[Kill Team] I picked up the Core Manual yesterday. Can you tear apart my Astra Militarum list?

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**The Council**

I don't really know what I'm doing. I was hoping to have a team that could lay covering fire as units advanced to flank and/or secure objectives. Should I be nervous about having too few Guardsmen to soak up shots for the Scions? I was trying to maintain a 2:1 (guardsman:scion) ratio, but I made some changes after being given some advice. I would appreciate any and all constructive criticism (your reasoning would be appreciated as well because I've never played before). Thank you!

Tempestor with Power Sword and Plasma Pistol (Leader): 12
Scion Gunner with Hot-shot Volley Gun (Heavy): 13
Scion Gunner with Meltagun (Scout): 13
Scion Gunner with Plasma Gun (Sniper): 13
Scion with Vox-Caster: 14
SWS with Grenade Launcher: 7
Guardsman: 5
Guardsman: 5
Guardsman: 5
Guardsman Gunner with Flamer: 8
Sergeant with Chainsword and Bolt Pistol: 5

Total: 11 models, 100 pts

**brumbaer**

The Leader is not meant to fight, but to hide and survive to be able to add a CP every round.
So the ordinary Sergeant should be Leader. He is not supposed to get near the enemy, so do not give him a power sword.
The point saved can be used to give the Tempestor a Powerfist.
Instead of making the Melter a Scout specialist you could make the guy with the Vox Caster a Comms specialist.
Speaking of the Voxcaster. Like the Leader it is something best to be kept out of harms way, So a Guardsman with Voxcaster should be enough.
You might think about buying a second Plasma Scion with the points saved and by giving up a Guardsman and getting a point somewhere or at least get a SWS with a Plasmagun.

Everything else depends on what you play against and your style of play.
I.e. the Melter is absolutely fabulous against the right opponent, but far from optimal against others.

That's my base list which will be modified as opponent or mission demand

Astra Militarum / Astra Militarum                         98

    Infantry Squad Guardsman (21.0%)                      21

        Guardsman with Vox-caster                         10
            Guardsman
            Lasgun
            Frag Grenades
            Vox-caster
            Comms Specialist

        Guardsman Gunner                                   6
            Guardsman Gunner
            Frag Grenades
            Demolitions Specialist
            Sniper Rifle

        Guardsman Sergeant                                 5
            Guardsman Sergeant
            Laspistol
            Chainsword
            Frag Grenades
            Leader

    Special Weapons Squad Guardsman (16.0%)               16

     2x Special Weapons Gunner                            16
            Special Weapons Gunner
            Frag Grenades
            Flamer

    Miltarum Tempestus Scion (61.0%)                      61

        Scion Gunner                                      12
            Scion Gunner
            Frag Grenades
            Krak Grenades
            Hot-Shot-Volley-Gun

        Scion Gunner                                      12
            Scion Gunner
            Frag Grenades
            Krak Grenades
            Meltagun

        Scion Gunner                                      12
            Scion Gunner
            Frag Grenades
            Krak Grenades
            Plasmagun
            Sniper Specialist

        Scion Gunner                                      12
            Scion Gunner
            Frag Grenades
            Krak Grenades
            Plasmagun

        Tempestor                                         13
            Tempestor
            Frag Grenades
            Krak Grenades
            Plasmapistol
            Power Fist

**The Council**

brumbaer wrote:
The Leader is not meant to fight, but to hide and survive to be able to add a CP every round.

Well, that is entirely disappointing. I would have thought a squad-based game would encourage all units to fight. Thank you for the insight though.

**brumbaer**

Do you cut out a window with a hammer ? Do you fasten a screw with a saw ?
No, usually you will select the right tool for the right job.
From other games you might be used to having a single army list that has to fight all comers. Kill Team is different. It allows you to select your Team just before the battle after terrain, mission and opponents faction are known.
So you can choose the best tool for the given situation.
Snipers are there to shoot, not to go into close combat and close combat troops are usually not at their best when shooting.
Some models are able to fulfil multiple roles and if you have a resilient (good toughness and save and preferably multiple wounds) Leader you might send him out to fight or if you only have 4 or 5 models you might have to send him out to fight, but ordinary humans are squishy and cheap. So you can easily afford to have the Leader generating CPs and giving orders without the need to risk some enemy to smush him - if everything goes according to plan.

**Brotherjanus**

I chop my potatoes with a hammer to make fries. Some reason I always end up making mashed potatoes...