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Is there an army that could get away with running all infantry, with absolutely no vehicle or monster support, and still be reasonably viable? Ideally no bikes or big bases (Wraiths, Centurions, Meganobs) either. I was thinking of building an army like that for light travelling, but it would be fun to be able to win with it occasionally as well.

Ork Green tide immediately springs to mind - sprinkle in some Grots and tankbustas etc if needed.

If you go unbound an all Genestealer list could work as they dont rely on synapse.

Ig blob lists could be viable aswell.

How competitive are you looking for?

if your problem is space, going exclusive infantry might not be your solution. You'll need a lot of models to make up your points. Something like demon prince spam would be a good way to save space, as each model is big, but you only need a few of them. A friend of mine runs 3-4 nurgle DPs and a great unclean one, and about 20 plague bearers at about 1500 points. Takes up relatively little space compared to the equivalent Ork green tide list, for example.

Alternatively, go elite infantry. Grey knight terminator spam.

Skitari can do this. Kinda.

A friend of mine runs 3-4 nurgle DPs and a great unclean one, and about 20 plague bearers at about 1500 points

OP said no monsters and no bigger bases though.

Casually competitive? Strong enough to win the occasional game, but not necessarily tournament level.

Orks and IG could be fun, but neither are particularly portable. How are Biel-Tan lists doing these days? Could a mix of Dire Avengers, Warp Spiders, Striking Scorpions, Swooping Hawks, Dark Reapers, Guardian Defenders and Windriders work? I'm assuming Fire Dragons don't really work if they have to walk.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
A monster list could be an interesting option, sure. In short, anything that can fit into this: https://www.feldherr.net/feldherr-mini-plus-half-size-figure-case-empty/a-40341/

It can take 80 small bases. Not sure about monsters, but 24 Terminators sized models and 20 small ones are also an option.

Okapi wrote:
Is there an army that could get away with running all infantry, with absolutely no vehicle or monster support, and still be reasonably viable? Ideally no bikes or big bases (Wraiths, Centurions, Meganobs) either. I was thinking of building an army like that for light travelling, but it would be fun to be able to win with it occasionally as well.

1) Get a reasonably sized metal bawks.
2) Add foam.
3) Add a "Steel Host" tank company.
4) ???
5) GW Profits

 Ratius wrote:

A friend of mine runs 3-4 nurgle DPs and a great unclean one, and about 20 plague bearers at about 1500 points

OP said no monsters and no bigger bases though.

Yes but he stated his reason for that was to save space (light traveling). The point that pocketcanoe is making is that smaller bases does not mean you will have a lighter load. It will frequently mean the opposite because you'll require a large amount of infantry to fill up an army.

Circa 1500 points. Will give some armies headaches, others no so much. Gloss up the units with an ardcoat and literally transport them in a battleforce size box

+++ New Roster (1516pts) +++

++ Tyranids: Codex (2014) (Combined Arms Detachment) ++

+ HQ +

Tyranid Prime [Adrenal Glands, Lashwhip & Boneswords, Scything Talons]

+ Troops +

Genestealer Brood
····Broodlord [Psyker (Mastery Level 1), Rending Claws]
····9x Genestealer [9x Rending Claws]

Genestealer Brood
····Broodlord [Psyker (Mastery Level 1), Rending Claws]
····9x Genestealer [9x Rending Claws]

Genestealer Brood
····Broodlord [Psyker (Mastery Level 1), Rending Claws]
····9x Genestealer [9x Rending Claws]

Genestealer Brood
····Broodlord [Psyker (Mastery Level 1), Rending Claws]
····9x Genestealer [9x Rending Claws]

Genestealer Brood
····Broodlord [Psyker (Mastery Level 1), Rending Claws]
····9x Genestealer [9x Rending Claws]

Genestealer Brood
····Broodlord [Psyker (Mastery Level 1), Rending Claws]
····9x Genestealer [9x Rending Claws]

+ Heavy Support +

Biovore Brood
····Biovore [Spore Mine Launcher]
····Biovore [Spore Mine Launcher]
····Biovore [Spore Mine Launcher]

Biovore Brood
····Biovore [Spore Mine Launcher]
····Biovore [Spore Mine Launcher]
····Biovore [Spore Mine Launcher]

Created with BattleScribe (http://www.battlescribe.net)

I think what you're looking for OP is an army with low model count. Grey Knights are notorious for their low model count. You can field a 1500 point army with few models as long as you're willing to play with a couple Dreadknights and some Terminators. It's easy to transport such an army and very light-weight.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
To fit larger bases in that carrier case you can simply cut larger spaces out of the foam.

