Executioners Command Squad Part 2

Here are the last two members of my mounted Command Squad. The first is the basic squad member with a chain axe and storm shield because someone has to catch the first bullet.

Space Marine Codex Review: Chapter Master and Honor Guard

It seemed like it took forever, but I'm finally through all of the Chapter Tactics and associated special characters. It's time to move on to the unaffiliated options that make up the bulk of the codex. 

Chapter Master

The Chapter Master has had a turbulent history in 40K, but his latest incarnation is now the combat beast that we’d always hoped for. With WS6 and 4 Attacks, he can dish out a fair amount of damage, and 4 wounds lets him soak up a fair amount as well. Beyond his impressive statline, he also can fire a single Orbital Barrage, a S10 AP1 large blast that is fairly inaccurate. This attack must annihilate the enemy sometimes. It has the stats to destroy an important enemy unit caught in the open, and it should hit 1/3 of the time. Certainly not something to plan for, but it’s a gimmick that should viciously shift the game in your favor every few games. Somehow, I’ve never seen it actually kill anything important. Just my dice, I guess; let me know if you have any more inspiring stories about it.

Executioners Command Squad Part 1

Here are the first three completed members of my Command Squad. They're the same paint scheme as my Veterans, with a skull on the right shoulder to signify their status as a Command Squad.

Ultramarines Chapter Tactics: Badab Wars Special Characters

Here's my final catch all for the Badab War Characters that use the Ultramarines Chapter Tactics, or have unknown Chapter Tactics in the case of the Exorcists.

 Howling Griffons: Chaplain Dreadnought Titus

Titus has the standard profile and rules for a Venerable Dreadnought, with a few extra rules to convey his role as a Chaplain Dreadnought of the Howling Griffons. He has a dreadnought close-combat weapon with heavy flamer or storm bolter, as well as a lascannon (which for some reason isn’t twin-linked like it is for every other Dreadnought) or assault cannon. He also comes with extra armor.

To mimic the Chaplain rules, Titus has Hatred and makes ever friendly Space Marine unit within 12” Fearless. Finally, and perhaps most useful, Titus is scoring if he is your warlord. Very unusually, Titus does benefit from Ultramarines Chapter Tactics even though he’s a vehicle. That’s not a huge change, but it could prove extremely useful throughout the course of the game, particularly benefiting him if he needs to get into assault with a juicy target.

Titus isn’t the most competitive choice, but he is unique as a scoring Dreadnought HQ. He’ll be most useful anchoring a firebase, as he’ll provide some firepower, make the surrounding units Fearless, and act as a counter-charge unit.

WIP: Executioners Command Squad

I just wanted to post another WIP photo now that I've assembled my Command Squad. They'll be running alongside the Chapter Master I posted a few weeks ago.

I've stuck with the bolters in the face. The more horses I made that way, the more it grew on me (maybe I was just getting used to it). I think the squad looks pretty intimidating, and I'm looking forward to painting them up.

Commission: Ultramarines Librarian

I took a very small commission to paint up a converted Ultramarine Librarian. It will be added to the Ultramarine army that I painted up last year. Here he is:

Ultramarines Special Characters

While I was going over my posts, I realized that I never posted my reviews of the Ultramarines characters. Here they are. 

Marneus Calgar

Marneus Calgar is the Chapter Master of the Ultramarines, and is every inch the tank that Lysander is. With the Chapter Master statline, Eternal Warrior, an iron halo, and either artificer armor or terminator armor, Calgar is extremely durable. He wears a pair of power fists with an AP2 storm bolter, so his damage output is very respectable. Due to his Titanic Might rule, he re-rolls and failed Armor Penetration rolls, so he’s even more reliable against vehicles.

