Starting 30k Imperial Fists

[Voxley]

Hello all.
I am wanting to start an Imperial Fists army as my lead into 30k.
I have been generously lent the red books to help understand what everything does and how it works.
What would be suggested as the most important purchases, or what should be considered to get a decently sized army, and in what order should I get them?
I have been told that larger sized tactical marine squads and an apothecary are very good, especially with +1 BS, should I invest in these or something different?

This is the first ever forum I've been on and I hope to become a good member of the community!

[Thorv88]

To be honest mate, Imperial Fists are the most frequently started army in Heresy at the moment it seems hehe, quite a few of us are staring out :D

Which doesnt mean dont do it, what it means is that there is alot of material here for you to plow through. There was a very similar thread to this a week or so ago, try and look for that. 

But if you want my advice, you need to make a theme, to make a list. 30k Isnt about being competetive, its about the theme. SO make a theme, then make a list around that them so it ticks all the boxes like anti air, anti tank, etc. 

So for example, i love Pollux, and i really want to emulate his boarding, hardcore style of warefare. So my first purchase was him and 2 squads of 10 Phalanx Warders, yeah they might not be the best, but hell with it. Its 30k :D

What makes you want to do Imperial Fists, what is it about them that floats your dinghy. 

[Voxley]

My passion to start Imperial Fists over anything else was a mix of things. I've only read the first HH book, but I attached myself to the character of Rogal Dorn rather quickly. Also how they're presented, as the brutal defenders of Terra, to which they'll never surrender in their defense. So if there was any theme I would be wanting to go for would be that indomitable line of defense, impenetrable and strong. All of this though is on the back of my general 40k knowledge, of which even then I liked just the aesthetic of the VIIth legion, with the sharp yellow and red, they'd always be prominent on the battlefield.

[Thorv88]

You cant go wrong with a Defensive VIIth Legion. Good place to look are the Rapier Weapons Batteries, Heavy Support Squads, Tarantula Turrets, fortifications and maybe some Breacher Marines. 

[Voxley]

You read my mind with the rapier weapon batteries, they do look really awesome. Especially if you line up 3 quad heavy bolter ones in a battery for 120pts.

[Thorv88]

Indeed, the only thing you have to remember is for all the delicious bolter action, you need some anti tank somewhere else. 

[Voxley]

Well, you can't go wrong with a heavy support squad all toting lascannons for anti-tank!

[Thorv88]

Haha i used 5, just 5 little lascannons, in my UM list, and everyone ignored them, and went for the Sicaran and Dreads and stuff, and this squad turned out to be lethal, absolutely lethal. 

Tank Hunters with IF though makes them just insane, and in a Fortification.. *whistles*

Whats your HQ? 

[Voxley]

Well. As I was thinking of getting the IF strike force as my first purchase, just to get the basics rolling, I was going to use the command squad, probably as centurions or as command themselves.

[lionofjudah]

Howdy fellow painter of yellow. We like our bolter armed brethren a bunch as +1 bs is no joke and when you have 20 dudes all rocking full auto something will disappear. We have a great article I. The tactics section on the illustrious defenders of terra. Highly recommend checking it out.

Good thing is in 30k you can fluff a reason for just about any combo you want.

My VIIth is based at the siege itself and holds 2 20 man bolter blobs with apothecaries, a 10 man flamer support squad in a rhino to plug the gaps, 2 laser rapiers to punch holes in armor, a twin AC contemptor for chewing up light armor as the blobs move forward, I bought the blood angel box to supply a few guys in red to sprinkle into my blog squads because... Let's face it... Painting yellow gets taxing, painting red is fun and it's fluffy as the siege was a grinding war of attrition and these guys linked up in a sweeping movement back from the front lines to set up the next defensive position....

I have a fire raptor on standby to provide close air support for when the enemy gets to close. A deredero with tank AC and ML to punch holes in bigger armor/air and those pesky out of LOS targets and finally a small squad of scimitars who will be painted up as scars cause they were there too.

The heresy is awesome as it is truly the beginning g of the end times of 40k and the Fists were at the pinnacle battle, hand chosen by the emperor to man the walls and not back down.

Anyways- nerdgasm aside, I feel the fists are a great army to own and paint. We have had a heck of a lot of amazing kits come down the pipe from FW- our contemptor rocks, the brethren and warder kits are gorgeous, the command kit is fantastic, polux, sigismund... Shoooo.... So much resin crack and so little time;)