Codex Tempestus

[Lysimachus]

Hey all,

 

Recently been doing some rewriting on one of my DIY’s, the Stormbringers. Was doing some brainstorming about how I’d run them on the tt and for fun came up with a few ideas. C+C would be very welcome!

 

Think I might work up a SC or two as well! :P

 

 

Codex Tempestus

 

 

 

Army wide rules:

 

Mounted Assault: A Stormbringers force counts Bike Squads of 5 men or more as Troops regardless of which HQ is selected. However, all Infantry units must be mounted in a Dedicated Transport chosen from their standard options or in a vehicle with sufficient transport space selected from the appropriate Army List entry (such as Land Raider/Storm Eagle).

 

Chapter Tactics: All Stormbringer units with the Combat Tactics rule replace it with the Outflank USR. All Dedicated Transports also gain the ability to outflank.

 

 

 

HQ:

 

All HQ units must be equipped with either a Bike/Jump Pack, or must be joined to a squad with sufficient space in its Dedicated Transport to carry the character. Likewise, Command Squads must be either Bike-mounted, bought a Rhino/Razorback, or transported in another vehicle.

 

 

 

:devil: Elites:

 

No Dreadnoughts of any type may be included in a Stormbringers force.

 

Terminator and Assault Terminator Squads become a 0-1 choice.

 

 

New Unit: Hunters

 

1-3 Hunters may be selected as a single Elites choice. However, the Hunters do not have to be deployed within unit coherency of one another and act as individual units on the battlefield. (Note that in Annihilation games, all Hunters chosen as a single Elites slot must be killed before a Killpoint is gained.)

 

Hunters

Hunter

4

5

4

4

1

4

2

9

4+

 

Hunters {Elites}..........30pts per Hunter

• Infantry
  

• 1-3 Hunters
  

• Huntsman Pattern Bolter
  
• Bolt Pistol
  
• Frag and Krak Grenades
  
• Carapace Armour
  
• Cameoline Cloak
  

• Infiltrate
  
• Pathfinder
  
• Precision Fire
  

 

Huntsman Pattern Bolter:

A Huntsman Pattern Bolter may be fired as a standard Bolter or with the following profile:

 

Assassin Shell

Assassin Shell3653Heavy 1

 

Special Rules:

Pathfinder: As long as there is a Hunter on the table, a Stormbringers player may add +1 or -1 to his reserve rolls. NB: This bonus does not stack from having more than one Hunter.

Precision Fire: A Hunter may always choose which unit member he will target when using Assassin Shells.

 

 

 

:woot: Troops

 

Scout Squads may not be taken in a Stormbringers army.

 

Tactical Squads may not be upgraded with Heavy Weapons with the exception of Octavian Pattern Heavy Bolters for +5pts. These may be fired with the following profiles:

 

Octavian Pattern Heavy Bolter

Standard Heavy Bolter3654Heavy 3Mobile1254Assault 3

 

 

 

:) Fast Attack

 

Stormguard: Any Vanguard Squad may be equipped with Bikes at a cost of 10pts per Marine.

 

Scout Bike Squads may not be taken in a Stormbringers army.

 

 

 

Heavy Support

 

No Devastator Squads may be taken in a Stormbringers force.

 

A Stormbringers army may take a maximum of 1 Land Raider (of any pattern).

[Chengar Qordath]

Probably needs some sort of Combat Tactics replacement rule.

 

Going off your chapter's fluff, I'd be inclined to suggest stealing a page from Space Wolves/Dark Angels, and fielding scouts as fully-trained specialists rather than just removing them completely. A Land Speeder Storm loaded up with WS/BS 4 Scouts would seem to be entirely in keeping with the chapter's battle doctrine.

[Rev. Tiberius Jackhammer]

Like it, I'd play against it. No real need to limit Termies to 0-1 since the requirement for a dedicated transport already does that. I'd second Chengar about having a Chapter Tactics; the default White Scars one Khan has would fit nicely.

[Lysimachus]

Thanks gents, very good points, both of you!

 

Thanks Rev, forgot about the Termies DT rules. Have changed the Mounted Assault rule slightly now, to allow people (me! :P ) to put a Command Squad/Honour Guard/etc in a LR (or even a Storm Eagle if I went nuts at FW!) if I wanted to; so the limit on Termies/LR's is still needed.

 

Good point on Chapter Tactics, think Outflank will work very nicely!

 

@CQ: Cheers mate, yep that's what I was thinking with the Hunters entry, elite scouts but even more so than DA/SW. Actually, I wonder if I need to change their rules/put their points up if the army uses Outflank as their Pathfinder rule is more useful? Not sure, 30pts is still quite a bit for a Carapace armoured Marine, even a Veteran? Any thoughts anyone?

