Fire Support Sentinel (WIP)

[CaptainMarsh]

Idea: Heavy firepower Fast Attack Sentinel for Guard and Tempestus.

 

Lore

 

The Sentinel is one of the most common and varying pieces of imperial equipment to be found across the width breadth of the Imperium. The most common variants are used for logistics or far more commonly as armored recon elements for any Imperial army. As the Imperium finds itself pushed on all fronts other variants are finding more widespread use, and one of them is the aptly named Fire Support Sentinel. Deployed alongside infantry and other lighter forces, especially amongst regiments who lack allied armor and artillery support, the Fire Support Sentinel is a heavily armed walker who can be outfitted to support any number of tasks. Whether is is burning through the jungle-infested cityscape of Ta'cha or supporting wave after wave of infantry assaults alongside the Valhallans, the Fire Support Sentinel is rarely found wanting in the eyes of those who call upon them.

 

Stat Line

 

M 8
WS 4+
BS 4+
S 5
T 5
W 6
A 2
LD 7
Sv 3+

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The unit contains one Fire Support Sentinel. It may include one additional Fire Support Sentinel or two additional Fire Support Sentinels. 

The Fire Support Sentinel comes equipped with one Multiple Rocket Pod and one Heavy Bolter.

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Any model may exchange their Heavy Bolter for a Multiple Rocket Pod.
Any model may exchange their Rocket Pods in the following manner. One or both Multiple Rocket Pods may be replaced with any of the following, with each option being taken to replace a single Multiple Rocket Pod:
- Autocannon
- Lascannon
- Plasma Cannon
- Missile Launcher
- Multi Laser
- Heavy Bolter
- Heavy Flamer
- 2 Flamers
Any Fire Support Sentinel may purchase a Sentinel Chainsaw.


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Explodes: Remains unchanged from Armoured Sentinel.
Smoke Launchers: Remains unchanged from Armoured Sentinel.

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Faction Keywords: Imperium, Astra Militarum, <REGIMENT>
Keywords: Vehicle, Fire Support Sentinel
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Points: 45. 
Weapon pricing is the same.


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VARIANT: Militarum Tempestus Fire Support Sentinel

Lore

The Militarum Tempestus' high stakes operations can sometimes preclude the deployment of heavy vehicle support due to terrain, terrain that the Sentinel is uniquely qualified to handle. The Fire Support Sentinel can play a pivotal fire support role and will often be the rearguard to defend the evacuating scions. More than a few Sentinel pilots have laid down their lives defending the retreat of Scions after they have eliminated enemy leadership.


CHANGES:
BS 3+

Loadout is the same. 
Additional options for exchange include:
- Twin-Linked Hot Shot Volley Gun
- 2 Plasma Guns
If the Fire Support Sentinel does not exchange using any previous option and it has purchased an additional Multiple Rocket Pod, it may exchange BOTH Multiple Rocket Pods for one of the following:
- Taurox Gatling Cannon, at 0 additional points
- Taurox Battle Cannon, at 6 additional points.
- Taurox Missile Launcher, at 28 additional points.
May purchase Self-Destruct Device.

All special rules remain the same unless Self-Destruct Device is purchased. If that is the case, the Fire Support Sentinel may choose to treat the die result for Explodes as if it had rolled a 6.

Advanced Targeting Array: If this model remained stationary during the movement phase it may re-roll to-hit and to-wound rolls of 1.

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Faction Keywords: Imperium, Astra Militarum, Militarum Tempestus
Keywords: Vehicle, Fire Support Sentinel
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Points: 55 points
Self-Destruct Device- 2 points

Edited November 21, 2017 by CaptainMarsh

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Why complicate things by giving the multiple rocket pod a different profile (making it a Heavy weapon) when the weapon is twinned? Why make the stabilization joints an option, instead of increasing the "Support Sentinel's" points value and making stabilization joints standard equipment? (I doubt it'll be easy to retrofit such equipment.)

 

I also think "Fire Support Sentinel" is a better name. "Support Sentinel" made me think the vehicle was a logistics vehicle, instead of a combat vehicle.

[CaptainMarsh]

What you say makes sense and I have changed to reflect. 

Initial thought was that the Sentinel chassis may have difficulty remaining stable if you had both multiple rocket pods, throwing the weight and off-balance and generally making it harder to operate. You would upgrade the joints to make it more controllable, and players had the option to buy an upgrade to remove that drawback and be efficient with two weapons. You didn't have to buy it if you ran with just the one multiple rocket pod, or you could save points and just accept the penalty.

But after testing it out a little, it seemed a bit complex. Generally players will want to take two weapons and forcing an additional cost on top of that for the sake of variety was a bit much.

 

What do you think of the current, modern layout?

[Bjorn Firewalker]

The revised profile is good enough. The only thing I want to change is to make a second weapon standard issue. Maybe have the second weapon be a heavy bolter?

[CaptainMarsh]

Maybe have a standard issue heavy bolter with the option to replace?

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Maybe have a standard issue heavy bolter with the option to replace?

That should work.

[CaptainMarsh]

Edited, how does it appear now?

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Some editing may be necessary- the Tempestus Scions Sentinel's rules read, "If the Fire Support Sentinel does not exchange using any previous option, may exchange BOTH Multiple Rocket Pods," suggesting a TWIN multiple rocket pod is standard issue- but it looks good.

 

My main thought is, if the Sentinel bears TWO multiple rocket pods instead of a TWIN multiple rocket pod, does that mean it can simultaneously aim and fire each pod at two different targets?

[CaptainMarsh]

The intent was mostly to make it easier to keep track of how you exchange weapons. Since you can mix and match to a degree I wanted to emphasize that you started with one, could buy a second, and could exchange a pod for one weapon- or two pods for two weapons. The MT Sentinel's loadout difference is the ability to exchange two weapons for one, but you have to have first picked up the additional Pod. And yes, you can fire at two separate targets.

Edited November 21, 2017 by CaptainMarsh