Yarb's Slow Grow League Blog Thing

[Yarbicus]

Recently started my first real league and my first games since 6^th ed.  Thought I would use this space to document my progress.

The first week was 500 points and each week we add 250.  I am playing Imperial Fists, an army I actually started during 7^th but never got around to playing.

Week One

Lieutenant
5 Sniper Scouts
5 Tac Marines w/ML
6 Tac Marines w/HB
5 Jump Marines
Razorback w/HB

So, in other words, an army that was good at pretty much nothing but dying.  I played against Kremmet’s Orcs:

Big Mek (?) guy with force field
3 Killer Kans
Big a$$ unit of Boyz (20? 30?)

I was tabled.  I just could not do enough damage and ended up only killing 2 Boyz in 5 turns.  Learned a lot though:

-assault gets significantly better the more bodies you have (4 attacks each?!?!?!?)
-if you are going to shoot, you better have a lot of shooters
-I definitely feel more comfortable with larger units

[Yarbicus]

Week Two

Captain w/Plasma Pistol and PSword
Lt. w/Chainsword and MC Boltgun
5 Sniper Scouts
7 Tac Marines w/flamer
7 Tac Marines w/flamer
5 Devs w/2 Lascannon and 2 HB
8 Sternguard w/HFlamer and 2 CombiMelta

I was able to get in two games last night:

The first game was against Blood Angels

Capt.
Sang Priest
6-7 Sniper Scouts
6 Death Company
Dread w/A$$cannon and ML
2 RBacks w/Lascannons

Yes, I got tabled again but felt much better about my performance.  My first big mistake was putting my Devs and Scouts where they could wiped out on the first turn.  I keep forgetting that Heavy Weapons can now move and shoot.  I actually made it to turn 6 this time.

Second game was against Marines.  Basically, his list was all of the Primaris Marines from the starter box.

He was not just new to 8^th, we was pretty new to minis games in general.  I tabled him by turn 4.

Things I learned:

-MC and Special Issue Bolters rock!
-I love the Sternguard.  So flexible.
-Now that everyone can split fire, have a mix of high rate of fire and multiple wound weapons in the Devs worked great.
-I like the IDEA of Flamers more than the REALITY of Flamers.
-The Imperial Fist specific Strategem is awesome.

Questions:

-Can you really fire EVERY weapon you carry if you are in range?  For instance, your model has a Bolter and Bolt Pistol and you are at <12” range.
-Any advice about transports?  I am still a bit hesitant to use them.

Week three is 1000 points.  Considering just adding more bodies and some Rhinos…but I really want to add my Assault Termies.

[Kremmet]

Hey Yarb, I definitely enjoyed our game (it was 30 boyz, BTW)! Something to remember is that low-point games tend to skew results a lot harder than the 1500–2000 range  so getting tabled would've likely been the result no matter what there.

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-Can you really fire EVERY weapon you carry if you are in range?  For instance, your model has a Bolter and Bolt Pistol and you are at <12” range.

Yes, but grenades and pistols are different. You can fire every non-pistol/grenade weapon you have OR all pistols OR throw a grenade (one grenade per unit).

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-Any advice about transports?  I am still a bit hesitant to use them.

All the SM transports are pretty solid outside of the Drop Pod (seems too expensive for what it provides). I personally like Rhinos as they give you a little bit of security from alpha strikes which is important in low-point games, but they all have their uses.

[Yarbicus]

Here's my list for this week:

Captain w/plasma pistol and power sword

Lieutenant

5 Sniper Scouts

8 Marines w/ missile launcher

8 Marines w/plasma

8 Sternguard w/2 combi melta

5 Devs w/2 HB and 2 LC

3 Rhinos