[Chengar Qordath]

I think they're alright at 30 points; like you said, it's a lot to pay for a one-wound model with a 4+ save. Also worth noting that when it comes to outflanking, that's going to significantly cut down on the number of shots they get in a game since they have to come in from reserves, and have to spend at least one turn moving onto the board.

[Rev. Tiberius Jackhammer]

One note on the Chapter Tactics; Khan's version also states that Dedicated Transports get Outflank to (I assume this is to support army styles like yours :P).

 

Pathfinder will be a lot more useful, but keep in mind that it also makes Hunters a huge target if most of the army's relying on it. If most of the army's in reserves waiting for Pathfinder to bring them on, it'd mean that the opponent probably outnumbers the Stormbringers on the table, and killing a very small unit of T4 4+ models will drastically weaken the army. I'd think that this would balance the power out - the more units it's helping, the more vulnerable/desirable of a target the Hunters are.

[Chengar Qordath]

Speaking of, it might bear mentioning that multiple units with Pathfinder don't stack, just to be clear.

[Lysimachus]

Sorry, not been around over weekend! Yep, more good points guys, thanks! I'll edit the first post. Think you're right on the Hunters cost, 30 should be fine.

 

Think I might start work on a SC or two!

[Lysimachus]

Well, as promised:

 

 

 

Chapter Master Asmodeus Gaunt, the Fisher Lord

 

Asmodeus Gaunt has served as Chapter Master of the Stormbringers for more than four centuries. He is cold, calculating and utterly devoted to the survival of the Imperium. Named for his facial features that appear emaciated even among the lean brethren of his Chapter, Gaunt is a haggard, terrifying giant. His voice is a rasping whisper that can nevertheless command immediate attention in any room. Asmodeus is also a strategist with few peers, a cunning and callous master tactician ready and willing to commit horrendous acts in the pursuit of his goals.

 

In combat too, Asmodeus is brutally efficient. Among his Chapter he has come to be called the Fisher Lord, for when he rides to war poised on the platform of his heavily modified Attack Bike, long spear held ready in his hand, he looks like nothing so much as one of the patient fishermen of Tuphon’s vast rivers. When battle is joined, his darting strikes lash out with lightning speed, killing with every precision blow.

 

Chapter Master Asmodeus

Asmodeus65443(4)53(4)102+

 

Chapter Master Asmodeus Gaunt {HQ}..........245pts

1 (Unique)

Bike

Bolt Pistol The Wyvern Spear Frag and Krak Grenades Artificer Armour Iron Halo Command Bike

And They Shall Know No Fear Combat Tactics (see Stormbringer army-wide rules) Independent Character Eternal Warrior Paragon of Brutality Captain of the 1st Company

 

Wargear:

 

The Wyvern Spear: The long weapon carried by Asmodeus is an ancient relic, used by Tsubodai Khan of the Storm Lords and is believed to date back far earlier to the days of the White Scars Legion. The Wyvern Spear is a master-crafted power weapon that gives a +1 Initiative bonus to its wielder in the first round of combat.

NB: The Wyvern Spear may not be used in conjunction with Asmodeus’ Bolt Pistol to gain an additional Attack.

 

Command Bike: As Chapter Master, even in the heat of battle Asmodeus must be able to coordinate the mighty forces under his command. To facilitate this, Asmodeus rides to war on the sidecar of a modified Attack Bike, allowing him to focus on his strategy while still maintaining the lightning pace of the Stormbringers. Brother Hadrius, Asmodeus’ driver, has served beside his friend and master throughout their careers and each have a near instinctive knowledge of what the other will do. In game terms, the Command Bike is a standard Bike but adds +1 to Asmodeus’ Wounds and Attacks characteristics (to represent Hadrius presence).

 

Special Rules:

 

Paragon of Brutality: Asmodeus is an exemplar of the Stormbringers viciously efficient ethos. His attacks are precise, perfectly timed with the exact amount of force needed to do the maximum damage. No effort is wasted, no mercy is shown. Asmodeus may re-roll any failed rolls to wound in close combat.

 

Captain of the 1st Company: In the Stormbringers Chapter, the 1st Company acts as the personal guard of the Chapter Master. Stormguard squads (Vanguard mounted on Bikes) replace all other options in the Troops section of the Army List. The restriction on Terminator and Assault Terminator Squads and Land Raiders is also lifted.

 

**********************

A few thoughts here:

 

I’m really not sure on points with this guy. He’s gonna be expensive, that’s for sure!

 

So, basic run down is: Chapter Master(*) on Bike(*), arty armour(*), master crafted Lightning Claw (double what’s in the ‘dex?), +1A(10pts?), +1W(10pts?), +1I in first round of combat(15pts?).

 

Plus EW and Skilled Rider, but losing Orbital Bombardment. I reckon it’s pretty much a wash between EW and OB, but maybe +5pts more? Plus another 5 for Skilled Rider? Edit: Good point CQ, he gets Skilled Rider anyway!

 

*= as ‘dex

 

NB: Not really worried about adding any points for the 1st Co. org rule. It will make an army very hard as individuals, but it’s also very limiting and very expensive so it should balance out due to low model count.

 

 

Hence, if my maths is right I’m thinking around 250pts. Probably I’d up that by 5 or 10% as it’s a homegrown character. If we go on the safe side of +10% that’d bring me to a grand total of 275pts. Quite high, but he’s potentially a bit of a beatstick!

 

Edit: Maybe I was being a bit too cautious on cost, 245 is what I worked out without SR, does that sound unreasonable?

 

So, any more thoughts, C+C, etc?

 

Thanks for looking!

 

Lysimachus

[*Furyou Miko]

You should probably give an option for bike-mounted Sternguard in your 1st company rule. Also might be worth noting that the spear is two-handed.

 

Also... there are probably better names than Asmodeus for the character. Asmodeus is a demon king of lust.

 

I'd suggest something like Cusco (the name of an Incan city designed in the shape of a cougar), or Viracocha (a sky and lightning got - cougars again).

[Lysimachus]

Thanks for the comments Miko!

 

Not sure about Bike Sternguard, for one thing the Chapter is still quite tactically flexible, not always preferring bikes over infantry. Second, I'm not sure how SIA would work on a Bike mount, would it be a bit overpowered (or too expensive if fairly priced) to give them that kind of firepower and mobility too? The thing is, I know Vanguard on Bikes wouldn't be game breaking because they're basically the same as having a Command Squad on Bikes.

 

As to the name, lol, I didn't know that. I knew it was the name of an arch-devil in the D&D universe, one of the most powerful of the 9 Kings of Hell apparently.

 

Even that isn't where I first heard the name from though! Asmodeus has been this character's name from the very first time I did any Stormbringers stuff, probably 15+ years ago (hence I wont be changing it regardless). It actually came from... well, I won't say! Internet cookies to anyone who does know where it came from! :P

 

A clue: Asmodeus has always been a very cold-blooded character!

[Chengar Qordath]

Worth noting that he doesn't need to have to Skilled Rider rule added on, since he already has it and Move Through Cover just by virtue of being an Independent Character.

 

275 seems too high for a price tag; he's good, but he doesn't exactly measure up to other characters in that price range.

[Rev. Tiberius Jackhammer]

Yeah, he could probably stand being a bit cheaper. Playtesting's the best angle for that, though. He suffers a bit since Stormguard seem a bit overpriced - keep in mind that the +10pts Vanguard Jump Packs cost factors in Heroic Intervention, and the normal vanguard squad has a meaty overhead for... some reason? (Van.Vet.s cost 20pts, Sergeant has same stat.s as regular vet., but the initial squad of 5 costs 125 points. 15 of that is for the Serg's mandatory power sword, but I guess the other 10 is for lulz?) The bike upgrade could stand to be 10 points, I think. I'd imagine the Command Squad's 90pts for bikes factors in the FnP working on their T5.

[Chengar Qordath]

The bike upgrade could stand to be 10 points, I think. I'd imagine the Command Squad's 90pts for bikes factors in the FnP working on their T5.

Not to mention the Command Squad gets a goodly number of shooting options that Vanguard don't.

 

10 points per model seems reasonable to me, since a standard bike squad is 9 points per model more than a tactical squad, especially since unless their options get changed Vanguard don't get as much from Relentless as other bike=mounted units will.

[Lysimachus]

Thanks for the help guys!

 

Yep, I was working the Stormguard Bikes out from the Command Squad cost, but you're right about their having less options and no FNP. 10pts it is!

 

Think you're probably right about Asmodeus too, I do tend to overcost my DIY stuff. Good point about Skilled Rider too. So without that, he comes out to about 245pts.Do you think I need to add a premium to that as he's homegrown, or does that sound ok as it is?

 

Thanks again guys, this is very helpful!

[Chengar Qordath]

245 seems quite reasonable. After all, most GW special characters end up rather underpriced if you account for the point value of all their wargear.