Captain Ordei - Scout Captain

[The Black Watch]

I recently got back into 40k after about 15 years thanks to my brother-in-law. Being a creative type I wanted to create my own chapter, characters, fluff etc. My first character was born of my fascination with scout snipers. I wanted to represent some kind of awesome marksman. I generally don't like characters that are too powerful or boring. Hope I've succeeded. Here's the fluff:

 

CAPTAIN ORDEI

 

Ordei started his career like all marines with a gruelling two year trial on the moon of Thrax. He didn’t truly find his calling, however, until he was initiated into the Scout Company. His skill with a Bolter was instantly recognised by his squad sergeant and on his first tour of duty, Ordei killed many enemies at range. He was soon given the opportunity to wield a sniper rifle and it was as though every fibre of his body was designed for this very weapon. The instant he held the gun, man and machine became one, it was no longer a tool, it was an extension of his body.

 

In battle, Ordei was the first to fire – even before his sergeant deemed the target to be in range. The crack of the rifle pierced the air again and again as Ordei’s victims lie dead. During the battle of Hathlon, Ordei’s marksmanship so shattered the enemy’s will that they remained cowering behind cover until the rest of the army could outflank them and utterly destroy them. It was Ordei’s legendary feats during this engagement that earned him the Eye of the Watch – the highest accolade for marksmanship that the chapter could award. Ordei has since been awarded the Eye no less than twenty-three times.

 

After Hathlon, Ordei was promoted to the Devastator Reserve-Company where it was hoped he would continue to show exemplary shooting prowess with heavy weapons. Ordei was less than pleased but stoically undertook his duty. While Ordei was doubtless the match of his peers in heavy weaponry, he was not the awesome assassin he had been with the sniper rifle. After several years of loyal service, Ordei approached his Captain with an unorthodox request; to be posted back to the 10th Company of Scouts. No Space Marine had ever made such a request for it was viewed a backwards step in a Marines’ progression. After much debate with the Chapter Masters, the request was approved and Ordei was re-assigned to the Scout Company, 1st squad.

 

Ordei was delighted to be back in his natural environment, eager to throw off his cumbersome power armour and grasp the weapon that made him a god. Ordei was soon promoted to sergeant and for a hundred years he further honed his skills while passing on his vast knowledge to the young recruits. Some of the greatest marksmen in the Black Watch learned their skills under Ordei’s august tutelage.

 

After proving that even alone, he could turn the tide of a battle and guiding the Black Watch to victory in many wars, Ordei’s ascendance to true greatness was assured. When captain Iuos was killed in battle, the Chapter Masters did not have to search for a replacement. Ordei proudly accepted the mantle of Captain of the Scout Company and to honour the occasion, the great tech-priests of the Black Watch commissioned a master weapon for him. The Silent Assassin is Ordei’s sniper rifle and this holy union of man and machine forms one of the deadliest weapons in the chapter.

 

And the rules:

 

 

WS BS S T W I A Ld Sv

5 6 4 4 3 4 2 10 4+

 

SPECIAL RULES

And They Shall Know No Fear, Infiltrate, Move Through Cover, Combat Tactics, Scout, Stealth, Independent Character

 

Eye of the Watch: (this is the same as Telion's Eye of Vengeance)

 

Captain of the Scout Company: If Ordei is the only Captain in the army, one Troops choice must be a Scout squad. Additionally, Ordei can only choose to join scout squads.

 

Displace!: Ordei is a master of sniper tactics, marking his target and falling back to avoid return fire. If Ordei did not move in the movement phase, he may choose to move in the assault phase instead of making an assault, regardless of whether he has fired in the shooting phase. If Ordei chooses to do this, he can no longer fire in his next turn, though he can move and assault normally.

 

WARGEAR:

Bolt Pistol, Combat Blade, Frag & Krak Grenades

 

Silent Assassin: Ordei’s mighty sniper rifle is superior to the normal scout snipers’. It wounds on a roll of 3+, regardless of toughness. Against vehicles, it counts as Strength 4. It is also a master-crafted weapon. It has the following profile:

 

Range Strength AP Type

42” X 4 Heavy 1, Rending, Pinning

 

Kuffours’ Exoskeleton: This ancient and heavily modified suit of scout armour is reserved for the Captain of the 10th Company. It offers a 4+ Invulnerable save.

 

I thought about making it Heavy 2 but thought it might too powerful. I was thinking about him being around 100 pts. Whilst he is obviously a great sniper he's not as good as regular captain in close combat.

 

 

I'm new to the forum so I apologise in advance if I've messed up and done something wrong. I look forward to your comments.

