Space Marine HQ Choices
In General
Space Marine HQ's work 1 of 2 ways. Something to base your army on or a 100 point distraction. I'll start with the distractions
Chapter Master/Captain
They are both basically the same. If you have 25 points left that and you can't think of another thing you need, choose a chapter master, other wise a captain. In my mind they have 2 purposes.
1. to keep your army fluffy
2. Huge distraction.
Honour Guard - Powerfull but expensive. You will probably kill something, posisble distract your opponent for 1-2 turns but if used properly will die quickly. I don't have a problem with sacrificial units, just remember they are not there to survive.
Command Squad - Big distraction. On bikes, even more so. Teching with 4 plasma weapons is nasty due to feel no pain. Use them as a distration, do not expect them to live.
Chaplain
- Fluff purposes only. Marines will do ok in close combat but its not what they are promarily for.
Librarian
Even in terminator armour and carying a storm shield the powers are great, this is my favorite HQ choice but I still go into every battle expecting him to last 2-3 turns.
Remember: Use gate of infinity to prevent the librarian and his squad dieing in close combat during your turn. If you oponent wants to kill them, let him use his own turn.
Marneus Augustus Calgar - GOD of War, Chapter Master of the Ultramarines
They don't com bigger. Put him in a land raider with some terminators and cram him down the enemies throat. This is however a 700 point distraction.
When playing against - Take out the raider, then keep your distance. If he isn't on a VITAL objective stay the hell away and let him slowly come to you.
Remember - You can reroll to hit and would with all his shooting attacks. Including the orbital bombardment.
Cato Sicarus - 200 points for this? Plasma Pistol, Nice. Power weapon, ok. 1 attack that insta kills on a 6? What the hell. Usefull against Nobs, maybe. if it worked on MC's great, but they're imune to instant death. Reroll to seize init? I ussually try for second anyway(Will cover in a later article). I could go on but I wont. This guy should be 150 points, 170 tops.
Chaplain Cassius - If only he could take a jump pack. Still great for a chaplain.
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Characters to base an army off.
Master of the Forge - 6 Drednoughts. 6. 9 in planet strike. This can be achieved in as little as 730 points, meaning you can run a MoF, 6 dreds, and 2 x 5 man scout squads at 880 points. I have done this at 1000 and 1200 points. It is likely to get your opponent to say "#%$@ this. I'll find someone else to play".
Varro Tigurius - Pure awsome. Deapstriking, outflanking force of death. Waiting to get some scout bikes then I'll throw a list up.
Pedro Kantor - Good but a little unfocussed. 1 assaulty power, 1 shooty power. Do you mex out sternguard? Take him with honour guard? Try and do both? Its alot of points for infantry. He is a really good HQ but you need the points to make him work And if you use him in assault expect him to die.
Captain Darnath Lysander - Another contridiction. A close combat tank which helps his squad shoot better. Team him with some terminators with as many cyclone missile launchers as possible and tack on a librarian. Gate, shoot, Next turn, move, shoot, assault. A great objective clearer.
Shadow Captain Shrike - Infiltrate some terminators. Fleet, Assault.
Forgefather Vulkan He'Stan - After play a vulkan army at LOT I'm impressed. Flamer and melta weapons perform well and are cheap. The only problem is getting close enough to use them. With drop and land speeder spam this quickly becomes Ridiculous. 500 points fpr 9 skimmers, 5 multi-meltas and 4 heavy flamers. Tactical squad in a drop pod with Combi Flamer/melta, Meltagun/Flamer, Multi Melta for just over 200 points each, and drednought with multimelta, Heavy flamer, Drop pod for 150. Then there are Iron Clads, Stern Guard, Bikers. It's very easy to build a list, hell I might do it myself.
Kor'Sarro Khan - Bike armies are awesome. But expensive. Out flanking landraiders, Awsome. Beware the jerk who manages to deny complete board edges. If you can't deploy you get destroyed. Combine with Tigurius for turn 2 out flank rush or turn 4 objective tank shocking. Out flank is a little to random for this to be effective, but still a fun idea.
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That raps it up. Troops are next. League is on tommorrow night so expect a battle report. 60 marines and a libararian carving up 1200 points. Last time I took this army I played against gaurd and won so this should be good.
