Dusting the AdMech off. Some advice will be much appreciated!

[Orange Knight]

40k is starting to pick up steam in my local area again. The game is always going through highs and lows, but people are looking for games again and I'm happy to oblige.

 

I have my Imperial Fists and I'm very confident with them, but Marines already make up the bulk of player armies.

 

I have a large collection of AdMech units, and I've recently taken note of the additional detachment that GW added, and the various changes to units to make them better. My list was never particularly competitive, but I'm feeling motivated again to bring the army into the current edition. I've also seen the rules for the "Haloscreed Battlecade" and they are very beneficial for the models I actually own.

 

I remember back in 8th and 9th the AdMech went through a lot of rule revisions. I recall that at one point the Skitarii vanguard/rangers could be run in units of 20. This annoyed me back in the day but I went about ripping arms and heads off, and I made 3 units of 20 Vanguard, each with 4 Plasmas (This cost me a lot back in the day)

Fast forward to today and the rules are completely different. Wargear upgrades are also free which is a big pain in the butt for me.

 

So now I'm converting all my rangers into 10 man units again, and I need to move the various weapons around. I'm back to ripping bits out. I've also splurged a great deal of money into replacing bits that I've thrown away over the years. I've ordered a bunch of pistols, swords and Ark rifles.

Am I correct to assume, looking at the new datasheet, that for Vanguard the best wargear would be:

-Alpha with Mechanicus Pistol and Alpha Close Combat wearpon (The Ark Pistol no longer has rules and both pistols are rolled into 1 profile?)

-1 Vanguard with Plasma Culverin

-1 Vanguard with Ark Rifle

-1 Vanguard with Omnispex

 

Are people also running the Transuranic Arquebus or should I not bother with it? I'm hoping it isn't an obvious "must take" because I don't particularly want to buy a bunch of them online lol.

I'm looking to cannibalise my 60 Vanguard infantry models into 4 current units of Vanguard and 1 unit of Rangers. How are people equipping the Rangers?

 

Moving on from the general infantry, I also own 6 Kastelan Robots. I have 2 with Dual Fists and Heacy Phosphor Blasters, and 4 with Twin Castellan Phosphor Blasters and Heavy Phosphor Blasters.

I used to be able to run a unit of 6, now they are limited to 4...

 

I've also noticed that I can now have 1 Fist and 1 Phosphor Blaster - is this the optimum loadout or am I good to proceed with Twin Linked weapons on all models? I intent to run 1 unit of 4 with - 2 with Fists and 2 with twin Guns, and another unit with all guns to hang back. I would rather not have to rip the arms off these models lol.

 

My collection consists of (or is about to consist of):

 

HQ:

-Belasarius Cawl

-Tech Priest Dominus

-Tech Priest Manipulus

-2 Cybernetica Datasmiths

-Tech Priest Enginseer

-Technoarcheologist

 

Troops:

-4 Units of Vanguard

-1 Unit of Rangers

 

Other:

-1 Onegar Dunecrawler with Neutron Laser and 2 Stubbers

-2 Skorpius Disintegrators with Ferrumite Cannons

-6 Kataphron Destroyers with Plasma Culverins

-6 Kastelan Robots

-10 Sicaran Infiltrators

-10 Corpuscarii Electro Priests

 

Is there any unit that I should be adding to my force that has proven itself for people? I don't want to add any of the flyers but other things are appealing to me...

 

 

And finally, I'm finishing up the paintjobs on a few models: Here is a 99% finished Skorpius:

 

Edited October 1 by Orange Knight
Missed some things

[Bouargh]

Hi,

 

Some general comments:

- Tooling up Vanguards - I do use the Transuranic arquebus. It gives some versatility.

- Omnispex is not for me a compulsory choice. I go 50/50 with datatether.

- I equip rangers just as Vanguards; main difference is associated to the way you deploy them. period. I play 50/50 Vanguard/Rangers

- Kastellan can be indeed equipped with one fist and a gun but I personnaly do not like the combo. I go either full HtH or full shooty. I do like the Kastellan as schock troop.

- Synergy of Crawlers and troops is a very interresting stuff to keep in mind.

 

Your current unit selection looks OK even if I feel like a transport skorpius dunerider would add a nice option for your electropriests.

 

Which game size do you have defined in your league?

[Dr. Clock]

4 hours ago, Orange Knight said:

Are people also running the Transuranic Arquebus or should I not bother with it?

