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Sammael, instant deaths and apothecaries: a query.


The Winged Toad

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Hello everyone, I'm fairly new to the hobby (well, I had the odd codex and a few models as a kid but was never serious back then) and I've decided to start a Dark Angels army (because they're freaking awesome and I love the robed models). I was quick to dive in again, spray painting my sprues and readying myself, but then I came to a bit of a problem... I wasn't exactly sure how to fit out any of my squads!

 

Well, I've done a fair bit of reading on this site as well as others and I've been thinking about a 'shooty' build that takes advantage of numerous apothecaries and their 'ignore a failed save' ability. Now, it's quite possible that I've missed another's post regarding this, but it seems to me that the only 'real' weakness this would have is against instant death weapons like lascannons (if I remember correctly a weapon/model causes instant death when its strength is twice or more the 'vicim' model's toughness, please correct me if I'm wrong), but I also noticed that Sammael was immune to the instant death rule. Thus I've hatched a plan to have him drive slowly along with my shooty 'horde' (perhaps not the best term for a Dark Angels army...) and basically use him to soak up fire with the help of an apothecary on a bike, as well as another slogging behind him, whilst the mounted contingent screens the rest of my army as they make their implacable advance (I considered 'rhino-ing' up my army for mobility's sake, however the slow but sure foot advance seemed more in keeping with the Dark Angels... though I guess the Raven Wing driving 'slowly' infront of the sloggers also doesn't make much sense, but meh, I'm starting to ramble, so back to the topic at hand!). Yes, is it possible to combine the apothecary's 'ignore a failed save' against a weapon which would normally cause instant death with Sammael's unique ability to be immune to such things. And, if it is, would screening my army in such a way be a viable tactic or would I be losing too much firepower while I was 'closing in' due to it?

 

Thanks in advance and I hope I haven't asked a stupid question (though I've an ominious feeling that I may have). I shall await your replies eagerly!

Welcome the Dark Angels section of the B&C The Winged Toad.

 

I just want to point out that Instant Death can not be stopped by the use of an Apothecary. The Feel No Pain rule [page 75 of the rulebook] tells us it can't be used against wounds caused by weapons that inflict Instant Death.

 

Cheers

I

[...] I also noticed that Sammael was immune to the instant death rule. Thus I've hatched a plan to have him drive slowly along with my shooty 'horde' (perhaps not the best term for a Dark Angels army...) and basically use him to soak up fire with the help of an apothecary on a bike, as well as another slogging behind him, whilst the mounted contingent screens the rest of my army as they make their implacable advance [...]

 

One major problem with that approach is that Sammael isn't an independent character - his unit type is either jetbike or vehicle, depending on whether he's on his jetbike or in his land speeder - so he can't ever join another unit. That means you can't use him to soak up instant death wounds via wound allocation, because he's always a separate target, and you can't use the apothecary's FNP rule on him because he's not a member of the apothecary's unit. All he can do is act as cover for a following squad, and there are cheaper ways to do that.

 

Dave

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