How to arm a Rune Priest?

[Skirax]

So far, I'm thinking of going with this combination:

 

Master of Runes, Plasma Pistol, Runic Armour, Wolftooth Necklace, Chooser of the Slain, Saga of the Beastslayer.

 

It totals in at 215 points. A little excessive I think, but I'm thinking of using him a combat support role for my Grey Hunters. It can also be doubled up as a Wolf Priest with HUUUUUGE Crozius.

 

It's not modelled yet, but when it is I'l gladly post pictures. It's going to be in a walking stance, either firing the pistol or powers of to his left.

 

Pointers and ideas please?

[antique_nova]

using a rune priest is a bad option if you want it as a close combat support role. they die as easily as another marine. They are best used as shooting support roles and saga of the beastslayer is not going to help that much since he get less attacks that most and it's pretty hard to complete the oath since your enemy must charge him and his squad for you to get extra attacks so his saga rage is easily snuffed out.

 

thanks

antique_nova

[Skirax]

He's only meant to be there to cause more damage than their normal output; let's not forget the Runic Weapon :)

[Skirnir Ragefang]

To tooled up for my taste. I don't like Plasma Pistols, though he might be the best choice for one, with his CotS BS. Master of Runes is nice but i only use it in larger games. The Close Combat upgrades aren't worth it on a RP. He should be a supporting model adding his Psychic Powers to the fray. For CC Chars there are better choices.

[Aeddon]

Master of Runes depends greatly on which powers you end up taking. If you've got two shooting powers it's a waste of time. I do agree with Skirnir Ragefang in that you should drop the plasma pistol, it's a waste of points.

[Evilbob]

I dont take a plasma pistol either, usually he'll cast a spell thats better anyway. If you want a good punch at that pistol range, just give him Fury of the Wolf Spirits

[PKAwolf]

drop the pistol and beastslayer

shooting the pistol prevents you from using the fun psykic shooting attacks (JotWW, LL, ect)

in most situations where are glad you have beastslayer, you will upset runic armour doesnt have an invulnerable save

 

for your 215 points, Id field 2 stripped down priests instead or maybe just roll master/chooser

[Taeken]

Was working on my RP last night, very glad this posting came up as it answered a few of the questions I had bouncing around in my head. I totally forgot that if he shoots a weapon he can't use Psychic shooty attacks. That drops the plasma for me!

[Wolf Guard Hengist]

I spend 100 points and 100 points only on my Rune Priests as they can do the job just as good as a Rune Priest tooled up. In a close support role they will suffer due to no access to a decent Inv save. A RP with Living Lightning and Tempest Wrath is a nice compliment to my Long Fangs Squad supporting the back field. If I did have to choose an upgrade or two it would be TDA to soak up a krak/battlecannon wound if need be.

[the jeske]

it's pretty hard to complete the oath since your enemy must charge him and his squad for you to get extra attacks so his saga rage is easily snuffed out.

since when do you have to complete a saga?

 

chooser is a must have , it kills infiltration builds . hth upgrades make priests overcosted and they still arent really good at hth with them . they also die to fists like anyone else . want hth power gear your unit for it or if you really have to take a wl on a TWC.

[Skirax]

Revised:

 

Master of Runes, Runic Armour, Chooser of the Slain.

 

A simple: 180 points. Will drop the MoR if it's not needed.

 

Thanks guys, I really only asked because this is my first ever Psyker. I've never used one, I'm a bit untrusty of those clever types... ;)

 

The only problem now, is what head to put on him...

[VorpalDoom]

stick with 2 Rune Priests if you're willing to spend 200 points. Master of the Runes is nice... but far from worth it since we can have up to 4 HQ choices, and the Rune Priest can still only use one "shooting" psychic power a turn.

 

I run with 2, one with chooser of the slain, and usually both with a Wolf Tail talisman. Living Lightning is standard on both(all rune priests i take), the other powers are in this order (priority depending on the number I take): Jaws of the World Wolf, Tempests' Wrath, Murderous Hurricane & Fury of the Wolf Spirits.

[Skirnir Ragefang]

Good thing with master of the runes is, you don't have to model it on <_<

So now you can build your cool Rune Priest. Taking two Rune priests might be abit expensive for smaller games, but skip the master and you already have a half Rune Priest.

 

I'd suggest the heads with flat undersides from the power armor Wolf Box, they all look old and wise. Used them on my Long Fangs.

[Grey Mage]

I take a Rune Priest, I choose two psychic powers, and then I consider giving him a Wolf Tail if points allow. Done.

 

Seriously, the only other options that occur to me are: Bike, Meltabombs, Master of Runes. Saga of the Beastslayer hasnt been worth it, as almost every MC is either unwoundable by a RP *Wraithlord* or has Eternal Warrior *Daemons, Nidz*, leaving me with the ability to hurt biker HQs, Warbosses, and Avatars.

 

That may change with the new nid codex though.

[Skirax]

Is it worth it to give him a Storm Bolter/Bolter?

[Brother Remus]

I'd say no, just keep with the Bolt Pistol, you'll be using Psychic shooting powers anyway, so just stick to them.

Also I suggest not taking Master of Runes, 50 points can be better spent else where.

[Skirax]

That's good, but as I said, MoR will be an inter-changeable upgrade.

[rodgers37]

I either run them plain, with JOTWW and Living lightning, or with a chooser (and same spells).....

 

Master of the runes cost's too much....and the other war gear, overall just doesn't seem worth it....hes a support HQ, like someone else has mentioned....

[Freman Bloodglaive]

My Rune Priest, terminator armour, living lightning, stormcaller.

 

I use the terminator model because I've had him since second edition. He originally had twin lightning claws, but once the new rules prohibited them I switched him back to the rune weapon/storm bolter combination. I had to reassemble his weapon because I'd cut it up for another model, but it's all good now.

[Sarapham]

Is it worth it to give him a Storm Bolter/Bolter?

 

 

I´d say pistol as well, if you by some chance get into CC with him the extra attack will still help

[Arraken]

I'e been known to take a Rune Priest as is, with living lightning. I then sit him in a unit of long fangs.

[Chodjinn]

I've modelled two rune priests for the moment;

 

RP, TDA, Runic weapon, Storm Bolter for my Logan WG list.

 

RP, Runic Armour, Runic Weapon, Bolt Pistol for normal lists.

 

keep it cheap. For the price of MotR, Plasma Pistol and CotS you're almost at another RP points wise anyway, or another 5 Grey Hunters <_< . They're not suited to CC due to the poor weapon loadout options; support is the way forward with RPs so there's no point in wasting points on them IMO other than a cheap armour upgrade. If you want a tooled CC IC, then go for a Wolf Priest or Lord.

[Grey Mage]

Is it worth it to give him a Storm Bolter/Bolter?

Only if hes in TDA, because otherwise your just losing out on a CC attack.

 

Even if you dont give him any shooting powers, its not worth it- because his runic weapon attacks can cause instant death and are power weapons... a stormbolter is just AP 5 with decent range.

[Wolf Guard Dan]

Why spend that many points on a chracter without an invulnerable save? I see you have taken it down quite a bit from the 215, but stil... for 215 may as well just splurge and take njal for 30 points more. And you would have such a better charceter.

 

Another bit, no plasma pistol! He will be dishing punishment out with his psychic powers. No need fot that.

[Wildfire]

The only options I would EVER consider on my rune priest are Chooser (rarely) or Bike (only if I had a bike squad).