CSM 1K Mostly Phobos

[Spleenex]

Greetings all! Getting back into the hobby after a long hiatus and decided to finally order up some minis and give it a go. I decided to start with a small, mostly Phobos force, as the playstyle is attractive to me -- I like focusing on maneuver, feints, etc. My chapter, The Illuminators, is a UM successor, but I'm not sure if I want to just CTRL+C their tactics or build my own. Any advice on this would be appreciated.

 

The basic plan for this force is fairly straightforward:

• Pre-game: pick progressive, objective-based secondary objectives like "Raise the Banners" and "Domination"
• Deployment: 1) Drop one Infiltrator squad each on midfield objectives. 2) Forward-deploy Invictor aggressively to threaten screened characters or heavy-hitting units. 3) Put captain with Eliminators so they can take advantage of his aura, preferably on home objective if lines of sight are okay. 4) Use "Rapid Deployment" to shift Invictor if I lose first turn, and shift third infiltrator squad to threatened objective.
• During game: 1) Use Invictor and Invaders to harass enemy backfield and try to take out anything scary early. 2) Infiltrators camp on objectives while Eliminators deal with characters or heavy infantry units. 3) Basic strategy is to concede 1 out of the four objectives and double down on holding the three grabbed early. 4) Libby just makes a nuisance of himself by using obscuration to make camping infiltrators un-targetable (assuming Invaders and Invictor are still forward deployed being annoying) and/or using "Temporal Tunnel" (?) to shift forces to objectives as needed.

Overall, I think I like the synergies of this list, but would love some feedback, specifically:

• Do I have enough bodies?
• Is my almost complete lack of CC an issue at this points level?
• Are there strategems or abilities that I'm overlooking?
• How would you expand this list to 1500?
• Do I have enough AT for 1000 pts.? Too much?
• Should I drop the libby and get a Phobos Lt. for second HQ? Would give all my troops rerolls on 1s to hit AND wound. Would also free up 20 points to give remaining 2 Infil. units Helix Gauntlets to improve resilience.

Thanks all!

 

 

Illuminators 1000 Vanguard Battalion Det.

Adeptus Astartes - Incursion - Eternal War ( 3CP - 1000PT - 0PT )

 

 

Adeptus Astartes Battalion Detachment ( 3CP - 1000PT )

 

HQ

Captain in Phobos Armour (95) 

 

Librarian in Phobos Armour (100) 

 

TROOPS

Infiltrator Squad (135)

1x Infiltrator: Infiltrator comms array

1x Infiltrator: Helix gauntlet

1x Infiltrator Sergeant

2x Infiltrator

 

Infiltrator Squad (125)

1x Infiltrator: Infiltrator comms array

1x Infiltrator Sergeant

3x Infiltrator

 

Infiltrator Squad (125)

1x Infiltrator: Infiltrator comms array

1x Infiltrator Sergeant

3x Infiltrator

 

ELITES

Invictor Tactical Warsuit (160): Incendium Cannon

 

FAST ATTACK

Invader ATV Squad (85): Multi-melta

 

Invader ATV Squad (85): Multi-melta

 

HEAVY SUPPORT

Eliminator Squad (90)

1x Eliminator Sergeant

2x Eliminator

 

Total Command Points: 3/6

Reinforcement Points: 0

Total Points: 1000/1000

[aura_enchanted]

the invictor is kind of bad now, phobos are fine and all, but the tactical warsuit is basically the worst dreadnaught. Standard box dreadnaughts are in great shape vs the invictus, and they only get better from there. The redemptor, deredeo, and contemptor just peak up and out,

 

In fact for 180 points just 20 more you could have the redemptor with a macro plasma, a storm bolter and an onslaught, just 15 point difference if u want the heavy flamer over the lighter galling canon.

 

This is some heavy consistent firepower with some brutal melee punch, for its points the redemptor utterly devastates the invictus warsuit. In the one on one even after support from the other units

 

As cool as massed phobos is, sometimes the other marines do it better then the specialists

 

Eliminators are also absolutely amazing, look at their stat line and tell me its not impressive

[Spleenex]

the invictor is kind of bad now, phobos are fine and all, but the tactical warsuit is basically the worst dreadnaught. Standard box dreadnaughts are in great shape vs the invictus, and they only get better from there. The redemptor, deredeo, and contemptor just peak up and out,

 

In fact for 180 points just 20 more you could have the redemptor with a macro plasma, a storm bolter and an onslaught, just 15 point difference if u want the heavy flamer over the lighter galling canon.

 

This is some heavy consistent firepower with some brutal melee punch, for its points the redemptor utterly devastates the invictus warsuit. In the one on one even after support from the other units

 

As cool as massed phobos is, sometimes the other marines do it better then the specialists

 

Eliminators are also absolutely amazing, look at their stat line and tell me its not impressive

 

Thanks so much for the feedback! That's too bad to hear about the Invictus, considering I have one in the mail, lol! I was under the impression that it recently got a bit of a buff? I'll give it a shot and report back how it goes in this list. I will definitely be magnetizing the main weapon, though.

 

Re: going all Phobos -- I was a bit concerned about the lack of firepower, and was originally planning on including a squad of standard Intercessors. However, I thought that at this lower point level it made more sense to double down on the Phobos troops and HQ to maximize their respective special abilities. Thoughts?

 

I do already have some Eliminators, because as you say, they're just darn good. I do plan to do another detachment at some point focused more on Intercessors etc., so I will definitely consider a Redemptor for that.

 

Dreadnaught issues aside, does anyone have some insight into my other questions, especially whether I have enough boots, and the HQ makeup?

 

Thanks again!