Beginner's 1000 point Fully Mechanised IG list

[colonelnothus]

Hey all. Well, this is my first real list, so, I'll go ahead. I did search/scrawl through the army list forum, but I didn't seem to find many purely mech lists, so I'm kind of going from scratch. I have a couple of queries to make rule wise, so I'll pop them in at the end so you know in what context I'm asking, so, without further ado, I bring to you, my list:

HQ

Lord Commissar
'pace Armour
Power Weapon
-90



Troops

1st Squad
Veteran Squad
Grenade Launcher *3
Grenadiers
-115

Chimera
Heavy Flamer *2
-55


2nd Squad
Veteran Squad
Grenade Launcher *3
Grenadiers
-115

Chimera
Heavy Flamer *2
-55



Heavy Support

Leman Russ Battle Tank
Lascannon
Heavy Bolter sponsons
-185

Leman Russ Battle Tank
Lascannon
Heavy Bolter sponsons
-185

Leman Russ Battle Tank
Lascannon
Heavy Bolter sponsons
-185


Total-985

Right, so, there's my first attempt at a list. Obviously, I'm looking for advice on a list, but there are two factors that have significantly affected my choices:

First and foremost, moneys. This may seem strange when you see three LRBT's, but I already have them. With this list, I only need a commissar and two chimeras, the rest I already have.

Two: Fluff/personal preferance. I have always loved the idea of a mechanised army, and I love Commissars. Which is why, given the option, I'm leaning for a third LRBT over another squad or an effective CCS.

Right, tactical justification/battle plan. The three Lemans are taking up seperate slots on the Force Organisation chart, fluff wise they're a squadron, painted they'll be a squadron, but realistically, since I'm not using any other Heavy Support in this list, the added mobility and freedom makes sense.

In regards to the Vet/Chimeras, the plan is simple. They are to take out troops or hold objectives. The chimeras are as much for shock and horror affect (once they've dropped off their payload) as anything else. Smoke launchers are officially my friend! The flamers will deal with hordes, whilst the vet's grenade launchers and higher BS will allow me to pack a bit more of a punch, outside of charge range, as I'm aware that horde armies could cause me problems (until I open up with the LRBT's cannons that is ;D). As the vets are on anti Infantry, the LRBT's will be taking out any armour, hq, expensive elites, or anything that is big and nasty. Or just blasting a horde apart in a gory mess of bolter fire and shells. I'm going on the basis that opponents will go when they see no less than three LRBT's in a 1k game, and try and shoot them to smithereens, leaving my vet's to prepare to cause problems.

The question with my Lord Com. is simple, as an independent character, can I link him with one of the vet squads pre deployment, so he can hitch a ride in their Chim. If I can't, I'll have to look into an alternative HQ (as a 55 point chim for one model is just plain silly.) I'm avoiding the CCS because of £££, but also because, with only 20 troops, they don't seem to be as effective. Especially as I'm taking mobile vets, not gunline infantry platoons. And, if I were to take a CCS, the cost would remove one of my LRBT's.

Also, I've given the vet's the grenadier option, to try and make them slightly harder to kill. However, is it worth it, or would I be better using that 60 points, along with the 90 for my Lord Comm and the 15 left over (165) to get a better HQ, or try and scrounge another squad of troops?

I am aware that I have little in the way of troopage, that hordes could overwhelm me, and nasty things like Eldar could blow me to smithereens in a turn, but, I guess that's something I'll have to master.

Basically, that's my plan. But that is all from the excessive reading of the rulebook/codex. I have no experience to base my opinions on, which is what I'm looking for with you more experienced players. So please, feel free to completly tear my list apart if necessary. I'm mature enough to take it, (honest!), and I'd like to avoid any major nooby mistakes. Obviously, I'm a beginner, lessons will have to be learnt, the hard way, but I'm kind of hoping I can avoid a few school boy errors from advice. Oh, and I've still got the 15 point leeway to fiddle as it is, so I wasn;t sure where to invest those last few points.

Anyhow, thanks in advance and I shall look forward to some interesting discussions!
Nothus

*p.s the LRBT are specced out the way they are as that's how they've been built, and I'd rather not start tearing them apart as I seem to not have the old sprues etc. Though, this does not stop for future reference, as I'm already considering a LR Punisher, for sheer anti-horde madness XD*

[emptyhat]

If you switch 3 grenade launchers out you could have three meltas instead. That way you can deal with marines and the like if they get in too close for your Russ.

