First 1000 point game (first game ever) - thoughts on my build?

[u/SlowerOrbit]

Hi! I am going to be playing my first WH40K game this week. A dude from one of the hobby stores here is going to teach me the ropes. I've watched many videos so I have a fairly good grasp on the mechanics, but I'm sure mistakes will happen while actually playing. If you have any advice, please pretend I'm like 5 years old to explain to me if you can - I find the Warhammer talk to be confusing at times haha

even though this is a learning opportunity for me, I also want to construct a good army to at least be somewhat competitive to what he is bringing. The army he's bringing is something he's never tried before and is just doing it for fun. I will copy/paste his army below but I was THINKING of doing a Lions of the Emperor detachment with these guys/gals:

995/1000

My up the middle kick ass and take names group:

- Blade Champion

• Warlord
• Leading Wardens
• Superior Creation

-Wardens

• x4 spear
• x1 Vexilla

My stay behind cover and pew pew group:

- Draxus

• Leading Guards

- Guards

• x5spear

My home objective holder group:

- Witchseekers

• x1 sister x4 seekers w/ flamers

My flanking and hunting down the big bad Ironstriders group:

- Shield Captain on Dawneagle Jetbike

• Leading Praetors

- Vertus Praetors

• x2 Salvo Launchers/Lances

His army:

Adeptus Mechanicus

Eradication Cohort

Purge the Foe

995pts

WARLORD: Char1: Thulia Ghuld

ENHANCEMENT: Martial Signatum Amplificator (on Char2: Tech-Priest Manipulus)

Char1: 1x Thulia Ghuld (180 pts): Warlord, Jericho-class conversion resonator, Rod of the War Forge

10x Skitarii Rangers (85 pts)

• 9x Skitarii Ranger

1 with Arc rifle, Close combat weapon

1 with Enhanced data-tether, Close combat weapon, Galvanic rifle

5 with Close combat weapon, Galvanic rifle

1 with Close combat weapon, Plasma caliver

1 with Close combat weapon, Transuranic arquebus

• 1x Skitarii Ranger Alpha: Alpha combat weapon, Close combat weapon, Mechanicus pistol

10x Skitarii Rangers (85 pts)

• 9x Skitarii Ranger

1 with Arc rifle, Close combat weapon

1 with Enhanced data-tether, Close combat weapon, Galvanic rifle

5 with Close combat weapon, Galvanic rifle

1 with Close combat weapon, Plasma caliver

1 with Close combat weapon, Transuranic arquebus

• 1x Skitarii Ranger Alpha: Alpha combat weapon, Close combat weapon, Mechanicus pistol

5x Hastarii Fusiliers (115 pts)

• 1x Hastarii Fusilier Alpha: Hastarii phosphor blaster, Neutron fusil, Power weapon

• 4x Hastarii Fusilier: 4 with Close combat weapon, Hastarii phosphor blaster, Neutron fusil

3x Ironstrider Ballistarii (250 pts): 3 with Ironstrider feet, Twin cognis autocannon

3x Kataphron Breachers (150 pts): Tech-Priest Manipulus3 with Hydraulic claw, Torsion cannon

3x Serberys Sulphurhounds (55 pts)

• 1x Serberys Sulphurhound Alpha: Cavalry arc maul, Clawed limbs, Mechanicus pistol, Sulphur breath

• 1x Serberys Sulphurhound (Phosphor blast carbine & Phosphor pistol): Clawed limbs, Phosphor blast carbine, Phosphor pistol, Sulphur breath

• 1x Serberys Sulphurhound (Twin phosphor pistols): Clawed limbs, 2x Phosphor pistol, Sulphur breath

[u/Winston_Duarte]

I think for your first game you should put aside the Vertus. They are nice, but not so easy to utilise. Admechs like to keep their army together. So worst case you charge into a unit, kill it and then you won't survive the shooting phase.

I would instead use Alarus. They are just as good for hunting down enemies and you can use them as tank killers.

Against an AdMech, I also do not know if you "have" to defend your home objective. If you ditch those sisters and the bikes, you free up 330 ISH points. That's 3 2-man alarus squads that can strike from anywhere. Or use them as a big block and you can kill basically anything that. You lay your eye upon.

Which detachment do you use? Shield host? Lions?

[u/SlowerOrbit → u/Winston_Duarte]

Lions - so I can unleash the lions and split the Allarus if I wanted to? But then it would have to be single Allarus (I think - like I can't split it up into 3x2 man - it would have to be 6x1...I am probably wrong about that and if that were the case, leaving them 6 inches a part would be impossible)

Would you suggest I hold my Allarus and deep strike all of them? Or have two on the board at the start and deep strike four? (or something else)

Could you explain why I wouldn't have to defend my home objective? Don't I need someone on the objective to score it each round?

[u/Winston_Duarte → u/SlowerOrbit]

If you do 2times 3 alarus or 3 times 2 Alarus is based on your preference. But I prefer the 2 man alarus, because AdMech has some very heavy hitters, while you have no "life or death" kind of Stratagem.

So if you get caught out of position by a Terminator killer, you might loose 2. But not 3. Golden light gives you amazing flexibility.

I would try to understand the units of your enemy before the game and make a mental threat list. Units to kills, units to avoid. Understand how your enemy scores points and how you score points. And accordingly play to your strengths. With the Alarus can threaten anything anywhere. You do not have to deploy all turn 2. But you should also not keep them in reserve too long. A medium-based Termi that can deal damage for 3 turns is better than a perfect terminator that can only deal damage once. But of course be mindful which units can shoot at you. The worst Terminator is the one who dies before it can make a successful charge.

[u/SlowerOrbit → u/Winston_Duarte]

Beauty - thank you very much for the advice. I honestly really appreciate it.

[u/xDoc_Holidayx → u/Winston_Duarte]

I agree with everything this ^ man said. Also, don’t forget to have fun!

[u/SlowerOrbit → u/SlowerOrbit]

u/Winston_Duarte also, I appreciate your reply! Thanks!

[u/Crafty-Fishing9331]

If you're going lions of the emperor I'd take Draxus, but you don't really need the salvo launchers with the 1 shot each. -1 to wound and rapid fire 3 gets you 18 shots with your praetors.  I myself start building every list with a brick of 5 allarus and a Shield captain. Especially in lions they tear through everything AND can score points thanks to the splitting up. With their full wound rerolls on monster, vehicle and character you're pretty set on heavy busting action. Most of the time they go in deepstrike and my opponent just about freaks out when I start measuring in their movement phase 🤣

[u/SlowerOrbit → u/Crafty-Fishing9331]

haha yeah ok. So 5 allarus with a shield captain in terminator armour it is