Novice to the Game in need of critique (2000 point list)

[ComradeKommissar]

Friend who is new to the game finally planned out the army he is going to invest in and wants some input from other guard players on its formation.
 
I never played with Imperial Guard and I at the novice level as well, so hopefully you guys can critique it in my stead.
 
HQ - Company Command Squad  
            - One Astropath 
            - One Officer of the Fleet 
            - Each Trade their Close Combat Weapon with Laspistols
            - Company Commander takes Power Sword 15 Points
            - Company Commander takes Melta Bombs
            - Replace the Company Commanders Laspistol with a Shotgun
            - One Veteran carries a Vox-Caster 
            - One Veteran carries a Medi-Pack
            - Take Taurox as Dedicated Transport (Pimpmobile for fluff) 
 
Two Troop choices of: 
         Veterans
            - One Veteran takes a Vox-Caster 
            - Three Veterans replace their Lasguns with Grenade Launchers
            - Grenadier Doctrine 
            - Take Chimera as Dedicated Transport 
            - Mount Hunter Killer Missiles onto Chimera
 
Two Heavy Support choices of:
          Leman Russ Squadron
            - Two Leman Russ Battle Tanks 
            - One Leman Russ Vanquisher 
            - Replace all hull mounted Heavy Bolters on Leman Russ tanks with Lascannons 
            - Mount Heavy Bolter Sponsons on each Leman Russ Tank
 
Heavy Support - Leman Russ Squadron
             - Two Leman Russ Eradicators 
             - One Leman Russ Executioner 
             - Replace all hull mounted Heavy Bolters on Leman Russ tanks with Heavy Flamers 
             - Mount Plasma Cannon Sponsons on the Leman Russ Executioner 
 
Fast Attack Option - Vendetta Squadron
             - Mount Heavy Bolter Sponsons on Vendetta
 
Total = 2000 Points  

[Fibonacci]

This is my opinion.  I would hope some others join in with different views as well.

 

HQ:  The CCS should stay out of the main acttion and giving orders.  If the command ever resorts to using a close combat weapon something has gone wrong.  Drop the power weapon, melta bomb and any other upgraded weapon.  If it's free its ok but don't spend any more points on weapons.  They can always fire the chimera's laser array so no other ranged weapon is needed. Koruv's Aquila is a good upgrade for the Preferred Enemy it gives to near by units. I seldom play without it now.

 

Leman Russ Squadrons.  One of the squadrons could be taken as an HQ squadron for extra orders.  Upgrade the tank commander to Pask and put him in a Punisher.  I know it is almost cliche in its popularity but it got that way for a reason.  Pask Punisher works.  Accept no substitutes. 

 

Plasma sponsons on the big plasma tank are another tried and true option I see he is using.  Keep this guy near the CCS chimera so Preferred Enemy can greatly reduce the Gets Hot chance from all that plasma -- that is assuming the comander took Koruv's Aquilla.

 

Heavy Bolters:  I'm not a fan.  Too many points for to little effect.  Especially on any tank with an Ordnance gun since they will be snap firing 99% of the time.  Go with a heavy stubber for the little extra and no sponsons or lascannon on the big guns.

 

Likewise for heavy bolters on the Vendetta.  It can only fire 4 weapons at full BS so one gun would have to snap fire.  Add to that the fact that lascannons and heavy bolters need to be firing at different target types and you can see where every turn a Vendetta with added heavy bolters will not be firing at the right target or at full weapon effectiveness.

 

The Vets:  I like either flamers or melta guns on the vets.  Plasma guns aslo do well with vets. Grenade launchers go in the infantry squads, but since he is not using any it doesn't matter.  However the differences here are negligble so if they are already modeled that way, don't worry about it.

[scatmandoo]

First off welcome to the hobby and congrats on choosing guard. However these are some opinions on your list that i am going to share as i would hate for you to buy all these models and then not have a use for them due to them not being effective and then not enjoying the game. 

 

 

Friend who is new to the game finally planned out the army he is going to invest in and wants some input from other guard players on its formation.
 
I never played with Imperial Guard and I at the novice level as well, so hopefully you guys can critique it in my stead.
 
HQ - Company Command Squad  
            - One Astropath 
            - One Officer of the Fleet 
            - Each Trade their Close Combat Weapon with Laspistols
            - Company Commander takes Power Sword 15 Points
            - Company Commander takes Melta Bombs
            - Replace the Company Commanders Laspistol with a Shotgun
            - One Veteran carries a Vox-Caster 
            - One Veteran carries a Medi-Pack
            - Take Taurox as Dedicated Transport (Pimpmobile for fluff) 

 

I think if you want a command squad, you want the orders but you need people to benefit the orders also. if going mech list like this then give the command squad some useful weapons to make the most of their better bs such as melta or plasma or keep them basic and as cheap as possible. As for advisers, i like the Astro for a random Telepathy roll and I like the Master of the Fleet to be able to try and manipulate reserves. Also the Command quad should be in a chimera as they are better for them in every way.

