Stabbing at Vanillas

Also, Pure Win.

 Hey there folks.  How's the day?  I've been working fastidiously on the Open reports, but it's a little tedious, and I can't just sit down and finish it, for some reason.  So, I'll get them out sometime this week, and that's that.

Until then, let's take another look at Marines.  More specifically, Vanilla marines, mostly because I really want to make them work, despite most people's derisive comments toward them.  I've been chiseling out this list for a little bit, and figured I'd give it a little bit of air, see what people thought of it.

My hypothesis:

People will tell me how Vanillas can't work very well, specifically because all the other Marine variants do them better.  Lots of other stuff about how Missile Launcher devs are way too overcosted, etc.

:-p

Let's jump into the list:

2000 Points of Space Marines (well, more like 2020 or something):

Pedro Kantor
Librarian w/ Null Zone and Avenger

Dreadnought w/ 2x TL Auto-Cannons
Dreadnought w/ 2x TL Auto-Cannons
Dreadnought w/ 2x TL Auto-Cannons

10x Tactical Marines w/ Meltagun, Multi-Melta, Combi-Melta, Power Fist // Rhino
10x Tactical Marines w/ Meltagun, Multi-Melta, Combi-Melta, Power Fist // Rhino
10x Tactical Marines w/ Meltagun, Multi-Melta, Combi-Melta, Power Fist // Rhino
10x Tactical Marines w/ Meltagun, Multi-Melta, Combi-Melta, Power Fist // Rhino

5x Devastators w/ 4x Missile Launchers
5x Devastators w/ 4x Missile Launchers
Thunderfire Cannon


How it works:

Dreads and Missiles provide decent ranged firepower, while the Tacticals zoom into midfield, staying in Pedro's bubble of awesome.  If it's an assault army, the tacticals actually have some decent punch back as long as Pedro is alive.

If it's all mech, the Melta will help cure that problem quickly enough, and Thunderfire can keep bikes from turboing, or keep hordes of stuff dying by taking billions of dangerous terrain checks.

Note that the only reason the Tacticals have Fists is because Pedro is in there.

Other options, for those who hate Pedro and fists:

Librarian w/ Null Zone and Avenger


Dreadnought w/ 2x TL Auto-Cannons
Dreadnought w/ 2x TL Auto-Cannons
Dreadnought w/ 2x TL Auto-Cannons


10x Tactical Marines w/ Meltagun, Multi-Melta, Combi-Melta // Rhino
10x Tactical Marines w/ Meltagun, Multi-Melta, Combi-Melta // Rhino
10x Tactical Marines w/ Meltagun, Multi-Melta, Combi-Melta // Rhino
10x Tactical Marines w/ Meltagun, Multi-Melta, Combi-Melta // Rhino

2x Attack Bikes w/ 2x Multi-Meltas

5x Devastators w/ 4x Missile Launchers // Razorback w/ Las/Plas
5x Devastators w/ 4x Missile Launchers // Razorback w/ Las/Plas
Thunderfire Cannon

Maybe a few extra points as well?

So, it gets rid of all the Pedro-induced close combat, and brings even more shooting to bear.  The sacrifice is that you can't be as aggressive with the Tacticals.

One more list, with Pedro, that seemed like fun, if not particularly effective:


Pedro Kantor
Librarian w/ Null Zone and Avenger


8x Sternguard w/ 6x Combi-Meltas, Power Fist // Rhino
Dreadnought w/ 2x TL Auto-Cannons
Dreadnought w/ 2x TL Auto-Cannons


10x Tactical Marines w/ Meltagun, Multi-Melta, Combi-Melta, Power Fist // Rhino
10x Tactical Marines w/ Meltagun, Multi-Melta, Combi-Melta, Power Fist // Rhino
10x Tactical Marines w/ Meltagun, Multi-Melta, Combi-Melta, Power Fist // Rhino

2x Attack Bikes w/ 2x Multi-Meltas

5x Devastators w/ 4x Missile Launchers
5x Devastators w/ 4x Missile Launchers
Thunderfire Cannon

It gets rid of a Dread, so less suppressive firepower, but makes use of some Sternguard, who are pretty great at close range.  Same(ish) number of scoring units here, and solves the problem of where Pedro/Libby go.  :-p

So, what do you think?  Delusional?  Pure win?

For the record, I like the first list best, though the second might end up having a couple more tactical options overall.

Thoughts?