Standard 40k list size

I'm normally not a fan of the big games either. For more pricey armies it seems like a god send letting you have more liberty to choose what you want, but then you get horde armies... which just get bigger and take up most of the table.

Tacticals are wackticals. They are just too expensive for no good reason. The jack of all trades who excel at none. The buffs from HQ choices is included in their cost(combat tactics and it's replacement) and isn't a very powerful boost. If marines could get two flamers, or two meltas, if it mattered that they were now fleeting, Pedro costs a shit ton of points for basically a suped up powerfist and I can just play with Space Wolves or Blood Angels if I want +1 attack on a 15 point marine who has actual advantages like Countercharge and the access to FnP.

Tactical Marines would be awesome in Warmachine, a game where units are complex because they all have many special rules. 40k is far too simple of a game to have something generally useful. They don't have any rules or equipment that make them generally useful.

Compared to the other unique chapters, yes the vanillas are lacking. But for most armies troops choices usually are the stuff most people want to skirt around. Best troops in the game now are basically the cheap horde ones since 5E.

The other issue with SM's in general is so many people play them and most people build their armies with killing/fighting SM in mind. Lot of people don't build or think about fighting horde armies as much.

horde armies are really struggling IMO. 5E footslogging BLOWS- which with the exception of IG, the other two hordies have to do (orcs less so, to an extent. Trukks are a huge risk being AV 10 with open topped). Pie plates rip 'em up, bolters rip 'em up, everything takes em down.

But I agree. Tactical marines are super spensive, have little to nothing to bring to the table other than firesupport against gaunts, boyz, and the like. Go divergent chapter or go home.

PS- Pedro is definitely underwhelming. Power armor+Power fist? You have to hope he never sees close combat.