OK, after buying two boxes of AoBR, picking up miscellaneous pieces when game stores go out of business, and random impulse purchases, I find that I'm now an owner of a Space Marine army.
And I have no idea what to do with it.
So, I've been puttering around with some list concepts and realized I have more questions than answers when it comes to Space Marines (I'm primarily a Guard guy). So in an attempt to try to build a competitive list.....I have some questions for the Space Marine veteran players out there..... as follows;
Are Scouts worth it? What's their role?
I have a couple of units of Scouts (& Sgt Telion), but everytime I kit them out I think to myself "For a few points more you can just go with a Tac Squad". I love the idea possibilties that a unit with Inflitrate and Scout USR,yet I seldom see competitive lists that use them. What's the correct way to use Scouts? Are they just meant to be a distraction to your opponent or can they be a serious threat?
I also have 4 Scout Bikers....love the models, but again their role alludes me.
The Land Speeder Storm seems like it would be a good match with the Scouts, but again I seldom see them used in competitve lists.
How many Tactical Squads
In a Guard list, I like to try and fit in about 6 scoring units, 6 Tac Squads seem like a bit too much. Is there an optimum number? The lists I toying with have 3, but I feel like that isn't enough. Then again Tac Squads are far more durable than Guard....but are they that durable?
The Land Raider
I like Terminators. I like Land Raiders. It seems to me that a Terminator Assault Squad (with a Chaplain) and a LR Redeemer compliment each well. An Assault Squad needs to get in close and the Flamestorm cannons help clear some space. Likewise since a normal Terminator squad is a bit shooty, a plain old Land Raider is a good match.
But what about the Crusader? Where does it fit in? A twin-linked AC is a very nice option, but the Hurricane Bolters seem pale in comparison to the twin-link Lascannons of a LR or Flamestorm cannons of a Redeemer, and a transport capacity of 16 seems like overkill. What am I missing here?
Space Marine Heavy Support
What's the prefered Hvy Support Choice of the SM player? I like the Vindicator as it seems like a scaled down version of the Leman Russ Demolisher that I'm use to. Land Raider is expensive. Whirlwind is kind of blah to me. So what's the consensus?
HQ - Characters or Vanilla
I really like some of the special characters. Lysander and Vulkan intrigue me. I like the idea of Lysander attached to a Terminator Squad in a Land Raider and trying to get the most out of Bolter Drill. Likewise, since I think I'll have a number of Thunderhammers, Meltas, and Flamers, Vulkan He'stan seems like a natural choice.
But Special Characters are expensive. Do you limit them to higher point total lists (2000 or so points) and jsut use vanilla Captains or Chapter Masters for lower point builds? Vulkan seems like he could be justified at lower point totals because his abilites are such a good enhancement to the whole army, but I have trouble justifying Lysander at lower point totals.
Maybe I should just forget SC's altogether and use the points elsewhere......
OK..... that's it for now.......it appears that I'm leaning towards a Salamanders, or Imperial Fists theme (or maybe two 1500 point lists of each.....)