[colonelnothus]

Intersting idea, that would bring my list up to a nice 1000 points. It was also interesting to read your thread, going along a similar vein. The meltas might be an idea, it depends which force I'm going against. If I'm against some MEQ's, then possibly. It's just, well, 12" is, somewhat worringly, within charge range. And 10 Vet's aren't going to stand much chance against a squad of power armoured SMurfs. I think, what I really need to do, is get an army built up, and tailor it to the kind of opponents I'll be facing. But, I'll look into getting myself some melta troopers soon.

Thanks again Emptyhat!
Nothus

[tobacco]

The advice I was given in my thread - I am also starting a mechanized unit - was that only two veteran squads is not enough for 1000 points and definitely not enough for 1500 points. There need to be more troops on the ground to capture objectives and soak up enemy firepower, so the experts say.

Second, on tanks, I have a hunch - I have no experience in playing 40k, but going by the rules I think this makes sense - that mixing anti-infantry capabilities with anti-tank capabilities is not a good choice since you will be gimped in either department. The tanks might work better if one is kitted out with all heavy bolters and stubber with the battlecannon for anti-infantry and another tank has no sponsons or stubber and a hull lascannon but with a vanquisher battle cannon for taking out armor.

[jellycus]

Hmmmn... Mech list eh?

I understand that you are a bit short money wise.. But, what are you going to do about deep striking land raiders? I think the two things you are lacking in this list is anti tank and artillery.

For Anti Tank You need to pick up a vanquisher with las. its the at king. nothing can stand before it.

For Artilerey you need a griffon to support your russ squad.

If you decide to go to 1500pts add in a griffon, a vanquisher with las,make the russ a squadron and put in some more infantry because you appear to lack bodies bigtime.

Also what will you do in objective games? If i was your opponents id shoot your troops (20 people and 2 transports isn't hard to pop) and then all i had to do was keep you off my objective and i had won the game,

[jellycus]

and if you have a look in the army list section i made a thread clled Cadian Mechanised army list
and i got some good advice so have a look thier

[tobacco]

Sept 26, 2011 17:23:49 GMT -5 jellycus said:

I think the two things you are lacking in this list is anti tank and artillery.

Anti-Tank, yes, but artillery isn't at all needed at 1000 points, especially if he has that many Leman Russ tanks. I think the far more obvious pitfall of this list is that he only has 2 troop choices to contest objectives.

For Anti Tank You need to pick up a vanquisher with las. its the at king. nothing can stand before it.

The vanquisher is a waste of points, statistically. For IG, infantry should destroy tanks and tanks should destroy infantry. I would say that his vet squads need meltaguns rather than picking up a vanquisher.

For Artilerey you need a griffon to support your russ squad.

No.

Also what will you do in objective games? If i was your opponents id shoot your troops (20 people and 2 transports isn't hard to pop) and then all i had to do was keep you off my objective and i had won the game,

Correct.

[krasimirova]

colonelnothus: Pretty decent list you have.. But i have some pointers for you..

Tobacco: Yes, you are correct..

Jellycus: You need to moderate your answers.. You make it sound like the Vanquisher is the King of AT, which the general opinion is that it isn't.. And he dosn't NEED a griffon.. It is a nice tank yes, but there is alot of better tanks out there..

---

HQ

Lord Commissar
'pace Armour
Power Weapon
-90

This guy seems a bit outside your list, he isn't a CC monster being I3 so will die before getting any hits in 90% of the times.. Lord Commissars are a support unit, their Ld bubble is the thing you buy them for.. Mostly you seem them combined with lists with alot of HWT's (Heavy weapon teams)

In a mech list i'd try and squeez in a CCS since they are BS4 and have access to 4 special weapons..

