1500 points Iron Hands - Head of the Gorgon

[Dosjetka]

Hello all,

 

I'm considering dipping my toes into the Horus Heresy again. The Iron Hands are one of the few Legions that doesn't seem to be represented in my area and I really like the Legion fluff and Ferrus Manus so I figured I'd choose them. To start off, a small 1500-point list.

 

HQ:

• Delegatus Centurion - Cataphractii Terminator Armour, combi-bolter, master-crafted thunderhammer, cyber-familiar - 125 pts

 

Troops:

• 15x Tactical Marines - Sgt w/ artificer armour, power fist, Legion vexilla - 210 pts

• 15x Tactical Marines - Sgt w/ artificer armour, power fist, Legion vexilla - 210 pts

 

Elites:

• Apothecarion Detachment - 2x Apothecary w/ artificer armour - 110 pts

• 5x Gorgon Terminators - Gorgon Hammerbearer w/ thunderhammer, graviton gun, chainfist, Land Raider Phobos w/ frag assault launchers, twin-linked bolter, blessed autosimulacra - 465 pts

 

Heavy Support:

• Sicaran Battle Tank - heavy bolter sponsons, twin-linked bolter, blessed autosimulacra - 190 pts

• Sicaran Battle Tank - heavy bolter sponsons, twin-linked bolter, blessed autosimulacra - 190 pts

 

Total: 1500 pts

[Kizzdougs]

Yeah, the Iron Hands are sadly under represented in general :(

 

I've often considered making a small force of Clan Morragul (precursor to the Red Talons Chapter) marines.

 

 

The Sicarans will be pretty devastating when they outflank.

 

I think you might struggle to capture objectives due to the lack of mobility on the Tactical Marines. The Gorgons will have the mobility to reach most objectives, but you probably want them to be crushing the enemy in combat.

 

Also, where is the Delegatus going to go? He wont fit in the Landraider with the Gorgons, and his potential seems a bit wasted sitting with one of the Tactical Squads.

 

 

 

Ps. I hope you go ahead with this project. I'd love to see you paint up some of the Iron Xth :tu:

[Caillum]

Welcome back Brother-Chaplain!

 

It’s a good time to be a part of the Heresy!

- there’s a lot of talk about the upcoming 1st Edition Heresy Rulebook, but in reality most groups have been self-regulating and FAQing their own games/events anyway. Will be good to have rules that are designed for the game again though!

- BL’s Advent Calendar is going to have 5 Siege of Terra shorts and 3 Primarch audios! And Old Earth is also out this month! Flufftastic times.

 

Anyway, your list. I figure Ferrus Manus is an end goal as you mentioned your love of him. He is a beast, and he has stood the test of time. “Head of the Gorgon” synergises with his rules brilliantly, so you’re on the right track (2 rolls of FNP (6+) on Vehicles makes them very resilient in the long haul).

 

I too noticed you have no room for your Delegatus in the Land Raider - maybe consider upgrading it to a Spartan to allow room for future expansion? Ferrus Manus can hop in there, and you can convert/magnetise your Delegatus into a Forge Lord. I know Spartans seem a dime a dozen in list-writing, but they scream Iron Hands.

 

I’d give the Sicarans pintle-mounted heavy bolters instead of combi-bolters too.

 

Suggestion for you:

HQ

Delegatus in Terminator armour: Rite of War (The Head of the Gorgon); Terminator armour (Cataphractii); combi-bolter; power weapon (axe; master-crafted); Cyber-familiar 115

 

TROOPS

10 Tactical Space Marines: Tactical Sergeant (artificer armour); 9 Tactical Space Marines; legion vexilla 145

• Rhino: dozer blade; pintle-mounted multi-melta 55

10 Tactical Space Marines: Tactical Sergeant (artificer armour); 9 Tactical Space Marines; legion vexilla 145

• Rhino: dozer blade; pintle-mounted multi-melta 55

 

ELITES

5 Gorgon Terminators: Gorgon Hammerbearer; 4 Gorgon Terminators; 4 × combi-bolters; 3 × power axe; chainfist 210

• Spartan Assault Tank: armoured ceramite; flare shield; dozer blade 375

 

HEAVY SUPPORT

Sicaran Battle Tank: dozer blade; 2 sponson-mounted heavy bolters; pintle-mounted heavy bolter 200

Sicaran Battle Tank: dozer blade; 2 sponson-mounted heavy bolters; pintle-mounted heavy bolter 200

 

1,500 points

[Dosjetka]

I've often considered making a small force of Clan Morragul (precursor to the Red Talons Chapter) marines.

