1750 Mech Platoon List

[IronWeevil]

This is a quick and dirty stab at a mech platoon list that relies on the synergy between the Primaris and GL packing PCSs. It's troop heavy, but it brings a sufficient amount of anti armor firepower. The list excels at stacking wounds on infantry. I'm interested in the thoughts about this kind of list at the concept level.

HQ
Primaris 70
Primaris 70

Troops
Infantry Platoon 1 355
PCS: 4x Melta, Chimera
IS: AC,Chimera
IS: AC,Chimera


Infantry Platoon 2 355
PCS: 4x Melta, Chimera
IS: AC,Chimera
IS: AC,Chimera


Infantry Platoon 3 335
PCS: 4x Grenade Launcher, Chimera
IS: AC,Chimera
IS: AC,Chimera

Infantry Platoon 4 335
PCS: 4x Grenade Launcher, Chimera
IS: AC,Chimera
IS: AC,Chimera

Fast Attack
Hellhound: Hull MM 145

Scout Sentinel: Multilaser 35
Scout Sentinel: Lascannon 50

[Hockeyman506]

Not bad, but I'm a little wary of only having the two PCS with melta. As it stands they are the biggest threat to heavy armor and probably the only units (along with the hellhound) that want to get much closer than 20-24 inches to the enemy. Seems like it'd be very easy to pop their transports at range and make them walk.

Not much an opponent's transports can do against the autocannon chimeras except to weather the storm. Even if they shake/stun 3 or 4 of them, you have still have a ton more S6/S7 where that came from.

I'd maybe try to fit some long-range, high-strength threats in there just to take a lot of the heat off of the melta PCS and Primaris wagons. Not sure what or where to get the points, but that seems to be the biggest weakness. Other than that, go nuts and tell us how the army runs.

[IronWeevil]

The multiple Landraider scenario is potentially painful as is contending with a Necron Monolith list. At the expense of the Sentinels I could replace all of the IS autocannons with lascannons and leave myself 5 points. That would bring the total loadout to 8 lascannons, 12 multilasers, 12 Heavy Flamers, 8 grenade launchers, 8 meltaguns, an inferno cannon and a multimelta. The Primaris Chimeras will be putting out 2d6 + 7 str 6 shots each. That will stack some wounds on some infantry hehe.

The revised list would look like:

HQ
Primaris 70
Primaris 70

Troops
Infantry Platoon 1 375
PCS: 4x Melta, Chimera
IS: LC,Chimera
IS: LC,Chimera


Infantry Platoon 2 375
PCS: 4x Melta, Chimera
IS: LC,Chimera
IS: LC,Chimera


Infantry Platoon 3 355
PCS: 4x Grenade Launcher, Chimera
IS: LC,Chimera
IS: LC,Chimera

Infantry Platoon 4 355
PCS: 4x Grenade Launcher, Chimera
IS: LC,Chimera
IS: LC,Chimera

Fast Attack
Hellhound: Hull MM 150

[Intrepid]

Traffic jams! Traffic jams! 13 Chimera-equivalents are only going to get in each other's way, even if half of them aren't intended to move much. I don't think you will be able to focus fire effectively.

the Primaris and GL packing PCSs

Why not simply use Veteran squads? The platoon infantry aren't trying to do anything that a Sentinel couldn't do better. I see the Primaris/GL combo as a great way to finish off an enemy unit but a poor front-line unit; Eldar have taught me that medium-S attacks can be very annoying but won't win the day by themselves. Maybe if you brought some ordnance/artillery to do the heavy lifting? That could be an interesting change to standard mech tactics.

[Hockeyman506]

Traffic jams! Traffic jams! 13 Chimera-equivalents are only going to get in each other's way, even if half of them aren't intended to move much. I don't think you will be able to focus fire effectively.

Yeah, it will be a bit of an issue turn 1-2. Will have a bit of an issue blocking your own line of sight as well. That's the trade-off with this list. More static firepower and more vehicle, less space to move.

Why not simply use Veteran squads? The platoon infantry aren't trying to do anything that a Sentinel couldn't do better. I see the Primaris/GL combo as a great way to finish off an enemy unit but a poor front-line unit; Eldar have taught me that medium-S attacks can be very annoying but won't win the day by themselves. Maybe if you brought some ordnance/artillery to do the heavy lifting? That could be an interesting change to standard mech tactics.

Veteran squads cost more and have a different purpose than the bunker infantry. Not to mention if the chimeras are wrecked/destroyed, the combat effectivness of the infantry squads does not decrease at all as they are staying put anyway and the lascannon is the only thing that matters.

I agree with you, though. Personally I'd take 2-3 vets as well, but this list probably will work as is. The Primaris/GL aren't meant to be a front-line unit. They are a mobile backfield/midfield unit. They will eat through medium-light infantry as well as light vehicles.

8 Lascannons also help out. Yes they won't kill AV13/14 reliably, but most of those vehicles are single-gun tanks and all you need to do is stop them from shooting or get rid of the gun. Against AV10-12, lascannons will shred, even with only BS3.

[IronWeevil]

Traffic jams! Traffic jams! 13 Chimera-equivalents are only going to get in each other's way, even if half of them aren't intended to move much. I don't think you will be able to focus fire effectively.

Eight of them are meant to deploy in the back rank and park. Two are midfield operators. Two are close range anti-armor / anti-TEQ. One is a fast moving harassment/ distraction unit. Each has it's own distinct operational area with sufficient spacing. I've run 12 Chimeras on standard tables with no ill effect. Additionally it allows me to reliably occupy terrain choke points.

Why not simply use Veteran squads? The platoon infantry aren't trying to do anything that a Sentinel couldn't do better.

Actually they are a better fit. The PCS is 30 points cheaper than the Vet squad and has a similar avg shooting performance with a higher top end potential. The pairing with the Chimera and the Primaris puts out a LOT of str 6 shots at 24".

Infantry squads mounted in Chimeras are better than 3x as hard to kill as a Scout Sentinel with better than twice the shooting output.

I see the Primaris/GL combo as a great way to finish off an enemy unit but a poor front-line unit; Eldar have taught me that medium-S attacks can be very annoying but won't win the day by themselves.

This is why the line squads brought lascannons to the party. Eight meltaguns aren't anything to sneeze at either.

Maybe if you brought some ordnance/artillery to do the heavy lifting? That could be an interesting change to standard mech tactics.

At higher point levels I've considered adding a Manticore or maybe a pair of Medusae. This seemed to be the minimum to make the concept work.