UKGT - 1500 point IG

My friend James is planning on going to a GT early next year along with a few others (me included).

Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your point of view) with so many choices in the Imperial Guard it's difficult to narrow down exactly what he wants and/or needs.

First lets see what he has available,

3 Chimeras,

2 Vendettas,

3 Leman Russ,

60 Guardsmen,

3 Commissars,

5 Ratlings.

Also he'd (obviously) like to keep any additional purchases to a minimum.

Lets have a look at a variation I'd personally like to use and see if we can do it within James's parameters...

1500 Pts - 5th Edition Roster - IG - 1500 - UKGT

HQ: Company Command Squad (6#, 125 pts)

4 Company Command Squad @ 125 pts (Meltagun x2)

1 Company Commander

1 Chimera (Heavy Flamer)

Troops: Veteran Squad (11#, 155 pts)

9 Veteran Squad @ 155 pts (Meltagun x3)

1 Veteran Sergeant

1 Chimera (Heavy Flamer)

Troops: Veteran Squad (11#, 155 pts)

9 Veteran Squad @ 155 pts (Meltagun x3)

1 Veteran Sergeant

1 Chimera (Heavy Flamer)

Troops: Veteran Squad (11#, 155 pts)

9 Veteran Squad @ 155 pts (Meltagun x3)

1 Veteran Sergeant

1 Chimera (Heavy Flamer)

Troops: Veteran Squad (11#, 155 pts)

9 Veteran Squad @ 155 pts (Meltagun x3)

1 Veteran Sergeant

1 Chimera (Heavy Flamer)

Fast Attack: Vendetta Gunship Squadron (1#, 130 pts)

1 Vendetta Gunship Squadron @ 130 pts

1 Vendetta

Fast Attack: Vendetta Gunship Squadron (1#, 130 pts)

1 Vendetta Gunship Squadron @ 130 pts

1 Vendetta

Heavy Support: Ordnance Battery (1#, 135 pts)

1 Ordnance Battery @ 135 pts

1 Medusa (Heavy Flamer)

Heavy Support: Ordnance Battery (1#, 135 pts)

1 Ordnance Battery @ 135 pts

1 Medusa (Heavy Flamer)

Heavy Support: Hydra Flak Tank Battery (3#, 225 pts)

1 Hydra Flak Tank Battery @ 225 pts

1 Hydra Flak Tank

1 Hydra Flak Tank

1 Hydra Flak Tank

Total Roster Cost: 1500

So to do this he'd need to buy,

5 Chimeras - that's 2 more as transports and 3 to use as the basis for Hydra's - £100

2 Basilisks - To use as Medusa's - £60

Meltaguns - the Metal Space Marine ones can be made to fit Guardsmen relatively easily as I've done so myself several times. - 2 packs (10 Meltaguns) - £13

Hydra Guns - The cheapest way of doing this is to buy 'Aegis Defence Lines' and use the Quad guns which would be £15 x3 so £45

Unfortunately that comes to £218 at Games Workshop prices which may be more than he wants to spend.

Cost Reduction Options.

1) Dont buy from GW - I apologise to my friends who work for GW with this one, but you can get stuff at up to 15% cheaper (maybe more) from other stockists. Even taking P+P into account this could save you a good £20+

2) Drop one of the Hydra's - Therefore saving yourself a Chimera and an Aegis Defence line (£35 total) and spend the points on your Ratling unit and a few extra upgrades for the Command Squad.

3) Scrounging - See if you can find people who already have Hydras but haven't glued the turrets on and borrow theirs. The colours probably won't match but at least the Chimera chassis will match the rest of your army.

The other option is to keep a 'core' of armour and use Guardsmen as an Infantry Platoon as 'Bubblewrap'. I'll have a think about it and see if I can come up with something...

Thoughts, Comments and additional input are (as usual) most welcome.