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Hello All,

     I am a long time lurker, first time poster who needs some advice for support units for the Black Templars.  My list so far is roughly the following:

2x Chaplains bolt pistols, Terminator honors standard Chappie Equipment with 3 servitors each

1x Emperor's Champion with either Uphold the honor vow (6+ Inv. Save) or The preferred enemy vow

3x Crusader squads 10 initiates 10 Neophytes Bolt pistol/Close Combat Weapons,powerfist and a meltagun...

This is almost 1300 points or so (sorry I am going from memory), I'd like to bring the list up to 1500, 1750 and 1850 points for various reasons.  Most friendly pick up games where I live are roughly 1500 points, with the occasional league of 1750, but in case I ever get the urge or chance to go to a tourney, I'd like to have the typical 1850 list handy and ready for combat.

I have been thinking about either using Landspeeders or Drop pod Dreadnoughts to round out my list. 

Last question would be, should I keep my three squads of templars Bolt pistol/CCW or should I mix in some bolters as well, just wondering what the veterans think?

 

One thing you're going to find out VERY quickly is that Righteous Zeal, while nice, is not something you should build your entire army around. Sooner or later you're going to need to kill armor. Sooner or later you'll run into something that your CC boys simply can't handle (Genestealers, Slaaneshi Possessed, Furious Chargers, Ork Mobs, Wraithlords, etc). The key is to find ways to support your main elements.

Seems to me that you can squeeze in 2 large foot squads and still have room for more varied units elsewhere. Tornado speeders are always a good bet, in squadrons of 2. A shooty Dreadnought could serve ya well, either with an Assault Cannon or TL Lascannons. No need to Drop Pod it, yours is a slogging army, it'll keep pace just nicely. Something like a Predator could work well, or my favorite, the Vindicator. Basically, you need some Lascannon-esqe stuff, no ifs and or buts.

One of my favorite units in the new codex are Bikers. Everyone overlooks their 3 special weapons. I take 3 meltaguns and attach a HB attack bike. This gives you alot of mobile, flexible shooting that can also assault in a pinch (they ARE still Black Templars). Of course, I also attach a Marshall with a Holy Orb for that extra little 'kick', and to help out in assaults.

I mostly agree with FabulousRex.

For 1,500pt games I might just go with 2 big crusader squads. This will leave you some decent room for support. I would forget about Drop pods with a footslogger list. That will leave your opponent with to few early game targets, and it could get messy for the units you have starting on the table.

Also, give your Chaplains powerfists. This will make your big squads very versatile. You will shred other infantry in H2H, and be a pretty potent vehicle killer on the charge.

Unfortunately, Templars have limited Heavy support options. I would think a mix of Pred's and Dreads will work the best. Weapon choices should depend on opponents you regularly face.

Something that I have not tried yet, but think might be cool in a list like this, is Grimaldus. Units within "6 benefit from his RZ. This may let you cut back to just him instead of 2 Chappy's, freeing up some points for more support.

I used Grim in a game recently. A smart opponent can focus fire on one of the squad's he's commanding and send it rocketing ahead out of his leadership bubble.

Actually, when I've used Dreadnoughts, the pod has worked out pretty well. Part of this is obviously because I've been facing Tau, but the pod shields him from fire while the rest of the units advance. There are few things more disruptive than a podded Dread landing close to your lines, from what I've seen. He's a monster in CC, he'll blow up tanks if they don't get him first, and that initial round of flamer/ass cannoning is tough to beat.

The lack of heavy support is a real bummer, no doubt. I'd like to keep the army entirely infantry based, but there's just no way to have enough fire support without Devastator squads.

I'd think an all pod army would be effective, though i'm not thrilled at leaving the emperor's champion all by his lonesome on the first turn. The same is actually true of doing an armored company, but I'll admit, it makes me smile to think of three LRC's and two to three vindis rolling up the field of battle.