Need help, Catachan themed army

[robomummy]

With the new guard Codex coming out I have decided to build the Catachan guard army I have always wanted to make. I'm having trouble building an effective list though that still fits the theme of the Catachans (or what I think the theme is). I'm trying to build this army to make it look like they have been behind enemy lines for weeks.

My thoughts of how a Catachan army should look:
-All troops are veterans
-No vehicles other than sentinels and ordinance
-everything has Camo gear/netting

those are my basic requirements for a Catachan army. Here is what I have so far:
-Catachan command squad
-4x squads of 10
-3x heavy weapons teams
-2x sentinels
-Aegis line

My question is how would I go about building an effective list that fits my theme? What should I get to add to the army?

[ptderfel]

I dont have their new codex, but will you consider taking allies with that list like inquisition?


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[robomummy]

I have considered taking allies but I would like to keep it purely in Astra Militarum if I can. Also I'm not a huge fan of allies.

Here is my current list I'm trying to get to 2,000 points.

Company Command Squad- Autocannon, medic, regimental standard, master of ordinance, camo cloaks, tactical reliquary (thing that give all orders inspiring tactics).
Company Command Squad- Autocannon, medic, regimental standard, master of ordinance

Veteran Squad- autocannon, forward sentries
Veteran Squad- autocannon, forward sentries
Veteran squad- 3x meltaguns, demolitions
Veteran squad- 3x meltaguns, demolitions
Veteran squad- 3x plasma guns, forward sentries

Scout Sentinel- Lascannon
Scout Sentinel- Lascannon

Aegis Line (no weapons)


There is my list so far, im working on getting enough models to switch to platoons instead of veterans since I love the new orders system and want to use it as much as possible. So what is the recommended size of a platoon? im thinking 1 PCS, 2 squads, and a heavy weapons team but I'm not sure if that is enough. Also Im thinking of getting some Ogryns and Basilisks.

So what do you think I should do to make this list fluffy yet competitive.

[ptderfel]

First you have no anti air, so you should get some valkyries to support you. Also your army lacks transport chimeras, and their handy multilasers.
How do you defend those company squads against DS centurions, thunderfire cannons and even basic white scar bike spam or deathwing assault?



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[ptderfel]

IMO you need some leman russ, also executioners for the plasma cannon. You need to protect your t3 army or they will be ripped to shreds and tabled turn 2


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[robomummy]

my main strategy right now is to put my units behind an aegis giving them a 3+ cover save (2+ if they go to ground), then use orders to get them back up and shooting from incoming fire. My army crumples when assaulted but hopefully by the time I am finished I will have enough models to deal with that. As for chimeras, I just don't have enough money to give every unit a chimera right now (plus I'm going the route of large blobs of infantry instead of mechanized) so I am working with what I've got.

The armies that people play where I am don't really follow any meta or anything, the best player plays chaos space marine hordes with dreadnaughts. Then there are mostly Space marine armies which don't have any specific tactic. There are a few ork players who run green horde, and there is one tau player who has a crisis suit army.

Here is roughly what I want my army to look like

2x company command squads (specifically for orders and Master of Ordinance)
3-4 platoons (not sure how large, probably 1 blob of 30 with a PCS and a few heavy weapons teams)
3 scout sentinels with Lascannons
3-6 Basilisks or some deathstrikes

Anti air is a problem so I think I can add a quad gun or Lascannon to the defense line in order to account for that but generally not enough people use aircraft for me to have a unit specifically for them.

[ptderfel]

Well if it works for you go ahead m8, but since you asked for advice to balance the list you got it


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[WestRider]

When moving over to Platoons, don't bother with Heavy Weapons Squads. They're ridiculously fragile and very high priority targets. If they didn't get instakilled by S6+, it might be a different story, but as it is, they're just frustrating to run. Keep the Heavy Weapons in the Blobs.

I find a single Vendetta is usually good for anti-air in a relatively grounded meta, and it's also nice for dropping off a PCS loaded up with Meltas or Flamers or something in the enemy's backfield. Yes, it got more expensive, but it's still a good flyer.

[lacman95]

i would take lascannons in the CC's as u can tank hunter both CC's and hopefully blow tanks with the re-roll to pen plus 1 to your roll from ap2. and split fire the master of ordinance from either the PC if u get them or the other CC.

remember the cover works in theory but there's heap of ways to get around it.

Wvyern batterys with camo maybe a nice thing and may suit your army as u can sit them back with re rolls to hit and and wound and wipe squads, they ignore cover as well.
with the auto cannon guys put in 3 snipers for 6pt for each squad.

[robomummy]

ok so came up with a new list after awhile of playtesting, 1500 points

HQ:

Company command Squad- Camo gear, Tactical reliquary, Master of Ordinance, Medipack, Regimental standard, autocannon

Company Command Squad-Master of Ordinance, Medipack, 3x plasma guns

Elites:

Militarum tempestus platoon:
-Command squad with vox caster
-2x Infantry squads with a vox caster in chimeras

Troops:

Veteran Squad- forward sentries, vox caster, autocannon
Veteran Squad- forward sentries, vox caster, autocannon
Veteran Squad- forward sentries, vox caster
Veteran Squad- forward sentries, vox caster
Veteran Squad- forward sentries, vox caster

Fast Attack:

scout sentinel- Lascannon
Scout Sentinel- Lascannon

Heavy Support:

Leman Russ- Battle cannon, 3x heavy bolters

Fortification:

Aegis Line


To continue the catachan theme I am modeling the Militarum tempestus as catachans with the tempestus barret heads. also I figures that they would have some (limited) armored support.

[killercroc]

I would say try to add as many flamers as possible, if you want it to be really fluffy that is. Obviously Plasmaguns are better in veteran squads but flamers and heavy bolters are their big thing, so maybe Shotguns in the vet. squads. Autocannons are nice, same for scout sentinels. Maybe switch out the Leman for the variant with the Nova or Punisher cannon (just a thought) or take some Wyverns.

[Craig]

May 29, 2014 4:34:03 GMT robomummy said:

Heavy Support:

Leman Russ- Battle cannon, 3x heavy bolters

Fortification:

Aegis Line

A Leman Russ... And an Aegis line in a Catachan themed army?

My Astra Militarum lore might be off a little, but isn't the Catachan homeworld that jungle hell world and the Catachan army itself is a infantry heavy guerrilla army that is constantly on the move?

Unless those two fill key roles in your armies background, it might be prudent to take them out and throw in some more sentinels.

[robomummy]

just because they are from a jungle world doesn't mean that they don't have some sort of fortifications, the residents of catachan live in fortresses where they need to clear away the encroaching jungle daily. Just because they are jungle specialists don't mean that they would never be called on to defend something.

As for the tanks, nothing says that they wouldn't work with some armored support, they just wouldn't be mechanized.

[Craig]

I guess it really just depends on how much your willing to theme your Catachan army.

I know that the Catachan Codex doesn't have any tanks in it, the armor they have is the Sentinel Walkers, though the Catachan army isn't allowed to take Armageddon Sentinels.

Of course, you're not playing a Catachan army, you're playing a Catachan themed army.

So really it's entirely up to yourself as to how true you want to be to the fluff.

Note: I'm only advising / helping you, I'm not trying to antagonize you.

[WestRider]

Also, the whole point of the ADL is that they're easy to transport and set up. If any fortification were suitable for Catachans, that would be the one.