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Doctrines
Special Weapon Squads, Heavy Weapon Squads, Veterans, Drop Troops, Jungle Fighters


HQ: 215
Senior Officer
FS Squad
3 x Heavy Bolter
FS squad
3 x Heavy Bolter

TROOP: 922

Platoon 1:
Junior Officer
4 x Plasma Gun
Special Weapon Squad
3 x Plasma Gun
Special weapon Squad
Demo charge

Squad 1:
Jungle Fighters
Flamer
Heavy Flamer

Squad 2:
Jungle Fighters
Flamer
Heavy Flamer


Platoon 2:
Junior Officer
4 x Plasma Gun
Special Weapon Squad
3 x Plasma Gun
Special Weapon Squad
Demo charge

Squad 1:
Lascannon

Squad 2:
Lascannon

Squad 3:
Lascannon

Squad 4:
Lascannon

ELITE 225
3x Veterans x 5
3 x Multi-Melta

Heavy Support 125
Basilisk
Indirect Fire

I suppose my tactic is the standard drop plasma/melta tactic that I see in a lot of IG lists, but in my very limited experience playing IG (only at 1000 points) and playing against IG, the drop attack generally gives one or two turns of kick ass then nothing else. Also, against any enemy that neared my numbers, I just couldn't kill enough to slow the advance. So I'm hoping that by creating a small gunline, with 4 lascannons, 6 HB, and a basilisk with 40 meatsponges, this would give me something to whittle away enemies that try to advance but also be able to pump out damage beyond just deep strike, blast, then die routine. I thought of using jungle fighters to combat hordes with flamers but also to act as roadblocks for advancing forces, making them have to waste a turn killing them when they either infilitrate or deepstrike in.

But clearly, I may just be a newb. Any thoughts on what is going to eat this list alive, if I have enough of a gunline, if LD is going to be an issue without Iron Discipline/Close Order Drill/Vet sarges around? Is this build just not viable against more armies? I'm not trying to be top tier or anything, but build a list that is fun and just might win some games.

I personally think that the jungle fighters is a waste of points, youd probably be better off dropping them for a leman russ or 2. Second is the basilisk, I never have been a big fan as they have a ridiculous minimum range so after turn 1 they cant shoot anything anyways. Besides having 1 more strength than a LR Battle Cannon (which never makes a difference unless maybe at a vehicle) they do not have anything that a LR cannot offer.In general the main draw back is waisting the guards real strength, their amazing LR tank which IMHO is the best tank point for point than anything else in the game.

Other than that for what your trying to accomplish its not too bad, but I would recommend either going for a gunline or drop troops, not both but as you stated its not for competitiveness what you have is about as solid as you can hope for without going more streamlined and sticking with one or the other.

Only areas your really lacking in are as you pointed out leadership for your main gunline. It would be a valuable investment to upgrade your non dropping officer into a heroic senior, and maybe take a company standard to.

Hmm, I've always had some luck with Bassies, although from an objective point of view, I'm sure I've missed a hell of a lot more with them than I have hit.

I see your point with the Leman and will have to try it out.

I just realized I can't have plasma guys in special weapon squads after re-reading my codex, so I'll have to alter that.

I will try out the jungle fighter set up, but it will probably result in them dying without doing much damage, but it might be fun either way.

I'll try to shift some points around to get a Heroic senior and a standard into the list.

Thanks for the advice.

I'm not the best guard player, but I have picked some stuff up from the people around here who are. (and perhaps more importantly, I'm actually awake)

-A junior officer with a honorifica imperialis is 5 points cheaper than a heroic senior officer
-most people around dakka opt to put a banner in the command squad. Its 11 points to allow everyone in range to reroll ld 9. (which is the best your going to get)
-use BS4 veterans over support squads when using drop troops. (and demo charges are usually going to be inferior to triple plasma guns)
-guard live and die off the strength of their heavy/assault weapons. Not purchasing plasma guns for the line squads is a major sin when playing guard.
-Do you have any real pressing need for heavy flamers? I can't really see the point of jungle fighters here.

Gameplay wise, Drop Squads are never meant to live more than 1 turn. They drop down, level something worth more than them, and then get gunned down.

Guard Doctrines are typically: Iron Discipline, Close Order Drill, Drop Troops, Veterans, and another one of your choice. (for you thats probably heavy weapons squads)

There are many, many excellent guard players here. Many of whom can probably give you much deeper advice than I can.

