Imperial Guard - 5th ed.

I'm thinking that, in addition to the items Greg mentioned in his main post, he is also a tread-head, thinks snipers are cool, and thinks GunSchwarm is 'da bomb'.

LOOKS COOL FACTOR (LCF)

With that it mind, I suggest as a theme the 40K equivalent of a Bundeswehr reinforced mechanized platoon. The Guardsmen themselves could be painted in the Flecktarn scheme adopted by the modern German Army.

Wiki on Flecktarn:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flecktarn

Here are some ideas for painting the figs themselves:
http://eurekamin.com.au/news.php?newsid=EkuEVlyVVuZuHPvPKs
http://eurekamin.com.au/ideas.php?postid=56

Here are some links regarding vehicles like the Leopard 2:
http://images42.fotosik.pl/43/9c674b12c7534c63.jpg
http://www.deutschesheer.de
http://www.casr.ca/101-army-armour-leopard-2a6m.htm

In the end, Greg would get a very interesting looking army, that could easily do double duty as Gunschwarm forces mobilized by Future Angela Merkel.

ARMY LIST

HQ
Company Command Squad = 245
- Hauptmann Burch (Company Commander) w/ Plasma Pistol
- Veteran w/ Vox-caster
- Veteran with Medi-pack
- 2 x Veterans w/ Meltaguns
- Officer of the Fleet
- Master of Ordnance
- Bodyguard
- Chimera APC w/ Scatter Laser/Heavy Bolter

Troops
Infantry Platoon:
Platoon Command = 120
- Leutnant (Platoon Commander) w/ Plasma Pistol
- Guardsman w/ Vox-caster
- 2 x Guardsmen w/ Meltaguns
- Guardsman w/ Lasgun
- Chimera APC w/ Scatter Laser/Heavy Flamer

Infantry Squad = 125
- Feldwebel (Sergeant) w/ Plasma Pistol
- Guardsman w/ Vox-caster
- Guardsman w/ Flamer
- 7 Guardsmen
- Chimera APC w/ Scatter Laser/Heavy Bolter

Infantry Squad = 125
- Feldwebel (Sergeant) w/ Plasma Pistol
- Guardsman w/ Vox-caster
- Guardsman w/ Grenade Launcher
- 7 Guardsmen
- Chimera APC w/ Scatter Laser/Heavy Flamer

Troops
Veteran Squad = 130
- Oberfeldwebel (Veteran Sgt.)
- Veteran w/ Vox-caster
- 3 x Veterans w/ Sniper Rifles
- Veteran Weapons team w/ Autocannon
- 3 Veterans
- Forward Sentries - camo cloaks and snare mines

Troops
Veteran Squad = 150
- Oberfeldwebel (Veteran Sgt.)
- Veteran w/ Vox-caster
- Veteran w/ Flamer
- 2 x Veterans w/ Grenade Launchers
- Veteran w/ Demo Charge
- 4 Veterans
- Forward Sentries - camo cloaks and snare mines
- Demolitions - Melta Bombs and the one Demo Charge

Fast Attack
Bane Wolf = 145
- Heavy Flamer
- Extra Armour (Crew Stunned counted as Crew Shaken)

Heavy Support
Leman Russ Vanquisher = 250
- tank commander = Knight Commander Pask (Tank Ace)
- Lascannon
- Dozer Blade (re-roll Difficult Terrain tests)
- Camo Netting (+1 cover save)

Heavy Support
Leman Russ Demolisher = 210
- Heavy Bolter
- 2 x Multimelta Sponsons
- Extra Armour (Crew Stunned counted as Crew Shaken)


GREG'S CRITERIA:

1500 points:
The force totals exactly 1500 points.

unifying theme:
This force represents elements of a motorized infantry (Panzergrenadier) company, with some attached regimental assets.

The two Veteran squads represent elements of the regimental reconnaissance company. They're first on the battlefield; the sharpest end of the stick, that the rest of the battle group supports.

The core response force is a mechanized infantry platoon, which has the capability to fight enemy light infantry and armour at relatively close range. Using its vehicles, the squads can move to seize distant objectives, or can quickly change the direction of an advance.

Tanks from the regimental panzer battalion have been seconded to the panzer grenadiers. Supporting the infantry directly are the Bane Wolf and the Demolisher. The Vanquisher supports the formation as a whole at longer range.

It should have a chance to f***ing win:
Orders are a new feature of the Imperial Guard. All the Vox-casters in the various units allow re-rolls of failed Ld tests when giving orders.

There is a mix of effective weapon types throughout the army. The sniper rifle/autocannon Veteran squad pins the enemy at range. The Veteran demolitions squad handles enemy fortifications and bunkers. The Vanquisher and its Tank Ace is able to deal with the heaviest tank armour at long range (BS4, 9+2D6 AP w/ Vanquisher Battle Cannon, 10+D6 AP w/ Lascannon, re-roll wounds against Monstrous Creatures). The panzer grenadier squads and all the Chimera APCs have a mix of weapons to deal with both lightly armoured tanks and with hordes. The Bane Wolf can kill an entire Marine squad with its chem cannon (template, AP3, wounds on 2+), and has capability against other infantry and hordes with its heavy flamer.

Meltagun variants are "the new black" for 5th edition; the extra D6 penetration helps against most vehicles (not the Wave Serpent energy field, but oh well). Rolling +1 on the Vehicle Damage Table is a good way to destroy both Land Raiders and Eldar skimmer tanks. The two command squads have Meltaguns to deal with tank armour at close range (I envision them fighting from inside the Chimera, using its fire points). At medium range, the Demolisher can deal with 2+ armoured foes like Terminators with its cannon (S10 AP2, large blast marker), and can deal with heavy tanks with its 2 sponson Multimeltas.

The Officer of the Fleet delays enemy reserves, allowing a force multiplier for the Guard forces already on-table. The Master of Ordnance rains down S9 pie plates.

The Extra Armour helps keep the Bane Wolf and Demolisher assault tanks moving. The dozer blade allows the Vanquisher to move more easily into terrain, thus allowing it a 3+ cover save due to the camo netting.

Defensively, the Veterans' snare mines count as defensive grenades, disallowing the "charging" extra attack for enemies that close assault the Veterans. The Veterans' camo cloaks add to their cover save. If they Go to Ground while in cover, they'll gain a 2+ cover save against incoming fire.

avoid any outright cheesebag options:
No two units in this battle force are identical.

The one named character, Pask, merely adds to his unit's effectiveness, rather than being some uber killy guy himself.

There are no obvious "ploys" like a Psyker squad pinning an enemy unit, then indirect fire ordnance nailing them.

This is a balanced force, able to deal with a lot of different mission types. For what it's worth, under Astronomi-con Composition scoring, this battle group scores 19 out of 20.

it should look cool, without taking forever to paint:
IMO, the Flecktarn camo scheme looks cool. Greg has done it before with his ultramoderns. To change it up, he could go with the desert variant.

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So, what do you think?