Force Organization

[stormbringer]

Hello Everybody,
I'm almost done reading the 40K Rulebook and thinking about a first game soon. One thing I find confusing is the force organization chart. I need 1 HQ & 2 Troops, correct. Does the Rhino or Drop Pod count as part of the "Troop"?

So, is this a valid Force Organization:
Chapter Master (HQ)
5 Tactical Marines w/Rhino (1st Troop)
10 Tactical Marines w/Drop Pod (2nd Troop)
[this fullfills the minimum requirement?]

Then, I can have an optional 1 HQ, 4 Troops, and 3 Elites. So I can add...
10 Terminators w/Land Raider (1st Elite)
10 Terminators w/Land Raider (2nd Elite)
10 Terminators w/Land Raider (3rd Elite)
[Granted... the Terminators won't fit due to needing 10 x 2 seats (20), but can walk along]
[Also... this would cost 1800+ points just for the Terminators & Land Raiders so it's pricey]

Is all this valid?

How about a list with a Chapter Master, 6 X 10 Tactical Marines w/Rhinos, and 3 Dreadnoughts? This would be the 1 HQ & 2 Troop for the "Minimum" requirement and 4 Troops & 3 Elites as "Optional". How balanced would this be?

Jeff

[khornedog]

Correct. You only need 2 troops not including dedicated transports. You could go with 30 termies in LR with 2 tactical squads and a CM. To begin with I recommend a balanced list using the minis out of the black reach box. Find out what you like and what works for your play style and then make your purchase. 30 TH/SS termies are brutal. I have seen people use a librarian to teleport them around with gate of infinity.

next time I am at the store if I dont have a league game I would be happy to give you a demo if you want. I will throw my Necrons in the car. That should give you a sporting chance;)

[ross]

The chapter master with the 6 tac squads would probably be a better list than the all terminator list

[droofus]

Apr 29, 2011 20:52:39 GMT -5 stormbringer said:

Hello Everybody,
I'm almost done reading the 40K Rulebook and thinking about a first game soon. One thing I find confusing is the force organization chart. I need 1 HQ & 2 Troops, correct. Does the Rhino or Drop Pod count as part of the "Troop"?

So, is this a valid Force Organization:
Chapter Master (HQ)
5 Tactical Marines w/Rhino (1st Troop)
10 Tactical Marines w/Drop Pod (2nd Troop)
[this fullfills the minimum requirement?]

Then, I can have an optional 1 HQ, 4 Troops, and 3 Elites. So I can add...
10 Terminators w/Land Raider (1st Elite)
10 Terminators w/Land Raider (2nd Elite)
10 Terminators w/Land Raider (3rd Elite)
[Granted... the Terminators won't fit due to needing 10 x 2 seats (20), but can walk along]
[Also... this would cost 1800+ points just for the Terminators & Land Raiders so it's pricey]

If you want to do this, I'd recommend using the combat-squads special rule to split up the terminators, so that half of them from each squad can get into a LR. You might also consider one of the land-raider variants and dropping the squad sizes some.

The tac squad-focused army might work, but to be honest I think you ought to try and find a middle-ground between the two lists. Say maybe...

Librarian in terminator armor with storm shield (nullzone, other power of your choice)
5 terminators with t-hammer and storm shield
Land Raider with extra armor

(Note: MonsterRain runs this unit to great effect. Using nullzone to screw over invulnerable save enemies makes your thunder hammer termies that much better)

6 terminators with t-hammer and storm shield
Land Raider with extra armor

3x tactical squads in rhinos or pods

Maybe a dread in a pod or a devastator squad with missiles with the remaining points.

Maybe Monster Rain will come along and offer some advice. I only know Codex Marines from playing him.

[ross]

and the elephant in the room with marines is taking Vulkan as the second hq makes the army that much better

[RobPro]

You want to be careful about making such a specialized list. Termies cost mad $$$ and it is likely TH/SS termies will get some type of nerf when the next edition comes out (rumored for summer 2012). Just wanted to give you a heads up if you hadn't already bought them.

[ross]

yeah in general you only want probably 2 units of 5 at most since things like ork boyz do very well against them and you don't want your army to be too specialized.

[jeremyholiday]

Just a note, when you start thinking about what special weapons to add to your units, the full 10-man tac squad has the cheapest options and if you can find a way to work your heavy weapons into your list that way, you make out the best way in terms of point economy.

I play Codex Marines (have for like 3 whole months now... and have never won), and I use Devastator squads, but none of the lists at the Adepticon had any. They all used 3-4 tac squads in combat squads to get their heavy weapons on the board. You should take a look at the adepticon army lists. They helped me rethink the army I was putting together.

Link to Adepticon lists
bloodofkittens.com/blog/2011/04/05/adepticon-2011-pseudo-live-40k-champ-army-lists-and-anyalsis/

Also, Terminators are great, but they can't solve all of your problems. Without an assault cannon and / or Cyclone missile Launcher, they bring nothing in terms of long range combat. Remember that their power fists strike at initiative 0 which means they will always strike last. I have lost a number of close combat fights with higher initiative units before I got the message.

As a final also, I have recent come to really like scouts. With infiltrate and scout abilities, they are really mobile and can change the layout of the battle field to your advantage quite easily

[stormbringer]

Thanks for pointing out the cost of the devastator squad weapons. I didn't pick up on that. 10 point for a lascannon in a Tac Squad vs 35 for the same in a Dev Squad. One thing I've been thinking of is 10 man Tac Squad split in combat squads with the flamer, Sergeant, and 3 marines in a Razorback. The other half hangs back and shoots the lascannon or missile launcher.

BTW, I just played my first 40K game versus Mark's Grey Knights. I had a hard time cutting through anything. The bolters couldn't touch anything. The Dreadnought and TH/SS Terminators are the only thing that could do much. Still, I like the Tac Squad as the backbone of the list. I was thinking of swapping out the missile launcher for lascannons. I do like the versatility of the missile launcher though. Being able to switch between blast and high strength is good.

Looking through the Adepticon lists, Henrik Lampen's list is very similar to one I'm building towards. A Landraider is one of my next purchases.

Jeff

[ross]

Yeah marine on marine is rough when you don't have and ylow ap weapons

[jeremyholiday]

Mark's Grey Knight, esp his new Grey Knights list is very hard to beat. I have lost to his Grey Knights several times. You can't beat his Grey Knights in close combat with Quick Silver, you have to take them out at range.