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Working up to this list, trying to plan in advance to make best use of my bits and dollars. I'm new to 8th edition, back after dropping out in 3rd edition.

I am aiming for an all around force that I can take anywhere and not be embarrassed by. I went with a Brigade detachment to create 12 total CP points. There are 19 total deployments so 9 units will be in Cult Ambush Reserve as noted.

[HQ]
Patriarch w/1 familiar. Power: Mass Hypnosis (AMBUSH)
Primus (standard) (AMBUSH)
Primus (standard) (AMBUSH)
Primus (standard) (AMBUSH)

[ELITE]
15 Genestealers (standard) (AMBUSH)
16 Genestealers (standard) (AMBUSH)
16 Genestealers (standard) (AMBUSH)

[TROOP]
10 Neophyte Hybrids w/ 2x Flamer, armed with Shotguns. Leader has chainsword and laspistol. (AMBUSH)
10 Neophyte Hybrids w/ 2x Flamer, armed with Shotguns. Leader has chainsword and laspistol. (AMBUSH)
10 Neophyte Hybrids w/ 2x Grenade Launcher, 2x Mining Laser, Leader has chainsword and laspistol.
10 Neophyte Hybrids w/ 2x Grenade Launcher, 2x Mining Laser, Leader has chainsword and laspistol.
5 Acolyte Hybrid w/2x Heavy Rockcutter (transported in Rockgrinder 1)
5 Acolyte Hybrids w/2x Demolition Charges (transported in Rockgrinder 2)

[Fast Attack]
3 Armoured Sentinel w/Lascannon
1 Scout Sentinel w/Heavy Flamer
1 Scout Sentinel w/Heavy Flamer

[Heavy Attack]
1 Goliath Rockgrinder (1) w/Heavy Stubber, Clearance Incinerator, Cache of Demolition Charges
1 Goliath Rockgrinder (2) w/Heavy Stubber, Clearance Incinerator, Cache of Demolition Charges
1 Goliath Rockgrinder w/Heavy Mining Laser

So here's the basic idea:
Much melee, very wow. Primus's help to get Genestealer units where they are needed with his Cult Ambust re-roll ability as well as have them hit on 2+. The 'Stealers are the bread and butter here. Patriarch supports where the action is hottest, trying to buff the Genestealers if possible. Neophytes armed with Flamers and shotguns help to soften up blobs of guys. Rockgrinder (1) contains Acolytes with the multi-wound model destroying Heavy Rockcutters, ideally getting near a Primus for his WS upgrade aura. Rockgrinder (2) contains the Acolytes with Demo-Charges to work on high toughness targets. The Armoured Sentinels and last Rockgrinder deal with high-toughness vehicles. Scout Sentinels help to deny deep-striking as well as soften up assault units and mob units. The last 2 Neophyte Squads are just all purpose, low-quality blobs that hopefully get a few wounds to their name over the course of a game.

Is that a reasonably balanced list that could have a chance of taking on various different strategies?
Is it a mistake to not be fielding Leman Russ tanks? I just worried that I'd be tying up so many units in close combat that I'd be limiting my targets.

Also working on a list with lots of Ratling Snipers....

I'm not totally familiar with the rules on GSC, but as long as you have slots, there's nothing to be gained squading your sentinels. All it does is make them vulnerable to morale. You should split your 3 armored sentinels up into separate units. You're going second regardless with that many units anyway.

I like the list.

I'd drop the 3rd rockgrinder in favour of a Leman Russ. The mining laser is not as strong as the battle cannon and hunter missle avaialvale to the leman.

I'd also change the acolytes special weapons to rock drills.

Over all I like the list. Lots of bodies and ambushers.

Time of madness

Other GCult players have played many more games of 8th than me, but my experience is that Cult Ambush is very very random now. Those Purestrain units and unattached Patriarch could very easily end up in a bad spot and wreck any plans you have for concentration of force and character buff support.

I like shotgun Neophytes, but note that most CA table results will leave you outside flamer and +1S shotgun range.

Currently I'm looking at flipping the paradigm and putting assaulters in transports and ambushing shooters into good firing positions.

Thank-you all this is really helpful.

I will drop a Rockgrinder for a Leman Russ and see how that goes.

I had to drop my Genestealer squads down to 12 now that I found out they are 15 points each, not 10 as I had previously thought.

Lots of room for play here and many different tactics to try. I like the idea of a 20 man Neophtyte squad Ambushed in and Rapid-Firing from cover. At least they will provide a distraction

As argonak said, splitting the Sentinels into multiple solo units is probably a good idea, and as a bonus it will also grant an extra ambush for your other units. I'd also probably swap the Heavy Rock Cutters for more Demolition Charges. While they are lethal, a 5-strong unit won't be able to keep them alive very long and they are fairly costly. Demolition Charges in comparison are fairly cheap and once they have been thrown the squad is a much lower priority threat for shooting (plus you already have 1 squad so an extra is good redundancy). Also I would try to see if you can find a way to get at least one Iconward into the list. They play very well with Neophytes between the 6+ FNP-equivalent and moral reroll while offering a bit of melee capability.

Caspian89 wrote:

Is that a reasonably balanced list that could have a chance of taking on various different strategies?

While it is balanced in the sense of having a good diverse toolbox, mechanically it leans more towards an aggressive alpha strike list. It should be able to perform well enough against most lists, but it will struggle with any that can mitigate the initial blow and successfully counter attack.

Caspian89 wrote:

Is it a mistake to not be fielding Leman Russ tanks? I just worried that I'd be tying up so many units in close combat that I'd be limiting my targets.

For an ambush-centric list it should be fine. With all your infantry and light vehicles, a lone Leman Russ is just a giant fire magnet for all the opposing heavy anti-tank firepower. Also units generally speaking don't get tied up in melee anymore, as they are free to back out at the cost of their ability to take actions later.