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Hi guys, I have lurked for a while but finally came back to the hobby a couple of months back after about a 15 year break. I am looking for some advice on three armies, and to avoid breaking any rules I'll make three separate threads.

So last week a friend managed to find a box of old Guard models from about 15 years ago. I have gone through and worked out what the models are, and have turned them into what I think is a mostly sensible list. It comes out as just over 1000 points total, but I would like to make sure the list is semi-sensible, and see how it could potentially be expanded to 1500.

A couple of notes: This is not for tournament whatsoever. I own 3 armies and have made a gaming table at home. I will be playing exclusively at home with friends. However, I don't just want to avoid trash-tier armies, I also want to build armies that are to some degree versatile and fun to play (and paint!)

Secondly, I don't mind playing units that are suboptimal, provided they aren't absolute garbage-tier.

Finally, I want to maximise my £££ as much as possible. I have no intention of spending £30+ on "man with sword". I like my kits to have a substantial amount to them!

Ok so, here's my current list for 1000 points of Astra Militarum. The plan at the moment is to play them as Cadians, but that can of course change:

HQ:
Lord Commissar
Company Commander
Company Commander

Troops:
Infantry Squad x10
Infantry Squad x10
Infantry Squad x10
Infantry Squad x10
Chimera

Elites:
Command Squad x4
Ratlings x10

Heavy Support:
Leman Russ
Basilisk
Heavy Weapons Squad x3

That comes out as around about 1000 points. In the box of assorted bits that I was given, there are definitely enough parts to make a fifth Infantry Squad, and probably enough to make a sixth. There are also a handful of models that I have no idea if are of any use, including Colour Sergeant Kell, a Tech-Priest Enginseer, 4 Wyrdvane Psykers, 3 Catachan Snipers and what I think is a Commissar.

Send some ideas my way, and thanks for any help!

This seems like a nice, fun, diverse list. Imperial Guard are great fun to play but not in a great place right now. If your buddies tune down whatever army they are playing you may stand a chance, but against anything even sneezing in the direction of being competitive you will be hurting. Which is too bad. I run ratlings, techpriests, and commissars and love them, but they do not really do anything of value most of the time. They are worth it for the rare moments where they do, though.

If you find you need some more punch, consider upgrading your Russ to a Tank Commander. Even two or three couldn't hurt. People also favor the manticore at the moment with the Full Payload tank ace strategem from Psychic Awakening: Greater Good.

Cadians are supposed to be one of (if not the best) regiments right now due to the bonus rules in War Zone Octarius.

What is your command squad and heavy weapons kitted out with?

Thanks for the reply!

The command squad is a bit of a mix of random models that I had no idea where they were from, but from looking at the rules for Command Squads I seem to be able to make a legal (although possibly not optimal) squad. It currently consists of one Veteran with a Medi-pack, two with Lasguns and one with a Plasma gun. I have an assortment of metal special weapons troops with Plasma and Melta guns, so it is I guess a case of fitting them in here and there as I don't believe I am able to field multiple in one squad. Please correct me if this is not the case.

The Heavy Weapons team is one of each Heavy Bolter, Lascannon and Missile Launcher. These are all glued, so I can't really change it.

I'll see if I have the parts to turn the Russ into a Tank Commander.