Null Rod

[Inquisitor Fox]

So I've been toying with the idea of making a few Elites choice Retinues for my Inquisition forces, and have one model in hand and the ideas for a third conversion wise. I have an older model of an Inquisitor in Power Armor with Eviscerator and Bolt Pistol. Not bad, I'm seeing him as a fire and brimstone type with some Hierophants going around smiting demons or something. An older fellow, he could be the original tutor for my other two Inquisitors. The other I wanted to do an Inquisitor with Psycannon, possibly with a Mystic, Sage and Familiar, then three Warriors (probably Heavy Bolters, but maybe Plasma). Might swap in an Acolyte or something (I'm having an idea for a former Necomunda Escher ganger with Plasma Pistol). Model wise I'm considering hacking up a PAGK with Psycannon and seeing about squishing bits of it with a Plasma Rifle wielding Kasrkin since it has a backpack generator and ammo feeds for the rifle/Psycannon, then doing some green stuff work...

 

Ahem.. anyway, onto the meat of the post. As a Psycannon is a two handed weapon, this leaves me with a single handed weapon option for said Inquisitor. I could go with a pistol, but since the Psycannon has an Assault mode, why bother? Instead, I look at the options of Power Weapon, Thunder Hammer, and Null Rod. Null Rod seems to have the best bang for the buck in that a Thunder Hammer is a little pricey for someone that's supposed to be a ranged unit. A Power Weapon is usually there for insurance, but a Null Rod is only a little more spendy and provides it's nifty anti-psychic power effect.

 

What I am wondering, is with the expansion of 'scary' psychic powers on the newer Space Marine Librarians, Space Wolf whatever-their-librarians-are-called, Eldar, Tyranids, and Chaos Space Marine Sorcerors... is the Null Rod still a worthy investment? Granted Chaos Daemons seem to bypass it, but it should shut down everything else and help keep the unit relatively intact after I drop it off from Valkyrie or some other transport, or initial deployment. Does anyone have field experience with a Null Rod in the current gaming environment? My primary WH Inquisitor Lady has a Psychic Hood already, so I wouldn't need a second one. Utilizing an Elites choice for a DH Inquisitor will provide a lot of character and fun, including other retinue and equipment options, but I want to try and have something both effective, and fun and fluffy. As a general rule my Inquisitors are all Thorians, so the anti-daemon nature is easily explained and works army wise.

[f.desrochers]

What I am wondering, is with the expansion of 'scary' psychic powers on the newer Space Marine Librarians, Space Wolf whatever-their-librarians-are-called, Eldar, Tyranids, and Chaos Space Marine Sorcerors... is the Null Rod still a worthy investment?

 

This is the exact reasoning that I chose the Null Rod for my IL. He sits in a firebase and the last thing I need is for some punk Lash-Prince trying to move him out. The remainder of my list are either vehicles, PAGK, GKT or a single IST squad for camping on home objectives, which the IL is typically nearby to support. Most other units are either immune or have their own defences to most powers. My IL **also** has the psychic hood (rod + hood combo for 2000+ pts only), purely a supporting role for the remainder of the army.

 

If you're looking to throw it on an Elite Inquisitor, something I've never bothered to field, I'd say it could provide some valuable negation to enemy powers; especially if charging straight up the middle and distracting the enemy. Otherwise it seems you'll be paying extra points for what essentially turns out to be a glorified power weapon. If you have the points left over, why not. <shrug> The DH codex is pretty unforgiving for players with 20-50 points left for army creation.

 

;francois

[Uncle Mel]

If i have points for a power weapon i tend to have points for a null rod as well, it nullifies ALL psychic powers directed to the squad, no tests, no "I didn't target your squad, you just happened to be in the way (JOTWW). it is just gone, pretty nifty if you ask me. I wouldn't bother with a thunder hammer, I1 is pretty bad and strength 6 can be gotten through other means.

 

Mel

[Skiman94]

Recently played a game using 3 elite inqusitors attached to 3 different squads for the reasons previously listed( No I don't roll a saving throw your stupid lash just doesnot work/I have a great power weapon wounding marines on the dice roll of 5).

 

My conclusion...Unless you know your playing in a tournement with psykers or a friendly game versus Tau or gueard don;t take them. I fought against a vanilla space marine chapter in annihilation game and almost lost because each inqustor gives up a kill point and all 3 did die( I won 6 to 5 because I blew up 3 of his vehicles). I would have only given up 2 kill points with out them and unguents of warding gives you a 4+ save versus pykic powers. THis means withthe same 40 points u can get 1 more grey knight, unguents of warding and a melta bomb for justicar. I still think its good in theory just not in practice unless you know your fighting eldar tau guardsmen or chaos space marines with pychers.

[Uncle Mel]

I wouldn't recommend running 4 =][= to anyone, past an =][= lord + 1 elite =][= they serve no further use but to unlock land raiders. an =][= is there to unlock an assassin (elite =][=) or as a fire base (HQ =][=) in my book.

 

Mel

[Brother Swas]

I prefer the Unguents. Less points if they have no psychic powers, half points for half effectiveness if they do, and you don't limit his weapon options (I like s6 inquisitors in combat. Thunderhammer, ho!).

[Inquisitor Gabriel Lupus]

I can see them being quite amusing to use with some "bandwagon" armies people collect, and even more so being as the most recent of these armies are Space Wolves and (rumoured) nids (which supposedly will be psyker heavy). Very fun if you were to sit them in cover (4+ save against ranged weapons), and invulnerable to Psychic attacks.

 

I have one on one of my Elites Inquisitors, mainly for a fluff reasoning.