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Hey all, posted a few things on here already, but wanted to combine them into 1 cohesive thread. Im slowly reading the core book and the 3rd book as it pertains to my legion (imperial fist), but im hoping yall can give me some insight.

1. Whats the community recommended game size? Ive seen everything from 2k to 3.5k

2. Psykers aren't as important from what i hear, so besides characters (Pollux), what would be a good HQ for a fluff based Imperial Fist void boarding party/zone mortalis list?

3. What in the hell is zone mortalis?

4. Since Ld plays a large part of 30k with no ATSKNF, is there any way to limit its influence?

5. Im basing my force off of Imperial Fist forces during/ immediately after the battle of Phall, so are there key units i should try to avoid/include? Again, im trying to stay fluffy and would like to keep with the void theme (repelling boarders or even launching a boarding action)

6. The fist apparently had a large number of indomitous pattern suits of term armor, is there any way to represent these other than the standard 40k box? Or would i just be better off getting cataphractii terms?

7. Is close combat a large part of 30k? If so, any good IF melee units? Phalanx warders are not worth it from what i hear

I may have more to add as time progresses, but this is all i have for now. Thanks all for any input or advice.

2.5k seems a really good standard, but other point levels work fine too.

Imperial fists locked all their psykers in a house for the heresy, but they were happy there. Generic Praetors, generic centurions, Legion champions, Heralds, and many others are perfectly fluffy for ZM.

zone mortalis is amazing. 4x4 board with lots of corridors and turns. it's basically ship-based/tunnel warfare, the board game. https://www.forgeworld.co.uk/en-US/Zone-Mortalis-Battlefield-Network scroll down a bit and watch the video for a general idea.

Characters in squads. That being said, LD. 9 with srgt. is standard, so you don't have too much to worry about.

Any and all are allowed. as for the setting: are you playing fists on terra after Phall? the fists who went to Guilliman post-Phall? the fists just off killin' traitors post phall? Beyond that, any and all units would be fluffy. the Fists used a little bit of everything. For void warfare, I would probably limit non walker vehicles and bikes. beyond that, go nuts.

Cataphractii are great, Indomitus are fun (just use the plastic box) with Storm shields, Tartaros are basically just better Indomitus.

Close combat is a thing, yes. Phalanx warders are costly, but fun. Templar Brethren are fething amazing, Sigismund is super stabby, alll of our IF characters get to reroll 1's to hit in challanges (and must issue them), vets can be made into good CC units, tacticals can be given extra CCWs, Terminators are super punchy, etc.

1. For 'regular' 30k, 2-3k works fine. Any more will take too long and less means you have very few models on the board.
Zone mortalis plays better with less points, 1-1.5k, with 1250 being a comfortable game. This is because in ZM games, players deploy closer and there is no need for expensive armour (no space) and artillery units (no barrage weapons).

2. The IF Librarians are napping on the phalanx. However, you can get psykers through the Knight-Errant route. (Book 5 or 6)

3. A Zone Mortalis is any particularly nasty, close quarters area. This could be inside ships, underground tunnels or bunker complexes. The rules are free on FW website, probably becasue the tiles will cost you a kidney.

4. Vexillas (squad banners) give you a reroll for Ld tests. Some legions ingore certain Ld checks.

5. The Stone Gauntlet ROW is the prime choice for ZM and boarding party themed Fists.
Breachers, characters with boarding shields, Alexis Pollux are the units you would centre around.

6. Tartaros terminator armour is plain better than Indomitus UNLESS you want storm shields, then you need to be in Indomitus or Cataphractii. Cataphractii are more durable but slower while Tartaros are faster and can overwatch.

7. Close combat is a fairly big thing, and gets more important in ZM. Note that every unit has access to at least one power weapon, generally on the Sergeant.
Tacticals have access to ACCWs as a squad-wide upgrade so can be pressed into a CC unit in a pinch.
Terminators have power axes, and if you use the plastics, you'll probably just go with power fists.

Regarding legion specific units:
Phalanx warders look great and are a fairly mid-tier legion specific units, nothing to write about, but at least they aren't AL headhunters.
Templar Bretheren are possibly the top legion specific unit, they mulch anything in power armour. 40 odd power sword attacks does do that to a unit.
Sigismund beats every praetor build out there in a round of combat, and gives you bonus VPs for doing so.

 Mhoppe10 wrote:
Hey all, posted a few things on here already, but wanted to combine them into 1 cohesive thread. Im slowly reading the core book and the 3rd book as it pertains to my legion (imperial fist), but im hoping yall can give me some insight.

Welcome! Looks like more than enough people have answered your questions. When you say "Core Book" and "3rd Book", which books are you talking about? Is the third book you are referencing the big black book "Horus Heresy: Extermination"? Keep in mind, this is a great fluff book, full of awesome imagery, but the actual rules contained in that book are out dated. They have been replaced by the rules found in these two red books. The Age of Darkness Army List book has the basic 30K rules that supplement the core 40K rulebook, and it also contains all the generic units for the Legions. The Age of Darkness Legions contains the actual specific rules for each Legion (like the Iron Fists). The two red books combined form the basic rules for 30K. The rules differences between HH: Extermination and the two red books are significant enough that you really need the two red books.

Zone Mortalis is kinda like Kill Teams for 30K, and is a fun little side version of 30K. Just like Kill Team, it is easily broken with certain combo's of models/units. It's helpful to have a discussion with your opponent before you play about what kind of game you want- fun, competitive, narrative based, etc..

Thanks guys for the responses. I like the breachers and pollux, so the gauntlet RoW seems fitting. I was thinking something along the lines of pollux and crew repelling boarders during phall and then maybe counter attacking as they chase traitors down. Are the leviathan dreads legal and worth a look then for ZM? And do indomitous terms look out of place in 30k? As for books i have books 1 &3, but i take it they are outdated then? Is there any point to still carrying them?

Books 1 and 3 have excellent stories in them, so there is a point in still having them. As for taking them to game stores for playing? No. Significant changes have been made to army lists since their release.