I always used to claim back in the old days (3rd edition), that a codex was only as good as its troops. Mostly that the standard unit in your army will be doing most of the fighting, so this is where your strengths are. Now we all know that 5th edition as changed this, but what I want to look at is what might be called, some of the best troops choices available in the game. Veteran Squads. Here is what you get with your 10 veteran guardsmen.
3 special weapon choices, including the option for a single heavy flamer. Plasma Guns, Meltas, Flamers, and sniper rifles.
Veteran Weapons Team. With a BS of 4 no doubt, you get Lascannon, Missle Launcher, Autocannon, and Heavy Bolter options.
Sergeant. Here is an interesting and often over-looked one, replace laspistol and/or close combat weapon for power weapon, plasma pistol, power fist. Hence the picture........
Now the fun part. Doctrines.
Grenadiers: as shown on the picture, carapace armor
Forward Sentries: Squad gets camo cloaks. Can anyone say 3+ cover, or 2+ when going to ground and recieving orders to get back into the fight.
Demolitions: Hey look everyone gets a melta bomb, and did I mention we brought along a large blast Str 8 ap2 satchel?
Chimeras. Last part. We get a dedicated transport that 5, yes I said 5 guys can shoot out of. Chimeras are great, dont let anyone tell you otherwise. Popping armor 12 chimeras vs 11 rhinos is much more difficult. You have to move to get the side armor. Even then, chimeras come with a good selection of weapon options and upgrades.
So here is the way I tend to field these units.
1.Veteran squad w/ 3 meltas, chimera - Great melta threat range. See this Melta kill zone
2.Veteran squad w 3 plasmas, chimera - hey, a move and shoot fiery death platform. 3 plasmas up top.
3.Veteran squad w/ 3 plasma, lascannon,chimera, and hey, if you are really ap2 crazy today, throw in a plasma pistol. they can all fire out the top.
4.Forward Sentries. Camo-cloaks with 2+ cover saves when shot at, just order them back up to continue firing. I do these mostly with a single lascannon, at 120pts, but other alternatives work.
5.Veterans with or without forward sentries and sniper rifles. 3 sniper rifle vet teams, and psyker battle squads to lower leadership before you fire, is a great way to pin down an army
6. Demolition Team. Hey simple 100 points you get 10 meltabombs, and a democharge. Throw them into a vendetta or valkyrie, scout forward. Rd 1, deploy and assault any armor up front. Can you say dead Land Raider
7. Grenadiers. Now this one is just fun. pick three special weapons, grenadier doctrine, give the sergeant dual power fists, maybe even give them a Demolitions as well. 3 Plasmas, dual power fists, demolitions =205pts. Load up into your gunships, and have fun.
8. Harker. This one is fun. You get Catachan Devils (stealth and infiltrate) for 55 points So add him, with his relentless heavy bolter, an autocannon, and 3 plasma guns. = 180 points. Wow. Dont forget to give them demolitions for an additional 30 points. (my custom Harker and his Catachan Devils)
There are just too many great table top tactics that can be played out here. Veterans are a ton of fun, very effective, and can be fun to model up. Oh yea, Rule of thumb if you have a chimera transport with these.....Stay in the fricken tank.