You probably won't miss it, but equally it's not a bad piece of kit. The Arc and Plasma will be doing most of the lifting here. I converted a few since my Skitarii are... non-standard. Honestly it's low priority.

 

4 hours ago, Orange Knight said:

I've also noticed that I can now have 1 Fist and 1 Phosphor Blaster - is this the optimum loadout or am I good to proceed with Twin Linked weapons on all models?

I would basically never take a robot without a fist. Their best role is frontline tap and grind, and without actual punches you stop grinding and just stall in melee. I do combustors and blasters on a unit of 4 and then usually one, but sometimes 2 TL fist in there for colour. 4 combustors means they actually aren't a bad overwatch threat either. 

 

4 hours ago, Orange Knight said:

Is there any unit that I should be adding to my force that has proven itself for people?

 

I think you've got the meat of it there! I don't have Skorpius, Destroyers or Priests either though, so our lists are pretty dang different... Still, nothing screams out to me as massively missing other than potentially some Ironstriders? I use a couple las chickens for corner camping and even 1 taser is a great little tech piece. I also love having just a couple throwaway reserve/skirmish pieces, and I went with 2x3 sulphurhounds because they're just too cool... They rarely kill anything but they always come in handy for points. I know Raiders and Pteraxii are preferred in the MSU jank role, but what's not to love about flamedoggs? 

 

My current 2k Haloscreed:

 

Technoarchaeologist

Manipulus (Sanctified Ordnance)

Datasmith (Transocular Dyad Wafers)

 

2x10 Rangers

3x10 Vanguard

 

2x1 Ballistarii 

1x4 Kastelan

1x6 Arc Breachers

Onager

2x3 Sulphurhounds

1x5 Infiltrators

1x10 Ruststalkers

1x Taser Dragoon

 

It's been a good minute since I ran them tho... Feels like it's probably time (though I'll probably pick up Cawl first!)

 

Cheers,

 

The Good Doctor.

[Magos Takatus]

I'd love to give advice but I just played my first game in 10th and lost. 

[Orange Knight]

The Admech are so expensive, and sourcing bits for them carries a hefty cost as well!

 

I'm updating some units, as I mentioned.

I've done an ebay splurge and bought:

 

-5x Skitarii Alpha weapons and wargear

-5x Ark rifles

 

I've currently got a bid on some Kastelan Robots just so I can rip their fists off, and re-paint them so I can modify the ones I currenty have.

 

I've also bought another Sicarian kit so I can get my hands on another Alpha model, and turn my 10-man unit into two 5-man squads. I want the two squad leader models to look the part even though they don't have different rules.

 

 

The list I'm putting together will look a little like this:

 

Haloscreed Battle Clade detachment, 2000 points

 

HQ:
-Belasarius Cawl
-Techpriest Manipulus, Magnarail Lance, Sanctified Ordnance
-Cybernetica Datasmith, Transoracular Dyad Wafers
-Techpriest Engineseer

 

Troops:
-10 Skitarii Vanguard, Alpha with Mechanicus Pistol & Close Combat weapon, 1 Plasma Culverin, 1 Ark Rifle, Omnispex
-10 Skitarii Vanguard, Alpha with Mechanicus Pistol & Close Combat weapon, 1 Plasma Culverin, 1 Ark Rifle, Omnispex
-10 Skitarii Rangers, 1 Plasma Culverin, 1 Ark Rifle, 1 Transuranic Arquebus, Omnispex

 

Other:
-6 Kataphron Destroyers, Heavy Plasma Culverins, Phosphor Blasters
-4 Kastelan Robots, Twin Fists, Heavy Phosphor Blasters
-2 Kastelan Robots, Twin Phosphor Blasters, Heavy Phosphor Blasters
-2 Skorpius Disintegrators, Ferrumite Cannons
-1 Onegar Dunecraweler, Neutron Laser, 2 Cognis Heavy Stubbers-10 Sicarian Infiltrators, Flechette Blasters & Taser Goads
-5 Sicarian Infilitrators, Flachette Blasters, Taser Goads
-5 Sicarian Infilitrators, Flachette Blasters, Taser Goads

 

 

[Dr. Clock]

Yep - You'll be well pleased with that I wager!

 

I just ran my list up above into Burrowing Nids and it was a little dicey at times but a solid win. I couldn't find my Onager so ended up with Cawl and an extra Skitarii unit instead since we play at 2100 pts with additional characters in friendly games. 

