DA Scouts

[L30n1d4s]

It appears that Scouts will now be a Troops choice for DA, bringing them in line with other MEQ armies in this regard. Not a bad thing, especially since I think the Elites slot will be pretty crowded already (DW Termies, DW Knights, RW Black Knights, DA Vets, Dreads/Ven Dreads, Techmarine, etc.)

 

I am not sure how DA Scouts will be different from other SM Scouts (aside from Army-wide special rules of course... C:SM Scouts get Combat Tactics, BA Scouts get The Red Thirst, etc.). I am assuming they will get Scout, Infiltrate, and Move through Cover, as those are the standard "Scout USRs" pretty much in any army (except BT, where Neophytes are a whole other ball game :devil: )

 

What I am hoping, based partly on rumors and partly on supposition, is that DA Scouts get some or all of the following characteristics:

 

*Ability to "mark" a target they have LOS to for attacking by other DA units, perhaps allowing re-rolls to To Hit against that unit ---> An ability like this has been mentioned in rumors and I think it would add great synergy to the army as a whole and make the DA Codex more skill driven, as you would have to position and employ your Scouts in a way to "force-multiply" the rest of your maneuver elements.

 

*Ability to effectively bring in other units from Reserve, whether a Homing Beacon, special rule for enhancing Reserve rolls, etc. ---> Again, something that would bring synergy, not just with DW/RW, but for things like a DA Drop Pod army or DA aircraft that are coming in from Reserve on turns 2-4. Maybe only one squad would have this and it would be via an upgrade (say Sgt Namuth), but I still think it would be a positive development.

 

*Ability to upgrade either BS or WS (only one or the other) in order to "specialize" the Scouts for a certain role ---> This would of course cost a certain points/model, but would enable Scouts to be effective support specialists. Sniper Scouts would be more viable with BS4 or, if you went with WS4, CC Scouts would be an attractive option, especially if they had a LS Storm as a DT.

 

*Ability to take one SW/HW per 5 models, including HB, AC, ML, Flamer, and Astartes GL ---> This would greatly enhance the flexibility and capability of a Scout squad, giving a player reason to choose them in their own right, not just to add a special rule or two to your army

 

*Ability to upgrade Frag/Krak Grenades to some kind of "specialist" grenades, based on their role. Ideas include being able to upgrade Kraks to Melta Bombs for Tank Hunter Squads, Frags to "Concussive Grenades" (Same as Frag Grenades, but also reduce target's units initiative by -1 for that Fight sub-Phase) for CC squads, and purchasing Defensive Grenades for Sniper/Objective Camper Squads ---> I think grenades are a very "scout-like" piece of kit and also enable them to be taylored to an appropriate role within a DA army.

 

*If squad is 10 models strong, may upgrade a Scout into a 2nd Veteran Sergeant for the Squad. All Veteran Sergeants can purchase a PW or a PF, Melta Bombs, a Storm Bolter, Combi-Weapons, and/or a Vengeance Sniper Rifle (Sniper Rifle with the Shred USR) ---> Fluff-wise, if there is a large squad of scouts, then it might requires a 2nd Mentor (i.e. a 2nd Veteran Sergeant). Gameplay-wise, another Sgt would allow the squad to be more effective in CC by adding more possible special CCWs; alternatively, for long range-engagements, Vet Sergeants with Vengeance Sniper Rifles could add some real precision firepower (Character chooses targets on rolls of 6, BS4 means more Hits, Shred means more wounds). If these options were point-costed appropriately, I don't think it would be unbalanced and I believe it would add a great deal of flexibility to DA Scout Squads.

 

Those are my thoughts/hopes for DA Scouts. What do you all think about them on the Eve of the new C:DA?

[Xwingt65]

Lol.....

 

I think you will be extremely disapointed as you are setting your expectations way to high.

 

Ithink they will be a copy of the regular space marine scouts, perhaps with some points fiddling here and there, but nothing more.

[Onisuzume]

Eh, they may remove them from the codex, for all I care.

I never really cared for scouts in the first place.

[Brother Amarel]

Eh, they may remove them from the codex, for all I care.

I never really cared for scouts in the first place.

Sniper Weapons are much better in 6th.

 

I have an awful lot of metal scouts (mostly BP&CCW) that I'd love to get some decent use out of, but I think they'll be staying in the cupboard for an edition or two longer :D.

[Chaplain Lucifer]

Like Shadowguard at one point I had enough scouts for a scout army.. then shortly after came the DA codex and turned them to Elite. All I need in this one is that they are troops.. then I can ressurect the army.. Or at least build a Piscina IV themed army.

[Brother Kovash]

Like Shadowguard at one point I had enough scouts for a scout army.. then shortly after came the DA codex and turned them to Elite. All I need in this one is that they are troops.. then I can ressurect the army.. Or at least build a Piscina IV themed army.

You could always make a Scout Company and use the formation in Apocalypse Reloaded. :tu:

 

Having another troops choice does give our codex some more flexibility. I wouldn't having yet another different type of unit available to confound my opponents, but since the rumors point to us having so many options already, I don't even know if I can find a place for them.

[FarFromSam]

yeaaaa. I have 50 or 60 painted up with BP/CCW and am looking forward to using them again... since the changes to fleet and the no first turn assualt after infiltrating took away their thunder. (Shrike/Kantor/scouts/termi list [don't ask]) they've just been falling apart.