Kirby's kindly passed a list my way to comment. I hope its author doesn't mind...
I'm trying to build good mech BT-list for a friend with your mech SM as a basis. The strengths of doing this with BT as I see it are: Dreadnoughts with tankhunters and assault cannons so that they can be CC/infantry threats as well as suppression, though short ranged, many and cheap heavy/special weapons and cheap typhoons.
List 1 is maybe a bit light on anti inf (since the typhoons are quite vulnerable) and scoring troops. It does however put out a lot of high strength firepower. I'm thinkg about downgrading the Venerable to buy more troops, or changing the plasma guns to flamers. The tri-las predators may be a bit static and lacking duality as well but the other options in heavy support are not very good. ( There has to be better anti inf than dakka predators for 110 pts). You could take R-backs but the BT ones seems so expensive and you wont make much use of your cheap heavy/special weapons so they do not seem worth it. What do you think about the synergy of the army? does it miss something critical from your marine list? I have never played marines, just against them with tau and eldar, so your input would be most welcome.
Emperors champion, abhor the witch 110pts
Venerable dreadnought, lascannons, missile launcher, tank hunter. 165 pts
Dreadnoughts, assault cannon, heavy flamer, tank hunter. 125 pts
Dreadnoughts, assault cannon, heavy flamer, tank hunter. 125 pts
5 initiates, multi melta, plas, rhino, smoke launchers 149pts
5 initiates, multi melta, plas, rhino, smoke launchers 149pts
5 initiates, multi melta, plas, rhino, smoke launchers 149pts
5 initiates, multi melta, plas, rhino, smoke launchers 149pts
2 Typhoon 140 pts
2 Typhoon 140 pts
2 Typhoon 140 pts
Tri-las predator 145 pts
Tri-las predator 145 pts
Tri-las predator 145 pts
1976pts
My other list is quite similar to Brolos hybrid list But is does not
seem to have the same AT saturation and firepower as the first one.
Furthermore the terminators are quite expensive for what they do and
not that durable versus anti-inf weapons since they are so few.
Emperors champion, accept any challenge 140pts
5 terminators, tank hunters, 2 cyclones 2 chainfists 275pts
5 terminators, tank hunters, 2 cyclones 2 chainfists 275pts
5 initiates, multi melta, plas, rhino, smoke launchers 149pts
5 initiates, multi melta, plas, rhino, smoke launchers 149pts
5 initiates las/plas 101
5 initiates las/plas 101
2 Typhoon 140 pts
2 Typhoon 140 pts
2 Typhoon 140 pts
Tri-las predator 145 pts
Tri-las predator 145 pts
2000pts
List 1 is maybe a bit light on anti inf (since the typhoons are quite vulnerable) and scoring troops. It does however put out a lot of high strength firepower. I'm thinkg about downgrading the Venerable to buy more troops, or changing the plasma guns to flamers. The tri-las predators may be a bit static and lacking duality as well but the other options in heavy support are not very good. ( There has to be better anti inf than dakka predators for 110 pts). You could take R-backs but the BT ones seems so expensive and you wont make much use of your cheap heavy/special weapons so they do not seem worth it. What do you think about the synergy of the army? does it miss something critical from your marine list? I have never played marines, just against them with tau and eldar, so your input would be most welcome.
Emperors champion, abhor the witch 110pts
Venerable dreadnought, lascannons, missile launcher, tank hunter. 165 pts
Dreadnoughts, assault cannon, heavy flamer, tank hunter. 125 pts
Dreadnoughts, assault cannon, heavy flamer, tank hunter. 125 pts
5 initiates, multi melta, plas, rhino, smoke launchers 149pts
5 initiates, multi melta, plas, rhino, smoke launchers 149pts
5 initiates, multi melta, plas, rhino, smoke launchers 149pts
5 initiates, multi melta, plas, rhino, smoke launchers 149pts
2 Typhoon 140 pts
2 Typhoon 140 pts
2 Typhoon 140 pts
Tri-las predator 145 pts
Tri-las predator 145 pts
Tri-las predator 145 pts
1976pts
My other list is quite similar to Brolos hybrid list But is does not
seem to have the same AT saturation and firepower as the first one.
