A quick note though, my Tyranid army is very likely to be my back-up. Since it's pretty much painted and all I'd have to do are some touch-ups (bloody non-sealed, metal models) and do some more Gants, it's the least amount of work. And I can lol at Alex when I get a half-decent paint score. All of the Marine lists (unless noted) I've got all the models and bits for but will ultimately have to paint 30-40 Marines + however many tanks in the army. I've not included a Biker list (outside of Blood Rodeo) because I don't really want to have to paint 25+ bikes + the tanks needed. Knowing what I'm like with painting that would really put the pressure on... So here are 10 lists I'm considering or are templates for lists based upon their concepts.
List 1: Hybrid Tau
Shas'el w/Plasma Rifle, Missile Pod, Multi-tracker
3x Crisis Suits w/Plasma Rifle, Missile Pod, Multi-tracker
3x Crisis Suits w/Plasma Rifle, Missile Pod, Multi-tracker
2x Crisis Suits w/Plasma Rifle, Missile Pod, Multi-tracker
6x Fire Warriors
10x Kroot, 7x Hounds
10x Kroot, 1x Hound
8x Pathfinders w/Devilfish w/SMS, Targeting Array, Disruption Pods, Multi-tracker
Piranha w/Fusion Blaster, Targeting Array
Piranha w/Fusion Blaster, Targeting Array
2x Broadsides w/ASS, team-leader w/hard-wired target lock, hard-wired black sun filter, hard-wired drone controller, 2 shield drones
Hammerhead w/Railgun, SMS, Disruption Pods, Multi-tracker
Hammerhead w/Railgun, SMS, Disruption Pods, Multi-tracker
Totals: 1750 points
5 vehicles
55 infantry (including 11 suits)
Typical Tau list for 5th edition but I'm hesitant for a couple of reasons. Lack of recent experience with this army, I sold off the majority of my models quite some time ago and whilst fiddling around on Vassal keeps the experience there, it's not substitute. Added in I have to buy half of the suits and Hammerheads to have the models for this army and it's a lot more work than the others (though probably easier to paint). That being said, I also feel this army would suffer somewhat in the Centurion missions. 4 very easy KP in the Piranhas & drones makes them easy targets in the KP missions and limited mobility against certain armies hurts in 5 objective and table quarter missions. Add in a couple turns of lousy shooting and Tau can easily get that one loss which knocks you out of the running. Overall, I'd be fine running it if I could get the army together quickly but think I might prefer a more well-rounded list compared to "I shoot and you die and I win" list.
List 2: Jumper BA
Libby w/Jump Pack, Blood Lance, Shield of Sanguine
5x Honor Guard w/Jump Packs, 4x meltagun
Sanguinary Priest w/Jump Pack, Lightning Claw
Sanguinary Priest w/Jump Pack, Lightning Claw
5x Sanguinary Guard w/Power Fist, 2x infernous pistol
10x Assault Marines w/2x meltagun, Power Fist
10x Assault Marines w/2x meltagun, Power Fist
5x Vanguard w/glaive + SS, Power Fist + SS, 2 SS
5x Vanguard w/glaive + SS, Power Fist + SS, 2 SS
Totals: 1750 points
43 infantry
Based on GWvsJohn's modification of my original jumper list, this brings a more powerful assault unit to the table with the Sanguinary Guard whilst still maintaining ASM and VV. Little less scoring than I would like, even with Centurion missions (1/3 primary being objective based) and I'd love to double up the Sanguinary Guard but a lot of FNP Marines in your face which can beat you up in combat. Would need practice with this list though as only had a handful of games with BA foot style lists.
List 3: T6'R'Us Tyranids
Hive Tyrant w/LW, BS, HVC, Old-Adversary, Paroxysm, Leech Life
Tyrant Guard w/LW
2x Hive Guard
2x Hive Guard
2x Hive Guard
11x Termagant
11x Termagnat
Tervigon w/Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs, Onslaught, Catalyst
Tervigon w/Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs, Onslaught, Catalyst
3x Raveners w/Rending Claws
Tyrannofex w/Rupture Cannon
Tyrannofex w/Rupture Cannon
Totals: 1750
5 TMC
29 infantry + 3 beasts
Still need more training with this list but obviously used to it and virtually no modelling is required so this will most likely be my "Oh damn, I haven't painted nearly enough" army. I'd love to find a way to squeeze in another squad of Raveners but without dropping the Tyrant to a Prime, can't see that happening. Could always drop the Raveners for Regen and another Tyrant Guard though but Beasts are fun.
