Ideas for a CC capable Imperial Guard army.

[Tombworld]

So, conventional wisdom says that Imperial Guard (IG) getting anywhere in Close combat (CC) is a load of BS. But is that strictly true?
I've just started playing 40k again, using IG, and it's a bit repetitive to see melta vet spam all the time. A BOLS report showed a Strakken-led IG force with a strong CC element taking names and kicking xenos butt.
So I'd like some advice from any IG egg-spurts who may have experience using the force in CC, just so I can create a more original and interesting force.

First up, I was wondering wether to use the influence of Yarrik or Strakken. If you had to pick just one, which do most people consider the best of those two if you want a strong CC elements in you army? Both have buffs, and advantages and disadantages; For example, Strakken has ablative wounds and customisation options since he has a retinue, Whereas Yarrik is one guy, but has Eternal Warrior and is very tough to kill.

Second, is it actually worth trying to have a genuinly competitive CC element? There are so many units that can buff out an infantry unit, and you have a lot of bodies meaning a lot of attacks. But even with the magic of priest granted re-rolls, Commissar enforced stubborness and their hidden powerfists and eviscerators...will a, say, 20-man blob squad ever stand a chance of being dangerous to much else than a kitten with its claws out? I'm not a mathhammer head; can anyone work some numerical magic on some CC scenarios (For example, uber-buffed Strakken-and-Yarrik influenced 20-man blob Vs whatever-the-heck-you-might-reasonably-face-in-CC)?

Thirdly, I'd love to play a 1500 game with Strakken AND Yarrik. It seems to make the Guard reasonably formiddible in CC. Is it expensive? Oh yeah! But any infantry within their spheres of influence will have I4 and STR4 on the charge (Strakken's influence), re-roll to hit on the charge (Yarrik's), and have counter-charge (Straken) as well as be either fearless or at least stubborn, as well as have the weight of the characters' individual prowess in the fight. Plus, it'd be interesting, you could have some great models on the board, and It'd be the last thing the enemy would expect. But would such a force still get slapped around by the vast majority of other armies in CC? I ask because I would genuinly give it a go, collecting a CC IG army, but I'd like to know if it's at least plausible it could be competitive before I do!

I even toyed with a CC based list:
'Iron-Nipple' Strakken, 3xvets w/las-pistols, 1xvet w/med-kit, 2xbodyguards, Chimera
Commissar Yarrik (attached to one of the 20-man squads)

PCS w/4xMelta Guns, Chimera
20-man Infantry squad w/2xflamers and Commissar W/Powerfist

PCS w/4xMelta Guns, Chimera
20-man Infantry Squad W/2xflamers and Commissar W/Powerfist

PCS w/4xMelta Guns, Chimera
20-man Infantry Squad W/2xFlamers, and Commissar W/Powerfist
20-Man Infantry squad W/2xflamers and Commissar W/Powerfist

Sentinel W/Autocannon.

The idea is that the melta gun equipped squads zoom ahead and hopefully a few get through and destroy the Biiiiig stuff. Alternatively, the Chimeras are parked up as road-blocks to block LOS for ranged weaponry, or impede movement of enemy melee units while everyone advances on foot, hopefully safe from enemy threats as they close in.

The blob squads advance, and Yarrik and Strakken remain close to the centre so they can both affect as many units as possible. As soon as they get close enough, it's charge-ey time! Again, if they can stay within the influence of both the Charcters, that 4x20 man squads with counter-charge, Furious charge, stubborn, re-rolling to hit on-the-charge, and with a cheeky Powerfist attack, which, if I understand the rules right, would be boosted to STR 8 on the charge (Furious charge boosts str by 1. Powerdist doubles user's strength, so +1 is added either to the user's base STR making it 4, doubled by the PF to 8, or it boosts the PF-enhanced strength of the attack from 6 to 7; can anyone clear this up?) And I'd get to use those fantastic Commisar models!

Any advice on IG CC would be welcome. Again, it'd just be nice to be able to unlock that element of the game for a traditionally shooty army, and make something different from the Vet-melta hegemony!

[Tynskel]

I like Straken with Deddog.

To me they sound like Optimus Prime and The Dino-bots

'Me, Grimlock, Kick Butt!'

I don't think going straight CC will win you lots of games- they will be fun. The guard codex, in its flexibility, has inflexibility, due to the need to take a little bit of everything (same with Tyranids!). I think one platoon designed to back up Straken/Yarrick will do well. The rest of the army should be concerned with everything else.

[BuFFo]

If you are playing for fun, give an IG CC army a shot.

If you want to actually win games (against good players, and not your little brother or the new kid), avoid an IG CC army like the plague. A CC unit here and there is okay, but not an entire army dedicated to it.