Furthermore the terminators are quite expensive for what they do and
not that durable versus anti-inf weapons since they are so few.
Emperors champion, accept any challenge 140pts
5 terminators, tank hunters, 2 cyclones 2 chainfists 275pts
5 terminators, tank hunters, 2 cyclones 2 chainfists 275pts
5 initiates, multi melta, plas, rhino, smoke launchers 149pts
5 initiates, multi melta, plas, rhino, smoke launchers 149pts
5 initiates las/plas 101
5 initiates las/plas 101
2 Typhoon 140 pts
2 Typhoon 140 pts
2 Typhoon 140 pts
Tri-las predator 145 pts
Tri-las predator 145 pts
2000pts
Whilst BT can take a 'skill' on dreadnoughts, this is limited to a single one that has already been upgraded to a Ven Dread. The first list therefore is not actually 'table-legal'. The list otherwise is fairly reasonable. Good firepower, reasonable vehicle saturation etc etc. You'd now also have an extra 20 points to play with from the 'skills'. I'd use that to upgrade the dreads to MM instead of AssCans personally.
The second list loses a significant amount of armoured hulls, but has some weighty firepower and beef from 10 terminators. I think I prefer list 1 overall, but i see somewhere between the two the place to be really.
Your point on dreads has sort of been addressed. 3 Tank Hunting AssCan dreads would be nice at 125 a pop, but sadly it's not possible. With a single upgrade I'd rather it go onto the Las/ML variant to be honest. Whilst Tri-Las preds are cheap in comparison to their SM equivalent, they do come out more expensive than the AutoLas and they have an obvious gun to lose on a weapon destroyed result - it's not the same as 'one gun syndrome', but is a pain to lose it (the autolas doesn't have such an obvious choice).
Although your title suggests you would like a 'mech' list, it's obvious you're not totally adverse to some kind of hybrid/termabubble set-up. As I said before, I wanted to progress with my thunderbubble/hybrid setup and think this could really be the next step, so I'll try to kill 2 birds with one stone. I think a dread/terminator mix is the ultimate set-up for the elite section. Getting some cheap allies would save a few points in the troop section and I think we'd come out with a really nice list
Note: Why on this crazy planet has the WH rhino STILL not been upgraded to have 2 bloody fire points. Come on people!
Emperor's Champion - Accept any Challenge - 140
Sword Brethren Terminator Squad - CML x 2, Tank hunters - 265
Dreadnought - TL-LC, ML, Venerable, Tank Hunter - 165
Dreadnought - TL-LC, ML - 135
Crusader Squad - Las/Plas - Rhino, SL - 153
Crusader Squad - Las/Plas - Rhino, SL - 153
IST - Meltagun x 2 - 70
IST - Meltagun x 2 - 70
Land Speeder Squadron - 2 x TML, 1 x MM - 155
Land Speeder Squadron - 2 x TML, 1 x MM - 155
Land Speeder Squadron - 2 x TML, 1 x MM - 155
Predator Destructor - Lascannon Sponsons, SL - 128
Predator Destructor - Lascannon Sponsons, SL - 128
Predator Destructor - Lascannon Sponsons, SL - 128
2000
I really like this list more than the others I've come up with so far. From my previous variant from Kirby and fester's input, we've lost a terminator unit and the PotMS on the Preds, but we now have 7 units pumping out 4 high str BS4 shots, the 2 dreads and 2 crusader squads. There is sufficient melta now with the 2 ISTs and the Typhoons with MMs. The terminators aren't 3++, but will be in cover and have the EC lining up with them. My main consideration would be dropping the non-ven dread for another crusader squad.
In comparison to the Author's first list, we lose 3 armoured hulls, but gain the bubblewrap, some more CC prowess and perhaps a tiny bit more ranged firepower.