 

 

[Ktan]

Just a really small and quick note.

 

Instead of having the Rending and Pinning rules, and given that the weapon has no Strength rating, you could just make the weapon Heavy 1, Sniper

 

Otherwise, I like the idea of a ranged Captain, and the fluff was quite nice.

[The Black Watch]

Thanks!

 

I thought about that but given that it doesn't follow the normal rules for sniper weapons with wounding and against vehicles, I thought that could be more confusing. Good point though.

[Frosty the Pyro]

Well First you forgot And They Shall Know No Fear.

 

Second, the rules seam solid (though your font is painfull), though I would just give him scout armor and an iron halo instead of saying funky armor has an inv save, it amounts to the same thing, but is more in line with a regular captain.

 

I think your pricing needs some work though.

 

There are three important units to campare him to. A space marine captain, a vindicare assasin, and Telion. This rank in at 100, 110, and 73 pts respectively (remember telion is an upgrade to a 23 pt scout sergent)

 

Compared to the Captain your are -1 ws +1 BS, -1 I, -1A, -1 SV, you are up your silent assasin, scout, stealth, eye of ____, and displace. You are down the ability to take a comand squad, and captain of scout company (which is a restricted version of IC and thus in the "down list"). Note also that you have three weapons where a captain only has 2.

 

 

Compare to vindicar assasin you are +1BS +1W -1I -1A (though as you have 2 CC weapons the A is actualy equal). You are up Frag and Krak grenades, scout, combat tactics, ATSKNF (which i asume you will add), displace, scout company captain (his IC rule is even more limiting). I will call a wash stealth vs stealth suit, Silent assasin vs exidous rifle (you have better to wound and range, he has beter AP and special rounds, special rounds may even put it in his favor). In assisins favor, spy mask, exodis pistol vs bolt pistol, "Marksman" vs eye of ____ (marksman can even target units in CC), and fearless (though this is more often a detriment in 5th it was purely a benifit in 4th).

 

Vs Telion you are +2 W +1 Ld. You are up silent assasin vs stalker boltgun (much better to wound, more range, beter AP, less shots), scout company captain, Displace!, combat blade (which puts you at +1 A), and a 4+ inv save. you are down infiltrate acute, senses, and voice of expereince.

 

So to be honest I think you are looking at around 115 to 120 points. Maybe even a little more (eye of vengence is a pretty huge ability)

[The Black Watch]

Well First you forgot And They Shall Know No Fear.

Ooops! (edited)

 

Second, the rules seam solid (though your font is painfull), though I would just give him scout armor and an iron halo instead of saying funky armor has an inv save, it amounts to the same thing, but is more in line with a regular captain.

You don't like Trebuchet? Shocking. Well since there has never been a proper scout captain before, I wasn't sure if he'd get an iron halo without power armour so I put his armour in just in case and for fluff purposes.

 

I think your pricing needs some work though.

 

So to be honest I think you are looking at around 115 to 120 points. Maybe even a little more (eye of vengence is a pretty huge ability)

Yeah that sounds ok. The BS6 is to represent his obviously excellent shooting skill but it'll only ever be used against the bolt pistol since the Silent Assassin is master crafted. Thats why I didn't think it was worth much. I was trying to make him nigh-on perfect in shooting as far as possible but average in close combat. If he gets charged by a squad he's not going to last long without a power weapon. And lets not forget he can only kill one thing per turn at range. He also doesn't confer any special abilities onto a squad he has joined since he doesn't have any!

 

I think I'll add Infiltrate and Move Through Cover as well. Do you think Displace! works as a rule? Didn't want it to be too complicated.

[greatcrusade08]

Well since there has never been a proper scout captain before.

 

Just for clarification all scout captains are trained in the arts of scout warfare, most if not all were likely scout sergeants themselves at some point. (but this doesnt translate into rules unfortunately)

 

The rules seem fine (points should be about 120) but the fluff seems a little off IMO.

 

Ordei started his career like all marines with a gruelling two year trial on the moon of Thrax. He didn’t truly find his calling, however, until he was initiated into the Scout Company.

 

Hmm, if this character is to be used with 5th ed codex, then several points may need to be changed.

Firstly space marines dont have a 'trial' as such, they undergo a selection process which is different for every chapter, if chose the 'aspirant' goes straight into the tenth company, his first year (approx) is spent in basic training, they dont fight real enemies until after this training is complete.

 

Ordei approached his Captain with an unorthodox request; to be posted back to the 10th Company of Scouts. No Space Marine had ever made such a request for it was viewed a backwards step in a Marines’ progression

Weird but ok!

