500pt Space Marine List

[Krueger]

Here's a quick list I whipped up. I'm possibly going to use it in a campaign, or just for small battles. I wanted to make it fairly shooty with the ability to deal with CC if need be.

Here it is

HQ

Master 91
*Bolt Pistol
*Power Weapon

TROOPS

Tactical Squad 156
*8 Marines
**6 Bolters
**1 Heavy Bolter
**1 Flamer
*1 Seargent
**PW and BP

Tactical Squad 155
*7 Marines
**5 Bolters
**1 Lascannon
**1 Plasmagun
*1 Seargent
**PW and BP

Scout Squad 95
*4 Scouts
**4 Sniper Rifles
*1 Seargent
**BP and PW

[lowlygaunt]

Looks like a good list to me for 500 points. My only question is the first tactical squad has a combination of a heavy weapon and an assault weapon, is that just a trade off you are making? I am also not sure the power weapon, bolt pistol combo for the seargeant in the sniper squad is worth it, but if you expect them to get into CC early it can be. I think a better option would be to shift the heavy bolter to the sniper squad, and give a marine in the first tactical squad a melta-gun. But of course that is absed on my own deplyment strategies with an army of this nature, and you may already have a cunning plan!

[Krueger]

Ah, Army Builder automatically adds those in, though I wanted them there so they could counter-attack if need be. Take the meltagun instead of the flamer? I have no such cunning plan, but if anyone can think of one...

Basically my plan was to lay down a steady base of fire, then as they approach, counter-charge the enemy. With the snipers, I hopefully should be able to pin some of them, slowing down their approach. By the time they reach the men, they would be too depleted to be effective in combat and the counter-charge just finishes them off.

[lowlygaunt]

In truth the flamer for melta-gun is an equal trade off. The flamer is a great short range infantry killer against things with light armor, against opponents with good armor saves, you won't kill too many of course. The melta-gun simply gives you one extra vehicle/mc type killing weapon. Against marines the melta gun and flamer are about equal, as a flame templat that hits 4-6 marines will still only kill one (say 6 marines hit, 3 wounds, he makes 2 saves, 1 dead, 1 melta gun hit means 1 dead marine 84% of time).
I was actualy thinking you could replace the heavy bolter in that squad with the melta gun and keep the flamer, but it has been so long since I played Space marines I had forgotten they are exclusive lists, to used to SoB's and stormtroopers, who can have 2 assault weapons. If you plan to stand back and shoot, keep that heavy bolter, good firepower! You might also debate giving the sarge a storm bolter or a combi-bolter/melta for vehicle kill to increase firepower? Although at 500 points not sure how many vehicles you will be seeing, but the instant kill ability of melta weapons (strength 8 vs average T 4) does keep your opponent careful with his IC's.