Aye, space is the real issue here, I should have made that more clear. I guess I just figured 80 power armoured Marines or 80 Aspect Warriors seemed most sensible. The issue with tanks, especially xenos tanks, is that they tend to be oddly shaped and take up a lot of space in the case. A Night Spinner is about as big as 40 Aspect Warriors or 20 Wind Riders, at a third or less of the cost. Thought I suppose you might be able to fit in two Leman Russ Battletanks in the same space. Still, four LMBT does not an army make.

Grey Knights seem like a sensible option though.

Space Marines CAD - 1000

Librarian - 105
- Psyker Mastery Level 2
- Jump Pack

Scout Squad - 60
- 5 Scouts
- Melta Bombs

Scout Squad - 60
- 5 Scouts
- Melta Bombs

Scout Squad - 60
- 5 Scouts
- Melta Bombs

Scout Squad - 70
- 5 Scouts
- Plasma Pistol

Assault Squad - 95
- 5 Space Marines
- Jump Packs
- 2 Flamers

Assault Squad - 95
- 5 Space Marines
- Jump Packs
- 2 Flamers

Assault Squad - 115
- 5 Space Marines
- Jump Packs
- 2 Plasma Pistols

Devastator Squad -100
- 5 Space Marines
- 2 Plasma Cannons

Devastator Squad -120
- 5 Space Marines
- 2 Missile Launchers
- Flak Missiles

Devastator Squad -120
- 5 Space Marines
- 2 Missile Launchers
- Flak Missiles

Grey Knights are easy to transport

if you want a bunch of infantry, Necron silver tide is good

Necrons would be a good choice, and still competetive. Also pure Deathwing.

Every list is going to have bad matchups. Pure footslogging marines can work, but some things are going to eat you alive. I had a reasonable showing vs. necrons with a pure foot list, but YMMV.

“How it packs” is something I often consider when writing a list. If I can fit my list into one KRU of space, I’ll just grab that and my books, rather then lugging my Kaiser 3 up to the FLGS. Infantry packs very densely, at least marines. Bugs, orks, or chaos, with claws and spikes everywhere aren’t quite as efficient. Using the most efficient trays, I could pack 200 marines into a KRU, but 150-180 gives you bigger trays with more elbow room. Now that’s still more marines then you generally need in any given list, so you can swap out some of that space for extras. One nice thing about rhinos being boxy is they pack well (unlike Eldar tanks) I can pack 60 marines, and 3 rhinos and a drop pod into a single KRU with what I own. That’s easily a demi-company with either a 1st or 10th company formation, and enough transports to be efficient.

I tend to think in KRUs, as I’m a fan and user of KR Multicase. Different transport solutions will make other arrangements better or worse. But it’s important to realize that low model count does not necessarily mean easy to transport.

Warp Spiders and Dark Reapers, with Dire Avengers holding ground. Farseers can usually take anything if they have the right powers.
Add Swooping Hawks for haywire.
A small squad of jetbikes (small bases) might do well for objective grabbing, if space allows.
Spiritseers and Warlocks are small-base, too.

Or, there's Harlequins. I hear they can survive a walk. Mix them in with the Craftworld Eldar

If you need cover, there are places that sell foldable terrain. Think about taking that to PUGs, if your opponent isn't bothered.

Also:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/654273.page#7944976

If you're looking for a low model count army, Deathstar armies or their equivalent could be potentially good. It's no longer the edition of Deathstars, but they are still pretty competitive armies, so some people might not want to play against them (as a warning).

In particular, things like the following:

Cult Mechanicus Cybernetica Cohort + Skitarii or Whatever.
The Cybernetica Cohort is 7 models (only 3 kits in fact). They're not that small, but it's only 7 models that are about 700 points in total.

Haemonculus Covens Corpsethief Claw
That's 5 Talos models that are again about 600 points, with the rest probably filled out by eldar.

Jetbike Seer Council -- this again uses about 7-10 models, this time jet bikes, that take up about 700 points.

Centurion Star -- 3 Cents + Tigurius + Draigo + GK Librarian is a lot of points invested in very few models. If you want to keep as low model count as possible, add more GK Terminators instead of the Space Marine stuff.

