, 4x flamer: 50
PIS, LC: 70
PIS, LC: 70
PIS,LC: 70

Griffonx 2: 150

Total: 755. (if your opponent is picky, just drop a flamer on the PCS)

This gives you a good 7 LC for anti-tank, 2 large blasts with re-roll scatter for anti-horde, and 8 flamers to counter anything that breaks through your line.

Hope that helps.

Hey that list looks great thank you Sir, now I understand the command setup a bit better
Btw in your IG guide, you mention the Basilisk/Earthshaker is no longer hampered by minimum range. Does that mean the 36 inch lower limit is gone?

Minimum range just means you can't fire directly (eg removing BS from scatter), so you can still fire within 36", you just scatter the full 2d6. That's why they are so much more useful now. Also, being barrage, they make great 'snipers' as well, as you allocate from the centre of the blast, meaning that if you roll a hit you can take out characters/get around 2+ sv tanking models at the front.

Is the manticore at 160 a valid choice at 750 points? Or 2 griffons better at 150?

It really depends on what you want. The griffons are more reliable, with 2 shots a turn, are more accurate, will do the same damage against non-MEQ infantry as a manticore, and are more survivable, as a trade off for less ability to hurt vehicles and the potential for 3 blasts a turn. However, in a 5-turn game, the griffons will get 10 shots (assuming they survive), the manticore will get anywhere between 3 and 12 shots. I'd say take the manticore is great if you expect vehicles, a couple of griffons if you see hordes. Both are good choices.

I few things I've learnt - max flamers in PCS are awesome, especially if you use a Vendetta as the delivery method, and lascannons really only belong in a CCS because BS3 doesn't cut it when you only get one (expensive) shot. Autocannons are perfect for your rank and file guys, because they're cheap, get twice as many shots and can hurt transports. I'm not a fan of heavy weapon squads either because they're paper thin - I'd rather hide my heavy weapons in an infantry blob, or mount them on a tank!

ChillyMcFreeze wrote:
I few things I've learnt - max flamers in PCS are awesome, especially if you use a Vendetta as the delivery method, and lascannons really only belong in a CCS because BS3 doesn't cut it when you only get one (expensive) shot. Autocannons are perfect for your rank and file guys, because they're cheap, get twice as many shots and can hurt transports. I'm not a fan of heavy weapon squads either because they're paper thin - I'd rather hide my heavy weapons in an infantry blob, or mount them on a tank!

I presume lascannons in the CCS to get the twin linked "Bring it down"? I would want more Lascannons than just 1 in the CCS because Tau hammerheads and suits would just blow me off the table if I had 1 lascannon. Autocannons are pretty versatile tho.

I'm going to weigh in on the side of Lascannons here. Sure they are expensive, but with BID, they are almost as good as BS4 (chuck in a vox or commissar if you want the order more reliable). The ability to bring 7 LC in a 750 point list whilst not even compromising anywhere else is fearsome firepower, the numbers ensure they will get through. You can use BID on the platoon blob to affect 3 LC with only one order, which is also great.

As for the 4-flamer PCS, they are indeed great, but I've never seen Vendettas as the best use for them. A better option, or at least the one I prefer, is to hold them behind the infantry line, and then drop 4 flamer templates on whatever comes through the ranks. This is great against hordes and heavy infantry alike.

Valkyries sir...Valkyries. First time I played guard I destroyed with Valkyries filled with storm troopers

I have a few questions soz

Can BID be issued twice in same turn? I know hw squads kinda chug but I am just picturing 2 hw lascannon squads firing twin linked..

Can you have more than 1 CCS?

Yes, a CCS can be used 2 times a turn, and yes, you can take 2 CCS.

On the whole, 3 LC HWTs are just too fragile for the points you put into them. You are far better putting them in IS, as you canstill get the same number of TL shots, in addition to whatever special weapon you use at closer range, but the difference is that you can take damage before you lose weapons, are far less likely to run off the board, and far more likely to pass orders, especially with a vox or commissar.

Gee 2 CCs is great.

I can already picture a Catachan army fighting alongside Valhallans, with their respective CCS spamming BID on their troopers^^

Correct me if I am wrong but that would be 4 instances of BID a turn. That is gonna burn through some baddies for sure. Suddenly Vox units look rather useful.

That would be 4 BID a turn, or 4 FRF, or 4 FOMT. It is quite effective, but I'd suggest avoiding vox unless you plan to use combined squads, in which case take one per combined squad. Otherwise, they become too expensive.

Also, catachans and Valhallans sounds hilarious, in a good way. Half the army in T-shirts and half in greatcoats would be brilliant.

Scommy - Do not forget, that BiD can be used only once on the same unit in the given turn. You can not fire with BiD twice with the same unit.

