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So. I recently got into the hobby and since practically everyone in my local store plays 850 points for 40K, I should do the same. My mate has offered to play me when my army is ready, and he loves him some Blood Angels, especially dreadnoughts and black company, so that'll be the first real test of them. I need something that won't break the bank, yet'll pack a punch when going up against light or heavy infantry, and also light vehicles. Tips, tricks, even a bit of cheese, all is welcome.

You can scoop some used or poorly painted Crisis Suits for about $10 a pop, give 'em some Fusion Blasters, deep strike them in or JSJ to stay out of assault range and melt some light vehicles and Termies.

Some Pathfinders with Rail Rifles and Markerlights are a nice touch for a bit of Precision Shots to pick off MEQ Heavy Weapons or HQs. I like Kroot for bubblewrap and Sniper Round for the same reason - they're also nice and cheap poitns and dollars-wise.

If you've only got 850 points, it's probably too much to try and bring Riptides, they're also a pretty penny.

Some MissileSides

It is possible to take a Stormsurge at 850 points but it's extremely cheesy... and they're pricey. But for 455 points you'll have a nigh-indestructible colossus of pain, pouring out pure murder every turn.

Additionally, Crisis Suits kitted out with Plasma Rifles (S6, AP2) are perfect for tackling power armored space marines and can reliably threaten terminators (wound on 3+) and most vehicles, too. You're not likely to see any AV13+ vehicles at 850 points but it is possible. They're longer range than the fusion blasters and rapid fire, too, so you can somewhat kite the terminators.

I fielded an army of 1200 points with just 13 models (all crisis suits, a stormsurge, and a riptide) doing something similar against an army of space marines, and the marines and razorbacks melted under sustained shooting.

Take some markerlights (perhaps as drones) and you're good to go.

So, crisis suits seem to be the way to go, and pathfinders seem like a solid way of putting out tons of markerlights, so a box of them. HQ and troop choices? I'm thinking of just using the drones as pure fire support, but that might be a bad idea.

IWannaBeTauToo wrote:
So, crisis suits seem to be the way to go, and pathfinders seem like a solid way of putting out tons of markerlights, so a box of them. HQ and troop choices? I'm thinking of just using the drones as pure fire support, but that might be a bad idea.

Pathfinders are good for markerlights, just keep them in cover and protected (they've only got 5+ armor save, so they're kind of flimsy).

As for HQs, I always go for the Crisis Commander - he's great with almost anything you give him. Either to buff the crisis suits (not really worth it unless you've got alot) or just as another crisis suit with BS5.

Troops, you can take Crisis Suits as troops (using the Mont'ka rulebook or the Farsight Enclaves supplement) which is what I would do, or you can take a couple minimum size squads of Fire Warrior Strike Teams (they're 45 points a squad)

Edit: It's almost always worth upgrading the Fire Warrior teams with the support turret - it's 10 points and gives them some great additional firepower

It's also worth mentioning that at lower points values such as this, if you upgrade the commander with the Stimulant Injector, Shield Generator and the Iridium Battlesuit he'll be nigh unkillable with T5, 2+/4++ with a 5+ FnP. - having such a tough warlord at lower points is a really serious threat, especially if he's equipped with something like Plasma Rifles.

- Alastair.

acampbell wrote:
Crisis Suits kitted out with Plasma Rifles (S6, AP2) are perfect for tackling power armored space marines and can reliably threaten terminators (wound on 3+) and most vehicles, too. You're not likely to see any AV13+ vehicles at 850 points but it is possible. They're longer range than the fusion blasters and rapid fire, too, so you can somewhat kite the terminators.

Actually, plasma rifles wound MEQ & TEQ on a 2+ (Str6 vs T4) and 2 on a solo crisis suit make people cry. For 53 points, you get a decent troop choice, one that more or less forces your opponent to waste a lot of fire to kill it (2W, 3+sv)

 carldooley wrote:

acampbell wrote:
Crisis Suits kitted out with Plasma Rifles (S6, AP2) are perfect for tackling power armored space marines and can reliably threaten terminators (wound on 3+) and most vehicles, too. You're not likely to see any AV13+ vehicles at 850 points but it is possible. They're longer range than the fusion blasters and rapid fire, too, so you can somewhat kite the terminators.

Actually, plasma rifles wound MEQ & TEQ on a 2+ (Str6 vs T4) and 2 on a solo crisis suit make people cry. For 53 points, you get a decent troop choice, one that more or less forces your opponent to waste a lot of fire to kill it (2W, 3+sv)

You're right! I had it in my head that Terminators were T5. Even the more reason to use Plasma Rifles... they're really really good against armies like space marines.

And more generally? Most people play genericmarine and eldar, around my parts, although there's still a few chaos and guard.

IWannaBeTauToo wrote:
And more generally? Most people play genericmarine and eldar, around my parts, although there's still a few chaos and guard.

magnetize your suits. Frankly, you can make excellent forces if you just get multiples of the start collecting boxes. For $10 more than the crisis suits within, you get a full squad of fire warriors or breachers too. unless you get a devilfish for each breacher squad, you are better equipping the pulse rifles on the infantry.

Remember, you can make the commander from the crisis suits, you can make a fireblade or darkstrider out of the firewarriors, and if you do get the devilfish, don't. get the hammerhead\skyray. and don't glue the turrets or nose gear. then you can assemble it as whatever you need: devilfish, railhead, ionhead, or skyray. and ionhead with sms & longstrike is fun. (not terribly effective in this edition, but fun)

anyway, try this:
Commander, C&C Node and Drone Controller
4x Crisis Shas'ui with 2 Plasma Rifles, Counterfire Defense System, and BKR
2x Crisis Shas'ui with 2 Fusion Blasters, EWO, and BKR
Drone Network 4x4 Marker Drones
Longstrike with Ion Cannon.
total points: 850

Any tips on those conversions? I'm always interested in modelling tips.

 Dannyrulx wrote:
Any tips on those conversions? I'm always interested in modelling tips.

which ones? Darkstrider, pulse carbine & markerlight. Don't put a shoulder pauldron on the model.
fireblade? pulse rifle & markerlight. Use the unused pauldron from darkstrider & give it two?

the commander suit? it is a crisis suit, give it another shoulder pad or do something unique, like using the EWO or DC as its head. (or model for advantage in reverse, make them identical or choose one at random to be the commander (as I do))
If I had thought a bit when I built my former Coldstar, I would have taken the Hover Drone from the ethereal and model the coldstar on it like it was riding it like a surf board. Why? FMC takes a wound and crashes, then takes a str9 hit and dies. how to prevent it, a shield drone that autopasses(?) the LOS and tanks the wound.