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Hi all,

Brand new player here. Fell in love with the models for the new CA starter, so I'm diving in and looking to build them up to 300pts. I think I understand the basics enough to start army construction, but I'd love to run my selections, and the reasoning behind them, past some more experienced players. Comments and criticism are welcome. Thanks in advance!

Combined Army 299/300; S.W.C: 6

2X Unidron Batroids - K1 Combi - I choose the K1 combi over the PC in order to open up suppressive fire. S12 while ignoring armor also allows them to take pot shots at anything on the table.
Unidron Batroid - Plasma Sniper Rifle - Cheap sniper rifle with two firing profiles, can be given Marksman:2 via hacking.
Fraacta Drop Unit - Spitfire - Combat jumping spitfie for backfield shenanigans and immediate pressure on my opponent.
Umbra Legates - H+, Boarding Shotgun - Short-ranged + melee pressure advancing up board while using hacking device to get Imp:2 and/or White Noise on himself, and buffing the batroids. Specialist.
Maakrep Tracker - HMG - HMG + MSV2 + Sensor:1 looks great on paper for removing hidden threats. Automedkit is gravy.
Charontid - Lt, Sepsitor+, Tinbot, Plasma Rifle - Durable Lt option with all kinds of goodies. Tinbot Deflector helps with hacking attempts. Provides additional pressure from a different angle. The potential sad-face on my opponent the day I get a lucky Sepsitor on his entire link team = pure win.
Shrouded - FO, Combi, AntiP Mines - Infiltrate + FO to help the rest of the army by dispensing the "targetted" condition. Mines. CH: Camo + Automedkit means he'll be around for a while. Specialist.
Daturazi - Chain Rifle, Grenades, Smoke Grenades - Cheap V:dogged pressure with chaingun and MA:4. Smoke grenades to assist moving up the board.
R-Drone - Repeater for the batroids, sniffer, and a cheap order. Mimetism and flash pulse for some defensive protection.
Preta - Cheap V:dogged pressure with a chaingun and super-jump. Will most likely work in tandem with the Daturazi for mid-field pressure / distraction.

You can get a second Combined Army starter and not go wrong, to tell you the truth.

Alternatively it would not be a bad idea for you to get the Morat Aggression Force starter set and the Morat Vanguard boxed set, to add some Morat to your force.

@Kanluwen:
Are you suggesting doubling up on the Umbra Legates starter, or going with one of the other starters?

I find the morat vanguard options underwhelming, though I do like all of the special morats, like the daturazi, rodoks, etc. What am I missing?

I am suggesting both avenues actually.

The Morat Vanguards, while having little in the way of options, have a lot going for them in the fact that they are AVA: Total.

I plan to go 2 starters myself. It makes more then 300 pts.

One thing on your list ( and I dont know how your group plays) but you need specialists. Doc,Medic,Hacker,Forward Obs, Engineer. I am to have 3-4 of my 10 modle 300pt army be a specialist for the missions

Just so you know, the Shrouded is not TO Camo. It's normal CH:Camouflage

@Absolutionis
Thanks for the catch. That was carried forward from a previous iteration that had a Malignos in his spot.

I think as a new combine player you have a great grasp of the basics! no issues on your overall plan

Only issue is specilaists. Right now you have a Hacker and a Forward Observer

a huge benefit is both your specialists are hard core and one infiltrates (lets you set it up to gain objectives) and the other guy advance deploys and his one bad arse darth maul looking mother fer

the only thing you need is at LEAST one more specialist (a docotr or engineer/ or the bug who is both!!!)

I personally try to bring four, but often only go three when I am going heavy elite army (which you seem to be) and 2 you have are very good.

Drop the daturazi and the preta? should get you the points for the slug who can repair your batroids? and heal your other guys!

It's a rare situation where you can go wrong by adding Dr. Worm and a slave drone in the list. A Doctor and an Engineer in one model covers some specialist bases and the drone means you don't have to stick it out in the open to heal/repair stuff.

Also, a nice dirty trick: if you have a LT who can jump into a new body you can jump them into your specialist (if you have a hacker you should pick them) and have a WP 16+ person with all the same equipment.

Thank you all for the input and advice. The list I'll be starting to get serious with is as follows:

Combined Army 300/300; S.W.C: 6

2X Unidron Batroids - K1 Combi - Surpressive fire goodness with no armor saves allowed.
Unidron Batroid - Plasma Carbine, Forward Observer - Cheap specialist with a decent weapon.
Fraacta Drop Unit - Spitfire - Combat jumping spitfie for backfield shenanigans and immediate pressure on my opponent.
Umbra Legates - H+, Boarding Shotgun - Short-ranged + melee pressure advancing up board while using hacking device to get Imp:2 and/or White Noise on himself, and buffing the batroids. Specialist.
Maakrep Tracker - HMG - HMG + MSV2 + Sensor:1 looks great on paper for removing hidden threats. Automedkit is gravy.
Charontid - Lt, Sepsitor+, Plasma Rifle - Durable Lt option with all kinds of goodies. Provides additional pressure from a different angle. The potential sad-face on my opponent the day I get a lucky Sepsitor on his entire link team = pure win.
Shrouded - Multi-Sniper - Infiltrate + CH: Camo + Automedkit = An easy to place, hard to hit sniper that will be around for a while. Multi-Sniper offers B2, and choice of DA or or AP ammo with a +3 to hit from 16-48".
Medtech Obsidon + Slave - Combi, D-Charges - WIP 14 Doctor and Engineer, D-charges for objective duty
R-Drone - Repeater for the batroids, sniffer, and a cheap order. Mimetism and flash pulse for some defensive protection.

Just so you know, the Maakrep from the starter is mislabeled.

She comes with a Multi Sniper Rifle not a HMG. They haven't fixed it yet on the promo material. That kind of mislabeling is uncommon but it does happen.

Getting the Shrouded with the Combi Rifle opens up three nice profiles for you (Forward Observer, Hacker, and Minelayer)...and if you go crazy for a Haiduk there will be some more interesting combinations opened up.