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I have been experimenting with a Mech. Guard list and this is what I got so far. I have a list of doctrines but the only one I am using is Mechanized. Building a Guard list is a lot harder than I though, so please be kind...

-HQ-

Command Platoon = 199 pts.

Senior Officer w/ Powerfist
- 4 Guardsmen w/ 3 Flamers
- Chimera w/ Extra Armor, Smoke Launchers, Pintle Heavy Stubber, Hull Heavy Bolter

-Troops-

Infantry Platoon = 580 pts.

Junior Officer
-4 Guardsmen w/ Plasmagun, and Lascannon
- Chimera w/ Extra Armor, Smoke Launchers, Pintle Heavy Stubber, Hull Heavy Bolter

Infantry Squad w/ Plasmagun, Lascannon
- Chimera w/ Extra Armor, Smoke Launchers, Pintle Heavy Stubber, Hull Heavy Bolter

Infantry Squad w/ Plasmagun, Lascannon
- Chimera w/ Extra Armor, Smoke Launchers, Pintle Heavy Stubber, Hull Heavy Bolter

Armored Fist Squad w/ Plasmagun, Lascannon
- Chimera w/ Extra Armor, Smoke Launchers, Pintle Heavy Stubber, Hull Heavy Bolter

-Fast Attack -

Hellhound w/ Hull Heavy Bolter, Pintle Heavy Stubber, Extra Armor, Smoke Launchers = 135

Hellhound w/ Hull Heavy Bolter, Pintle Heavy Stubber, Extra Armor, Smoke Launchers = 135

-Heavy Support-

Leman Russ Battle Tank w/ Hull Heavy Bolter, Sponson Heavy Bolter,  Extra Armor, Smoke Launchers = 163 pts.

Leman Russ Battle Tank w/ Hull Heavy Bolter, Sponson Heavy Bolter,  Extra Armor, Smoke Launchers = 163 pts.

Leman Russ Demolisher w/ Hull Heavy Bolter, Sponson Heavy Bolter,  Extra Armor, Smoke Launchers = 173 pts.

For a first time IG army list, this is not so bad.

I would suggest taking the Drop Troopers doctrine though. This will allow both your Command Squads to be equipped with 4 special weapons and deep struck into the heart of the enemy lines. This ofcourse mean de-ranking the senior officer to a junior officer again, since they will be used as suicide troops. The choice between Plasma Gun and Melta Gun is entirely up to personal preference though. Melta guns have the advantage that they can insta-kill T4 characters and are a great anti-tank weapon, which most mechanized Guard lists lack a bit. The plasma gun however has the benefit of more shots, and a greater range.

On the chimera's, I would suggest you drop all of the pintle mounted weapons and take the Multi-laser + Heavy Bolter setup. The increased strength of the Multi-laser really helps a lot, and I feel that any unit requiring the specific AP4 can be taking care of better by the Hellhounds. On which I would suggest you drop the pintle mounted weapons as well by the way.

The points cost on the Leman Russ Battle Tanks seem to be a bit off. I don't have my codex with me to verify that though.

I think this will leave you some points to play with. I suggest you try to squeeze a Hardened Veteran squad in there. They too can be used as a suicide drop troop unit.

I hope this was helpful,
Airmaniac

I fixed the points on the Leman Russ Tanks, that was a typo on my part.

no point taking drop troops since all guard infantry MUST take a chimera a squad or two of stromtroopers however paking meltaguns could rely help you agaisnt heavy armour

also smoke launchers arnt worh it on chimera becuase they act as pillboxes more than APC's
maybe turn the last infantry sqaud into a armoured fist so you got 2 troops choises
good start tho and welcome to the ranks

2 special weapons squads each with meltagunx2 demo charge x1 are brutal against any opponent. In addition they are amazingly cheap and effective at what they can do when combined with the drop troops doctrine.  I'm not sure of the play styles/armies in your area but up until recently I was running the lascannon/plasmagun combo, but to save points I will be switching to ML's/AC's as the lascannon works, but I don't play against enough armor, and my SWS generally are able to take out the armor effectively.

Also, I've read a lot that hardened veterens are also good for anti MEQ when geared with 3 plasmaguns.

I'm sure Mahu knows that drop troops can be pretty devastating, but he's looking for help with his Mech IG list.

For me, it seems the biggest hole in your list is lack of AP2 weaponry. Maybe switch out the HB sponsons on your Demolisher for something like Plasma Cannons or Lascannons for some extra punch.

Ozymandias, King of Kings

Mahu there is no real definite end-all-beat-all list but I suggest is taking a few core choices that you know wont be replaced and from there just play play play and cater the army to your tastes. My only suggestion is make an army that can dominate the shooting phase and dominate the movement phase.

Posted By Mahu on 10/22/2007 10:13 AM
I have been experimenting with a Mech. Guard list and this is what I got so far. I have a list of doctrines but the only one I am using is Mechanized. Building a Guard list is a lot harder than I though, so please be kind...