 

My list is probably better as Skitarii Cohort, although Haloscreed turn 1 advance and charge is pretty interesting if opponent presents weak skirmishers (Neurolictors)... But in later turns the +1T was cool but not super consequential. I wasn't expecting the last 10 Skitarii either tho.

 

Here's most of my deployment:

 

 

Then turn 2 centre looked like right after zapping a Trygon, and right before Stealers, Raveners and Carnifex trapdoored for a final attempt on centre, which ultimately failed since kataphrons just fell back and shot:

 

 

Ruststalker brick didn't quite connect, but the Kataphrons are always a joy, and the robots as well feel amazing with Doctrinas. An entire Carnifex bounced on them entirely because it only hit on 5s lol. They killed a Screamer killer, 10 termegants and a Carnifex, taking no losses before opponent conceded. 

 

He did capture the right objective - here it is in his turn 3 move... those 3 are my last of 20 Skitarii chipped down by barbs in the building far right. The weird psychophage is a poorhammer Exocrine ; )

 

 

Ballistarii are amazing value, but your list ups the ante with the Skorps on that score for sure. I probably will end up adding a Skorpius this year since 50 Skitarrii, 10 Servitors and 2x3 flamedoggs is more than enough trash. The 4+2 robots play is also strong, and will absolutely slap in Halsocreed.

 

If there's any particular weakness to your list it might be hordes - you've just got alot of big hitters but if if you love too many Skitarii you could have a hard time against light MSU infantry. The game isn't really in that place right now in general though so I think you've got a pretty solid TAC list here in any case!

 

Tell us how it goes when you get it out there!

 

Cheers,

 

The Good Doctor.

 

[Orange Knight]

I will report back. I'm feeling very motivated to get the army fully ready. Once I've finished up my units I'll take a few pics of the 2k list.

[Orange Knight]

I've made a start on re-equipping all my Vanguard and Rangers

 

 

[Orange Knight]

So I tried saving some money by buying a shoddily built and awfully painted pair of Kastelan robots on Ebay just so I can rip their fists off.

 

Whatever method was used to construct them, there was no way to cleanly remove the arms and re-apply them to my existing models in any way that would be pleasing to the eye.

 

Lots of money wasted as they weren't cheap despite the state they were in.

 

Lesson? Don't bother trying to save money on certain things. Now I'm both out of pocket and badly delayed in getting my army ready.

 

Edit:

 

Update: I've just ordered a bunch of new kits and I'll also have a few pics of my completed vehicles in the next few days.

 

Army is not far from completion now. 

 

Edited October 9 by Orange Knight

[Orange Knight]

Vehicles are ready. Now getting started on the new Kastelan Robots.

 

May as well build and paint two new Robots since I bought the full kit...

 

 

[Brother Captain Vakarian]

Your painting is excellent and I love the shade of red you’ve chosen! Very impressive vehicles. Can’t wait to see more of your Ad Mech, they’re a relative rarity around here but such great, characterful models. 
 

I managed to break out my Ad Mech in my ongoing crusade campaign for the first time last night, also using Haloscreed. Your list seems pretty solid to me, although I have a few thoughts: 

 

1. If you can (model-wise, or don’t mind proxying), I’d recommend taking flamers on the Kataphron Destroyers instead of the phosphor blasters. Having an 18” range because the Manipulus has Sanctified Ordnance makes them much more valuable, and you want to pverwarch as much as possible with the Destroyers thanks to their native 5+ overwatch. 
 

2. Taser goad infiltrators are amazing, you’re going to like those a lot. 
 

Otherwise, curious to hear how the list plays for you. 

[Orange Knight]

Thanks!

 

Unfortunately my Kataphron Destroyers are all modelled with the Phosphor Blaster and I really don't like to proxy or use counts as. It's the reason why I'm spending all this money on new Kastelan Robots lol.

 

And yes, I can see that the Infiltrators are popular. Somehow a few of the little antennas on mine have snapped off - I'm considering just clipping all of them off at this point lol.

Edited October 11 by Orange Knight

[Brother Captain Vakarian]

The plasma guns do the real work so you’ll still be fine (and the enhancement helps with rapid fire range for the phosphor blasters so that’s still worthwhile). I get you on proxies—I had not glued the second weapon arms on mine yet, but if they were set, I would run them as they are. 
 

I have also trimmed the infiltrator antennas off of both my units because half of them broke off the first time I moved them. Ad Mech have to be the single most fiddly army I have worked on. 

Edited October 11 by Brother Captain Vakarian
Fixing auto ”corrections”