IA - Shepherds of Eden

[Raktra]

I guess, but I think we've been mostly trying to separate equipment or unit restrictions from the actual Legion Rules. However something like the Blood Angels vehicles restriction might be appropriate to show lack of supplies.

 

What do you think of the other bits though? Particularly the general suggestion for some similarity between the Insurgos and their parents.

Works for me, feels like the Loyalist vs Traitor rules for the WE. On the Shepherd specific part I'm gonna say no to the precision shots (strikes are fine), as the x-ray eye stuff doesn't work as well at range fluff-wise. 

[bluntblade]

Seems good. Does that 'serker sight have an off switch? If not, I need to radically revise a lot of stuff I've written.

 

I should add that post-Aureus, Vyrn will be leading something more like a Blackshields force

[Raktra]

Yeah, it's a choice to use it, just so far hasn't been presented as such as we've yet to write it being used by a Marine who isn't a total git. It's about the only way one could look at the Emperor without his eyes melting though, Primarch included.

[bluntblade]

I suggest it doesn't work on the Emperor. Like there's an inner light that wipes out detail.

 

I'll work it in when I come to a Shepherd in combat.

[Raktra]

That was the idea, first time Akarro sees him and looks at him he just gets struck with a blazing figure of light instead

[MikhalLeNoir]

Just curious, what happens when they look on a pariah marine or pariah primarch?

[Raktra]

What's the usual reaction to one, it's hard to focus or something isn't it? I remember something like that in MoM.

[bluntblade]

Yeah, and with the most potent ones it's hard to remember their words or gestures.

[Raktra]

Well for warp-focussed entities I was thinking of having spots of light break through here and there when "looked" at, so a far less intense version of the Emperor. I may or may not have gotten the idea from when Tom Riddle's echo breaks to bits in the second Harry Potter movie. So for a Pariah/blank, how about them being voids instant of glares, spots in the vision? So lower-level 'serkers who aren't as powerful would pretty much see a Pariah primarch as a three-dimensional shadow. More powerful ones like Slynnat or Riktus would see them clearer but still with difficulty, Akarro clearly but as though they were in low-light conditions.

[bluntblade]

It figures that the vision would be a key thing for the Oedon Blades in particular.

[Raktra]

I wonder if we should make the Shepherds' use of it more defensive, say they get an invulnerable/bonus to invulnerables in melee representing them dodging blows as they watch the enemy's muscles bunch up before a strike.

[bluntblade]

well, they can use it to kill cleanly and efficiently. Taking down enemy champions to demoralise the rest - during the Crusade, at least.

[bluntblade]

Ok, idea. Somoptis for the Shepherds, named by one of the Terran scientists overseeing the creation of the VII Legion, drawn from Gothic dialects.

 

For the Berserkers, bonesight? Bloodsight? Cutter's Eye?

 

Oedon Blades

 

For all that they renounced their gene-sire’s ways, the Shepherds still possessed the unique gifts of his genetic heritage, and turned these to their own purposes. The best-known of these was known as the “Cutter’s Eye” among the Berserkers. The Shepherds continued to use “Somoptis”, the name given by Iban Habun, the scientist who oversaw the VII Legion’s Alpha Phase. As with their estranged brothers, the Shepherds had the ability to gaze into the structure of an opponent’s body at will, with any physical weakness laid bare.

 

The Oedon Blades combined this lethal gift with their proficiency in hand-to-hand combat. According to the circumstances of battle, they would sometimes take the field with jump packs, taking advantage of the speed this conferred upon them. They core roles, however, remained much the same; providing a bodyguard for the field commander or hunting down enemy champions and commanders, using their talents to kill or capture quickly and cleanly. Many a feudal world was brought to the negotiating table after their leaders were taken hostage, and often the Oedon Blades were the deciding factor in battles against Orks, taking the horde’s head and casting the rest into disarray.

 

nb: I'm gonna do a description for an individual Oedon Blade and ask Drak to do a FW-style pic of him. Should he have a mace, axe, sword or, as a wild card, a "meteor hammer" flail?

 

Edit: change of plan, he's getting lightning claws.