[Rev. Tiberius Jackhammer]

For all bonuses, add after you multiply. Guard powerfists are S7 with furious charge. Be thankful, this stops there from being S10 space marine powerfists.

[ColCorbane]

Personally, I'd say CC and IG don't go together, well not if you're looking to win games. If it's for ****s and giggles, then take straken, a shed load of conscripts and as many penal troops as you can!

[crazyredpraetorian]

I played in a 2500pt Hobby tournament, yesterday. My results weren't stellar but neither were my dice rolls. I had a ton of fun and that is the real goal. I brought 9 Ogryn and they managed to kill quite alot in the 3 games. Here is the list as close as I can recall w/o having it in front of me:

Straken- 2x melta, 2x flamer, medic, 2x body guard, chimera

Lord Commisssar- carapace, power fist,

2x Priest w/ eviserator

5x Ogryn, chimera

4x Ogryn, chimera

Platoon Command- Lascannon, 2 x sniper rifles, bolter

Squad 1- Autocannon, grenade launcher

Squad 1- Heavy bolter, grenade launcher

Heavy Squad- 3x Lascannon

Heavy Squad- 3x Lascannon

Vet Squad- Harker, 2x plasma, melta, demo, chimera

Vet Squad- Sgt w/ power weapon and plasma pistol, 3x melta, demo

Valkyrie- MRP

5x Rough Riders

Hellhound

Demolisher, Lacannon, plasma cannons

Hydra

Hydra

I ran the Lord Commissar with 5 ogryn, 1 preist w/ 4 ogryn, and 1 priest w/ Straken. It was a fun list, not something to bring to a heavy tournament but a ball to play. The Ogryn drug down a hive tyrant, a librarian, and some MEQs. The dice gods were not kind and I went 0-2-1 for the day but, it did come down to dice(really bad dice, where's my sledge hammer?)

[Outlander]

So, conventional wisdom says that Imperial Guard (IG) getting anywhere in Close combat (CC) is a load of BS. But is that strictly true?

First up, I was wondering wether to use the influence of Yarrik or Strakken. If you had to pick just one, which do most people consider the best of those two if you want a strong CC elements in you army? Both have buffs, and advantages and disadantages; For example, Strakken has ablative wounds and customisation options since he has a retinue, Whereas Yarrik is one guy, but has Eternal Warrior and is very
The blob squads advance, and Yarrik and Strakken remain close to the centre so they can both affect as many units as possible. As soon as they get close enough, it's charge-ey time! Again, if they can stay within the influence of both the Charcters, that 4x20 man squads with counter-charge, Furious charge, stubborn, re-rolling to hit on-the-charge, and with a cheeky Powerfist attack, which, if I understand the rules right, would be boosted to STR 8 on the charge (Furious charge boosts str by 1. Powerdist doubles user's strength, so +1 is added either to the user's base STR making it 4, doubled by the PF to 8, or it boosts the PF-enhanced strength of the attack from 6 to 7; can anyone clear this up?) And I'd get to use those fantastic Commisar models!

Alright. I think i should clear things up here.

Thing number one. Check the codex.

I see that you're arming your commisars with powerfists. page 97 does not allow commissars to equip power fists when they're attatched to infantry squads. They can equip power fists when attatched to the infantry command squads.

Secondly,

As a black templar player, I learned the +1 strength bonus is stacked AFTER the powerfist, so it would be strength 7, not strength 8.

thirdly,

I LOVE Straken, with nork... he's just great. don't worry about bodyguards spending 30 points on 2 extra toughness 3 wounds. I just love charging with him and a block of twenty guardsmen.

As for actual play value, CC guard are fun but I wouldn't say they're competitive, however, playing other guard lists against them. LOTS of FUN.

Good luck with your army!

[ggg]

Are you not tempted to add roughriders into your zone of win? I have never seen kamir taken as an upgrade but if you are making an all out and out assault army - strakken is a must but I would have thought a big pack of rough riders with kamir in reserve was pure cc fun? (stick 2 flamers in that unit and they can take down even a mob of orks on the charge as well as smaller elite units). Creed is another cc option- for the honour of cadia is often overlooked- and he would let you outflank with angry horseriders.

[Majorcrash]

not sure how if many think this list works for them, but I will say that I have had a lot of success so far with it.
And its fairly close combatty.
CC with all armed with CC wpns, Allied inquisitor lord with cc load out (but still under 100pnts) an eversor assassin ( ultimate CC)
2 platoons of troops all armed with plasma or melta, SPc wpn squad w/t meltas and demo. 5 valkryies, 3 vendettas. The key has been the ability to put all the troops together and strike. Instead of having to let them come to me or also able isolate part of the enemy

[Legoklods]

A cc oriented IG?
I shall now state the obvious:...

Ogryns...

3 squads of them.

In transport.