Better start to GSC: Boarding Patrol or Combat Patrol?

[Xenith]

So, I love nids, GSC's are also awesome and I love the mining aesthetic, being a geologist. The boxes seem to offer great value, and different things, so what would you get to start off a GSC force?

 

Boarding patrol:

Abominant, kelermorph, 5 abberrants, 10 acolytes/metamorphs

 

Combat Patrol

20 Neophytes, Magus, 5 Acolytes/metamorphs, 5 abberrants, rockgrinder.  

 

I already have the following from a couple of blade and claw (GCS v Custodes) sets: 20 neophytes, broodcoven, reductus.

 

I think it could go either way really, and the answer might be both! 

[Lord Marshal]

Both, if it's an option. I'd probably prioritise the Boarding Patrol though just because it's more limited and has m0ar Acolytes which are always pricey £££ despite being cheap in points.

 

Already having the Broodcoven knocks the value of the Combat Patrol down a bit just because of the second Magus, also. 

 

Edited April 5, 2023 by Lord Marshal

[Xenith]

Are big blobs of neophytes a thing? Like would I actually be using 40 in a game, or are they more a tax? A quick look at the datsheet seems I can stack heavy weapons in there, 4 lasers in a 20 man unit, 4 webbers also? The 4 webber unit might be fun just for the old school weapon. 

[TrawlingCleaner]

2 hours ago, Xenith said:

Are big blobs of neophytes a thing? Like would I actually be using 40 in a game, or are they more a tax? A quick look at the datsheet seems I can stack heavy weapons in there, 4 lasers in a 20 man unit, 4 webbers also? The 4 webber unit might be fun just for the old school weapon. 

 

Big Blobs of Neophytes are very "in" at the moment, they can really do the heavy lifting of the army and can be a bit annoying to shoft for your opponent. The Seismic Cannons are ace and flamers or grenade launchers are usually my pick as cool as Webbers could be, I think they do better with more consistent gear.

I'd definitely recommend both boxes as Marshall mentioned but if you're to pick one, I'd go with the Boarding Patrol as I love my Muscle-beach-horrors!

[Ulfast]

I mwould say that one month you buy one of them and the next month buy the next one. Because both give a good basic forvce that you csan game with. If i had to chose i would first buy the combat patrol.

[Rogue]

Yeah, neophytes are very on meta right now - a lot of tournament lists use 80+ bodies in squads of 20. That's not realistic for most of us, but they are useful if you want to have some degree of firepower. Another 20 definitely won't hurt.

 

Acolytes are also very good, especially as they're troops (for now, at least). Getting 10 in the Boarding Patrol box is a big plus for that option.

 

Both look good, both come with stuff you'll use. The Boarding one gets you five more acolytes and the abominant (which is a lovely model), and so leans into a melee-centric approach. The Combat one gets you lots of neophytes and a rockgrinder (or regular truck - definitely magnetise the grinder itself), and tends towards shooting and a more mechanised approach. Which are you keener to try out?

 

Incidentally, isn't the magus in the Combat box the female one? Making it a different model to the broodcoven magus. It's still a repeat, slot-wise, but at least it's a different model.

[sitnam]

To me it seems like the answer right now would be the boarding patrol. Unl;ess you really want to go with a Neophyte horde, the BP box will help round out your troop choices (however that plays out in 10th) and give you a few more character sto play around with. Also, its seemingly a limited edition box

[Xenith]

Thanks folks! I pulled the trigger and ordered the boarding patrol, £60 from Wayland. From gw's noises the combat patrols will be around for a bit longer so I can always get one later. So now I should have:

 

Patriarch

Magus

Primus

Reductus

20 neophytes

 

Then from the BP 

Abominant 

Kelermorph 

10 acolytes 

5 aberrants 

 

I think that should be a 1k list at least, especially if I add in some pure strains from my Hive Fleet Jabberwocky...

 

I still love the basic neophyte grunt models, and Webbers, so next payday I might order that. I also have an old leman russ that I can repurpose. Are brood brothers still a thing, or were they too heavily restricted in 9th?

Edited April 12, 2023 by Xenith

[Rogue]

Neophytes are great models. As are the jackals (I'm painting some at the moment).

 

Brood Brothers are limited to 25% of an army, so it's tricky to fit in much heavy armour at 1000 points, and slightly more viable at 2000. But having some extra firepower (even without access to Crossfire) provides some good tactical options, which is always nice.

 

And I think the early previews of 10th have mentioned that Brood Brothers will remain a thing there (in some form), which will be interesting to see.

 

Looking forward to seeing your new additions :)

[Xenith]

Ahh, shame about the Brood Brothers rules, having to be an additional detachment really stops me from using that single Russ I have - maybe I can proxy as a rockgrinder? The short wave seismic cannon profile is pretty much a battle cannon...

 

Might be a while before I get round to them, but love the little bald buggers. Now I have to settle on a scheme, I was thinking white carapace armour and blue overalls, then they would reflect my hivefleet, or possible orange overalls with the white carapace to make them stand out, but still mesh with the nids. I guess the nid mutationy bits will be the blue carapace that my fleet has, so maybe orange overalls?

Edited April 12, 2023 by Xenith

[Rogue]

I've seen something like the orange and white you suggest, and it looked good. Maybe one of the colour-schemes from the codex.

 

My own cult have white armour with blue and grey cloth underneath, and I like how it looks. However, because I've done my stealers (and the stealer mutations) in the classic blue and purple, they don't really stand out against the blue fabric on the neophytes.

 

If it helps, I've got a thread with some of my stuff in over in the Hall of Honour, under Red Brotherhood, so you could see what I'm talking about.

 

 

Edited April 12, 2023 by Rogue
Added the link for maximum self-promotion

[sitnam]

6 hours ago, Xenith said:

Ahh, shame about the Brood Brothers rules, having to be an additional detachment really stops me from using that single Russ I have - maybe I can proxy as a rockgrinder? The short wave seismic cannon profile is pretty much a battle cannon...

 

Don’t give up hope to soon. We have been told that BB are coming in 10th, hopefully the new detachment system works in easily taking a Leman Russ

[Xenith]

Looks like I can use that Russ! Oh what a lovely day!