1200 minimalist with a smattering of air support

[skabfang]

This is pretty much everything I own, though I will need to buy another Valkyrie. I also have a few more infantry including a 4x flamers.

A workmate has just started collecting Tau and he will have ~1200 points for our first game, I'm not a min/maxer but still want to have fun and not get run over. I think I need ordnance, however that's going to have to wait. I also won't have parts to convert the Valkyrie's into Vendetta's which is unfortunate, but at this point we just want to have fun and I don't want to make my list too overpowered for him before he gets some decent toys of his own.

I wanted as many bodies on the table as possible so I went for as little short ranged weapons as possible (no melee weapons) as my opponent won't be coming close.

Questions:

• Can the Command Squad issue orders with their Vox to other squads in the army if they don't have one?
  I know that the Vendetta is great points value, but can the Valkyrie be made effective?
• The four heavy weapons squads in the Platoon are (I feel) a good mix, but are there any glaring deficiencies? I've heard mixed reports on HWT with HB's.
• My Veteran Squads are lead by bare bones Sergeants, mainly because I couldn't spare the points.. however, are there any must take upgrades that I shouldn't overlook? They'll be late game droppers or back field harassers.
• How is the composition of my Scout Sentinels? I figured 2x Str 9 and 2x Str 8 shots on the first turn could do some damage to the pesky fish'ead skimmers my mate will be fielding. Remember.. I am used to BS2 so it will be hard to be disappointed by Guard shooting
• Speaking of Sentinels.. can they still Outflank?
• Using Valkyrie's as harassment units, I imagine them making a nuisance of themselves; 2nd turn arrival (hopefully) and taking out Battle Suits/Broadsides. Thereafter, hopefully just doing strafing runs on his infantry. Would it work?
• I know the load-out isn't ideal on the Valkyrie's, should I get the missile pods? What could be dropped from the rest of the force to give me the points?
• With regards to Infantry Platoons; is each element a scoring unit in it's own right? In games with many objectives, am I able to place (or move) say a HWT and Infantry squad from the platoon to a home field objective for two scoring units? Or do I need to place the entire platoon on that objective?

Onto the list.. let me know what you guys think..

1200 pts (on the button) gun line with air support:

HQ

Company Command Squad (110 pts)
Officer of the Fleet
3x Sniper Rifle
Vox Caster
Company Commander; Laspistol, Power Weapon

Troops 1

Infantry Platoon (545pts)

Platoon Command Squad
Platoon Commander; Close Combat Weapon, Laspistol

Heavy Weapons Squads
3x Mortar
3x Lascannon
3x Heavy Bolter
3x Autocannon

Infantry Squad
Grenade Launcher, Heavy Bolter
Sergeant; Close Combat Weapon, Laspistol

Infantry Squad
Grenade Launcher, Missile Launcher
Sergeant; Close Combat Weapon, Laspistol

Infantry Squad
Grenade Launcher, Heavy Bolter
Sergeant; Close Combat Weapon, Laspistol

Troops 2

Veteran Squad (115pts)
6x Lasgun, 3x Plasma Gun
Veteran Sergeant; Close Combat Weapon, Laspistol

Troops 3

Veteran Squad (110pts)
6x Lasgun, 3x Meltagun
Veteran Sergeant; Close Combat Weapon, Plasma Pistol

Fast Attack 1

Scout Sentinel Squadron (120pts)
Scout Sentinel; Hunter-killer Missile, Lascannon
Scout Sentinel; Hunter-killer Missile, Lascannon

Fast Attack 2

Valkyrie Assault Carrier Squadron (100pts)
Valkyrie; 2 Hellstrike Missiles, Multi-laser

Fast Attack 3

Valkyrie Assault Carrier Squadron (100pts)
Valkyrie; 2 Hellstrike Missiles, Multi-laser.

Cheers,

Waaaghboss Skabfang.

[hendrik]

don't bother with grenade launchers or snipers in general they are not worth the points.as for your veterans,these guys need a transport,one of the valkyries maybe?
I also would not spend points on a powerweapon for my commander, chances are high he won't live in combat anyway, I figure it's better to spend those points on a heavy weapon that prevents the enemy from getting into close combat.
Against tau i've had good succes using mortars. personally i think your (outflanking) scout sentinels are a bit too expensive, but then again i've never really been impressed by them so far with my cheaper HKM+autocannon load out so...
For those points however I would consider getting a hellhound, although your list lacks other supporting mech so maybe indeed scout sentinels will work great here.

As for your questions:

Q:Can the Command Squad issue orders with their Vox to other squads in the army if they don't have one?
A: Yes, but they won't be able to make use of the vox's special ability

Q: •The four heavy weapons squads in the Platoon are (I feel) a good mix, but are there any glaring deficiencies? I've heard mixed reports on HWT with HB's.
A: you seem to heave covered everthing pretty much, In general most players prefer autocannons over heavy bolters but against armies such as necrons and tua heavy bolters can be quite lethal.

Q: •My Veteran Squads are lead by bare bones Sergeants, mainly because I couldn't spare the points.. however, are there any must take upgrades that I shouldn't overlook? They'll be late game droppers or back field harassers.
A: avoid close combat at all costs is a pretty common tactic with guardsmen, for CC it's often better to rely on enemies. a good tactic when list building with guardsmen is redundancy (since we drop like flies) and keep it simple. I only field standard sgt's

Q: Speaking of Sentinels.. can they still Outflank?
A: yes

Q: •Using Valkyrie's as harassment units, I imagine them making a nuisance of themselves; 2nd turn arrival (hopefully) and taking out Battle Suits/Broadsides. Thereafter, hopefully just doing strafing runs on his infantry. Would it work?
A: Yes, although a valkyrie has a limitted load out and isn't that manouverable, I woudl suggest you build the third one you buy as a vulture/thunderbird (a more agile flyer due to vector dancer) that will pose a greater harrasement

Q:•I know the load-out isn't ideal on the Valkyrie's, should I get the missile pods? What could be dropped from the rest of the force to give me the points?
A: most definetly! perhaps by dropping the sniper rifles in the CCS and the PW on the commander

Q: •With regards to Infantry Platoons; is each element a scoring unit in it's own right? In games with many objectives, am I able to place (or move) say a HWT and Infantry squad from the platoon to a home field objective for two scoring units? Or do I need to place the entire platoon on that objective?
A: yes! hence camping mortar units out of sight on an objective is a very popular tactic!