Ultimate AM Blob squad!

[cdrwattz]

So I'm finally getting around to field an infantry platoon. I've always played vets as the model count is way lower and I can't look past bs4. But as my AM army grows I'm slowly looking at other options.

Firstly, i'm interested in how people use their platoons using each of the components. Command-Squads-Heavy-Special-Conscripts.

Secondly, I'm very interested in how people use the platoon as blobs to tar pit or any other way for that matter.

Just looking at it without ever playing one I kinda feel that conscript blobs should be purely to tarpit with any 'victories' in combat a bonus.

For a little bit more then a leman russ battle tank (not counting the platoon command and two infantry squads) you can take a 50 man strong conscript squad with a priest for fearless and war hymns goodness. Has anyone ever run this? How effective would you rate this as a tarpit? I see this as being a true basic tarpit. Even thou you'll get a lot of attacks you probably won't be doing a heap of damage, but I see the point of this unit to literally take a unit out of the game by keeping it in close combat.

Then theres the combined infantry squad.

A lot more options here to steer the squad in different directions. BS3-sergeants and all the access they have to war gear-special weapons-heavy weapons.

So here's a couple of builds that I've heard of but never seen.

50 man squad with commissar behind aegis defence line with 5x Lascannons maybe with psychic support for twin linked and CCS for ignores cover. Pretty expensive but makes a pretty strong anchor for a defensive army. Having the commissar gives the squad stubborn and a good leadership buff. They can got to ground behind the Aegies giving them 2+ cover then the CCS orders them back up next turn to operate as normal.

50 man squad with commissar or priest/priests. All sergeants have power axe and melta bombs. 5x flamers or meltas for taste. More of an assault tarpit that can actually pull its weight in CC. Commissar and priests do their bit, sergeants provide lots of S5 ap2 attacks or metla bomb attacks. The flamers can pour on the wounds and provide and massive wall of flame... 5x d3 automatic hits.

So lets trade tactics! Let me know how you run yours, what works, what doesn't.

-Cdr.Wattz-

[treadiculous]

I run 2 platoons in a number of my guard games:

Gunline platoon of 50 with 5 Missile Launchers + commissar - closely supported by a CCS, and recently I discovered that a Primaris is a nice buff for the unit too.

Sometimes I'll add 5 Grenade Launchers to this unit.


Assault Platoon of 30 guardsmen + commissar(s) - closely supported by a flamer PCS

I find the assault squad gets killed of very easily and hasn't ever been hugely effective (at best scoring some objective points before being blasted to bits) I still run this option though these days I only put one commissar in and don't bother equipping the sergeant with anything. The trouble with this unit is that it tends to advance into ideal range of the opponent, however its only 150 points or so and can bring in 2 or 3 VP's.


I field as many mortars as I can, Ideally 6 squads of 3.

And then Add a MoO to the gunline CCS for addaed barrage.




as for conscripts or special weapon squads I don't have much advice!

[cdrwattz]

Ok cool.

With the gun line platoon don't you find you miss the lascannons over the missile launchers? Or do you prefer the versatilely of them?

With the assault platoon what weapons do you give the sergeants? And would you think it would be better to have a full squad of 50?

[treadiculous]

I have missile launchers because that's what catachans were assigned back in the old days.

I find they work well enough in most situations, and the fact I can turn them to infantry hunters is handy.

It's hard to find decent cover for 50 men though, and making sure the missile launchers have some sacrificial lasgunners in front of them is important.

Having 200 points of nearly useless men is a bit tricky to get your head round but I assure you it's worth firing those missile launchers at the tanks and heavy gear of the enemy - the lasguns are there to protect the missile launchers and absorb wounds. The platoon has serious staying power if near a CCS with regimental standard too.

As for the assault platoon - I used to give it 3 commissars and equip all 3 sergeants and all the commissars with power weapons, and throw in a priest... however the unit got shot up before reaching its target time and time again so now I keep them as cheap as possible.

Maybe a squad of 50 would help but I find that the lack of cover and sheer unwieldy nature of that many men makes the negatives outweigh the positives.

I find the best use of the assault blob is to advance to mid-field and hold an objective, its strength is in overwatch and counter assault, it also serves as a good red herring; it draws a lot of fire away from the gunline platoon.. and maybe there'll be a chance to charge something late game if my opponent makes a mistake.

[3ff3ct]

Mar 7, 2016 6:04:39 GMT -5 treadiculous said:

I find the best use of the assault blob is to advance to mid-field and hold an objective, its strength is in overwatch and counter assault, it also serves as a good red herring; it draws a lot of fire away from the gunline platoon.. and maybe there'll be a chance to charge something late game if my opponent makes a mistake.

This is how I run a Blob if I use one, maybe with grenade launchers or something similarly annoying. Almost like a 'road bump' if you've played Tau before you can always use it to bait in units, then charge a couple of other assaulty squads in to assist.

[solidog]

If you really what your blob to live past round two and cause some serious damage I equip my assult blob just like you said with power axes melta bombs and melta guns,then attach a librarian conclave with tig, all the psykic powers go off on 2+ with a re roll. give the squad invisibility, a 4+ invul and a whole other load of buffs you like. Then if you have any points spare add a kurovs aquilla to your cc to re roll ones on all your lascannons in your defensive blob and add inquisitor Coteaz for a out of turn shooting attack against those deepstrikers that drop in behind your assult squad to squish your back line and give presisiance to what ever artillery you have hiding back with you so you can re roll the scatter and make sure it counts. It's real expensive but if you really wonna buff those blobs it's the best way to do it in my opinion

[treadiculous]

I agree that with all those buffs going on you're making a serious assault unit, though it demonstrates the cost involved in making guard act beyond their usual role!

[nutty]

I was wondering what you guys think about the Emperor's shield infantry platoon/company from the Mont'ka book.

The PCS gets an extra order that allows a squad to move and then fire as if stationary (making them semi-relentless, no assaulting after though), and a blob can get move through cover if they are near a sentinel.

On the one hand this strikes me as pretty useful: the blob gains a great deal of mobility and can reposition without giving up heavy weapons fire. But you don't get ObSec, and you have to take at least 55 guys and a sentinel which can get pricey.

It could add an extra dimension to infantry blobs... but I'm not sure if the benefits are worth the drawbacks.