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I'm looking for a good shooty unit to move upfield and support my tactical squads. On top of the base of my list, I've got 180 points to spare.

I was thinking about running the command squad in a rhino, either as a stormshield, a plasma gun and 2 combiplas, or a stormshield and 3 meltaguns.

Is this more efficient than a sternguard squad? I've read people complaining Sternguard are too expensive. This is for a 1000 point list, so I want to cram in as much as I can.

Any thoughts on the matter?

For reference, here is my army list thread:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/599541.page

I use to run Sternguard a lot when I was playing Space Marine (2-3 month ago). To be honest, I won't run them in a Rhino, cuz they lose their efficiency as soon as they are on foot. Drop pod is a solution. You get them where you need to do what you need. When you build your list, make sure they are specialise in their weapon choice, no mix and match. Then Pod them, and whatch them do the job.

On the other side, command squad could be useful in a rhino. A shield with some plasma seem like it could pay for itself in any type of game. That's what I like about them.

Overall, I prefer the Command Squad. There is no brilliant theory behind it, just my preference

If you could show us a list, that would help.

why would you run the Combi-Plas on the Command guys, for 5 points more each its worth it to just get a actual Plasma Gun.

Also, im a believer in Sternguard, their special ammo makes them a jack of all trades, able to do damage to any units reliably (except Terminators, but you already have alot of AP2 in that list.

I think Sternguard with Combi-weapons (id go Meltas)in a drop pod would work better with ur list.

I'd like to focus on this being a support unit, I know if I pod them in the sternguard would immediately get focus fired off the board...

The combi plasma is a matter of cost, and trying to fit in as much as possible, since I'd have a choice between the 2 combi plas or single plasma gun and 5 points left over.

Here is where I'm at with the list:


Librarian 65
Command squad, rhino, storm shield plasmagun, 2 combi plas 180
Tactical squad, 5 additional marines, plasma gun, combi plas, rhino 200
Tactical squad, 5 additional marines, plasma gun, combi plas, rhino 200
Stormtalon, syhammer & assault cannon 125
Predator, las sponsons 115
Predator, las sponsons 115

With this list you have to put the Librarian in the Rhino with the Command Squad, another idea would be to take out one of the Tacticals in the Rhino, so that the Libby would have the flexability of going in either the Command Rhino or the Tac one, the 14 points you save on that Tac marine would allow you to make the 2 Combi-plas actual Plasma Guns with 4 points left over.

I was thinking that, but then I'd lose the ability to combat squad, and use the 5 bolters as backfield objective holders. Is i worth it? And those 4 points would go wasted since I can't find anything I can sped 4 points on.

What about just running 2 plasma guns, shield and meltabomb? Or would that be waste? Figured that might also reduce the fire magnet-ness of the squad.

This be a rhino rush it seems.
I think it would be better to ignore the command squad and go full out with more rhinos and tac marines.

But if you haaaaad tooo id go with a rhino with 5 man command squad with all melta guns to go for major tank hunting (like imperial knights or landraiders)

All the tactica's I've read appear to say not to take more tacticals than necessary because they're mediocre, so I've been less inclined to go down that route. I was thinking maybe cutting out 5 tacticals and upping the Rhino to an assault cannon Razorback?

I am a little worried the list may be seriously lacking AV14. Do people actually bring knights to 1k games? I won't be playing tournaments with this list.

It seems it's a choice between plasma or melta. Which does my list really need the most though?

Well im fairly sure those tacticas were written for 6th as with 7th and all of those things objective securing is wonderful.

but ether way they still die like marines as will the command squad or even stern guard. its why i like to keep em cheap and efficient.

You already have an ok amount of Plasma so id like to see a few meltas in there as a back up against the occasional land raider or av13 ish things.

it may be worth taking a melta bomb or two if you have the space. as a back up back up.

Would it be worth going for 1 plasma, 2 meltas and shield, so the squad can contribute to shooting before getting in melta range?

If not, it'd be 3 meltas, shield and a melta bomb somewhere.

What if I dropped the 5 additional marines for each tactical squad, and replaced that with 1 5 man squad with plas and combiplas, or melta and combi melta?

Id save points on the storm shield and get more killy.

a 3+ or a 3++ will still fail often and losing those points

Id also keep each unit weapon focused so no mixing of plasma and melta. that way its generally not wasted on a not optimal target.