Troops

1st Squad
Veteran Squad
Grenade Launcher *3
Grenadiers
-115

Chimera
Heavy Flamer *2
-55


2nd Squad
Veteran Squad
Grenade Launcher *3
Grenadiers
-115

Chimera
Heavy Flamer *2
-55

As was mentioned you only have 2 scoring units, but you have 3 AV14 tanks in 1000 points, and can't have it all.. So it is a question about where you want to spend your points.. 2 scoring units can work.. But you need to protect them.. Keep them behind your lemans, or in other types of cover.. I'd keep the Multilaser on them, since you don't have alot of anti mech firepower (AV10 - 11) and the S6 on the multi laser will help here.. Especially since it is "free".. And in general 1 heavy flamer would be enough unless your flaming MEQ's

Heavy Support

Leman Russ Battle Tank
Lascannon
Heavy Bolter sponsons
-185

Leman Russ Battle Tank
Lascannon
Heavy Bolter sponsons
-185

Leman Russ Battle Tank
Lascannon
Heavy Bolter sponsons
-185

Now you are spending 3 x 35 points too much on your tanks IMO, the heavy bolters and las cannons isn't the target group of the Battle cannon and the 105 points are enough to get you a CCS and a extra chimera.. That combined with the loss of the commissar lord will also grant you enough points for the special weapons on the CCS and upgrade for your Veterans.

So if i where to give you advice on your list, it would look like this:

HQ:
CCS
4 x Plasmaguns
Chimera
ML + HF

Troops

1st Squad
Veteran Squad
3 x Meltaguns
Grenadiers
Chimera
ML + HF

2nd Squad
Veteran Squad
3 x Plasmaguns
Grenadiers
Chimera
ML + HF

Heavy Support

Leman Russ Battle Tank
w. Heavy flamer

Leman Russ Battle Tank
w. Heavy flamer

Leman Russ Battle Tank
w. Heavy flamer

1000 points on the nose.. 6 tanks, 25 infantry models, 6 heavy flamers, 3 battle cannons, 3 multilasers, 7 plasmaguns and 3 meltaguns..

Now i don't like the Carapace upgrades, if you dropped it from the #1 veteran squad, you could get a plasmapistol on all squads.. More killy, less IG deathy.. But then again that is just because i like to kick peoples teeth in with 1 round of shooting..

Hope it helps, and again, nothing of this is the golden truth but it is based on my experience playing IG.. And it has worked quite okay..

Kras...

[kobracommander]

I agree pretty much with everything Kras has said...although there is some debate in my mind as to whether it would be better to drop grenadiers on the melta squad and put demolitions there instead.

[treadiculous]

I agree with kras here, and if it helps to know, I modelled all my Russ with Heavy Bolter sponsons but often let my opposition know they have run out of ammo... (If you haven't used too much glue they're easy enough to remove with a bit of leverage...) on the other hand the heavy flamers are very useful on tanks, worth the swap for sure...

...at the end of the day its down to manouverability - if it moves the heavy bolters don't get to fire, so only take them if you want a static tank (easy to hunt and kill). The flamer supports a mobile vehicle, deterring the tank busting infantry with its flamey death!

Maybe consider squeezing in a demolisher, its incredible high strength low Ap will deal with terminators etc nicely, and the 24" range shouldn't pose a problem if supported by 2 standard Russ. (the extra cost could be found by removing the 'pace armour).

You will have difficulty with only 2 troop units, any objective game will be very difficult to win even though you may blast your opponent to smithereens (a friend suffers similar problems due to low budget list building)... but in time you may find yourself in possession of a few more men, as with all 40k armies they do tend to grow...

On the positive side, I would be very surprised to find 3 heavy support in an opponents 1k list, and I would most certainly struggle against all that AV14 and large blast doom! (I tend toward all infantry lists of combined squads with launchers and lasguns... against your list it would be a nightmare!)

[jellycus]

The vanquisher may not be the best tank but In my opinion its not bad. The manticore is better but for some apocalypse games can go on for a long time......

Griffons i like because they are Cheap in points and they don't hit your pocket all that much..

Also kras, i say things like that because i think they are good but i don't have much experience so correct me if Im wrong?

[krasimirova]

Jellycus.. I am not being on your back.. I do "correcting" you, because in my experience the advice you are giving isn't very good.. And that is based on 150+ games with the current IG codex..

But you are more than welcome to give your advice, I am just saying that it sounds like you are giving out the universal truth, and that isn't the case..

Again i am not trying to bonk you in the head or anything here..