[bluntblade]

Oedon Blade Hyrruk

 

Hyrruk, Cthonian-born, was one of the “failed” Neophytes taken in by the Shepherds of Eden when they broke away, and one of three still living when the Insurrection broke out. Gaining a reputation as a talented assault marine and duellist, he swiftly found a place among the Oedon Blades. He survived the breaking of his Legion and adapted well to the campaigns the remnants waged under Vyrn, becoming one of his most important lieutenants. Most of Hyrruk’s deeds are lost to history, but he is well-remembered for the Battle of Demesk, where he led a host of Blackshields against a traitor Dune Serpent fleet, slaying their commander in single combat on the bridge of the enemy flagship.

 

Hyrruk’s armour bears many hallmarks of the Shepherds’ chivalric appearance, but unusually he favoured a pair of lightning claws. He used these in conjunction with two bolt pistols. While he wears the Auretian variant of Mk IV power armour, his jump pack is an older Serpha-V pattern, salvaged from the old VII Legion stockpiles after the Berserkers abandoned their use and modified over the years.

[bluntblade]

Shadehunters

 

The Shepherds’ intensive use of assault units can also be seen in their sharpshooter elite, dubbed the Shadehunter Rangers. Primarily armed for long-range engagements, they used their jump packs to quickly attack and retreat before the bulk of an enemy force could retaliate. In other theatres, they moved ahead of the main Legion battlefront, striking from afar and withdrawing, only to mire their enemies in further ambushes or draw them into the path of their brothers.

 

The Shadehunters coupled the Somoptis with their specialist training and the other gifts of an Astartes to become some of the deadliest sharpshooters in the Emperor’s service. They learned which part of the body to target for a clean, dignified death. Equally, a Shadehunter knew how to cause a man’s head to burst if he wished to frighten his foes. If necessary, they wielded swords and power mauls in melee combat, and used grenades to sow discord far exceeding their numbers. Their most lethal weapon, however, was the interface technology that integrated their rifle sights into their auto-senses. These allowed them to acquire targets and therefore strike far more quickly than their counterparts in other Legions.

 

While their fighting prowess did not rival the Oedon Blades, to be a Shadehunter required an ability to weigh a multitude of factors in every consideration, coordinating the highly independent rangers with their more orthodox brethren. As a result, leaders of the Shadehunters frequently rose to command a brigade. Other, more solitary rangers found themselves content to hunt and fight free of the constraints of line, rank and file.

[MikhalLeNoir]

Hmmm

So shadehunters are jumppack equipped snipers?

[Raktra]

That's the ticket. Mechanically might make it work like jetpacks.

[Talonair]

Man, the Abyssii have a similar unit ala jetpack snipers :P No wonder the Shepherds and Abyssii end up getting along

[Nomus Sardauk]

That's the ticket. Mechanically might make it work like jetpacks.

Could explain it in the lore as a modification or new design of jump pack provided by the Auretian Technocracy.

[MikhalLeNoir]

I just asked. The wardems have also a similar unit although zhey use special weapons.

[Grifftofer]

Why do you all try to steal my ideas? ;)

 

The Wraiths are pretty similar (jetpack equipped sharpshooters), but I'm sure we can have two units which are close but not the same (UM and IW heavy weapon terminators).

[bluntblade]

I'm not fussed about jetpacks ratther than jump packs.

 

Well, Grifft, if you could advise me what works better for the Shadehunters' stated role, that'd help. I wasn't aware of the Wraiths being that similar.

[Grifftofer]

Sure thing. I have a few thoughts from reading through your description.

 

- As they act somewhat independently, ahead of the main force giving them Infiltrate and/or Scout seems reasonable.

- I had a thought for showing off their ranged skill by selecting from some options each time they shoot: Shoot twice; Precision Shots on a 5+; Murderous Strike; Pinning @-1Ld. These would be incompatible with Snapshots, so no moving and shooting twice, but it would give them some more utility and make the sniper rifles less of a detriment on what could be an expensive squad.

 

Hopefully this will be helpful to you.

[bluntblade]

The latter sounds particularly promising.

[bluntblade]

Gonna try and brainstorm some crunch for Vyrn, as far as I'm able. My idea for him in combat is mostly based on the paintings of Robert Baratheon fighting with shield and hammer. So that immediately sets him up with storm shield and Thunder Hammer. I'd like him to be a less aggressive leader than Khârn - Master of Defence or Tenacity, perhaps?