http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/69.page JForum - http://www.jforum.net SM (and honestly the game in general, spent more time going through codexes drawing up theoretical lists then actually sitting down and playing), but at my very base, instinctive reaction, I'm really not all that fond of Tac Marines. I'm not sure if that's a super reasonable stance or not, but, mnh, well it's probably caused by most of the other forces I've looked at having much more specialized units (Started as a CD player aaaages ago, and it seems to have permanently skewed my sense of model numbers on the board and model costs and stuff), and so I sort of feel like Tac Marines, being more "generalized" are almost always going to be paying for SOME quality you're not actually going to use, or only ending up using when everything goes wrong. Which maybe makes them "safer" than some other units, but I, personally, would rather have a wider array of specialized models than a smaller number of "Oh well I guess you could fall back on this moderately decent trait when they can't hold their own doing what you want."

Now, the Gladius Formation is, in my opinion, pretty cool, I like all the various mini-formations built into it, the way it maintains formation bonuses and the like while still being very flexible, and how, because it's all so varied, you can share those combat doctrines all over the place. So I like most of everything about it... 'Cept, as mentioned, those obligate 3 Tactical Squads (and the fact that you can either take 0 Scout Squads or 3 Scout Squads. Space Marines apparently don't know what "Moderation" means).

Is that actually a meaningful restriction/tax? Is there something about them I could do to make me like 'em more? Or am I just being utterly irrational? (I'm willing to bet that last one, but I'd at least like to know what detail I'm missing to assuage my uncertainties).

Thanks, as ever, for your time.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/677720/8405062.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/677720/8405062.page GMT
If you're not a fan of tactical marines, I wouldn't go that route! As for tactical marines usefulness, not experienced enough to judge tbh. The battle company gets them free transports and the tactical doctrines. I know allot of people like to combine that with White Scars and Khan, for scout on Rhinos, with a Grav-Cannon on the inside.

I think other chapters could do well with free drop pods and going the melta route.

I use 3 squads of Tactical marines in a CAD, and find them to be fine. Not an exciting bunch, but they fill out the troops and are fairly reliable objective secure, Strictly speaking, if you don't have a hard role in mind for them, i'd say just go scouts, unless you're going to run a battle company or demi. ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/677720/8405160.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/677720/8405160.page GMT http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/677720/8405166.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/677720/8405166.page GMT tac squads, so I don’t have a problem fielding 3 full squads. Admittedly, that’s one more squad then I normally did before formations. My “normal” list was 2 full tacs and a 5 man scout for 1,500ish games.

They work fine in pods, or rhinos if you want to roll that way. But pods are great. I like MM/M, c-melta; HB/F, c-flamer; and my old reliable ML/F, bolter sarge. I’m a bit biased by what I have on the shelf. I’m looking forward to fielding a GC/G, c-grav squad. Pricy, but should cause some carnage.

If you go full company, it’s all about spamming minimal squads for free transports. Not an army that appeals to me, but you do get a lot of free stuff, so it’s like playing with a ~25% point boost. Hard to argue with that.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/677720/8405216.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/677720/8405216.page GMT
I'll admit, I'd probably prefer being able to throw Scouts around in their place, but as such is not permitted, I suppose tossing them in Drop Pod for SURPRISE shenanigans may be suitably amusing. And theoretically arrive to use whatever heavy weapons I've tossed on them at least once before they potentially get shot to pieces. And I suppose Drop Pods with Obj Sec are always kind of silly.

Oh, though, looking at it, it seems to be the case that the Gladius and the Demi-Company Combat Doctrines pseudo-stack? Like, you get one use of each that effects the entire Gladius, and one use of each that effects just the Demi-company? I'm like 99% sure that's what the Combat Doctrines opening paragraph says. I suppose taking Tac Squads is a lot cuter when you can theoretically make them re-roll all misses for 2 turns.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/677720/8405535.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/677720/8405535.page GMT Tac squads are pretty decent now that they have access to gravcannons. Nowhere near Jetbike-level in terms of power, but they went from bottom of the pile to middle of the pack, I'd say. If you don't like them all that much, just get 3 5-man squads with gravcannons and throw them in pods.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/677720/8405611.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/677720/8405611.page GMT