Paradigm - The problem with CCSs and BiD is your opponent. Why would he let your general live? If you use BiD, you have to see the target with your general. Which means (if you are not in chimera) your general is not hiding and is exposed to enemy fire. Which means, he will soon be either dead, or lying on the groud for 2+ Aegis cover and not giving orders next turn.

Anyway, i like your 750 list.

hehe yes Catachans and Valhallans fighting next to each other sure seems like a blast lol

I guess this below would be a valid/legit list?

Tactics wise seems like it will tear up a Tau army pretty good with all the lascannons. A Horde army should also be takeable with up to 4 PIS a turn spamming their lasguns with BID twin linked.

Catachans
CCS, LC, standard: 85

PCS, 2x flamer: 40
PIS, LC: 70
PIS, LC: 70
PIS,LC: 70

Valhallans
CCS, LC, standard: 85

PCS, 2x flamer: 40
PIS, LC: 70
PIS, LC: 70
PIS,LC: 70

Griffonx 1: 75

745

Looks ok, just bear in mind that BID only works on MC and vehicles, so it won't help against hordes. Personally, at 750, I'd swap out the second CCS for another Griffon, as I tend to only like 2 HQ at 1500 and upwards.

Lothar's point about keeping the CCS safe is a good one, and it does take some careful deployment to get the most out of them.

 Paradigm wrote:
I'm going to weigh in on the side of Lascannons here. Sure they are expensive, but with BID, they are almost as good as BS4 (chuck in a vox or commissar if you want the order more reliable). The ability to bring 7 LC in a 750 point list whilst not even compromising anywhere else is fearsome firepower, the numbers ensure they will get through. You can use BID on the platoon blob to affect 3 LC with only one order, which is also great.
As for the 4-flamer PCS, they are indeed great, but I've never seen Vendettas as the best use for them. A better option, or at least the one I prefer, is to hold them behind the infantry line, and then drop 4 flamer templates on whatever comes through the ranks. This is great against hordes and heavy infantry alike.

Ahh I just twigged lol You issue BID on the platoon and it affects all three lascannons? So in your list the 1 CCS could issue BID to both platoons, affecting 6 LC in one turn?

If so it certainly does negate the need for another CCS unless extra one wanted for backup. Indeed the extra punch from another Griffon is going to really mess up the enemy troops and be much more useful than another CCS.

It affects all three squads if you use them as a combined squad (one blob of 30). So yes, you can indeed TL 6 lascannons a turn from a single CCS. After you get into the territory of having 4 platoons (1500+) then you might want to look at another CCS, but for now, one and a griffon is definitely the way to go. With 1 CCS and 2 PCS, you more than have orders covered.

That list of yours went pretty darn well vs a rather nasty Tau army yesterday. Ended as a draw.

I swapped out
PCS flamers for 2 autocannons
Swapped CCS lascannon for a mortar(just to keep the commander out of LOS)
Put in a moo
750 points

I got first blood when a Lascannon rolled consecutive 5s to explode the Hammerhead XD

After all that excitement I have to admit I was not too sure on how to push forward for a linebreak or objectives. I also got pie plated hard being a bit too bunched up.

What strategies would you suggest with this list?

I gotta say, pummeling cowering blueys with the 2 Griffons(even if they were proxied Whirlwinds) was fun!

Well done on the draw, that's a good start as this kind of list is pretty hard to play, especially against Tau. The changes to the list are good, I'm not a fan of the MOO myself but that's just preference.

As for strategies, it largely depends on the opponent and army. If you're playing an army with lots of mid-range shooting (like crons and SM), then you should look at hanging back and making maximum use of your long-range weapons like the LC/AC and the artillery as in terms of fire power over 24", few armies troops can match the guard. On the other hand, bolters/gauss/pulse will tear apart PIS when in range, where lasguns will do less damage in return, so try and keep to your optimal range and use your big guns to do early damage taking out threats before you advance. Against more CC-based armies, consider moving forward early on and them falling back to get in as many turn of shooting as possible. In every case, keep everything you can like mortars/MOO/griffons out of LOS as the enemy can't kill what they can't see.

The art of spacing guardsmen will come with time, although as mad as it sounds, it might be an idea to actually practice moving them. Literally, just deploy a platoon on the coffee table, throw down some boxes/mugs/whatever to act as terrain, and just practice moving them across, moving around terrain and spacing them at near-maximum coherency. With a bit of this every now and then, you'll soon get fast at moving hordes and spacing them out.

Knowing when to advance and when to hold back is subject to so many variables it's hard to give concrete advice on, but generally, you want to hold for the first couple of turns and maximise lascannon fire until you have taken out the most threatening targets.

And yeah, artillery is fun, add in a manticore at higher points for even more laughs.