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I haven't played 40k since 3rd or 4th so when I dug out my old models and bought some new ones alongside a new marine codex, I was instantly drawn to the Vanguard Vets.... I have 10 man squad built and I can also add either a plain and simple jump pack chaplain or a fully kitted out chapter master....
I was wandering if my load out was any good.... My army is largely plasma themed
VV SGT, relic blade, plasma pistol. (Can be just a power sword if I need it to be)
X6 power sword and storm shield vets
X3 plasma pistol and power fist vets
Is this competitive? Waste of points? Be gentle

Halftrack117 wrote:
I haven't played 40k since 3rd or 4th so when I dug out my old models and bought some new ones alongside a new marine codex, I was instantly drawn to the Vanguard Vets.... I have 10 man squad built and I can also add either a plain and simple jump pack chaplain or a fully kitted out chapter master....
I was wandering if my load out was any good.... My army is largely plasma themed
VV SGT, relic blade, plasma pistol. (Can be just a power sword if I need it to be)
X6 power sword and storm shield vets
X3 plasma pistol and power fist vets
Is this competitive? Waste of points? Be gentle

That’s a lot of points. And a lot of killy, choppy, smashy death. Anything you touch is going to be reduced to chunky salsa. With the ability to multi-assault without penalty, you might be able to kill enough to justify those points. But it’s going to be rough. And sometimes, you don’t want to kill your target on the charge, but be stuck in CC during your opponent’s shooting phase. This way your 50PPM+ models don’t just eat a pie plate and die. In a 10 man squad, I’d probably run 2-3 each of shields and power weapons, and mix up the weapons a bit. Add a few melta bombs to taste.

Plasma pistols are overpriced IMHO. You would also be better off pairing them with the swords, for the extra attack, and leaving the fists to go with the shields.

I've read a lot about plasma pistols being over priced these days and it's disappointing, but I am trying to keep the squad in keeping with my army's theme... Though your idea about fists with shields is tempting!

I want to love plasma pistols. They are the iconic sidearm of important people in the Imperium. The look cool, they invoke some awesome imagery, they are just cool guns.

But 15 ppm for something you might get to shoot once, twice if you are lucky, that serves as nothing more then a glorified club once you get stuck in CC, and has a chance to kill you when do do get to shoot it is a little much.

Maybe on a BS5 character, but still that’s not the best use of points. and on a 1 wound guy in basic power armor, never. Too many points sunk into a fragile body.

Even if you have a strong plasma theme going on in your army, I’d tone it back. I don’t know how competitive your local group is. Assuming you are not in an ultra competitive meta, you should be able to sacrifice a few points on the alter of theme and looking cool. Just try to keep the rest of your list tight and lean to compensate.

Putting plasma pistols on the guys with the most expensive wargear is the worst idea. If you're gonna take a plasma pistol Marine, make that al they're taking so you don't lose 40+ points of gear from an overheat. That being said, plasma pistols might get to get one, maybe two shots off in a game. That's not really worth it for their points cost.

Generally when I make big huge squads like that (like say, Ork Nobz) I never buy more than a third of the squad members anything really kickass. There's a point of diminishing returns when you're spending 30+ points extra on every model in the unit.

5 in a drop pod with dual Grav Pistols, with a TH/SS Captain or CM up front tanking wounds for them. Expensive? Duh. But freakin Gunslingers! I haven't been able to get this bought/built yet, but by god it's a comin!

I like to give mine 3 storm shields with assorted weaponry (tel iv blade on the Sergeant, TH and some sort of PW), and two with LC. Gives a good wall of SS, and let's the LC rip apart a few low armour units.