looking for some advice from you IF players

[Dusktiger]

so i'm trying to come up with 3 generic (non special character) HQ models for an imperial fists legion, but i'm having a little trouble deciding what kind of consul(s) to pick and how to outfit them. perhaps you guys could help me out.

 

as a core model to build the 3 up with, i want to try and make use of the boarding action games day captain with the mk3 armour and thunder hammer.  i want the shield on him, but im completely open on what kind of weapon to give him, including not using the hammer at all and giving something else if need be; the core of my army will be 2 breacher siege squads and a squad of phalanx warders, so i think he'd fit in well, but have no idea what kind of consul to make him or what weapons to pick.

 

the other 2 models i have for use are the mk4 command squad models.  the one holding his helmet and has a sword doesnt have the sword arm attached yet, so i'm open to ideas on that guy again. 

 

the other one i had left the flag arm off and put on a generic chainsword arm, but i used one of the mk4 arms so i can remove the chainsword at the wrist and pick something else if need be.  he also has a nuncio vox backpack at the moment cause i was thinking of a siege guy, but i'm not really planning on any heavy support squads unless i decide to make a unit of volkite culverins.  and that's more an anti infantry gun than a tank gun, so giving the unit tank hunters seems moot.

 

i'm also debating taking a squad of destroyers because i think the reinforced armour plates on the models done in black would go well with the IF coloring.  though nobody here's played them, so i have no idea how good they are or how the outfit the squad either. should they get jump packs or no? is 5 enough, or should i field more?

 

any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Slips]

Sadly for us, Vigil Pattern Storm Shields are Terminators only or on Alexis Polux so you're stuck using a Boarding Shield or Combat Shield Upgrade if you want to run that captain as a WYSIWYG.

Personally, I'd give all our Characters (or others that can take it) the Solarite Power Gauntlet over Thunder Hammers (situational) or Power Fist due to it being Ap1, Master Crafted and having no specialist weapon (so you get +1 attack for a pistol). That said, if you're going to be constantly pitting this IC versus other Multi-wound IC's or MC's then the concussive of the Thunderhammer would be worth it. Unless they also have unwieldy weapons. If they do Sol Glove is better imo.

For choices of Consul, the best, imo, are : Primus Medicae, Master of Signal and if you're going for a CC squad, Chaplain. The Primus Medicae especially since hes an apothecary that can join any squad. And has a nice VP denial mechanic thing.

The Mk4 Marine with the Helm underarm could be used as a Legion Champion. Not a bad choice but I wouldn't personally run them since we've got Sigismund You could also use him as a Power Armor Preator, give him a Power Weapon of sorts (you have pretty good liberties with how to represent this) and call it a Paragon Blade.

The other would either be Master of Signal or Siege Master if you want to be fluff. For the Siege Master, since our Heavy Support Squads already get tank hunter, part of his benefits is wasted by attaching him to them so instead consider Tac Supports, Tac Vets with Missile Launchers / Heavy Bolters with suspensor web and give them a Different USR or give him Terminator have fun with Tank Hunting Terminators with Wrecker to boot. Any of those or Rapier Batteries.

Destroyers are best used as a Harrowing unit and I would gear them up with Jump Packs myself but a Land Raider Phobos could be a good idea. Or use them as a Meat Shield Body Guard for a Moritat. If you run them as their own unit, just shoot the Rad Missiles at as many different squads as you can to all give them -1T. Don't get them stuck in one place too long just harass with them non-stop. Since the whole Squad can take Melta Bombs, also use them as tough vehicle transports poppers if you can. The Sarge can also take up to 3 Phosphex Bombs so use it as Area Denial and if you couple it with some well place Grav Cannon Rapier Shots as a method of cooking Large Blob Squads.

That said, they are VERY expensive so they're not a unit you can use as a stand alone like, say, Jetbikes. Or a Spartan Paintrain unit, etc. They need support or they will be a very painful loss for you if you opponent successfully picks them off cuz they're just on their own.

For Squad size, since the Jump Pack upgrade is a flat amount as is the squad wide Melta Bombs, max the squad out. As for Coloring, I'm assuming you also saw the pictures / paint jobs others have done because they are really cool.

[Dusktiger]

that's a very concise and detailed response; one of the best i've had so far for suggestions! 

 

yes, the pictures of them on here are exactly what convinced me to give building them a shot.  i was thinking of the 10 with jumppacks and rad missiles, so i'll write that down on my list of things to give a try.  my main 30k opponent plays iron hands and is considering going into death guard next; he's very infantry heavy so i wont have to worry about vehicles much beyond a pair of contemptors.  the rad missiles seem like a great counter to their legion rules since its dropping templates of poisoned 3+.

 

and as i stated before, im thinking of taking a squad of heavy support with volkite culverins for the same reason; they'll still have a decent chance to wound even with his troops causing -1str to my weapons with all of those heavy 4's and the deflagrate rule.

 

i hadnt thought of the master of signals; that's actually a pretty good idea!  if i go with that, should i bother with any melee weapons, or just give him a nice gun and have him hide in a squad of breachers or something?

 

maybe i'll make the helmet holding guy into a primus medicae to follow alongside my phalanx warders since they're making those mk4 armor.  that's my only qualm about the squad; for something thats supposed to be a better breacher squad, they certainly dont look it with that thinner mk4 armor plate.  but he'd fit in with them in his armor.

 

the boarding captain i think i'll make into a counts-as Polux until they release him if at all.  i havent seen any artwork or read any stories involving him that describe his armor though; does anyone know what they describe his armor's color scheme as?  was he all yellow, or was he black/yellow, or did he have some other color in there to go with the fact he was called the crimson fist and goes on to later found this chapter?

[Slips]

Yeah, a Heavy Support Squad with Volkite Culverins is devastating but, make it a full man squad. 40 Shots.... Also give the sarge an Augury Scanner.

 

Master of Signal will mostly be buffing units with +1BS (you can cheese it up with an MoS and Seekers to get BS7 since we're Imperial Fists) more than shooting. If anything, I'd consider giving him a Power Weapon and Artificer armor in the event that he gets charged since we have to Issue Challenges.

 

Phalanx Warders are a Fast Attack option so having the Mk4 Suit makes sense to me since it was the most advanced one and didn't slow down the marines or strain their suits servos due to its weight.

 

For Polux, if anything, I'd paint his power fist a Crimson Red. For his amour its up to you really. I've only ever seen this "counts-as" that forgeworld made for their battle of Phall board:

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-evkUZ1sXf5g/Uk9hCFCkJQI/AAAAAAAACGs/PDqSg-Bz_24/s1600/IMG_6104.JPG