List 4: Mech Marines
Libby w/Null Zone, Avenger
Dreadnought w/2x TL-autocannons
Dreadnought w/2x TL-autocannons
Dreadnought w/2x TL-autocannons
10x Tacticals w/flamer, MM, Rhino
10x Tacticals w/flamer, MM, Rhino
5x Tacticals, Razorback w/LasPlas
5x Tacticals, Razorback w/LasPlas
2x Land Speeders w/MM, HF
2x Land Speeders w/MM, HF
Predator w/HB sponsons
Predator w/HB sponsons
Predator w/HB sponsons
Totals: 1750 points
14 vehicles
31 infantry
This is close to my standard SM build and one I am very familiar with, so points there. Good mix of mobility, disruption, ranged firepower and midfield stability the list is basically the ultimate generalist. Ability to play with points by dropping a speeder (3 squads of 1) to put combis on the Tacticals and perhaps some HKMs or upgrading the Dakka Preds to ACLC Preds though not too big a fan of doing that across the board (maybe 1?).
List 5: Hybrid Wolves
Rune Priest w/Chooser of the Slain, Living Lightning, Tempest
5x Wolf Scouts w/meltagun
5x Wolf Scouts w/meltagun
4x Wolf Guard w/combi-melta, Razorback w/LasPlas
5x Grey Hunter w/meltagun, Rhino
5x Grey Hunter w/meltagun, Rhino
5x Grey Hunter w/meltagun, Razorback w/LasPlas
5x Grey Hunter w/meltagun, Razorback w/LasPlas
TWC w/Wolf Claw
TWC w/Wolf Claw
TWC w/Wolf Claw
5x Long Fangs w/4 Missile Launchers, Razorback w/LasPlas
5x Long Fangs w/4 Missile Launchers, Razorback w/LasPlas
5x Long Fangs w/4 Missile Launchers, Razorback w/LasPlas
Totals: 1747 points
8 tanks
50 infantry + 3 beasts
Very much a MSU army. Wolf Guard are with Rhino GH and Wolf Scouts. Could drop all of the Troop transports to Rhinos to free up some points for combat weapons but think 3 TWC as counter-assault should be enough. Otherwise a fair amount of mobility and a lot of firepower with two disruptive units from the Wolf Scouts. Issues with the Scouts is they are obviously going to struggle killing things in combat and I'd also need to get one more tank chassis + convert the TWC. Similar mechanics to Mech SM so would be able to pick up the play style on tabletop fairly quickly.
List 6: Thunderbubble Marines
Libby w/Null Zone & Gate
Dreadnought w/2x TL-autocannons
Dreadnought w/2x TL-autocannons
5x TH/SS Terminators
5x Tacs w/LasPlas RBack, combi-flamer
5x Tacs w/LasPlas RBack, combi-flamer
5x Tacs w/LasPlas RBack, combi-flamer
5x Tacs w/LasPlas RBack, combi-flamer
MM/HF Speeder
MM/HF Speeder
MM/HF Speeder
Predator w/HB sponsons, HKM
Predator w/HB sponsons, HKM
Predator w/HB sponsons, HKM
Totals: 1745
Infantry: 26
Tanks: 12
I know a lot of you would prefer 10 TH/SS Terminators and that's certainly doable as well (drop Speeder + Pred + some upgrades) but think at 1750 I prefer a pure mech SM list. The Termies are nice and scary but knowing my 2+ save rolls... Alternatively could also do a very static list with ACLC Preds (drop some upgrades + Speeder) and whilst you get a lot of firepower, your backline is pretty static (especially in Dawn of War). Again though, would be pretty familiar with the list which is a plus.
List 7: Blood Hammer BA
Libby w/Jump Pack, Blood Lance, Shield of Sanguine
Sanguinary Priest w/Jump Pack, Lightning Claw
Sanguinary Priest w/Jump Pack, Lightning Claw
Sanguinary Priest
5x Sanguinary Guard w/Power Fist, infernous pistol
5x Sanguinary Guard w/Power Fist, 2x infernous pistols
10x Assault Marines w/2x meltagun, Power Fist
10x Assault Marines w/2x meltagun, Power Fist
5x Assault Marines w/meltagun, melta-bombs
5x Devastators w/3x Missile Launchers
5x Devastators w/3x Missile Launchers
5x Devastators w/3x Missile Launchers
Totals: 1750
54 infantry
I like this list. A lot *hint hint.* It's basically a scaled down Nipple/Sanguine Hammer without Dante. Only problem for me is deployment. The Devs aren't really big enough to deploy alone and survive incoming firepower and I wouldn't want to deploy just the Sanguinary Guard as well. Whilst both of these are possible, this most likely means deploying the full ASM squads and Sanguinary Guard with the Devs on table (5 man plays hard ball) and running at the enemy. This would be done a lot better by pure Sanguinary Guard but you need that extra 50 odd points to make that list work (or have no Libby which is a rather large trade-off IMO). Anyway, upgrades on this list are where the points can be changed around or dropping the small 5 man ASM squad for more bodies in the Devs. This might give me more flexibility in deployment but would likely detract from overall effectiveness of the army. Like the Jumper list, would need to get a lot of practice in.