If I knew I was going to play games that allowed deepstrike, I would seriously consider keeping the jungle fighters with flamers. There seem to be a lot more horde type armies, or at least armies seems to have a larger percentage of soft troops around that heavy flamers would make short work of. Even against marines, the two flamers will do some damage.

If, however, there was a chance to get an alpha level mission, those units will be a major point sink.

Basilisks are very handy, from my experience. Much more so than a Russ. Normally, if things are within the minimum distance of the gun, it means they are in LOS of the other 90% of your army's guns. The basilisk is best for nailing skimmer tanks on the first turn, while the are huddled behind terrain, or hitting key enemy units, like IG command squads and such. Or things like crisis/stealth suits, which IG will never be able to reach if drop troops aren't available. The ability to rapidly respond to targets across the board is huge.

He already has drop troops for 1, a LR can move 6" and than shoot, so if you position it tactically planning ahead for him hiding his whatever, you can still get your shots off.

if things are within the minimum distance of the gun, it means they are in LOS of the other 90% of your army's guns.

Seriously? So you are ok with someone getting first turn and moving/fleeting on the same side of the board as your basilisk, and you never being able to shoot it? Even with receiving first turn your willing to sink 125 points into something that if your playing a smart opponent is going to shoot once per game, and only has a 1/3 chance of gaking on target. Plus dont get me going on how squishy they are, 1 shot from a lascannon/sniperfex/rocket/power claw and in general any decent weapon and they need anything but 1's. My LR? They still need at least a 6 to penetrate it.

So heres the pros of each.

Basilisk:
Can indirect fire
Has 1 more strength

LR:
Can block LOS and force priority checks
Has armour 14
Can be used to take out marines with ap3
Or can be anti troop with 3x heavy bolters
Can move 6" and achieve shooting targets "behind cover"

A basilisk is a point sink, theyre easily ignored as if your a player whos worth two cents you just play to their minimum range, and at armour 12/10/10 Theyre about as tough as a wet kitten.

SInce you like using drop troops don't forget about the last chancer drop troops. You can have up to 5 BS 4 plasguns DS instead of the just three. Also they can use demo packs so you could throw in the occasional one if you wanted.

I did see Last Chancers, which is something I am thinking about starting, if anything just to make some weird models to use.

I do enjoy drop troops but part of me likes using drop troops in a way that isn't as standard. I may just get a couple of sentinels and give them heavy flamers and deepstrike them in for template death, which point wise wouldn't be too hard to fit in and maybe, to keep with the fun, have 2 squads with just flamers to drop in for the hell of it.

As for bassies, I play a lot of Tau, so being able to even attempt to blast things that hide is good. They are also cheaper than a leman russ, but yes, I agree that they are often not as productive as I'd like them to be while a russ is much more flexible.

I'll have to try and run both, see what happens. Leman is probably going to win out since I am seeing more pro's .

SWS are attached to the CHQ like the FS squads. Additionally, only 2 squads of them are available, not 4.
They work well armed with 3 meltas, 3 flamers or 2 of your choice + demo. Just figure out what their role is and arm them accordingly.

I'd change the Vets from Melta to plasma to fill in where the SWS left off.

You need plasma for your line squads so they have some additional bite.

I have no fondness for the jungle boys. Drop the JF and HF. Give them a HB w/ the flamer and you've got a descent unit that can put out some fire and flame some assaulters before they get smushed, allowing your other squads to get into better positions.

PHQ with 2-4 flamers are nice and cheap and provide excellent close in capabilities. Here comes the assaulters? Move the PHQ around and flame their asses to protect the firebase.

If 1 Bassey is good, then 2 are GREAT. Opposite corners should help with the range issues.

So are 2 LR but as ive made the argument time and time again as to why I would simply suggest to as you said play test both of them and see for yourself.

HB in IG are "bad". Always take AC instead.

Everything else seems covered.

its a good list

Well, from my experience using a 1000 point variation on this army, it did alright.

Against Orks, my infiltrating flamer combo survived a turn of Loota fire (thank you 4+ cover save) to burn those suckers out of cover. But this is very situational so it really doesn't add too much evidence.

Against Tau, just got beat hard. Didn't have enough of a gun line to outshoot them.

Bassie did really well against Tau but LR did really well against the orks. I think I need to play test more and see what happens.

I will post a more fine tuned list when I have it worked out.

Thanks for all the comments, they have helped me greatly.