Thunderwolves -- I don't know the composition, but heavily equipped SW thunderwolves gets you a lot of points into relatively few models.

Wraithblades -- This is a lot rarer, but I know people have run deathstars of like 10 wraith blades + Eldrad. In fact, Wraith units in general take up a lot of points with few relatively small models (except for the Wraith Knight), so running an Iyanden list w/o a WK is a possibility.

Last Necron book I would have told you to maybe run the Royal Court Disco Inferno (full court w/ all the upgrades) but it no longer really exists anymore

Clearly, a black tide black Templar list. Drown them in marines! And easy to paint!

I would also vote necrons. I don't use monsters or vehicles, and decurion is pretty awesome.

Daemons are also fun if you don't mind oddly shaped models.

Eldar, SM, GK

Space wolves my buddy has an all infantry list that has done pretty well in the past long fangs/grey hunters/ wolf claws? Pretty intense rules also

Grey Knights all the way.

Terminators, terminators, terminators. Maybe some PA options.

Okapi wrote:
Aye, space is the real issue here, I should have made that more clear. I guess I just figured 80 power armoured Marines or 80 Aspect Warriors seemed most sensible. The issue with tanks, especially xenos tanks, is that they tend to be oddly shaped and take up a lot of space in the case. A Night Spinner is about as big as 40 Aspect Warriors or 20 Wind Riders, at a third or less of the cost. Thought I suppose you might be able to fit in two Leman Russ Battletanks in the same space. Still, four LMBT does not an army make.

Grey Knights seem like a sensible option though.

But five LRBT's and a Hydra make a Steel Host, and with some custom foaming, it's really quite easy to fit into a a briefcase sized box. I have a box I made years ago for a laptop that currently holds 7 russ hulls, two chimera hulls and a wyvern/hydra hull. The guns are hiding in a small plastic takeaway box. Admittedly, I cut out foam dividers for the hulls, rather than using foam trays (which has saved me a lot of space), but with these units I can make a 1750 pints list.
On top of the hulls, I had some room, and filled it with two cut-to-fit foam trays of infantry.

Can be quite efficient.

Orks, IG, CSM, Daemonkin, Tau. First stuff that comes to mind. They all can do really good without vehicles and MC.

If you don't mind sticking them into plastic tubs, you could go platoon IG with ADL.

Get a couple of CCS with MOO, and build platoons with lots of heavy weapons teams.

And special weapons teams.
M-m-m-melta spam.

BA asssault list at 1500 points:

Dante
Sanguinary priest w/jp
5 sanguinary guards. 1 fist. 1 inferno pistol
7 Death company marines. JP. 1 power fist
8 Death Company marines. JP. 1 power fist.
5 scouts.
5 scouts. melta bomb.

Allied Tau
Commander Shadowsun (tankhunter) is a small model
10 Kroot (w/sniper rifles)
2 Remoraz Drones (smallest flier) decent AA
2 Broadsides missile loadouts.



Its not competative, might be viable in pick up games. Remora's gets markerlights and allows missile-sides to shoot down fliers easier. Kroot infiltrates and draws attention from the jump troops mad dash across the board.

43 infantry sized units.
1 small crisis suit
2 broadsides, which can fit in infantryx4 pockets
2 remora drones.

Should fit well in your 80 infantry units bag. Or ditch the tau and get 3x8 assault marines w/JP and melta guns, for a total of 58 models. 6 jump packing squads. Though its less fun.

Renegades. All the infantry, and artillery carriages.

While not directly relevant to the topic at hand the first Grand Tournament I attended, back at the start of 4th Edition, featured a Howling Griffons Space Marine Army which consisted of a full company at 1850pts.

Six ten man tactical squads
two ten man devastator squads
A ten man command squad
A ten man veteran devastator squad.

Performed pretty well too from what I remember simply due to the weight of power armor and heavy weapons

I know you want to avoid bigger bases, but some things like TWC with fist and shield end up being pretty space efficient (80 points per model. I can't think of a single vehicle that has a hood points to volume ratio though.

Mavnas wrote:
I know you want to avoid bigger bases, but some things like TWC with fist and shield end up being pretty space efficient (80 points per model. I can't think of a single vehicle that has a hood points to volume ratio though.

Properly upgraded Russ tanks can be stacked carefully into a box.
Take Paskisher and a TC squadron for four Russes that cost you around 150-200 ish points each. Add a plastic tub of these guys, and you're good to go.