-HQ-

Command Platoon = 199 pts.

Senior Officer w/ Powerfist
- 4 Guardsmen w/ 3 Flamers
- Chimera w/ Extra Armor, Smoke Launchers, Pintle Heavy Stubber, Hull Heavy Bolter

-Troops-

Infantry Platoon = 580 pts.

Junior Officer
-4 Guardsmen w/ Plasmagun, and Lascannon
- Chimera w/ Extra Armor, Smoke Launchers, Pintle Heavy Stubber, Hull Heavy Bolter

Infantry Squad w/ Plasmagun, Lascannon
- Chimera w/ Extra Armor, Smoke Launchers, Pintle Heavy Stubber, Hull Heavy Bolter

Infantry Squad w/ Plasmagun, Lascannon
- Chimera w/ Extra Armor, Smoke Launchers, Pintle Heavy Stubber, Hull Heavy Bolter

Armored Fist Squad w/ Plasmagun, Lascannon
- Chimera w/ Extra Armor, Smoke Launchers, Pintle Heavy Stubber, Hull Heavy Bolter

-Fast Attack -

Hellhound w/ Hull Heavy Bolter, Pintle Heavy Stubber, Extra Armor, Smoke Launchers = 135

Hellhound w/ Hull Heavy Bolter, Pintle Heavy Stubber, Extra Armor, Smoke Launchers = 135

-Heavy Support-

Leman Russ Battle Tank w/ Hull Heavy Bolter, Sponson Heavy Bolter,  Extra Armor, Smoke Launchers = 163 pts.

Leman Russ Battle Tank w/ Hull Heavy Bolter, Sponson Heavy Bolter,  Extra Armor, Smoke Launchers = 163 pts.

Leman Russ Demolisher w/ Hull Heavy Bolter, Sponson Heavy Bolter,  Extra Armor, Smoke Launchers = 173 pts.

My main comment is that you have a lot of points tied up in what are really unnecessary upgrades.  For example, just taking the Russ sponsons, all the extra armor, smoke launchers means you're spending 110 points on gear.  The senior officer is also a bad idea in my book, as he still sucks in assault, and you're paing a premium of 35 points to make him suck, instead of be worthless.  So that's a total of 145 points that in my book are essentially wasted

I highly recommend the plasma cannon sponsons and hull lascannon on the Demolisher.  With the short range of the demolisher, that gives you the option of standing still and still being able to reach out and touch someone.

I'm also one of the few people who's not sold on the value of the pintle stubber.  As a points-filler its not a bad thing, but you have 7 of the things.  That's 84 points.  Assuming that you upgrade the demolisher's weapoons, that's a total of 199 points that you could spend on other things...for example, some lascannon sentinels, a whole additional infantry squad, rough riders, allied daemonhunters or witchhunters, etc.  That doesn't strike me as a good use of your points. 

I'd probably strip all the Russ upgrades. Smoke isn't that great on non-transports, armor isn't that great on something intended to be a pillbox with a pieplate, triple HB isn't bad since you'll likely lose at least one pieplate during any game but the pintle on top is rather overkill. The non-ordinance guns are intended to just be a backup.

Smoke on chimera hulls gets another 'meh', but the rest is fine.

Powerfist? Bad, bad, bad. To be blunt, I'll be surprised if you ever swing it more than once a game. A marine tac squad might wipe you out before you swing if they charge, much less anything resembling a real melee unit. I'd also swap the HQ and the squad command section, may as well suicide the cheap squad and keep the better LD bubble. I personally would chuck the plasma gun in the command squad though, but I'm big on points denial and anything in a command squad is rather easy pickings.

I wouldn't take infantry platoons in a mech army. I'd take the grenadier doctrine, take squads of 5 storm troopers with 2 melta guns, and give them chimeras.

This list is adapted from a friend of mine, who is a long time IG player.


Doctrines:
Mech
Iron Discipline
Camoline
Sharpshooters

-HQ-
J/O w/ Honorifica, powerfist, refractor field, Iron Discipine, camoline
3 flamers
1 standard = 128 pts.
Chimera w/ HB Multilaser, EA, Smoke = 93 pts.

Heavy Weapon Team w/ 3 Lascannons

-Troops-
J/O w/ LP CCW. Iron Discipline
4 meltaguns, sharpshooters, camoline = 105 pts.
Chimera w/ HB, Multilaser, EA, Smoke = 93 pts.

10 man squad w/ lascannon, PG, camoline = 105 pts.
Chimera w/ HB, Multilaser, EA = 90 pts.

10 man squad w/ lascannon, PG, camoline = 105 pts.
Chimera w/ HB, Multilaser, EA = 90 pts.

Armored Fist Squad w/ lascannon, PG, camoline = 105 pts.
Chimera w/ HB, Multilaser, EA, Smoke = 93 pts.

-Fast Attack-
Hellhound w/ HB, Pintle Heavy Stubber, EA, Smoke = 132 pts.

