A small problem on HQ

[Englishman]

Ok so I have been told I can have an HQ unit AND named characters in my space marine army. I'm not sure if this is possible. Is it? Or do they count as an hq unit? I'm confused...

[Seahawk]

It's actually not that difficult. In your codex (if you have one), the HQ section of the list contains all of the characters and units you can use to fill in HQ slots. Simple!

 

There are two other named characters in the codex: Telion (upgrade for a scout squad) and Chronus (upgrade for a vehicle). These two are NOT HQ choices, as detailed in the codex.

 

[reason for edit: hrrmm, yes, oops...]

[SeattleDV8]

Just to be clear Telion and Chronus are NOT HQs, otherwise Seahawk is spot on.

[Englishman]

so, just to get it straight, I can either have an independent character (not telion or chronus0 or an HQ choice. Can I attach my character to a squad so as to take an HQ as well? I know I sound like a noob, but I'm confused.

[Bran Scalphunter]

Okay, you can take up to 2 units from the HQ section of the list. However, Honor Guard and Command Squads do not count against these 2 choices and are only available if you have already taken a Chapter Master or Captain respectively. Chronus and Telion are very specific upgrades for units -Telion for a Troops Scout Squad, Chronus for 1 tank in the army. No, you cannot attach an HQ choice to lets say, a Scout Squad to make it count as a HQ choice, they remain a Troops with an attached Independent Character.

[Warp Angel]

There are two kinds of named characters -

 

Those that take up a force org slot (usually HQ) and those that are unit upgrades and do NOT take up a force org slot on their own.

 

For the first type you have:

 

Marneus Calgar

Tigirius

Lysander

etc.

 

You can take as many named characters of the above type as you have force org slots, but you can only take each character once.

 

For the second type you have:

 

Chronos (vehicle upgrade)

Telleon (scout squad upgrade)

 

In order to field them, you must first fill your force org slot with a qualifying unit. You then buy them in exactly the same manner as you would a weapon option.

 

The ork codex provides more examples of this, where you can take upgrade characters for stormboyz and flash gitz.

 

For space Marines, this means that a perfectly legal army list is below:

 

Marneus Calgar (HQ)

Tigirius (HQ)

Scout Squad with Telleon (Troops)

Tactical Squad (Troops)

Predator with Chronus (Heavy)

 

This gives you 4 named characters. 2 take up force org slots on their own, 2 are purchased as part of another unit.

[Englishman]

Alright, so I can have my librarian as an HQ and Pedro Kantor as well?

[SeattleDV8]

Yes indeed. and not a bad combo

[Legatus]

You should probably check out the rulebook section on army composition, it's on page 87. In a regular game, you can fill teh force organisation chart shown there. You need at least 1 HQ choice, but are allowed 2 in total.

[Englishman]

Okay... thanks alot guys. I didn't think it showed 2 HQ choices on the force organization chart.

[nighthawks]

Englishman (may I call you Brit? ;) ) I will be referencing the force org. chart on P. 127 of codex: space marines.

 

I think see some of your confusion. the text within the FOC diagram shows 1hq/2 troop and 1hq/4troop/3HS/3FA/3E

 

note that the diagram shows black and grey boxes.

 

the black are "compulsory" and the grey are optional. the boxes are as follows, which is detailed below the illustration in the same outline:

2 HQ (1 black, 1 grey)

6 Troop (2 black, 4 grey)

3 elite (grey)

3 heavy support (grey)

3 fast attack (grey)

 

you MUST have each compulsory option filled (black boxes) - so 1 HQ and 2 troop choices. these are the black boxes.

 

you MAY have anything else you like, up to your points limit, from any of the remaining boxes (the greys) so an additional 1 HQ, up to 4 more troops, up to 3 each heavy, fast, and elites.

[Englishman]

Oh! I thought that you either chose the black OR grey boxes! This solves all my problems!