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Hello!

The topic subject says enough so here it is: I like themed armies, and I don't care how effective they are. Lately I've been thinking about making an all scout army for 40k. I haven't chose for which chapter yet. I'd like to ask you guys if you think one chapter would benefit from it the most, both in terms of rules and fluff, and if it's even possible rule wise.

Eager for your answers!

The 10th company of an SM chapter is normally a Scout company, bar Space Wolves and Black Templars.
So why not.

It is certainly possible, rules-wise.

The recent Codex: Adeptus Astartes (Space Marines) has a formation just for the 10th company. You are able to run an army of just formations, so you can run this on its own. Add a normal CAD (1x HQ and 2x Troops and more) if you wanted, for more flexibility, or more formations.

Sergeant Telion (HQ choice) is only available in a force that takes Ultramarine chapter tactics, but that does not mean the chapter has to be Ultramarines. If your custom chapter takes the UM chapter tactics, it can be called anything you like.

I have seen some all scout armies in the past.
They worked great lots of bikes and skimmers. Not sure what chapter tactics was best for them. But objective secured for those skimmer transports is a must, so you might not want to sink too much points in frmations.

Also BA are not the way to go they have weaker scouts

I’m not sure if there are other scout HQs besides Sgt. Talion of the Ultramarines. This is not a deal breaker, as you can do pure scout lists with formations. But of you want to use a CAD, you need him. Of course, if you want stuff that doesn’t fit in the formations, you are straying from your pure scout theme. But the 10th company is allowed a little chapter support.

There are advantages to most of the chapters. Depends a lot on how you want to build your army. If you take a lot of scout bikes, White Scars. Bolters? Imp. Fists. etc.

Don't try red scorpions. They are horrible for scouts.
Con
- Cant take cammo cloak
- Can't go to ground.

Pro
fnp on tactical marines - > but you don't field those

 Haechi wrote:
Hello!

The topic subject says enough so here it is: I like themed armies, and I don't care how effective they are. Lately I've been thinking about making an all scout army for 40k. I haven't chose for which chapter yet. I'd like to ask you guys if you think one chapter would benefit from it the most, both in terms of rules and fluff, and if it's even possible rule wise.

Eager for your answers!

ultramarines cause of their unique scouts hq, ravenguard for their various scout formations like the shadowstrike killteam

 Haechi wrote:
The topic subject says enough so here it is: I like themed armies, and I don't care how effective they are. Lately I've been thinking about making an all scout army for 40k. I haven't chose for which chapter yet. I'd like to ask you guys if you think one chapter would benefit from it the most, both in terms of rules and fluff, and if it's even possible rule wise.

'Themed' as in fluff-wise? Or 'Themed' as in tabletop formations and strategies?

Because if it's themed fluff-wise you're looking for, then the best advice is always "Go with what interests you most". That reason is exactly why I collect Black Templars.

If you're looking for themed tabletop-wise, then I have a couple of recommendations:

(1) If you're set on Scouts, then you may benefit from Ultramarines Chapter Tactics, though I get the feeling that unless you diversified your army, the full benefits wouldn't be available to you.

(2) If you'tr not set on scouts, the Ultramarines are still very good and versatile. Grav weapons on Devastators, Tactical Squads, and Ultra CTs seem to work very well from what I've seen at my FLGS.

(3) Iron Hands is very good if you want an Armour-Themed army. I've always wanted to have an armour-themed army, but alas, I'm yet to win the lottery haha.

(4) Black Templars aren't very competitive, especially if you want to play a fluffy list. Because of this, I can't recommend BT for any other reason other than if you really like the fluff.

For a scout-heavy army the Raven Guard would fit the theme very well, they are famous for stealth and subterfuge after all. All their units get shrouded in the first turn, giving scouts a 2+ cover in almost every situation.
It would also keep the theme if you choose to expand the army with some assault marines and tacticals.

 ionusx wrote:
ravenguard for their various scout formations like the shadowstrike killteam

The fun thing about those formation is that they dont require to be ravenguard if I am not mistaken.

Also A Techmarine might be a good HQ if you don't want to field regular marines.

You could always take a Librarian HQ and hope you roll Invisibility when generating powers.

You probably want to avoid Space Wolves since their Scouts are elite choices and not a troops choice.

Techmarines have Bolster Defences, which can be handy for Scouts.
Land Speeder Storms get bashed up a lot, and can repair a "weapon destroyed" result.

I would look at the Librarian as an HQ if you need one, though.

Wow, thanks everybody.

I didn't realize the HQ would be an issue. Only Ultras have one hmm.. So far I'm thinking to go either Imperial Fists for lots of Bolters, Raven Guard for the advantages you guys mentioned, or White Scars just because I like them.

What about transports? Can Scouts go in anything else than Land Speeder Storms?

They can fit in pretty much every transport. They only have the LSS as a dedicated transport, but you can put them in drop pods, rhinos, razors, or even land raiders.

Getting the other transports into your list isn’t too hard, as most can be taken as a fast attack pick these days. Which would require a HQ.

From a fluff POV, the 10th company has a captain, chaplain and a command squad as normal. They can also still get company level assets attached to/leading them, so librarians and techmarines can also fit. Depends a lot on what you envision. If you want a pure scout list, the HQ can be rough. But if your concept has room for someone not in 4+ armor, there are plenty of things you can do.

There was an Imperial Fist list about a year or two ago that ran a crap ton of MSU scouts with land speeder storms that placed very well in a major tournament. The name of the player and tournament is lost on me. But he had an over whelming numbers of ObSec in form of a CAD. This was before Gladius was a thing. But in regards to the OP, it might be looking into. It was competitive at least back then and does give you that themed army you want. Also you seemed to be leaning towards IF as is.

http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2015/02/40k-unbeatable-lists-lvo-edition.html

Just kidding. Decided to go looking for it in google real quick and I found it. It's 30 scouts, which is a crap ton, but it doesn't seem to have any LSS!

Thanks guys! I think a Librarian and/or a Chaplain to lead them would be cool. What about apothecaries? Sounds like new recruits would need them haha.

I'm glad about the transport thing. I'd love to fit them into razorbacks.

Thanks for the list Saythings!

Forgeworld Raptors chapter has Issodon, who has the fixed trait that gives infiltration, making him a potential candidate for a "super scout" HQ (and give out infiltration to some sternguard or something too.)

 Haechi wrote:
Thanks guys! I think a Librarian and/or a Chaplain to lead them would be cool. What about apothecaries? Sounds like new recruits would need them haha.

I'm glad about the transport thing. I'd love to fit them into razorbacks.

Thanks for the list Saythings!

For the most part apothecaries can only be taken as part of a command squad. Blood Angels can take them as independent characters IIRC, but I haven’t read their codex since 3rd, so am not sure on that. Might be another one somewhere as well.