Jumping back in with a 1k list after a long absence

[Cptn. Palladorus]

Woof, it's been a while. Looks like there's been some changes around here. You guys really spruced the place up. Looks great!

 

I ran into an old friend a month or so ago who was painting up some SoBs and he convinced me (it didn't take much honestly) to get back into 40k after dropping out right around the time 8th edition launched.

 

I'm trying to put together a list that doesn't require me to buy much of anything apart from books and paints. If you fine folks wouldn't mind critiquing it I would appreciate it.

 

Fortunately I'm a pack rat so I have on hand the Dark Imperium box, Dark Vengeance box (partially squatted), Space Hulk box, three tactical squads with PG/HB, a 10-man devastator squad with 4xML, predator annihilator, whirlwind, unbuilt dreadnought, the old plastic multi-part captain, 2-3 assorted blister packed metal veterans/sternguard, and a sadly now squatted 10-man assault squad.

 

I'm trying to lean into the new Primaris thing. Here's what I've got so far:

 

Captain in Gravis armor (90)

- Boltstorm gauntlet, power fist, relic blade

- Artificer armor

 

Lieutenant (65)

- Bolt pistol, master crafted bolt rifle, and power weapon

 

5x Intercessors (80)

 

5x Intercessors (80)

 

5x Hellblasters (115)

 

3x Inceptors (120)

- 3x assault bolters

 

Dreadnought (135)

- TLLC/ML

 

Predator Annihilator (130)

- 2x LC, HKM, storm bolter

 

Whirlwind (180)

- HKM, storm bolter

 

Totals out at 995 points. A rough idea for tactics was that the captain plays a distraction carnifex role, intercessors hoof it to objectives and dig in, inceptors stay in reserve and deep strike on an objective or on some scary infantry that need to die, and everybody else just blasts whatever they're most likely to damage. I'm definitely open to suggestions for list building or minor purchases.

[Karhedron]

If you don't want to buy new Primaris models (and I totally get that with money and time both being finite commodities), most Firstborn units can be run as their Primaris equivalents. A 10-man Assault Squad can be run as a 10-man Jump Intercessor squad. Sternguard are just Sternguard with no distinction between Primaris and Firstborn (even if the current models as Primaris).

[Tacitus]

You can use the old models and the new sheets - so even if your Sternguard are pre-Supersizing, they're keyworded into Tacticus armor for things like Transport Rules (which I also expect to be going away completely in an edition or two).

 

I'd game it out some.  What happens when your Dread and/or your Hellblasters alpha strike your Captain?  Sadly lone characters don't get LONE OPERATIVE unless it says so on their Datasheet.  So that captain can be immolated if he's not in a squad and your opponent has the guns to do it.

[tychobi]

Should work fine! Certainly will get your feet wet and teach you modern mission formats. Not what I'd call a tuned list, lacking some synergy and counter punch, but you got armor bullets and even some scoring options. What more does a space marine commander need? 

[Cptn. Palladorus]

On 3/6/2025 at 2:22 PM, Karhedron said:

If you don't want to buy new Primaris models (and I totally get that with money and time both being finite commodities), most Firstborn units can be run as their Primaris equivalents. A 10-man Assault Squad can be run as a 10-man Jump Intercessor squad. Sternguard are just Sternguard with no distinction between Primaris and Firstborn (even if the current models as Primaris).

Thanks, I'll consider that. I'm also thinking of keeping all the old stuff (just remembered I also have a Land Speeder Tornado and the plastic Space Crusade scouts, which lets me round out a 1,500 point army) for people who are cool with playing against Legends.

 

On 3/6/2025 at 10:25 PM, Tacitus said:

You can use the old models and the new sheets - so even if your Sternguard are pre-Supersizing, they're keyworded into Tacticus armor for things like Transport Rules (which I also expect to be going away completely in an edition or two).

 

I'd game it out some.  What happens when your Dread and/or your Hellblasters alpha strike your Captain?  Sadly lone characters don't get LONE OPERATIVE unless it says so on their Datasheet.  So that captain can be immolated if he's not in a squad and your opponent has the guns to do it.

Fair point. The gravis captain with artificer armor isn't the best use of this kind of tactic, like a lord of contagion in flyblown host deep striking with rejuvenating swarm, but I feel like a 5W 2+/4++/5+++ with halved incoming damage still sounds pretty tough to put down. The opposing player would either have to focus fire on him and leave some of my other units unbothered for at least a turn or two or would have to let him run up the board and start smacking stuff with the relic blade. Or they could just tarpit him. We'll see how it plays out.

 

On 3/6/2025 at 10:58 PM, tychobi said:

Should work fine! Certainly will get your feet wet and teach you modern mission formats. Not what I'd call a tuned list, lacking some synergy and counter punch, but you got armor bullets and even some scoring options. What more does a space marine commander need? 

Thought for the day: A weapon cannot substitute for zeal.