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Hey, I have $200~ in my bank and am interested in building a 750~ point space marine army, I was looking for a competitive(ish) list
Thanks.

If your buying from Gw $200 wont cut it I think.

The Space marines strike force might be a good bet, Dono if you will be able to do a competitive list tho. much less so on $200...

The first thing you want to do is find a local game store to buy your products from; most offer a discount rather than buying GW direct, and it's good to "pay where you play"... some even give a discount for buying so many boxes at once (like 4+ for an additional 5% off or something... so you can probably get close to 25% off retail).

Also, I'm assuming you have the codex, rules, hobby supplies, dice, etc. available? Otherwise, that will cost you most of that money (probably more).

Ok, here's what I'd do to get started if we're just talking about buying models on a $200 budget:

(I'd shoot for a 500-760 point army)

Tactical Squad ($40) - You'll almost always use these guys, plus 10 bodies for the price isn't bad. I'd assemble a squad of 8 bolter marines, a special weapon (plasma or melta) and a Sgt. with combi to match the special weapon. Don't bother wasting a close combat weapon on him. I'd go plasma (nice 12" rapid fire, just like bolters, and 24" reach if you really have to).

Rhino / Razorback ($38) - It's one combined kit now, which is nice, just don't glue the top hatch on and you can swap it out for other weapons later. Your marines need a transport and the Rhino's your best bet to start.

Stormtalon ($45) - You need air support in any sized game you play, and this thing is just awesome.If you buy it now, you'll probably end up using it in every list you make... great investment.

You need an HQ so I'd throw in one from the chapter of your choice, but they're all about $20 ea. (just browse through the codex and most of them are GW direct so you'll have to ask your FLGS to order it). A librarian is a nice choice for low-points games, but the new model is WAY OVERPRICES (@ $30 for one load-out option and a static pose?! also stay away from the new Captain model too, it's $30 and one static pose... not that great of a deal) So if you want to go that route, you can probably make one from some Dark Angel guys or other bits you have left-over from Tac Squads... try looking at the Dark Angels HQs maybe... there' might be a good librarian in there. I would try building a captain on-foot out of ebay'ed bits (you can find a space marine torso easily and add your bits from tac squad box), or if you're feeling crazy, go for a beat-stick Chapter Master on Bike or something. Either way, the leftover money you have can build you a nice HQ if you shop-around and get creative with conversions. If you want more advice on this, just reply asking so.

So, I'd buy the following:
2x Tactical Squad ($80)
2x Rhino ($76)
1x Stormtalon ($45)

You can get all that for around $200 before discount. With the discount, you should be able to afford an HQ choice to stick in the Rhinos with a Tac Squad, run solo, deep strike-in, etc (depending on load-out).

List:
Tactical Squad - 8x bolter, combi-plasma, plasma, rhino (200 points)
Tactical Squad - 8x bolter, combi-melta, melta, rhino (195 points)
Stormtalon - twin-linked assault cannons, skyhammer missiles (125 points)
HQ - (equip to fit points-range and budget)
Librarian (65 points base) but you can give him relics too
Captain made from left-over/ebay'ed bits (equip a ton of different ways)
Chapter Master (bike beat-stick maybe? huge points sink, but a monster in cc... approx. 250 points)


I'd take any leftover money and save it for a Thuderfire Cannon:

Thuderfire Cannon ($56) - This is also extremely useful in any sized game. It's kind of an expensive model, but it comes with a Techmarine and is really really great on the field.


I hope this helps, let me know if there's anything else you are curious about. Good luck and welcome back!

First, Welcome to Dakka.

What kind of list do you want to play? Space marines can be done in a lot of different ways. What’s fun for one person might be boring for another. What is drawing you to the hobby, what images make you go “wow!” Any chapters in particular draw your attention? White Scars speeding across a dusty plain? Crimson Fists forming a gunline to hold off waves of orks? Ultramarines marching across a war torn battlefield, hammering out a crisp bolter drill into the foes of mankind? Salamanders dropping from orbit, pouring out of pods with flamers and thunder hammers to cleanse a world in the Emperor’s name? Give us a direction, so we can help you find the army you want to play, not just some random net list.

The strikeforce is a good starting point for a generalist list. It’s one of the few places GW will actually cut you a discount. As it’s a box set, you might be able to get an even bigger deal if your FLGS offers a discount on top of that. Even if you only use 2/3s of the stuff in there, you still save money. That said, if you are going for a White Scars bike list, it’s not going to be worth it for you. But you can easily make a 1,250 take all comers list from it. You aren’t going to be winning any major tournaments, but only a few marine builds are going to have a chance for that anyway. But you should be able to give as well as you take down at your FLGS. YMMV, of course, depending on how cut-thought your local is.

I would look on eBay, tbh. For $200 you can easily pick up a used SM collection worth twice that amount or more.

If you insist on getting new models, than I would look at the Dark Vengeance set. You can get the Space marine half for $40-$50 on eBay, which gives you 10 Tactical Marines, 5 Terminators, 3 Bikes, and a Librarian. An example auction can be found here. This is almost 750 points by itself, and gives you a great foundation to start with. From here I would add two Rhinos, a second Tactical squad, and 2 more Bikes. Your list would then look something like:

Librarian

5 Terminators
-Assault Cannon, Chainfist

Tactical Squad (10 man)
-Plasmagun, Combi-Plasma, Rhino

Tactical Squad (5 man)
-Meltagun, Combi-Melta, Rhino

5 Space Marine Bikes
-2 Plasmaguns

If memory serves this should be right around 750, and is a pretty respectable list. You will also have some extra marines to use!

Im looking to sell some models actually. Would you be interested in:

HQ:
Librarian in terminator armor- 90pts

Troops:
5 Tactical Marines- 70pts
5 Tactical Marines- 70pts
5 Tactical Marines- 70pts
5 Tactical Marines- 70pts
5 Tactical Marines- 70pts
5 Tactical Marines- 70pts

Elite:
5 Terminators (5 pairs of lightning claws on sprue/ stormbolters and power fists on models)- 200pts

Heavy Support:
Predator with TL lascannon turret and Lascannon Sponsons- 140pts
Predator with TL lascannon turret and Lascannon Sponsons- 140pts

Total: 990

These would suit great for a 1000 point game, just tailor as needed if you want to play any lower.

How I play:
Use the predators to pop transports and high armor targets in order of importance. Use the Terminator librarian to pal around with the 5 terminators with lightning claws and destroy anything mean that your bolters can kill. Use your marines to kill everything else (unlike guardsmen with flashlights, marines are great at killing all sorts of things, especially orks and tau!).

I would be willing to sell these guys for $225 + shipping.

Tell me whatcha think!

Edit: My problems with the strikeforce is that it is in no way competitive. You get one drop pod for one of your tactical squads to drop in and just sit there with no help, You get 5 jump marines that nobody in their right mind would field, a command squad that has 0 uses, and your only anti AV is 11/11/10 (dead first turn) and a 125 pt walker you use as a TL lascannon. The strikeforce is not a good way to start playing, it doesnt have any coherency and you will lose almost all of your games where you face AV and most of all the others since the army doesnt have anything it can do special besides send 10 marines to their death via droppod and lose the razorback first turn.