List 8: Mechdar
Farseer w/Runes of Warding, Runes of Witnessing, Doom
Autarch w/Fusion Gun
5x Fire Dragons w/Wave Serpent, TL-shuriken cannons, shuriken cannon
5x Fire Dragons w/Wave Serpent, TL-shuriken cannons, shuriken cannon
5x Fire Dragons w/Wave Serpent, TL-shuriken cannons, shuriken cannon
5x Dire Avengers w/Wave Serpent, TL-Bright Lance, shuriken cannon
5x Dire Avengers w/Wave Serpent, TL-Bright Lance, shuriken cannon
5x Dire Avengers w/Wave Serpent, TL-Bright Lance, shuriken cannon
Fire Prism w/shuriken cannon
Fire Prism w/shuriken cannon
Fire Prism w/shuriken cannon
Totals: 1735 points
9 tanks
32 infantry
Well it's an Eldar list and a different one to my usual Eldar as there's no Falcon. I'd need to get another Eldar vehicle chassis (and Prism turret) for this list but it would basically be all about the missions. Pop transports with Dragons, Lances and S6 whilst controlling the board with mobility and tank survivability (+ reserve bonus). I'm used to running Eldar like this but would prefer not to at Centurion. It is an option though.
List 9: Blood Rodeo
Libby w/Bike, Sword, Shield
Libby w/Bike, Sword, Shield
5x TH/SS Terminators
Priest w/Jump Pack, Lightning Claw
Priest w/Jump Pack, Lightning Claw
10x Assault Marines w/2x meltagun, Power Fist
10x Assault Marines w/2x meltagun, Power Fist
5x Assault Marines w/meltagun, hand-flamer
8x Bikes w/meltagun, flamer, Power Fist, Attack Bike w/MM
4x Bikes w/meltagun, flamer, Attack Bike w/MM
I know you'd all like me to take this as it's my love-child (and some other dude. Curly or something *shrug*) but I just don't fall in love with it at 1750 nor the flexibility the other lists have in controlling objectives and table quarters (Blood Rodeo likes to stick together until contact is made and thus contact is made on its terms). That being said, if I felt inclined to go bikes I'd go this route as I'd only need to paint the 1.5 bike squads compared to 20+ bikes for a Marine one. Some changes could be made but that would be the basic template at 1750.
List 10: Flamestorm BA
Libby w/Shield of Sanguine, Sanguine Sword
5x Honor Guard w/2x meltagun, 2x Lightning Claw, Razorback w/TL-Heavy Flamer
5x Assault Marines w/meltagun, infernous pistol, Razorback w/TL-Heavy Flamer
5x Assault Marines w/meltagun, infernous pistol, Razorback w/TL-Heavy Flamer
5x Assault Marines w/meltagun, infernous pistol, Razorback w/TL-Heavy Flamer
5x Assault Marines w/meltagun, infernous pistol, Razorback w/TL-Heavy Flamer
5x Assault Marines w/meltagun, infernous pistol, Razorback w/TL-Heavy Flamer
Baal Predator
Baal Predator
Baal Predator
Dreadnought w/2x TL-autocannon
Dreadnought w/2x TL-autocannon
Dreadnought w/2x TL-autocannon
Totals: 1750 points
12 tanks
31 infantry
I'd love to try and do a BA Hybrid list like Koopa's but for 1750 it's hard to squeeze in. You're either looking at very little in terms of fire suppression (2 dreads, 2 baals), no upgrades on SG, single priest or no infernous pistols on ASM so I think a pure mech is better for this points level. Not sure if I should give 1 of the Baals a Flamestorm cannon (fire magnet woot lol) and perhaps drop the Honor Guard transport to a Rhino (top hatch fun) but there are options. Problem would be getting 2 more chassis (I'd buy the Baal ones) which is a pain and would only really be used for this type of list unless someone wants to buy some and I paint them and they get them after the tourney...lol. Anyway this is a cross between the BA Immo spam army and a BA mini-Eldar army. It has a very aggressive element with all of the TL-Heavy Flamers but also the ability to sit at arm's length and put some accurate medium strength shots into you + has the mobility to change the game dynamic rapidly.
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And there you have it, ten lists I've considered for Centurion. Whilst I obviously prefer some over others, it's time for brainstorming. What are 'obvious' cross-offs or Pink Army favorites? I'm leaning towards one of the Marine lists (narrowing the field to 70%...) and as I said before, the Tyranid list will most likely be my back up. So let's work these lists over the coals and make them as perfect as possible (or simply ditch them) so by the time my thesis is handed in (3 weeks from now), I'll have some ideas on where to start painting and what to practice with.
Move pinkies! And vote for your favorite THREE (only 3 please) armies on the poll to the left.