-Heavy Support-
Leman Russ w/ HB, Sponson HB, EA, Smoke = 163

Leman Russ w/ HB, Sponson HB, EA, Smoke = 163

Leman Russ Demolisher w/ Lascannon, Sponson Plasma, EA, Smoke = 173


Total = 1748 pts.

It looks like I can't have the Heavy Weapons platoon because I reread the Mechanized Doctrine and it says "all Infantry Units". Drat. Here are the three options I am considering.

Option 1 - Switch a Leman Russ to a LR Demolosher. And take an =][= with Tarrot and 2 Mystics.

Option 2 - Drop alot of the EA and Smoke in the list and take a second Hellhound.

Option 3 - Take 2 or 3 Deep striking Sentinels.

I would recomend thinking of the chimeras more as pillboxes than carriers. Drop the smoke as you don't want to waste a round of shooting.

As far as EA goes, I don't use it myself as I prefer more hulls over less gear. Use it if you find utility in it.

The fist and field seem wasted on the CHQ, but again I use naked HQs.

Limited experience with -I-

DT Sents can be fairly effective if in squadrons of 1.

Posted By Mahu on 10/23/2007 10:15 AM
This list is adapted from a friend of mine, who is a long time IG player.


Doctrines:
Mech
Iron Discipline
Camoline
Sharpshooters

-HQ-
J/O w/ Honorifica, powerfist, refractor field, Iron Discipine, camoline
3 flamers
1 standard = 128 pts.
Chimera w/ HB Multilaser, EA, Smoke = 93 pts.

Heavy Weapon Team w/ 3 Lascannons

-Troops-
J/O w/ LP CCW. Iron Discipline
4 meltaguns, sharpshooters, camoline = 105 pts.
Chimera w/ HB, Multilaser, EA, Smoke = 93 pts.

10 man squad w/ lascannon, PG, camoline = 105 pts.
Chimera w/ HB, Multilaser, EA = 90 pts.

10 man squad w/ lascannon, PG, camoline = 105 pts.
Chimera w/ HB, Multilaser, EA = 90 pts.

Armored Fist Squad w/ lascannon, PG, camoline = 105 pts.
Chimera w/ HB, Multilaser, EA, Smoke = 93 pts.

-Fast Attack-
Hellhound w/ HB, Pintle Heavy Stubber, EA, Smoke = 132 pts.

-Heavy Support-
Leman Russ w/ HB, Sponson HB, EA, Smoke = 163

Leman Russ w/ HB, Sponson HB, EA, Smoke = 163

Leman Russ Demolisher w/ Lascannon, Sponson Plasma, EA, Smoke = 173


Total = 1748 pts.

Overall this is pretty close to what I'd run for IG, lots of tanks should make it pretty fun while being pretty competitive.

What I'd reccomend is dropping EA & Smoke off the Chimera's.  They're no use transporting anything.  Not with only a rear hatch for disembarking.  If they get shot and shaken/stunned, count yourself lucky that it wasn't a worse result and sit through the next turn waiting to fire again.  They're there simply to draw fire or overwhelm your opponents AT guns and force them to eat lots of shots through multiple chimeras who should never present anything other than their AV12 front unless in specific situations.

Also, because you can't deepstrike, I'd highly recommend getting rid of the special weapon squads and the JO squads special weapon loadouts.  If you try to run a Chimera up and drop them off, I just don't see it working out well as your opponent can focus on taking it out.

With IG, the focus is on the tanks killing infantry, and the infantry killing tanks.  You need more AT fire, and each of those squads can save a ton of points and go for Las/Plas or just Lascannon options to give more targets to your opponents guns.  Target overload is your goal here, if i'm not mistaken.

Also I'd so drop the power fist and almost anything except the honorifica on that JO HQ.  It's just not worth it and he won't get to use the thing vs anything that's going to catch you in assault. 

With the points this frees up I'd consider a few options. The dropping sentinals aren't bad, but if you put more lascannons in your HQ units, you shouldn't need it.

If points are really tight, get an Elite Demon Hunters Inquisitor with Psychic Hood and the Tarot.  If you've got more points then the HQ Inquisitor with the Tarot/Hood/Mystics is also an option but at that point getting the Calldus assassin is also very tempting.  Being able to use "Word in your Ear" to redeploy an opponents Falcon out from Cover to get turn 1 shots at it, is always a fun thing.  But of course that costs a lot of points.

If you're just going for cheap-as-chips support, you can't beat the Elite inquisitor.  He's an IC, gets the hood and tarot, and gets the job done, although he's only LD9 for the hood, so finding the points for the HQ inquisitor may be best.

Still a CC HQ, which is bad. Still heavy on the specials in 5 man squads, which is bad without drop troops. Once again, smoke is for transports. I'd drop almost all of it, except a chimera or two if you need to move troops to an objective.

I'd go for option 3. You're kind of short on LC in line squads, so some DS sentinels would be good. Sentinels without DS are meh, but generally get a shot or two each. Another hellhound isn't really needed.