 

If you want combat, either go big with Straken, priest, Rough riders, Ogryns, and a supporting blob or get allies i am afraid. Guard just don't cut it, plus as mech vets you do not have the numbers.

 

Two Troop choices of: 
         Veterans
            - One Veteran takes a Vox-Caster 
            - Three Veterans replace their Lasguns with Grenade Launchers
            - Grenadier Doctrine 
            - Take Chimera as Dedicated Transport 
            - Mount Hunter Killer Missiles onto Chimera

 

On the face of it these aren't bad. If you only play against no better than a 4+ save then these will work. However you will more often than not face marines and need some AP3 or better. Being better BS than normal guardsmen i would find the points to arm them with one of the better special weapons. I personally use 2 x Melta and 1 x Heavy Flamer and it has worked well for me.

 

The hunter killer is a lot of points for a missile that will only hit 50% of the time and then depending on target will rarely change the course of the game too. Heavy Stubber and Dozer blade are the only ones i consider.

 

Two Heavy Support choices of:
          Leman Russ Squadron
            - Two Leman Russ Battle Tanks 
            - One Leman Russ Vanquisher 
            - Replace all hull mounted Heavy Bolters on Leman Russ tanks with Lascannons 
            - Mount Heavy Bolter Sponsons on each Leman Russ Tank
 
Heavy Support - Leman Russ Squadron
             - Two Leman Russ Eradicators 
             - One Leman Russ Executioner 
             - Replace all hull mounted Heavy Bolters on Leman Russ tanks with Heavy Flamers 
             - Mount Plasma Cannon Sponsons on the Leman Russ Executioner 

 

As said make one of these a HQ if you want this many tanks, you get orders and can even replace the CCS then if you feel. Also if you run Sqns then have them focused doing the same job. Upgrading tanks with Ordnance weapons is a waste of points as you won't be able to fire them at full BS.

 

Full plasma on Executioner is good but a risky tactic. Eradicators benefit from having sponsons, even Heavy Bolters as they add more weight of fire at the same range.

 

One thing to remember is that if someone gets multiple hits on a Sqn then each hit is resolved separately as each Wrecked vehicle then passses on remaining hits to the next like in a squd of infantry. A lucky Triple melta hit could have all 3 tanks exploded!

 

Have you considered a Wyvern? very good option to have to thin out ememy troops/hordes.

 

Fast Attack Option - Vendetta Squadron
             - Mount Heavy Bolter Sponsons on Vendetta
 
Total = 2000 Points  

 

Vendetta good, - Heavy Bolters not as wrong target lascannons go for and paying points to only fire one of them or dropping a lascannon. Also you are paying for a 6 x troop transport capability and not using it. Consider a CCS, PCS, SWS or Scions for a ride.

[WarriorFish]

Welcome to the Guard and B&C! :D I agree with what has already been said, mixing and matching squadrons is inefficient so they should be more focused. Make use of all 3 Heavy Support slots and split the tanks up into more dedicated roles. You'll find that often a couple of Russes is all that's needed in a squadron, more is overkill and a tempting target for your opponent.

 

For example the Eradictor is strong enough to normally handle a unit by itself, especially if you spend on sponsons. If you want more tanks (and why wouldn't you?) then maybe you should look at the Fast Attack options for some useful flame tanks?

 

Heavy Bolters on Valkyries and Vendettas are overpriced, they look cool but aren't worth it :( They're more worthwhile as sponsons on Russes depending on the tank type, but it's not essential. Veterans are good, but it's usually best to make use of their BS4 - melta and plasma would probably be worth considering for this list or perhaps a dedicated flamer squad as Fib said.

[Thoqqu]

...DEATHstrike...

 

10" blast that annihilates close to everything it hits anywhere on the table. (Well, almost)

I could list all the pros of it but I guess going into too much details is against rules.

In short, it removes units from game.

[WarriorFish]

Though it isn't quite as good at removing tanks anymore. At least not outright!

[Thoqqu]

Ordnance, ap1 and nigh impossibility to miss a tank if aiming at the center make it pretty decent.

All though landraiders and such have a fighting change.

[WarriorFish]

Whoops, that'll teach me to not to read things properly! Yes, Manticore isn't as good but the Deathstrike when it shoots will pop pretty much everything it hits :D Trouble is getting your opponent to let you shoot it... :P

[Thoqqu]

I've lost count on games that I've used the thing but I can still tell you the exact amount of times it has not fired. Zero.

To quote one expert in the field of demolitions "location, location, location..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0vZnwtvgLw