Returning: looking for tactical help picking a codex

[Roma]

Repost: no idea why this was moved to astartes- the post included chaos. Old thread can be deleted if needed.

 

Hi all,

I havent played any 8th at all and amn't on top of the changes in terms of books and rules that rolled around since 7th ended. Looking for an excuse to finish painting more models, can anyone help me pick a marine codex to use?

 

Background: I play cheaply, my collection is mostly just stock marine and terminator units from the boxed sets I bought in bulk. I used to use all kinds of cheese and sheannanigans to actually make playable lists. The main focus being mobility without buying pricy vehicles I used tricks like:

 

-Deathstars with gate of infinity or telekenises psykers to move 12", have 3+ invuls etc using inquisition as allies and so on.

-Space wolves using the outflank upgrade on a bunch of HQ's.

-Using bastions with the escape hatch for an early 18" move.

-Blood angels with astorath allowing to take an army of death company. They could take jetpacks with bolters so one could have a very mobile list by just modelling jump packs onto stock marines.

 

So yeah you get the idea. Anyone have suggestions on how to best turn a collection of 50 marines, 10 terminators, some random bikes and any HQ's (modelling) into a reasonably mobile and effective force? Please be as detailed as you can as I've no idea atm how allies or strategems and all this new stuff im seeing works. Ive noticed psykers can now pick powers (amen) and warp speed looks quite useful, so heretics is my initial gut feeling but im open to all marine suggestions (except grey knights, too unique models). Alpha legion have a useful looking unit placement strategem to set up 9" away.

 

Thanks for any tips.

[Xenith]

Sounds like you should go with Raven Guard to me, perhaps even raptors?

 

Your models are all space marines, so go space marine codex.

[Dr. Clock]

Terminators are pretty solid right now as-is to get mobility in the form of Deepstrike, so you're mostly fine there for a start.

 

As @Xenith says, Raven Guard will help you get tacticals into forward positions simply using their Stratagem 'Strike from the Shadows'... You can basically Infiltrate any infantry units you want for 1CP apiece (up to half the units in the army).

 

I'd suggest maybe 2x8-10 marines infiltrating, 2 terminators to Deepstrike in support of them, a character with Deepstrike by way of Terminator/jump pack to support the infiltrators/DSers. After that you'd need 5 units in the back field as a base of fire (minimum 20 marines and an HQ).  The bikes could also give you a mobile option to tie it all together. A bike combi-plasma captain supporting a unit with 2 plasma and a combi-plasma will give you some solid fire because they can shoot at max power with far less fear of self-harm... Flying solo, melta guns on bikes will give you solid tank/monster hunting with mobility. Even plasma tacticals with a Captain support are very versatile, I've found.

 

For infantry marines, it may well behoove you to paint up your 50 marines as: 10 sternguard,  10 devastators, 30 tacticals. This will give you the tools you need to take down a variety of units at range, and with efficiency, and because Strike From the Shadows is used before the game starts you can pick and choose which of those units to send forward. This will also give you enough units to take 2 detachments (Battalion and Vanguard) as long as you take 3 HQs.

 

In essence you'd be looking at a minimum for 2 detachments of:

 

Brigade:

 

HQ1

HQ2

 

3xTacticals

 

Vanguard Detachment:

 

HQ3

 

2x Terminators

 

1x Sternguard Veterans

 

With 9 units you'd have 4 max to DS/Infiltrate, so then one more unit of either Bikes or Devs would let you infiltrate a character, the Sternguard and one tactical for 3CP, leaving you with 4 to use during the game.

 

Happy hunting!

 

Cheers,

 

The Good Doctor.

[Schlitzaf]

Honestly it depends, both on what you want by super competitive and what you expect. If your collection gonna mostly be standard power armor and Dreadnoughts, (assuming no proxying), Ultra Lists will be inherently weaker due to lacking Gulliman.

 

The best straight power armored line Squads, Grey Hunters and Crusader Squads, are each part of a faction that competitively aren’t the best. While Raven and Alpha, are also good marine choices tend to have 2-3 heavier hitters like Berzerkers to use their strategem on.

 

Blood Angels, Tactical Squads are mediocre (like other chapters Tacticals), and Intercessors are their go to line unit. If you are okay bog power armor as cult or otherwise, then Ravens or Alpha. Crusader and Hunters (by extension their respective chapters) are almost immidaitely out of running, because Crusaders need their Neophytes taken in equal Init/Neo, alongside 5 Man MSU Heavy/Special/Special, to be worthwhile, while Hunters aethestically and wargear wise look very different to basic power armored marines.

 

Words: Raven or Alpha my suggestion

[templargdt]

Recommend Ravenguard for the deployment strategem.  Also, you can use Lias Issolden from the Imperial Armor Index to deploy multiple squads anywhere like the Ravenguard stratagem without burning CPs.