 

Ordei was soon promoted to sergeant and for a hundred years he further honed his skills while passing on his vast knowledge to the young recruits.

Hmm this doesnt sit well with me, if he chose scout duties as his career (we know marines can do this with assault and dev) then he may be able to get a promotion to scout sergeant (this normally requires you to be veteran equivalent).

If he did manage to make scout sergeant he probably wouldnt be assigned as a tutor to new recruits.. bascially becuase he hasnt finished his training himself, he has no experience in assault or tactical duties, and very little with dev squads.

He may be able to teach scouts with sniper rifle but this wouldnt happen in the battlefield environment we associate with scouts, as they would be accompanied by thier chosen tutor, who would teach them everything from cc to sniping. Its my opinion this man would instead teach in the practice cages back at base.

If you changed the wording a little, instead of saying his vast knowledge, write "his skills with the sniper rifle" or something similar.

Also i beleive as he 'could' be a sergeant but wouldnt be a tutor, he would be part of the 10th command squad, which would fit into hsi eventual rise to tenth captain.

 

Note though its possible that ordei was given the special training neede to become a tutor, but this would have to be noted to make the fluff nuts happy )

 

For more details see the link in my sig under training marines: the codex way.

 

GC08

Edit: ive read through my response and i dont think i was clear enough, basically if a scout is to become captain, he must be a scout sergeant who is part of the command squad.

If he is part of the command squad he is not a scout tutor sergeant (one who accompanies a squad) so for him to take over as captain he wouldnt have been teaching scouts!

Its possible he did it all, but he would have to go:

Scout ---> Scout sergeant.. have special training to be able to teach noobs ---> scout command squad ---> captain.

[Frosty the Pyro]

Well First you forgot And They Shall Know No Fear.

Ooops! (edited)

 

Second, the rules seam solid (though your font is painfull), though I would just give him scout armor and an iron halo instead of saying funky armor has an inv save, it amounts to the same thing, but is more in line with a regular captain.

You don't like Trebuchet? Shocking. Well since there has never been a proper scout captain before, I wasn't sure if he'd get an iron halo without power armour so I put his armour in just in case and for fluff purposes.

 

I think your pricing needs some work though.

 

So to be honest I think you are looking at around 115 to 120 points. Maybe even a little more (eye of vengence is a pretty huge ability)

Yeah that sounds ok. The BS6 is to represent his obviously excellent shooting skill but it'll only ever be used against the bolt pistol since the Silent Assassin is master crafted. Thats why I didn't think it was worth much. I was trying to make him nigh-on perfect in shooting as far as possible but average in close combat. If he gets charged by a squad he's not going to last long without a power weapon. And lets not forget he can only kill one thing per turn at range. He also doesn't confer any special abilities onto a squad he has joined since he doesn't have any!

 

I think I'll add Infiltrate and Move Through Cover as well. Do you think Displace! works as a rule? Didn't want it to be too complicated.

 

He already has move through cover, all IC come with move through cover, its part of being an IC, also expert rider, but that wont matter cus he cant take a bike.

 

Also like the Vindicar, the point isnt that he can only kill one thing a turn, the point is he gets to PICK what that one thing is. Heck I can just imagine a list with this guy, Telion, and a Vindicar (and obviously a inquistor or I cant feild the vindicar). Between the three of them any heavy weapon or special character I want dead will die.

[The Black Watch]

Firstly space marines dont have a 'trial' as such, they undergo a selection process which is different for every chapter, if chose the 'aspirant' goes straight into the tenth company, his first year (approx) is spent in basic training, they dont fight real enemies until after this training is complete.

Well the fluff for my chapter involves them having to undergo a two year trial to toughen them up.

 

If he did manage to make scout sergeant he probably wouldnt be assigned as a tutor to new recruits.. bascially becuase he hasnt finished his training himself, he has no experience in assault or tactical duties, and very little with dev squads.

He doesn't need experience in Assault or Tactical or even Dev because he's not training them on any of that. He's training them how to be better scouts. I imagine he would have led a squad of snipers on the battlefield in order to pass on his skills. If you gave him a jumppack he'd probably just look at you blankly, that doesn't make him any worse at being a sniper.

 

if a scout is to become captain, he must be a scout sergeant who is part of the command squad.

If he is part of the command squad he is not a scout tutor sergeant (one who accompanies a squad) so for him to take over as captain he wouldnt have been teaching scouts!

Its possible he did it all, but he would have to go:

Scout ---> Scout sergeant.. have special training to be able to teach noobs ---> scout command squad ---> captain.

