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Ello all

After a few games and with the models i mostly have in hand. I decided to try and make a relatively competitive list using BAO format

It would be a straight forward multiple BIG units supported by priests/commissars and psykers
Two quandary im running into however is

1) To spend the points and get special weapons and melta bombs/axes on the Infantry squads or just use conscript blobs.
2) Going full ham psykers for possible protection (also deciding between divination for forewarning or telepathy for invisibility) or going into allies for azreals helm.

So far as im leaning towards at least 1 mega infantry blobs with minimum melta bombs to sit with my warlord or a mega blob with heavy weapons to sit back field forever surrounding the objective. and have conscript blobs with commisars push forward and lock out mid field.

Im unsure about the protection however though im leaning towards full ham psykers and going with C:inq allies instead of DA.

What ya guys think?

Invisibility is a hell of a skill, and it can make any squad a pain to deal with.

I've fought a few people who used smaller unit size and psykers (fishing for invisibility) to control boards like crazy. They typically bring a knight or two to take hate, though.

However, Psychic shriek is a pretty scary ability at times, too.


Of course, these were mostly maelstrom lists, which really excelled using transports + small units (and psychic shrieks then invisibility) to do awful things.

I use Azrael and his 4++ save to negate the need for divination and can put all my psykers towards invisibility. It's unbelievable the amount of fire these guys absorb while invisible and with a 4++ save.

Though I'll be honest I haven't tried not using Azrael in this scheme. Basically he acts as a buffer. If you don't get invisibility, then your unit dies very very quickly. Even if you don't get invisibility with Azrael there, you still have the 4++.

For me it's all about reliability.

My unit is 40 guardsmen, 4 meltaguns, 4 power axes, Azrael, priest or two, and two psykers.

It makes me sad that I just now realized that sergeants can take melta bombs.

Well now I need to find 20 more points as with the changes to chariots, as well as the chance of getting tarpitted against MCs, having a lot of melta bombs in the units will be huge.

Yep melta bombs came in soo much handy.

Another reason i just realized why i wanted to go the psychic route is because divination gives me a chance at both forewarning but more importantly misfortune. as it gives me a chance to wound things that i normally cant with regular guardsman.

I'm still of a mind that the psychic phase is a wash for IG, even with access to cheaper psykers and allies.

But for blobs I'm thinking they're almost an auto include; making a 50 model blob with power axes, melta guns, and a commissar invisible would be pretty mean.

I don't generally run blobs though, if I do they're deepstrike wraps for my tanks and artillery. How many points are you building lists around?

I still don't get the appeal of blobs. They're just so much of a hassle to maneuver and they're easy targets. I much prefer lots of units, making it difficult to target them all. PCS are great either for special weapons assault or for heavy bolter or autocannon support. Special weapons squads are a super cheap way to sit on backfield objectives with snipers or deny your flank with flamers. Fearless conscripts are great, but otherwise, I stick with MSU.

To tarpit an assault squad I move one infantry squad out towards the sides to draw their charge away from the center of the table. Next turn they charge my squad, kill them, and are then stuck out wide and out of the action.

For psykers here's how I see it:

- Wyrdvanes, divination bait, throw dice at them for WC2 prescience, and if they perils then who cares? Great for buff/debuff spells.

- Astropath, great value but high risk to the CCS, I'm conservative with giving them dice, even though telepathy is very good.

- Primaris, offensive psykers, biomancy or telekinesis, I stick them with conscripts or a regular guard squad. Biomancy makes for a good MEQ hunter and a decent assault squad against non-assault specialists. Telekinesis makes for a good skirmishing/harassment unit.

Personal favorite strat, conscript squad with a priest and primaris (biomancy). They will tar pit all day.

How do you guys feel about fielding vets using heavy weapons in cover with forward sentries? Maybe throw in a priest to help keep them on the board a little longer? I was thinking of using three squads in cover and two to three in chimeras with special weapons.

I suppose with the most recent change to the Chimera firepoints the argument could be made for foot vets, but again, they're just guardsmen and they're limited to a ten man crew.

Priests, commissars, and Primaris' work well in tandem with large guard blobs or conscripts, they're pretty wasted on vets, in my opinion.

If you were to run foot vets, would you run a LC or AC? And any other special weapons?

 TheSilo wrote:
I still don't get the appeal of blobs. They're just so much of a hassle to maneuver and they're easy targets. I much prefer lots of units, making it difficult to target them all.

Because anything that benefits on a per unit basis is improved the more models it impacts.

In addition orders a limited, I would rather have 3 lascannons per order and benefits of divination powers rather than 1 lascannon. Same with surviving assaults.

Its about maximizing your per-point investment.

Also there is plenty of ways to add mobility to an army based around blobs. Each unit in the blob can take a chimera or taurox that will retain OS, you can bring in fast allies to protect from assault etc.

Guard through a combination of orders and divination have access to the best counters to most of the armies/power builds out there. However by spreading out you cant take advantage of it.

 Leth wrote:

 TheSilo wrote:
I still don't get the appeal of blobs. They're just so much of a hassle to maneuver and they're easy targets. I much prefer lots of units, making it difficult to target them all.

Because anything that benefits on a per unit basis is improved the more models it impacts.

In addition orders a limited, I would rather have 3 lascannons per order and benefits of divination powers rather than 1 lascannon. Same with surviving assaults.

Its about maximizing your per-point investment.

Also there is plenty of ways to add mobility to an army based around blobs. Each unit in the blob can take a chimera or taurox that will retain OS, you can bring in fast allies to protect from assault etc.

Guard through a combination of orders and divination have access to the best counters to most of the armies/power builds out there. However by spreading out you cant take advantage of it.

This was pretty much the reason. Generally the way most of my games used to go with MSU is the opponant points and clicks and removed the entire unit or enough just to have them fail moral. as well besides from some specific dakka or CC special rules, you cant remove an entire 50man squad that has fearless (well besides wyverns batterys).

I just gave a 2000 point game a shot against DE and by turn 6 two of my 3 blobs survived with one being down to like 6 man, and only having 1 forwarning. won the game through maelstorm by shoving them on an objective forever and it worked out mostly.

 Frankenberry wrote:
I'm still of a mind that the psychic phase is a wash for IG, even with access to cheaper psykers and allies.

But for blobs I'm thinking they're almost an auto include; making a 50 model blob with power axes, melta guns, and a commissar invisible would be pretty mean.

I don't generally run blobs though, if I do they're deepstrike wraps for my tanks and artillery. How many points are you building lists around?

1750 to 2000 trying to keep it semi competitive. the psychic phase is interesting. especially if you dont get what you need :/ but im finding even with dedicated dakka shooting against blobs they tend to survive long enough to score.
Though the previous 2000 i probably would kept a lot more models if i didnt screw around with telepathy and sacti (going for the obvious sanctuary and invisibility)