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Hey everyone!

Looking for a little assistance and some opinions on a new list I'm working on. I'm looking to make this my competitive list for a while if 40K doesn't have a new edition or some other craziness happen in the next year and a half. That said there are a few small decisions I've made based on the Imperial Fists fluff such as there being power swords in the list (I think they are generally considered sub-par) and some limitations on the models I have at the moment.

Sternhammer Strike Force:
Battle Demi Company

Chaplain

Devastator squad w/ 4 lascannons

Attack Bike

Tactical Squad w/ flamer + Vet Sarge w/ Power Sword and Grav Pistol

10 man Tactical Squad w/ Melta, Combi Melta and Heavy Bolter

10 man Tactical Squad w/ Melta, Combi Melta and Heavy Bolter

3 Drop Pods

Skyhammer Annihilation Force:

10 man Assault Squad w/ 2 Plasma Pistols + Vet Sarge w/ Power Sword and Grav Pistol

10 man Assault Squad w/ 2 Flamers + Vet Sarge w/ two Lightning Claws

10 man Devastator Squad w/ 4 Grav Cannons, Combi Grav

10 man Devastator Squad w/ 4 Missile Launchers, Combi Grav

1810 points

So I have some extra points for some extra war gear and/or another marine or two. I'm not convinced on the 2 plasma pistols in the Assault Squad but I'm not sure where else I'd put those points and I want the Skyhammer to hit as hard as possible. I need them to take on monstrous creatures, vehicles and even hordes (hence the flamers in the other squad). Its very much an Alpha Strike army with the same weaknesses as other armies of this type. That said, I think all the twin linked bolters will help and 70+ marines hopefully still isn't anything to sneeze at. I've been out of the game a little while now so I haven't faced the Eldar and Tau boogeymen. Let me know what you think and thanks!

Do the Assault Marines have Jump Packs? Don't see them listed and this formation requires it.

Do not see any drop pods from the Dev Squads either as they are required as well.

If you want your dev sqauds to hit hard as possible then go with 4 grav cannons in each squad. It's great. I use the Skyhammer Annihilation Force with my Wolves.

Consider the roles of your units and what they can do, and if there is any overlap that may interfere with their primary duties. Also, you are running Sternhammer IF, what weapons are maximized with the re-rolling bolters rule. Remember what the chapter tactics are for IF. Ask yourself do you want grav cannons or tank hunting multi meltas. Also, remember that heavy bolter dev squads will benefit greatly with this Sternhammer detachment since they will re-roll to hit AND re-roll pens, making them excellent light vehicle killers, besides the usual infantry killing. Lastly, Sternguard are amazing with this detachment and can pretty much do anything for you.

 WulfenClaw wrote:
Do the Assault Marines have Jump Packs? Don't see them listed and this formation requires it.

Do not see any drop pods from the Dev Squads either as they are required as well.

If you want your dev sqauds to hit hard as possible then go with 4 grav cannons in each squad. It's great. I use the Skyhammer Annihilation Force with my Wolves.

Since the jump packs and pods are required for the formation I didn't think it was necessary to list them. That said I did forget to point them in battle scribe so it actually comes to 1850 on the nose when I trade the missile launchers for heavy bolters. I written and re-written this list now so many times that it helps to have another set of eyes look things over. Thanks for calling that out!

That also addresses the thought on getting more heavy bolters into the list. I think I'll also swap the HBs on the tacticals and give them multi-meltas instead. I haven't had much luck with HBs taking on light vehicles in the past so I'd like a little more punch in the tacticals to knock out vehicles now.

xenocurious wrote:
Since the jump packs and pods are required for the formation I didn't think it was necessary to list them. That said I did forget to point them in battle scribe so it actually comes to 1850 on the nose when I trade the missile launchers for heavy bolters. I written and re-written this list now so many times that it helps to have another set of eyes look things over. Thanks for calling that out!

That also addresses the thought on getting more heavy bolters into the list. I think I'll also swap the HBs on the tacticals and give them multi-meltas instead. I haven't had much luck with HBs taking on light vehicles in the past so I'd like a little more punch in the tacticals to knock out vehicles now.

No problem! Hope you enjoy the Formation, I certainly have in my past couple games!!