40K: Goatboy – How I Build Lists
Goatboy here again, letting you in behind the curtain to see the gears and twists I usually go through when I build a list. It’s one half complimacated, and one half strategery…
I know a lot of you think I just take a list and copy and paste a unit a few times and move on. That is not how I work it out in my head even though it can look that way. I specifically build lists to perform a certain way and hopefully not suck too bad when they hit the table top. So lets start.
Troops – We Need Em!
I usually start any list by looking at the troop section. Two out of the three normal games requires you have some solid troops. What do I mean by solid? Well a troop choice that isn’t just going to fold up when someone pays a small bit of attention at them. I know you have seen some of my lists with Razorbacks and an MSU sense but I have started to really fall out of favor with that style. It just doesn’t feel very, well, smart. Those small units when faced with some just a bit superior foes will just fold so quickly. When you blow up the Razorback you have a chance of leaving a rather weak unit and I just don’t think it works anymore. So right now I am really looking at 8+ man units most of the time when I choose my troop choices. It just means that I can hopefully have more around when their ride gets blown up or some kind of crazy attention is paid to them.
Beyond just the scoring I also try to look at what kind of utility the troop can give me. Lately most books are starting to put more emphasis on decent troops, so I look at what they can do. I usually try to have 2-3 good tank busting units. This is usually performed by Melta, as it works 50% of the time all the time. From there I look at some other options to help give either a good anti-tough unit choice (plasma) or an anti cover choice (flamers). I know this looks like I am just talking about Marines, but some of the new Xenos books have good options at the troop choice level too.
So after that I usually have 2 anti-tank units followed by either an anti-troop or an anti-tough unit This gives me usually between 30-40 troops depending if I want to add another anti-tank or troop/tough to spice things up. I feel this gives you a solid base that will allow you to survive bad armor/cover save rolls and still have a chance throughout most of the game.
HQ – What Do You Mean We All Can’t Be Leaders?
Here is where I usually look for utility over action when I choose. Sometimes my lists are designed to create a rock and this is where I start too. Lately the Psychics have gotten a lot stronger, so I usually look for any way to help me survive some mind probing. I usually pick one cheap HQ to help with the utility side and then look at the other to either be helping with the rock or look for something that unlocks my list and helps create the troop choices I need.
The point limit of the game can determine if I pick one utility HQ or look at adding in the beat stick we all know in love in Herohammer. I would always say go with utility over beat stick as the initial HQ and as a way to help get more points into other areas you might need in your list.
Specialists – I Got Certs Man – Lots and Lots of Certs
Here I start to look for specific options I need. If I feel weak on the anti-tank options I look at ways to find either another Melta or some long ranged anti vehicle support. This is also when I start to look at rocks for my specific army build. We have talked about rocks in the past and how they are designed to punch and consume your opponent. When I say consume I mean they take all their attention and help let your army get into positions to do what they need to do. So much of the time my Rock is designed to die by turn 3 or 4 and then my army just unloads when it has gotten into range.
Usually from here my army list is almost done. I usually have a utility HQ, 3-4 Troops, some specialists and some kind of Rock to help even it out. If I have points left I will start to look at some of the extra “cool” options that can be handy in a time of need. This might be additions to the Rock or just one of those good versus certain build choices. It really all depends on my mood and the “feeling” I want to invoke from the army list.
The Mandatory Sample List
So to give an idea on what I mean on list building – here is my final list for Adepticon. Yes it is the Word – Cough – Grammar Wolves. I took out all the razorbacks and went with what I felt is a much stronger base to build from. There are enough options that I feel alright in whatever I play against. Hopefully I can at least win a few games.
HQ: Wolf Lord, Saga of the Bear, Bike, Storm Shield, Powerfist, Runic Armor
HQ: Wolf Priest, Bike, Runic Armor
HQ: Rune Priest, Chooser of the Slain, Plasma Pistol, Tempest Wrath, Living Lightning
Elite: Wolf Guard X 5
WG 1: Bike, Powerfist, Storm Shield – 1
WG 2: Combi-Melta, Powerfist – 2
WG 3: Combi-Plasma, Powerfist – 1
WG 4: Terminator Armor, CML – 1
Troops: Grey Hunters X 8, Plasma Gun, Plasma Pistol, Mark of the Wolfen, Wolf Standard, Rhino
Troops: Grey Hunters X 9, Meltagun, Mark of the Wolfen, Wolf Standard, Rhino
Troops: Grey Hunters X 9, Meltagun, Mark of the Wolfen, Wolf Standard, Rhino
FA: Swift Claws X 5, Power Weapon, Attack Bike, Multi-Melta
Heavy: Long Fangs X 6, ML X 5
Heavy: Long Fangs X 6, ML X 2, HB X 3
