What size squads?

[Cloud Runner]

Hi guys, 

 

Making some of my first steps into actual squad building for my 1st Legion army (after 20 years of 40k style Dark Angels), and I'm wondering what size squads to go for, with the support type units.

 

I'm building it around the Pride of the Legion rite, and I just can't justify having much more than the basic squad sizes for support and heavy weapons - they soon add up in points. 

 

I'm looking at a volkite charger unit to bring some choom in a rhino, but they're looking at the region of 250 points for a full unit.

 

Add in that a couple of the volkites are going in a breacher squad (coz it's cool) that leaves 8 weapons available, tho might use a couple for characters. 

 

The same goes for the heavy weapons squads.

 

 

What size units do you use, and what are the pros & cons?

 

Cheers 

[DuskRaider]

For Support Squads,  I still recommend going full size. The way 30K works, a 5-man squad is just too small and vulnerable to last more than a single volley, especially when your basic Tactical Troops have a chance to sling 60+ shots at them. Squads aren't cheap in 30K, but then again, the game starts at 2,500 points bare minimum (suggested). When given the option to min or max, I always max.

[Chaeron]

I think if on the basis that you will see a fair few twenty-strong tactical squads, investing in ten for a supporting role as DuskRaider suggests is well worthwhile. My recent experience has definitely been with weight of numbers being preferable, although don't discount a small squad or two for more 'elite' battlefield roles: or as part of target saturation. The issue within 30k is that it is relatively costly - but then, what else would you invest those points in?

 

Definitely good to mix and match with options anyway - see what works for you.

[Brofist]

For another perspective, I play mostly 1500-1850 point games. At these point levels it's hard to justify large squads or lots of toys. They just cost too much and your list ends up being very transparent. You have to think hard about where you spend at lower points.

 

For tactical squads, I run either 10 or ~20 man groups depending on the list and legion. Bigger blobs are more economical, but they are inflexible, slow, and die fast to pie plates. Some legions do blobs better than others. Smaller squads are less economical, but cost less, and you can mount them up into something. They are much less resistant, though, and more likely to give up first blood. Again, some legions do small squads better than others.

 

At lower points I don't usually bring maxed out support or heavy weapon squads unless they are kept cheap. Generally I avoid them even at larger point games, as they are too easy to kill. If you are rocking volkites though, it's not that bad. All 3 options (tactical, support, heavy support) end up being about equal, but with different roles. They cost about the same too: 260pts (with a rhino) for the vokites, 235 for the heavy bolter squad, and 250 for the tactical blob.

 

Generally speaking:

x10 Man Volkite Squad: 3.66 dead marines

x10 Man Heavy Bolter Squad: 4.44 dead marines

x20 Man tactical squad: 2.22 dead marines

x20 Man tactical squad, rapid fire/fury of the legion: 4.44 dead marines

x20 Man tactical squad, fury of the legion + rapid fire: 8.88 dead marines

[tdemayo]

I'd go bigger, just because it's something you can do with a 30k legion, that you can't do with a 40k chapter. I'd rather have a different Heresy play experience.

[Fire Golem]

Bigger squads are more cost effective, because usually the cost of each marine you add is less than the cost of each marine in the minimum squad.