A draft army list

Putting together an army list is something that seems to take endless revision, a lot of play testing and, for me, taking advice from more experienced players who have experience with that army.  During my time playing 40k I've most often played with armies that are all rounders in armour, range and close combat.  Marines mostly, Black Templars specifically for a long time.  I've started playing Tau and they have reasonable armour and incredible fire power, and there is a perverse pleasure when you rail rifle a unit of terminators to death.  Like seriously, it makes me happy.

This time I've gone for an armour that is notorious for being neither well armoured or having incredible fire power.

The Imperial Guard...or Astra Militarum as they are now known.

Best known for having lots of tanks, disposable troops that could be killed by a strong wind and the shooting ability of the Storm Troopers from Star Wars.  It's clear that to be successful with them you need to think more tactically about the units, gear and tactics and this is a challenge I'm willing to meet!  Coupled with that is how I like to play.

Now as it turns out I like shooty armies and I'm not a huge fan of close combat.  That's mostly due to some unfortunate experiences at the end of Khorne Bezerkers when I was younger and Tyranids more recently.  You both know who you are.  For me the key things in putting together this army was survivability, decent shooting and mobility.  Coincidently this fits with the fluff of the Elysians!  See what I did there?

With the Guard this meant veterans as my troop choices for the boost in BS, all with transports, and kitting them as Grenadiers so we get the increase from 5+ flak armour to 4+ carapace armour.  This upgrade is only 15 points for a whole squad so well worth it!  But with T & S 3 there needs to be a clear battle plan in mind and avoiding combat at all costs if possible.

Weapon choices are also going to be important because my units, fragile as they, need to be able to take out potential threats or at least soften them up enough that my vets stand a reasonable chance of coming out on top.  Cue melta and plasma guns.  They are hopefully going to smite a lot of the Emperors enemies in the future!

Now this next one is going to have experienced Guard players screaming at the screen and holding their hands in shame, but I hate tanks.  Hate 'em.  Really hate them. 

Don't get me wrong I have used them in the past.  My Templars were delivered on the treads of a Land Raider, and my Tau sport a pair of Hammerheads for long range destructive goodness.  But those forces were never built around them whereas a lot of Guard forces are.  Not so for mine.  Again Elysians to the rescue because their fluff makes clear they don't use them.

Thank goodness.

So for me my heavy support will come in the form of the incredible looking Valkyrie and Vendettas; because lets face it you can never have enough flying firepower.  They are mobile, cant sport some great weapon choices and can carry my troops about.  Expect to see a lot of them in my list!

And finally, because I love the model and rules are excellent, there's going to be a Vindicare Assassin in my force.  And I won't elaborate anymore on that for the moment because I'm going to do a post on my tactics and my fluff and I need to keep something for the future!

So without further ado, this is my provisional list so far:

HQ
Company Command Squad
Company Commander - Carapace Armour, Bolt Pistol and Power Fist
4x Veterans - Meltaguns
Commissar
Transported in Vendetta 1

Troops
Veteran Squad 1
Veteran Sergeant - Close Combat Weapon & laspistol
6x Veterans
3x Veterans with plasma guns
Chimera

Veteran Squad 2
Veteran Sergeant - Close Combat Weapon & laspistol
6x Veterans
3x Veterans with plasma guns
Chimera

Veteran Squad 3
Veteran Sergeant - Close Combat Weapon & laspistol
6x Veterans
3x Veterans with Meltaguns
Transported in Vendetta 2

Elites
Militarum Tempestus Scion Squad 1
Tempestor - Power Fist & hot-shot laspistol
7x Scions
2x Scions with Meltaguns
Transported in Valkyrie 1

Militarum Tempestus Scion Squad 2
Tempestor - Power Fist & hot-shot laspistol
7x Scions
2x Scions with hot-shot volley gun
Transported in Valkyrie 2

Fast Attack
Tauros Squadron
Tauros Venetor 1 - twin-linked lascannon
Tauros Venetor 2 - twin-linked lascannon
Tauros Venetor 3 - twin-linked multilaser

Valkyrie Squadron
Valkyrie 1 - lascannon & 2x multiple rocket pods
Valkyrie 2 - lascannon & 2x multiple rocket pods

Vendetta Squadron
Vendetta 1 - 3x twin-linked lascannon
Vendetta 2 - 3x twin-linked lascannon

Officio Assassinorum Detachment
Vindicare Assassin

So there we have it, I think it's a consistent list full of fluff and some surprises that will give the enemy pause.  Comments welcome!