10th company

[Galvinized]

Have posted this too on the RG page to get opinions on both sides of the coin.

 

I'm getting back into the hobby for the first time in 15 years. Previously had a UM force, pretty casual player with friends and family.  I know Space Marines aren't the most competitive at the moment but I'm not that worried. I'd prefer a fun, semi competitive build, fairly easy to play as I get back into the hobby.

 

I'm looking to build a 10th company style Phobos force (purely out of fluff and aesthetics) and I'm caught on which chapter to start. I'm torn between a fluffy RG list or sticking with UM. Also wouldn't rule out IF/CF, I would like to expand it and add another company over time so I don't want to be too short sighted.

 

Can someone help with this? Do the Raven Guards strats/tactics overlap with what the Phobos units already do? An UM Alpha strike of 3 Invictors sounds fun but I have heard RG are Alpha strike specialist. UMs lack of penalty for moving and shooting is also a draw 

 

I would like to add another company in the future. I do like aggressors who I think work with both chapters, as do blade guard. Inceptors are another model I like. 

 

From a modelling point of view I'm not the best with my hands and the fact that most standard space marines are tailored towards the Roman theme of a UM is a draw. 

 

I've written a rough list based on RG. I'm open to suggestions, trying to find non-super competitive advice on YouTube isn't easy so I'm all ears. 

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Galv

[Danosborne]

If you’re thinking of Ravenguard the Christmas battlebox is a pretty decent value way to get started.

[Galvinized]

@Danosborne thanks for the suggestion. It seems good value for money especially from a local game store with their discounts. 

 

My biggest conundrum is which chapter I think. I like and dislike elements about the majority and then there's play style. I haven't played in so long I'm not sure if I'd want the rush of a white scars or the defensive Imperial Fists. This is where I'm tempted by Ultramarines, the advancing gun line and flexible gives me options for either but I do feel that I'm playing it particularly safe.

[Beta galactosidase]

Quote

I would like to add another company in the future. I do like aggressors who I think work with both chapters, as do blade guard. Inceptors are another model I like. 

the background is that all nine normal companies regularly use Phobos armor. Actually if you have more than one or two squads of phobos, it’s more likely to be a regular company like 2nd-9th where the captain ordered most of his squads to use  Phobos for that campaign.  This can give your models this off-table life where if they’re wearing Phobos it’s because they made a decision to do that bae fire the battle, and if you later switch out one of your Eliminator squads for Aggressors you can say they are actually the same three marines but with different equipment.

 

For rules if it takes you 8 months to build and paint an army then you might have another 8-18 months of using those rules before they get changed.  From your description of how often you paint I’d stick with Ultras since you have some experience with their their scheme and you might get get to a satisfying level of quality with them by the time you’re done by building on the practice you already have.

 

 

[Galvinized]

@DanosborneYeah I'm leaning towards Ultras. I'm thinking of a 1k/1.5k max Phobos only army. Which then gives me the option of adding to it rather than going so heavy. 

 

Something based on the below:

 

Captain in Phobos armour.

Librarian in Phobos armour.

Lieutenant in Phobos armour.

3 or 4 x Incursor 5 man squads.

2 x Invictor Tactical Warsuits.

1 x Storm Speeder Hammerstrike.

1 x Strom Speeder Thunderstrike.

2 x Eliminators squads with Las.

 

Come out to roughly 1500 ish.

 

Out of interest from a rules point of view, can you drop Reivers in first turn with their grav shutes? Or is it from turn 2 onwards?

 

 

 

 

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

Turn 2 onwards.

[Galvinized]

Thanks. 

 

Are there any Ultras relics you would suggest on a Phobos captain or Lieutenant? 

[Lord_Ikka]

The Soldier's Blade is ok for Phobos characters, since they don't have powerswords and thus can't take the Burning Blade. It turns their weak knife attacks into something halfway decent. Not the greatest of relics, but if you have already given out the Seal of Oath and don't mind spending a CP, the Soldier's Blade isn't horrible and gives Phobos characters some melee damage. Best used against MEQs.

[Galvinized]

Yeah I think it could be a bit of fun. There seem good synergies with the Phobos characters. Maybe not so competitive but I think a bit of :cuss: or bust with an alpha strike would be a laugh. Keeping it to 1.5k points gives me a good target to aim for and will save me a bit of cash to move onto something else if I'm enjoying the game.