Well thats the career path I had in mind for him tbh. I left out the bit about him being in a command squad for the sake of time and space. It doesn't say he went straight from squad sergeant to captain so you could assume that he was in the command squad first. I'll have a read of your article though thanks.

 

He already has move through cover, all IC come with move through cover, its part of being an IC, also expert rider, but that wont matter cus he cant take a bike.

 

Also like the Vindicar, the point isnt that he can only kill one thing a turn, the point is he gets to PICK what that one thing is. Heck I can just imagine a list with this guy, Telion, and a Vindicar (and obviously a inquistor or I cant feild the vindicar). Between the three of them any heavy weapon or special character I want dead will die.

 

Oh yes of course. Yeah I guess so. I'm not mean enough to pick all of those in one army, its just a bit of fun :rolleyes:!

[greatcrusade08]

He doesn't need experience in Assault or Tactical or even Dev because he's not training them on any of that. He's training them how to be better scouts. I imagine he would have led a squad of snipers on the battlefield in order to pass on his skills. If you gave him a jumppack he'd probably just look at you blankly, that doesn't make him any worse at being a sniper.

 

Im cool with most of the responses, but this is on area where i have to poke my nose in again ;)

 

You dont get squads of scout snipers, fluff is far different to the rules/army selection. Scouts dont have squads purposely set aside for sniper training.

A scout squad consist of a tutor sergeant and 9 scouts in various stages of thier training between 'boot camp' and mounted assault. If the mission at hand calls for snipers they would use them and be taught by thier tutors on the particulars (they would also have training at barracks).

the same unit that utilises snipers one day may be fighting in close quarters the next! Its all part of thier training, this is the reason that scout sergeants are better trained than most, because they need to teach the noobs all facets of thier own experiences.

Whilst it is possible he was allowed to be transferred to tenth (im dubious as even Telion had to follow the progression) and its even possible he got promoted to sergeant, i think he is more suited to other duties rather than as a tutor.. its your fluff but personally i would stick with the command squad idea...

The reason Telion is not a captain is becuase he wants to be where he is, teaching the noobs, if Ordei was that good as a teacher, i fail to see why he would have been singled out for command squad detail. I would have kept him where he did the most good!

This is the reason i think he should have gone

Scout ---> Scout sergeant in command sqaud ---> captain

 

But its your choice, theres nothing inherantly wrong with anything you have written, it just doesnt ring true for me... i guess im just an uptight fluff nazi :lol:

 

Gc08

Edit: is there a link so i can see more on your 2 year trial info, i find myself interested on the different ideas floating about?

[The Black Watch]

You dont get squads of scout snipers, fluff is far different to the rules/army selection.

Oh I didn't really know that. I've read lots of SM fluff and kind of wrote mine to be as in-keeping as possible but still with my own ideas.

The reason Telion is not a captain is becuase he wants to be where he is, teaching the noobs, if Ordei was that good as a teacher, i fail to see why he would have been singled out for command squad detail. I would have kept him where he did the most good!

This is the reason i think he should have gone

Scout ---> Scout sergeant in command sqaud ---> captain

Yeah I suppose so. Thats fine and it still makes sense.

But its your choice, theres nothing inherantly wrong with anything you have written, it just doesnt ring true for me... i guess im just an uptight fluff nazi :lol:

 

Gc08

Edit: is there a link so i can see more on your 2 year trial info, i find myself interested on the different ideas floating about?

 

Ha ha I'm a fluff nazi too (though I don't know all of it obviously). If something doesn't quite seem right, I'll re-write it until it does. Which is partly why I haven't posted any of my other fluff yet. I keep changing it.

 

The reason I put the two year trial in is that my chapters fortress in on a moon orbiting a pretty nice planet (a bit like Macragge I guess). Its not very grim down there and since its where most of the recruits come from they chapter needs them to be tougher. So upon successful application they get sent to a nearby moon which is pretty vicious. The ones who survive get initiated into the scout company.

 

I had got my chapter origin sussed until I read an article about how long it takes to raise a new chapter. Now I'm re-writing it to be more plausible.

[greatcrusade08]

The reason I put the two year trial in is that my chapters fortress in on a moon orbiting a pretty nice planet (a bit like Macragge I guess). Its not very grim down there and since its where most of the recruits come from they chapter needs them to be tougher. So upon successful application they get sent to a nearby moon which is pretty vicious. The ones who survive get initiated into the scout company.

That actually makes alot of sense, since most space marines are recruited from feral worlds.

Ultramar's population attend the agiselus (sp) barracks to learn the art of combat etc at a young age, only the best and brightest go on to be SM... same thing really.

Must be hard to be a civilised SM chapter :lol:

 

GC08