For all of his personal abilities, you’ll probably take Marneus because of his army support abilities. His God of War rule has two massive effects. First, all Ultramarines in his army can choose to pass or fail any morale check. This is terrifically useful, as it makes your army completely reliable. Your units will never fall back off an objective or off the table. If they’re in an assault they don’t want to be in, they can always try to get out with no repercussions if they fail. Beyond this, it also allows your army to use one of the Combat Tactics twice each game. This will usually be the Tactical Doctrine, as it has the most uses, but you can choose the others if circumstances demand. Between these two abilities, Calgar gives you an army of Uber-Ultramarines.

Astral Claws Chapter Tactics and Characters

 We finally arrive at the biggest players in the Badab War, the Astral Claws. Masters of rapid assault and encirclement tactics, the Astral Claws set off the largest Imperial Civil War since the Horus Heresy when they overstepped their boundaries and took control of their own empire surrounding the Maelstrom.

The Astral Claws display Reckless Courage, which gives them Stubborn and means that they can never voluntarily fail a Morale check. While I wasn’t crazy about Stubborn when the Executioners had it, I do find myself missing it. It gives your army a tremendous amount of reliability, though it does hinder your ability to use And They Shall Know No Fear to the fullest. In addition, thanks to Rapid Attack and Encirclement, Astral Claws Bikes have Skilled Rider and their Fast Skimmers gain Scout. While it’s not quite as good as the White Scars Chapter Tactics due to the lack of Hit and Run, the Astral Claws can still run a very strong Bike list with outflanking Land Speeders.

The Imperiad Grand Tournament

What is it?

 

A five round, 1850 point Warhammer 40,000 singles event.

 

When is it?

 

Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27, 2014

 

Where is it?

 

The event will be held at

 

Atomic Empire

3400 Westgate Drive

Durham, NC 27707

(919) 490-7900

How much is it?

Entry is $35.00 until 11:59 PM June 6, 2014.  The entry fee then increases to $45.  Registration closes at 11:59 PM on July 5, 2014.  Full refunds are available until 11:59 PM on July 12, 2014.  Partial refunds are not available at any time.

 

What do you get for your ticket?

 

·Five individual games of 6th edition Warhammer 40,000 in the Grand Tournament.

 

·All your games will be played on Atomic Empire’s tables during the weekend with first-class painted and textured terrain.

 

·Spend your down time relaxing in the Atomic Empire bar.

 

How do I register?

You may register by visiting Atomic Empire’s event site:  https://www.atomicempire.com/event.aspx?evnt=87 or you may e-mail the tournament organizer at triangledale@yahoo.com.   

 

Is there a player’s packet?

Yes, and it’s available at https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8scHA77GHMUblJhUUtyYUV6ZDA/edit?usp=sharing.

 

How do I know about any updates?

Visit the Atomic Empire Warhammer 40k forum and look for The Imperiad: A Warhammer 40,000 GT (http://z6.invisionfree.com/Scifi_Genre_Forums/index.php?showtopic=10539).

Fire Hawks Chapter Tactics and Knight-Captain Elam Courbray

The Fire Hawks were one of the most aggressive Chapters involved in the Badab War. Their brash nature and vendetta against the Astral Claws resulted in the swift escalation of the war. In fact, it was the Fire Hawks that first opened fire on their brother Astartes. They fought as Loyalists during the initial phases of the war, though they were pulled from the frontlines during the middle phases of the war due to mounting casualties.

The rules for the Fire Hawks are a strange blend of the Salamanders and the Blood Angels. All of their flamer weapons have +1S on the turn a unit enters from Deep Strike, and their jump infantry have +1S to their Hammer of Wrath attacks. Fire Hawks have access to hand flamers, granting them access to more flame weapons than any other Chapter from Codex: Space Marines. Finally, Fire Hawk Assault squads and Vanguard Veteran squads are Scoring units.

WIP: Mounted Executioner Captain

Everyone talking about Space Marine army lists has been going on about the Chapter Master on a bike. With artificer armor and the Shield Eternal, he's incredibly durable, and his hitting power with a power fist and orbital strike is impressive. Even though the Imperial Fists Chapter Tactics that I'm using don't benefit the Chapter Master as much as Iron Hands or White Scars would, I still wanted to field my own juggernaut with the Executioners.