Well first off hi to all the users on these forums, ive been reading here for a while now but never posted until now as im rather lazy when it comes to typing but i just couldnt resist this post.
Having been a Epic player since space marine was first released ive seen the game change alot and evolve into what now i personally consider a fairly solid system and enjoyable game.
Yes people complain about certain aspects of the lists and points of some detachments vz other and that thier personal right to, so on that merry note here is my humble input into the situation.
Firstly in regards to the costs of units, i cant really see the justification of a 50 point increase in T-hawks yes they seem cheap and can put out a fair amount of AP fire with a 4+ RF save but at the end of the day its meger for 200 points that is off the table most of the game and rarely shoots is payload, its a 200 point transport and i would say faily priced.
As for flaovred army lists that dont use as much air assualt as its the "Strongest" Tourny list i would strongely debate, as to this very day i have never used more than one T-Hawk in my lists, i find them a big points sink in 3k when there are other units i would rather play with, i know the strength of the marines is in there speed and amour and the premise of the army is to engage on your terms as you can dicate this more with your reliable activations and general manuvorability (speling ? lol)
The core of my list is based around a huge tactical formation transported by AT razor backs and containing my SC at 550 Points it counts as My BTS and i cant think of a game yet where it has ever been totally destroyed, the durability or marines is really remarkable and sometimes over looked for a high flying strike force.
In some regards i almost play my marines as a more of a horde based army, toe to toe marines can handle it with the best of them and the entire army can FF with effciency, yes terminators are a very good deterant for your oppostion and can make them be a little more defensive in there deployment and movement, but any good opponent will allow for whats coming with them, and not to mention taking blast markers from teleporting in has cost me a few heavy casulties, the -2 resolution that it puts you at from the get go can be a big swing factor in a engagement.
For me the real shinning star in the marine list is the assualt marines at 175 points i find them to be the cheap workhorse formation of the marine army, and in most cases i will opt for 8 stands of assualt marines over 4 of terminators, with there speed to march all over the table and hinder enemy formations they are a priceless unit, commonly i find i will have them loitering at the back end of the table in cover and use them as my last activations then march right into enemy lines as the % odds are in your favor most games to win the first turn and with 3- 4 formations 2-3 chaplins and a commander all posied for a grand assualt i have had them wreck total carnage in the enemy lines, often destrying BTS objectives or crushing strong high cost points formations. and its a rare day they dont make there points back and some. and generally following a assualt there is enough left to draw alot of firepower out of the opposing army to let you other boys advance into postion unsupressed.
In over view i find the durability / strikepower and sheer muscle of the marines a very good army to form a totally ground based list with and iften do compared to air assualt lists and in my humble opinon fidn it alot more rewarding and challenging to win with a ground based force.
The other good thing about marine lists is because of there resilence they are alot more forgiving to tactical errors.
Well thats my virgin post
I look forward to hearing what other people have to say about this as its good to get fresh input and new ideas as its easy to get into a rut playing the same way , and a fresh out look is sometimes just what it takes to improve .
Cheers
Tim (NZ)
