Storm Fists and the new Codex

I have been wandering through the new Space Marine codex the past few days, and deciding how the changes affect my Storm Fists. Quick and easy answer is: Not much at all.

My basic 1500 CAD list changed a bit recently, as I swapped around a few special and heavy weapons, and split the scout squad into two units (and thus two missile launchers). The points fluctuated a bit, but worked out about the same value.

The long and dirty answer is a bit longer and dirtier...

Now, what about that Gladius formation? Well, I still need to finish models for it... Quick run up shows that I can EASILY make the demi-company formation up to 1500 points on its own, so I would need to change the way I run this army to get the required auxiliary formations. Basically, I would actually have to start on the table at the beginning of the game. (Boo!)

So, comparing formations to my collection, what do I need to add to get "street legal" on that side? Well, as mentioned Tuesday, Ive built a new Tactical squad, got a Devastator squad in the works, and I purchased an Assault squad box. So, demi-company is go.

I split my 10 scouts into two 5-man units, and built a third box thats been sitting for roughly three years now, which gives me a 10th Company Task Force.

I have a 10-man Sternguard squad all set, I am working on painting a 5-man Terminator squad.... and I have another Sternguard box that was hiding with the Scout unit, so once I build them Ill have a 1st Company Task Force.

A Stormtalon and a Stormraven only need another Stormtalon to give me a Stormwing Formation, which I am actually interested in running....

Next to last, I have a single Librarian, so if I add two more Ill have a Librarius Conclave. Not sure if this one is one I really want to use. Partially because I want to avoid "units of characters", and partially because fluff/story reasons. Though, I could see a Epistolary leading a pair of Lexicanium "apprentices". Hmm...

The final formation that I have models starting to get built up for is a second demi-company. Currently, a unit of 10 bikers (ok, 8 and an attack bike), and a box of Centurions. Figure Id add three Tactical squads and a Chaplain, then 3rd Company is ready to go. Idea I might do here is add two more Centurion models, then use the "floating" five Devastators as an ad hoc Command Squad for the Chaplain (which would give me a Reclusiam Command Squad if I ever so decided).

So, lets see. A Stormtalon, a pair of Librarians, three tactical squads, and a Chaplain would fill out the minimum models needed for these formations. Additional models needed to get them where *I* want them would be 5 more Assault marines, 3 Drop Pods, another box of Sternguard, 4 Rhino/Razorback kits, another box of Centurions... and probably a Land Raider Crusader for their transport.

Since transports are a big deal with the Gladius super-formation, I figure the demi-company Ive already nearly finished would be all drop pods, and the "beta" formation would be all rhinos/razorbacks/Land Raider for the big guys. One group running around, making trouble, and the other dropping in to spring the trap.

Once this is done, I might go back and look at some of the other formations...