Advice on Army Compositions

[Rurouni Benshin]

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if anyone can give a little insight on how an army should be made for most case scenarios (ie - all three mission types).

I'm a Space Marine player, and I find myself NOT taking more than two troop units, and spending most, if not all of my remaining points on Elites, Fast Attack, and/or Heavy Support units, with the occasional secondary HQ.  And while the points I spend on Non-Troop units are well spent and used, there is a daunting (and quite obvious) problem I have with having only two troop units.  And that is having only two troop units!

Is there a general method/algorithm/point-to-piece-to-game ratio, that I should consider when making my armies?  For example, if I play a game that is 2000 points or more, should I have at least 3 troop units, or will 2 suffice? 

Bare in mind that my troop squads are well equipped. Here's an example of one of my ten man squads:

7 Space Marines with Bolters
1 Space Marine with Meltagun
1 Space Marine with Missile Launcher, Multimelta, or Heavy Bolter
1 Space Marine Sergeant with Power Fist and Melta Bombs

If I find myself with some points to spare at the end, I may splurge on a Combat Shield or Plasma Pistol for the Sergeant, or a Plasma Cannon or Lascannon for heavy weapons, but I usually stick with what comes free, since most of my heavy supports and elites cover those bases pretty well.

So if anyone can share some insight with me on this, I would greatly appreciate it.  Thank you!
~Ben

[Warpedfuzz]

Ben,
 I'd have to say that it depends on your style of play, or lack of in some cases. I use two, or three lists for same set points. Depends on how I want to play that day. With a larger troop choice in one of those. If you have them,than use them. I tend to use the 3 troop choices more often lately, for the numbers of shoots. You don't want to set yourself up though for not being able to get the objective though.

[straightedge166]

Ben I cant really help yah there because as you know my army is pretty much all troops, but 3 troops sounds reasonable if a hard backbone of heavys and elites

[Captain Bryan!]

I usually use 3-4 troops in all of my games

[General Leevous]

I play chaos, but Its basically the same thing... 4 troops seems to be a good estimate for the amount of troops to use. I hate crtunching numbers cuz my troops cost 23 points a model... so I feel your pain lol.

[Rurouni Benshin]

I asked a few other people, and after hearing what they had to say, and from what you're all telling me on this forum, that the general consensus is to have more than 2 troop squads.

Looks like I have a little more work to do in reforming the army.   

[the_trooper]

I play chaos, but Its basically the same thing... 4 troops seems to be a good estimate for the amount of troops to use. I hate crtunching numbers cuz my troops cost 23 points a model... so I feel your pain lol.

I can't tell if all these bad puns were on purpose.

[General Leevous]

What puns? I don't get it....

[Rurouni Benshin]

I thought that too at first, until I reread "feel your pain".  So unless that was an accident or just a casual play on words, then I'm guessing he thought you were eluding to the "Feel No Pain" rule...?

Thanks again for the advice, guys! 

[Grand Master Steve]

My personal rule of thumb is to have 50-60% of the points devoted to troops. I ude whats left over to fill in the rest of the army.

[Rurouni Benshin]

That's... a lot... of troops....  Alrighty then, well hopefully this will prove helpful during my next game!

Thanks again, everyone.
~Ben