A Newbie's basic questions regarding a HH Army

[Leonite]

 

Iron Hands would be the most durable Foot Slogging force you could make right now since infantry have -1S to shooting done to them.

 

That said I've come up with a test list. The only Legion I see it not working for are the Salamanders due to fluff reasons, but really you could make it work anyways.

 

1500 Points.

 

HQ: 

-Forge Lord Consul; Scimitar Jetbike, Cyber-Familiar, Refractor Field, Power Weapon (axe), Augury Scanner. 175

 

Troops:

-Legion Tactical Squad; 17 Marines, Artificer Armor, Melta Bombs, Power Weapon (axe), Legion Vexilla. 255

-Legion Tactical Squad; 17 Marines, Artificer Armor, Melta Bombs, Power Weapon (axe), Legion Vexilla. 255

 

Elites:

-Legion Apothecarion Detachment; 2 Apothecaries, Augury Scanners. 100

 

Fast Attack:

-Legion Javelin Attack Speeder Squadron; 3 Javelins, 3 Twin-Linked Lascannon (1 each), 3 Multi-Meltas. 285

-Legion Jetbike Sky Hunter Squadron: 10 Jetbikes, 2 Volkite Culverins, Sky Hunter Sergeant (may not be needed), Melta Bombs, Power Weapon. 430 Split this squad in two if you need flexibility, attach your HQ here.

 

So, here you go, a Foot Slogging list that has very rapid support elements. If needed, the Jetbikes can swap the Culverins for Plasma Cannons or Multi Meltas (for a cost, may need to shuffle things around). And the Javelins can swap their MM for the base Heavy Bolter or a Heavy Flamer as needed. You can also trade the Lascannon for the stock Missile Launcher which may be more useful to you depending on the situation.

 

A rather low Body count but should be able to deal with anything you may encounter barring mass flyers. 1 or 2 might give you some trouble so consider cutting the Jetbike Squadron in half and using the points saved for a Contemptor-Mortis Dreadnought for Anti-Air and more focused Anti-Armor if needed.

 

Jetbike marines are also a 2+ armor Save base and T5. The HQ will also have a 4+ invulnerable (due to the Cyber Familiar) essentially making him a very fast TEQ unit. 

 

Forgelord may not be the best option either, Strongly consider a Primus Medicae to give the Jetbikes FNP (5+) on top of the aforementioned benefits. With (5)10 of them + Primus Medicae you could have a very tough, very mobile hammer unit to your Tac Squads Anvil and have the Javelins be support to fill in any gaps.

 

Edit: I also have a Wraithdar Iyaden army so I know the feels, but shush about filthy Xenos, tis not the place for such talk!

 

Edit:2 Augury Scanners are also a big finger to anything trying to infiltrate or deepstrike near you since each one creates an 18" bubble of "no infiltrate" and if anything deepstrikes within, you gain interceptor. Ouch.

 

A very nice test list... honestly I got so tied into the idea of fielding Terminators, I actually forgot that, aside from a single captain on a Bike years ago, I've never fielded all that many space marine Bikers. At the same time it's an army that I could assemble and paint without much trouble (Unlike the filthy xenos armies) but at the same time allows me creativity without me getting carried away (which I'll freely admit to being guilty of on my Chaos Marines. Still like my second flamer and Melta models for their squads, guys holding two Hand Flamers and inferno pistols)

 

At the same time depending on how much money I have (As I can already see in my head most of it will go towards the Jetbikes)  I may or may not get the Dreadnought, but I think I'll definitely get two extra, to make a Forge Lord and a Primus Medicae. Maybe even a third for a Chaplain, to keep my options open.

[Slips]

Glad I could be of assistance. And yes, the biggest bank Breakers in this will be the Jetbikes. Surprisingly 34+ marines are cheaper than Jetbikes due to bundle savings. Yay Forgeworld.

If you can spare it, this would be a good start : http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Space_Marines/Space_Marine-Infantry-and-Accessories/LEGION_MKIV_TACTICAL_SQUAD.html

Only then needing 2 Apothecaries and 4 more marines to make 2 17 man squads, something easily done with plastic kits if you have the spare legs and bits. They're also available in Mk II and Mk III Power Armor. Though this doesn't account for the need for 2 Power Axes, something that isn't too hard to fix, really

For Jetbikes, http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/The_Horus_Heresy/Legiones_Astartes/Space_Marine_Legion_Army_List/Legion_Fast_Attack/Legion_Jetbike_Sky_Hunter_Squadron/LEGION_SCIMITAR_PATTERN_JETBIKE_SQUADRON.html Will save you roughly 2 pounds per bike if taken in this bundle than buying them separately. Also, buying 4 of these groups gives you 12 bikes, so 2 extra to make HQ's out of. Sadly they cost a LOT more than the Tactical Marines bundle linked above.

No savings for the Javelins and you need to chose if you want Lascannons or Missile Launchers on them Luckily you only need 3. You could proxy plastic ones instead if the cost is too prohibitive.

[Leonite]

Again, the purchase is being made mid-next year, so I should have money saved up by then. Of course it'd be easy enough to get the power axes if I simply bought this: http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/The_Horus_Heresy/Legiones_Astartes/Space_Marine_Legion_Army_List/LEGION_ELITES/Legion_Terminator_Squad/LEGIO_TARTAROS_TERMINATOR_POWER_AXE_SET.html

 

As for the numbers? Simple enough, get an extra squad of the right armor and bolters. Leaves me with a spare.

 

(Calculated the total, not including an extra Apothecary model I'm just shy of 700 pounds XD)

[Leonite]

Ok, I've got things sorted, but when it comes to the bikes, I need to ask, is it really fluffy for Iron Hands to be using them?  All the fiction I've read with them, 30K or 40K, just mentions tanks and such, so I'm starting to question if I shouldn't switch it to another Legion. Mainly because, from a fluff stand point, my idea is that of an assualt force, the main bulk of the tactical marines going forward while the faster elements of their bikes, Speeders, even Seeker Squads and Recon Squads, go ahead. At the same time I could fit in a Forge Lord with ease into the force saying that he's the force's maintainer of the jetbikes. 

 

(From a list standpoint I can say now that my plans for 2000pts don't include more Jetbikes for the sake of my wallet, most likely a couple of support squads, perhaps another Tactical squad, perhaps a Terminator Squad. In fact, definitely a Terminator Squad or two, accompanied by a Praetor or a Chappy, then add the extra tactical squad or assault squads, deducting the Chappy if needed)

 

EDIT: Never mind, not only do I see the sticky, but I'm gonna try to pick myself