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Problem is, once you mention AC with other non-Guard players, a s**t storm of verbal abuse and cries of "cheese" and "beard" are flung your way. I've noticed that people here are also pretty a**l about AC's.

Sure, I'd love to field one, as they are not nigh-on invincible as people say. Rumour has it that the top three tourney armies now are Space Wolves, Iron Warriors and Armoured Companies.

That's one of the reasons I'm growing a beard. That and so I can pluck it when in deep thought, it seems... Stimulating.

As fearsome as an AC sounds, it has tactical limitations and is more then ever reliant on the terrain. Open grounds form the perfect tanks, but only idiots play on empty tables with just a clump of trees and a hill. Besides, the objective of almost each game is to take and hold or at the very least, move into enemy territory.

Still, the best way to field an AC in something along the lines of a 2 on 2 or higher, with one army providing the tanks, the other the man power to protect them and visa versa.

Oh yeah, like a Mech. Infantry company is the best answer ever. Their a mixed bag, on the one hand their Chimera's provide for extra beef, but on the other hand, it limits the number of infantry squads and forces you to give each squad and support squad that has access to one, to use one.

Mech. Infantry work best in terrain with some cover, but not enough to keep them from being mobile, which is their greatest strength. They need their transports as protection and more importantly, the Chimera's are needed to toss in that extra fire that you already lack from a decreased squad size.

Just my thoughts.

Fun? Maybe, but it would be as ineffective as hell as a force made up of WS, BS 2 and Ld 5 troops is not a great thing to win battles with. Unless that's your niche of ofcourse.

Independant Commissars are more of a gimmick for keeping the leadership up in such lowly squads. I'd much rather use Close Order drill for such formations, as it's free and has some nice benefits. But still, even when fielding 50 man/child/oaf strong conscript platoons, their low WS and BS wont be enough to win through. They work better in conjunction with normal platoons as bait, a very large speedbump or as something to hold victory locations with.

Okay, I'm not sure if we're all playing the same game, but armored company is a friggin' dirty list. It's about as far from codex as possible, and if your opponent doesnt have a force specifically designed to combat it...he's ********. That is DUMB. Especially since they got rid of the lucky glance rule...
Armored Company might WIN a whole lot of matches, but they should rarely if ever be seen in the higher levels of tournament play because of the way the officials are supposed to rank fairness and army composition. Army Comp can make or brake your success at a tourny.
For instance there's a necron army based mostly on Destroyers and Hvy destroyers that (rightfully so) brings cries of cheese whenever it's fielded. You can (and I've seen this with my own eyes) go to a RT tournament with that list and win 10/10 games just to end up ranked below someone who won 6/10 games but had better comp and fairness ratings. Armored Company is much the same story.

That may be the case but thats why you desigen your army to take on all commers if you go to a tourny. If your dumb enough to bring a anti horde army and you end up facing a guy who plays the AC then dont complain. Fight your a** off run up to him, use terrain to your advantage. I hate it when people dont come prepared and complain. We have a saying in our group. Too bad you didnt(insert thing here), deal with it