107 Premature Deliberation

This is a long post with no pictures. Just so you know! A glossary and links for reference may be found on the right for your convenience.

Hullo, mes amis;

Like almost every other Guardsman and his dog out there, I've been tying myself in knots thinking about the new codex. I know some have had the power to resist and wait for the release, but I have the breaking strain of a Kit-Kat, so my poor old mind's been awhirl.

NB: My entire force as it currently stands, can be explored here.

My conundra are as follows:

1. No 'more Light Infantry' doctrine;
2. No more widespread use of Ld 9 from a vox-network/'Leadership' rule combination;
3. No more discreet heavy weapons platoons.

Now I've thought a lot about this so far, and mapped out umpteen different OrBats, and what follows are my main initial ideas, based around the fact that I've really enjoyed the fluffiness (and successes) of my all-infantry 'Light Infantry' force:

CORE INFANTRY FORCE AND RATIONALE:

1Pl (tactical):
HQ
3 Inf Sections w. spec wpn
Missile Launcher Section
Autocannon Section
Heavy Bolter Section

2Pl (tactical):
HQ
3 Inf Sections w. spec wpn
Missile Launcher Section
Autocannon Section
Heavy Bolter Section

3Pl (support):
HQ
3 Inf Sections w. spec wpn
Lascannon Section
Mortar Section
Mortar Section

4Pl (support):
HQ
3 Inf Sections w. spec wpn
Lascannon Section
Mortar Section
Mortar Section

This is the core of my force, and upto now has made up one full rifle company and one full fire support company: a set-up I'd grown to like a lot. It contained a full vox-net, 6 Pl officers and 2 Coy officers - I'd grown to rely on my vox and officers to keep my lads together.

Now I could happily (and readily) divide the list above into 2 companies - not least because Coy HQs seem both cheaper and better than they were. This would give me 6 officers in total for this lot - which should be enough. Hopefully. We'll see.

The idea is that rather than being flexible at company level, the regiment is now far more flexible at platoon level. A single platoon is now a more viable force - albeit more pricey, pointswise - and the support platoons are there for back-up or more specialised weaponry. It may even be that the companies are themselves structurally flexible, though I'm less sure about this. It's likely that I'll put one 'tactical' and one 'support' platoon into each company. That'd make sense.

Obviously, heavy weapons sections can be omitted as required to save points...

ALTERNATIVES:

My main alternative to the OrBat above is the inclusion of two 'flamer' (spec wpn) sections - maybe one for each of the 'tactical' platoons. I've loved the use of these little bugbears, and they could be even more effective now...tee-hee!

I've also considered rearranging 3 and 4 pl into a 'lascannon' platoon and a 'mortar' platoon (I'm a big fan of mortar platoons) but these would be less flexible, and I like the idea of the companies being the same.

OTHER UNITS (assorted FOC):

Hardened Veteran Platoon (AKA "X" Platoon):
- 3 sections, probably equipped for a range of different roles. I love converting veterans!

Stormtrooper Platoon (AKA "Flash" Platoon):
- 3 sections of old 'beret' strormtroopers - probably equipped for anti-tank/anti-MEQ roles.

NB: I plan to build three valkyries (and a vendetta) to transport one of the above platoons. It's worth noting that it would seem a basic Vets squad mounted in a valkyrie should cost about the same as one of my current Armoured Fist squads!

Non-ratling snipers:
I have ten snipers - they'll probably operate in a single section, though that may change for Apoc. missions.

Ogryns and Rough Riders:
Meh. I have a unit of both of these, but I don't know if they'll see the field this side of apocalypse.

New/special characters:
I'm going to have to see the complete details for these. That bastard Creed's going to have to make an appearance just because his rules are so great, but I'm not a great fan of the model. There's likely to be an astropath (sanctioned psyker model), and the master of ordnance would be a great boon to an infantry force (my self-build model). Anyone know what happens if you have two astropaths?

VEHICLES:

I'm a little disappointed that tanks have become more expensive, but it's great to see the chimera has got a decent price at last.

My light vehicles (of 1st Bn) will remain almost exactly the same:
HQ salamander
Wyvern
A/F Platoon in 4 chimera transports
2 hellhounds (I may add one to make three!)
2 S-P artillery units (likely to remain my griffons; but again I may add one!)
4 sentinels - we'll see about their role/equipment.

As for my Leman Russes, I'm in no rush to change them. The MBTs are still solid; the exterminators are now even more kick-ass; and the annihilators still aren't in the codex. I like the new rules: less so the new prices.

In the future, I'll probably invest in some new variants; or at least some new turrets.

NOT LIKELY TO MAKE THE LIST:

I don't think Drax'll be seeing much of these:

1. Squads of pskers (great idea; very powerful, but just not very 'Cadian 24th'. I don't really do psykers);
2. Conscripts and...
3. Penal troops. The Glorious 24th are a professional force.

CONCLUSION:

Well, that gives me four standard platoons, a veteran platoon, a stormtrooper platoon, an armoured fist platoon, assorted specialists, all my light vehicles and some kick-ass tanks. And hopefully some close air support! To make it work, I think I'll need to buy another twenty infantry models. And some valks, given time and money enough. No rush, eh?

I'll still be fielding a shooty army; it'll still be mostly inf-only (although I appreciate the new codex makes for better mixed lists) and I'll be able to field more men for fewer points.

On the downside, my beloved vox network will be more-or-less redundant, and I can't see how I can ever get my lads back to their halcyon days of infiltration.

Thanks for your patience, Any thoughts, perchance?

- Drax