Do it!

 

The Sicarans will be pretty devastating when they outflank.

That was the plan. :tu:

 

I think you might struggle to capture objectives due to the lack of mobility on the Tactical Marines. The Gorgons will have the mobility to reach most objectives, but you probably want them to be crushing the enemy in combat.

It's a good point, thank you for raising it. I figured that my Tacticals would be sitting in my deployment zone due to the Stubborn bonus they get. Looks like Caillum has fixed that problem for me though. :D

 

Also, where is the Delegatus going to go? He wont fit in the Landraider with the Gorgons, and his potential seems a bit wasted sitting with one of the Tactical Squads.

:facepalm:

 

I hadn't even noticed he had nowhere to go! But, again, Caillum seems to have helped me with that issue, too!

 

Ps. I hope you go ahead with this project. I'd love to see you paint up some of the Iron Xth

With the amount of resin I have incoming, it'll be difficult to put it off!

 

Cheers for the feedback, Kizz!

 

Welcome back Brother-Chaplain!

 

It’s a good time to be a part of the Heresy!

- there’s a lot of talk about the upcoming 1st Edition Heresy Rulebook, but in reality most groups have been self-regulating and FAQing their own games/events anyway. Will be good to have rules that are designed for the game again though!

- BL’s Advent Calendar is going to have 5 Siege of Terra shorts and 3 Primarch audios! And Old Earth is also out this month! Flufftastic times.

Yeah, the news about the rulebook has caught my attention. I'll be getting my grubby hands on it shortly after it's released!

 

Anyway, your list. I figure Ferrus Manus is an end goal as you mentioned your love of him. He is a beast, and he has stood the test of time. “Head of the Gorgon” synergises with his rules brilliantly, so you’re on the right track (2 rolls of FNP (6+) on Vehicles makes them very resilient in the long haul).

Glad I made the right choice!

 

I too noticed you have no room for your Delegatus in the Land Raider - maybe consider upgrading it to a Spartan to allow room for future expansion? Ferrus Manus can hop in there, and you can convert/magnetise your Delegatus into a Forge Lord. I know Spartans seem a dime a dozen in list-writing, but they scream Iron Hands.

Yeah, that was an involuntary ommission on my part. Taking a Spartan is a good suggestion, so thanks for that!

 

Regarding the list, thanks for taking the time to re-write it. I like the look of it and will definitely start getting everything together to build it. :tu:

[Kizzdougs]

Out of interest, what is your reason for taking a Delegatus instead of a Praetor? Is it because he is a cheaper option or are you intentionally limiting yourself for fluff/narrative reasons?

 

Also, if you wanted to take the Landraider instead of a Spartan you could replace the Gorgons with a Terminator Command Squad (3-5 unit size, so they could fit in the Phobos).

[Dosjetka]

Delegatus because he's cheaper and while he may not be as good in combat as a Praetor, I'm sure he'll get the job done. I'd also like to start by testing out a Centurion before "upgrading" to Praetor and then eventually Primarch. :Last but not least, this is (for now) a small strike force so it doesn't really make any fluff sense to have a Praetor (I could say this is just a small portion of a larger force but I won't). :tu:

 

Nah, Spartan is fine. I'm just worried about assembling such a huge chunk of resin!

[Dosjetka]

Quick question regarding dozer blades: are they really that essential in 30k that they're on every vehicle in the force? They're a pretty cheap upgrade but it still makes me wonder because I've never really paid them attention, much like the extra armour upgrade.

[Caillum]

Personally, I think they’re super useful. Re-rolling a failed Dangerous Terrain test means they’re almost always (97%) going to pass when ramming through a wall (or driving over a hedge - it’s always the hedges that get you). And at 5 points, it’s a bargain.

 

Compare that to an auxiliary drive. Twice the price, and only repairs on a 4+. Plus you’re chance to pass the initial Immobilised result is much lower (83%).

 

Any vehicle that likes to move gets a mandatory dozer blade for me. Whirlwind Scorpii, Laser Vindicators, HCB Predators, Artillery and Super-heavies I don’t bother with, for instance.

[Dosjetka]

Great, thanks for the clear explanation. Sounds like a good reason to take them and I'll keep your advice about moving vehicles vs static vehicles in mind when adding more units to this list. :tu:

[Kizzdougs]

They're almost a must take :tu: