ArmageddonBorn Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 So I've been told that the magic number for plague marine squads is 7. Why is this? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/261223-why-a-7-man-plague-marine-squad/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Nihm Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 Not too many (unwieldy), not too few (cannot be easily taken off the board), and it is Nurgle's sacred number, point cost is pretty damn good for what you get as well. My 2 Kraks Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/261223-why-a-7-man-plague-marine-squad/#findComment-3177828 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olis Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 and it is Nurgle's sacred number Mainly this. :D Slaanesh's is six, Nurgle's is seven, Khorne's is eight and Tzeentch's is nine. (Iirc, someone once told me Malal's was five but that's not entirely relevant here.) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/261223-why-a-7-man-plague-marine-squad/#findComment-3177867 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feste Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 If they used the phrase 'magic number' they probably meant it literally :rolleyes: It's worth mentioning that, I think, in earlier versions of the Codex having a squad with the sacred number did give you some benefits. Now the only benefit is the nice warm feeling for fluffy playing as Papa Nurgle gifts you something horrific for your devotion. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/261223-why-a-7-man-plague-marine-squad/#findComment-3177934 Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurglez Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 in the previous codex having a squad of 7 (or 14) gave you a free champion upgrade. Also the GW box of plague marines comes in 7, and 7 is usually a fine amount for what you need them for :yes: Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/261223-why-a-7-man-plague-marine-squad/#findComment-3178083 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Circus Nurgling Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 I'm not going to say that 7 plague marines are equal to 10 normal marines (or chaos marines), but I'll throw it out there. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/261223-why-a-7-man-plague-marine-squad/#findComment-3178436 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rain Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 Pretty sure Malal's sacred number was 11 but I may be wrong. And statistically 7 plague marines actually were about the equivalent of 10 non-plague marines assuming that your opponent armed his squads in a way that wasn't stupid. It's probably different now, I haven't mathed it out since 5th when I had a Death Guard army. The upshot was that PMs were significantly tougher against "normal" attacks (and really really durable against lasguns) while being less efficient against fists/plasma etc (they cost a lot more but die just as easily). So yeah, sacred number + keeping cost/squad down. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/261223-why-a-7-man-plague-marine-squad/#findComment-3178640 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Sergeant Scarus Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 Pretty sure Malal's sacred number was 11 but I may be wrong. And statistically 7 plague marines actually were about the equivalent of 10 non-plague marines assuming that your opponent armed his squads in a way that wasn't stupid. It's probably different now, I haven't mathed it out since 5th when I had a Death Guard army. The upshot was that PMs were significantly tougher against "normal" attacks (and really really durable against lasguns) while being less efficient against fists/plasma etc (they cost a lot more but die just as easily). So yeah, sacred number + keeping cost/squad down. Yep, Malal's number was 11! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/261223-why-a-7-man-plague-marine-squad/#findComment-3178680 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Circus Nurgling Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Malal? (had to look that one up...) So you're telling me there is a renegade chaos god of anarchy, whose followers indulge in cannibalism? Why am I just now learning about this??? Hello punk rock chaos marines! Black and white checkers, red tartan tabards, mohawks and liberty spikes, studded and spiky power armor, molotav cocktail grenades, graffiti-tagged rhinos, here I come! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/261223-why-a-7-man-plague-marine-squad/#findComment-3179594 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Sergeant Scarus Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Malal? (had to look that one up...) So you're telling me there is a renegade chaos god of anarchy, whose followers indulge in cannibalism? Why am I just now learning about this??? Hello punk rock chaos marines! Black and white checkers, red tartan tabards, mohawks and liberty spikes, studded and spiky power armor, molotav cocktail grenades, graffiti-tagged rhinos, here I come! Haha, the 'Doomed Ones' (or is it lost ones?) are his reptillian daemon servants. The Sons of Malice are a bit of a nod to Malal (hence the black and white colour scheme and being excommunicated for eating some Ecclesiarchy). It's a tricky colour scheme to do well, but looks awesome when done right. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/261223-why-a-7-man-plague-marine-squad/#findComment-3179962 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talon Darkshade Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Malal? (had to look that one up...) So you're telling me there is a renegade chaos god of anarchy, whose followers indulge in cannibalism? Why am I just now learning about this??? Hello punk rock chaos marines! Black and white checkers, red tartan tabards, mohawks and liberty spikes, studded and spiky power armor, molotav cocktail grenades, graffiti-tagged rhinos, here I come! Mal'al was the fifth god in setting background back from Rogue Trader era. It was later removed from background fluff due to business issues with the designer of the god claiming rights to the idea upon leaving GW. However as all good Chaos players do, when Mal'al was removed they threw a tirade at the removal of the Dark God that truly embodied chaos itself (The effect of an Chaos Gods plans to suffer Mal'als wishes was in fact keeping Chaos truly Chaotic). None the less GW did not want to deal with the consequences of still posting the god in their fluff but in recognition of the Chaos players gave them the Sons of Malice in 3.5 Dex as a single picture with no mention of their god or purpose. In 4th they were removed completely in an effort to remove any context of the god from the game. But we..the Chaos Players will never let it die. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/261223-why-a-7-man-plague-marine-squad/#findComment-3180049 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odsox Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 COUNT THE SEVEN. Erm. Yes. Slaanesh is 6, Nurgle is 7, MIGHTY KHORNE! is 8, and the wretched liar-god Tzeentch is 9. Didn't know Malal had a sacred number. That's interesting. Od. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/261223-why-a-7-man-plague-marine-squad/#findComment-3180096 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Circus Nurgling Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Malal? (had to look that one up...) So you're telling me there is a renegade chaos god of anarchy, whose followers indulge in cannibalism? Why am I just now learning about this??? Hello punk rock chaos marines! Black and white checkers, red tartan tabards, mohawks and liberty spikes, studded and spiky power armor, molotav cocktail grenades, graffiti-tagged rhinos, here I come! Haha, the 'Doomed Ones' (or is it lost ones?) are his reptillian daemon servants. The Sons of Malice are a bit of a nod to Malal (hence the black and white colour scheme and being excommunicated for eating some Ecclesiarchy). It's a tricky colour scheme to do well, but looks awesome when done right. OOOooohhhh reptilian daemons! Even better! I've been looking for an excuse to build some gator-men and such... what is the source on this? I didn't see that when I looked it up. I was wondering what manner of daemon would be associated with Malal. If (and this is a true if as I have too many irons in the fire already) I go ahead with it, I'll probably do some variation on that split half black/half white color scheme, but it will still be black and white. Definitely some punker cultists! Sorry for diverting the thread! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/261223-why-a-7-man-plague-marine-squad/#findComment-3180140 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azekai Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 If (and this is a true if as I have too many irons in the fire already) I go ahead with it, I'll probably do some variation on that split half black/half white color scheme, but it will still be black and white. Definitely some punker cultists! Sorry for diverting the thread! Do it. Folks say Malal was retconned out of existence, but they are just trying to obscure the truth! Anarchy for the Anarchy God! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/261223-why-a-7-man-plague-marine-squad/#findComment-3180726 Share on other sites More sharing options...
lost_angel Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 Erm. Malal/Malice is still alive and well in the fluff. One of the more recent space marine compilations had a short story about the 'Doomed Ones'. IIRC, several editions past, certain chaos units got a buff if their unit was the same number as their choson patron. R Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/261223-why-a-7-man-plague-marine-squad/#findComment-3182488 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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