Id just go melta command squad with melta bombs and the rest tactical in 5 man + plasma combi plas and stock rhino and try to get an extra rhino. any extra points can go into melta bombs or other junk.

I'm going to keep the storm shield for fact that I've already almost finished the model and love it, so much I'm going to add another...

Here's where I'm at now though.

Librarian 65
Command squad, rhino, 2 storm shields, 3 meltas, rhino 185
Tactical squad, plasma gun, combi plas, meltabomb rhino 135
Tactical squad, plasma gun, combi plas, rhino 130
Tactical squad, plasma gun, combi plas, rhino 130
Stormtalon, syhammer & assault cannon 125
Predator, las sponsons 115
Predator, las sponsons 115

I'm a fan of the Command Squad.

4 Plasmaguns, Apothecary.

FNP all around, and 8 Str7 SP2 shots in rapid fire range.

I usually put them in a Las/Plas Razorback for maximum threat.

This unit is my Nut Cracker. Apply to the biggest shell on the field.


The first game my buddy played with his Tyranid Mawlock, he burrowed up, and got shot down in one turn by these guys and the transport.

He's never fielded it since.

I would go full plas, but it's just too expensive. I also I want to run at least 2 storm shields, because I love the aesthetics.

I think I'm happy with the above list.

Anyone feel that I'm missing anything though, please do give me some input!

I should have mentioned, I'm using Iron Hands CT, so I don't see a huge point in the apothecary, as it benefits me less...

Realised I want to give my librarian a power fist, mostly for aesthetics cus a force staff doesn't fit the image, but also because I think the Mindforge Stave profile would work nicely for a counts-as relic... I know it's not amazing, but it'd be pretty neat. Means that while the command squad is running around popping the bigger tanks up close, the libby can also go smush something big.

Librarian, mindforge stave 80
Command squad, rhino, 2 storm shields, 2 meltas, rhino 175
Tactical squad, plasma gun, combi plas, rhino 130
Tactical squad, plasma gun, combi plas, rhino 130
Tactical squad, plasma gun, combi plas, rhino 130
Stormtalon, syhammer & assault cannon 125
Predator, las sponsons 115
Predator, las sponsons 115

I've also written up a 750pt list for while I'm building my force:

librarian, ML 2, mindforge stave 105
Command squad, rhino, 2 storm shields, 2 meltas, rhino 175
Tactical squad, plasma gun, combi plas, metlabomb, rhino 135
Tactical squad, plasma gun, combi plas, 5 additional marines, missile launcher, meltabomb rhino 220
Predator, lascannon sponsons

 Desubot wrote:
Well im fairly sure those tacticas were written for 6th as with 7th and all of those things objective securing is wonderful.

It amazes me that people still don't get how troops have changed.

They had objective secured back in 6th. They couldn't be contested by anything except other troops. In 7th, this is still the same, except now being scoring in general isn't unique to them, in fact everything including transports does it.

The style of mission is the real change, making scoring more important, and being able to claim objectives out from under Heavys and HQs and whatever else may come into play more often. All in all, the changes are definitely not a straight buff to troops more of a sidegrade and quite possibly even a nerf. The style of mission requiring Objective secured more somewhat makes up for the troops nerf in that everything now scores.

 SHUPPET wrote:

 Desubot wrote:
Well im fairly sure those tacticas were written for 6th as with 7th and all of those things objective securing is wonderful.

It amazes me that people still don't get how troops have changed.

They had objective secured back in 6th. They couldn't be contested by anything except other troops. In 7th, this is still the same,

That's just wrong. All non-vehicle units (except those with certain rules) were contesting units in 6th. Troops were the only ones who could score an objective, but everyone else could shut them down.

Contesting was the wrong word, they could be contested but not claimed by other units. The benefits of objective secured seem largely made up for by the fact that everyone scores. Troops were better last ed IMO!

Revised list:

Librarian 65
Command squad, rhino, 2 storm shields, 2 meltas, 2 meltabombs, rhino 185
Tactical squad, melta, combi melta, rhino 125
Tactical squad, plasma gun, combi plas, meltabomb, rhino 135
Tactical squad, plasma gun, combi plas, meltabomb, rhino 135
Stormtalon, syhammer & assault cannon 125
Predator, las sponsons 115
Predator, las sponsons 115