Critique 500 Point Space Marine Army

[andrew.cont]

I've been a painter for years and I decided recently to try out the tabletop game. I know nothing about the rules, just started reading the rule book. I was advised to make a 500pt army list first so~ Lemme know how it is please. Thanks everyone

Chaplain: (100)
+ Base Chaplain

Tactical Squad: (185)
+ Base Tactical Squad
+ 5 Space Marines
+ 1 Flamer
+ 1 Missile Launcher
+ 1 Plasma Pistol Sergeant
+ 1 Chainsword Sergeant

Assault Squad: (115)
+ Base Assault Squad
+ 1 Plasma Pistol Sergeant

Predator: (95)
+ Base Predator
+ 1 Autocannon
+ 1 Side Heavy Bolters
+ 1 Storm Bolter

TOTAL 495

[CancerMan]

I am confused by your tactical squad listing. Do you have 2 sergeants in a squad of 5 marines, or is it just describing what one sergeant has for wargear?

For standard games, you will need two Troops choices. If you're playing with the standard space marine codex, the assault squad counts as Fast Attack, so you'll need a second tactical squad, or scouts.

500-point armies are a nice way to get some introductory games in. Good luck and have fun!

[ph03nIXx]

Well, welcome to the game side of the hobby =)

Like Cancer, your listing seems a bit odd on first glance. You should review that.

500 pts is indeed a good ground to start with, although you should talk with your buddies about the Force Organisation Chart.

The Force Organisation Chart tells you how many units you HAVE TO take no matter what and how many units you MAY take alltogether. Units are split in different categories - as you may have notices ;-) - and the FOC tells you how many units from each category you may take. In normal games, your mandatory choices are 1 HQ and 2 Troop choices.
You may find it difficult though on 500 to fill the mandatory choices and still have room to spare for any other units you want to field. Therefore you might wanna consider to either skip the FOC requirements completely for the first few games or use a changed one - around here, we tend to only have 1 troop choice as mandatory choice for 500 pts games. Full FOC requirements for us start at 750.

Concerning your list, a few comments:

As Cancerman already said, the list doesn't forfill the mandatory FOC choices for an army made with Codex: Space Marines. It does forfill the FOC choices for Codex: Blood Angels though, as Assault Squads are troop choices there.

The Chaplain indeed is a very solid HQ choice for this low point level. His rules really can carry a unit at this level. You might what to give him a JumpPack - his rules benefit close combat units most, so he should roll with your Assault Squad. Without a Jump Pack though, they will leave him behind.

The Tactical squad seems pretty standard to me, should work well. I am not sold on the plasmapistol though - while I use them, the squad will need some more punch in close combat. For the same points you get a power weapon to ignore armor saves. That should work better. Same goes for the Assault Squad.

Concerning the Predator, I don't get your listing either - you can't take only 1 heavy bolter on one side - you either take both or nothing.