Shadow War: Badab

[Brother Tyler]

With the Space Marine Kill Teams rules firmed up (link goes to the last version I posted, though a few minor tweaks are described in multiple replies), it's time to expand. One of my favorite events in the setting, and one that has a definite focus on the Adeptus Astartes, is the Badab War (coincidentally, one of my favorite Chapters, the Exorcists, took part in that campaign). So here's my initial stab at Chapter Honours and skills for the various Chapters that participated in the Badab War.

For the most part, I took the 6th edition Chapter Tactics that Forge World provided for these Chapters, and I adapted them to Shadow War: Armageddon. For Chapters that have identified Legion lineage, I used the skill progression from those Chapters as a baseline, though I tried to apply some tweaks here and there in order to introduce some (very minor) differences. A few of the Chapters simply use their predecessors' Chapter Honours (e.g., the Novamarines are among the Primogenitors, so I reasoned that they follow the Ultramarines rules exactly). Others are very close to their predecessor, but have minor adjustments to Chapter Honours or skills or both. And some were very distinct (e.g., the Executioners are almost nothing like the Imperial Fists).

Page 1 (introduction and timeline)

Hidden Content

Page 2 (skills - Astral Claws, Carcharadons Astra, Executioners, Exorcists, Fire Angels)

Hidden Content

Page 3 (skills - Fire Hawks, Howling Griffons, Lamenters, Mantis Warriors, Marines Errant, Minotaurs, Novamarines, Raptors)

Hidden Content

Page 4 (skills - Red Scorpions, Sons of Medusa, Star Phantoms)

Hidden Content

Page 5 (Chapter Honours - Astral Claws (includes rules for Tyrant's Legion kill teams))

Hidden Content

Page 6 (Chapter Honours - Carcharadons Astra, Executioners, Exorcists, Fire Angels)

Hidden Content

Page 7 (Chapter Honours - Fire Hawks, Howling Griffons, Lamenters, Mantis Warriors, Marines Errant, Minotaurs)

Hidden Content

Page 8 (Chapter Honours - Novamarines, Raptors, Red Scorpions, Sons of Medusa)

Hidden Content

Page 9 (Chapter Honours - Star Phantoms)

Hidden Content

I've tried to keep balance on par with the main Space Marines Kill Team rules, but I'll need other eyes to help me with that.

I have an idea that these rules might include campaign rules, at the very least a series of scenarios to play out shadow wars (i.e., squad/team level skirmish battles) within the setting of the Badab War. These might potentially include a modification of the Shadow War: Armageddon campaign rules (though that might be nothing more than changing "Promethium caches" to "victory points" or "campaign points" or somesuch. That's way down the road, though. For now, the focus is getting these rules accurate and balanced.

Any input is appreciated.

[Brother Tyler]

I've made a few minor adjustments:

The verbiage for Apothecaries was changed in both this file and the main Adeptus Astartes file to clarify the -2 adjustment (the original verbiage in the rulebook, which I copied verbatim, includes a sentence fragment that doesn't make sense, except by inference).

I've included notes on the changes to each page in italics (orange means there were changes, normal font color means there were no changes), beneath the page # and notes.

I've replaced the B&C skull and crossed bones logo in the upper left corner with a blue shield and Tyrant's Claw logo. This is because I'm using the same background images and fonts/formatting across the entire range of Adeptus Astartes in Shadow War: Armageddon files, so each file will use a unique logo in the upper left to distinguish the files.

Page 1 (introduction and timeline)

(no changes)

Hidden Content

Page 2 (skills - Astral Claws, Carcharadons Astra, Executioners, Exorcists, Fire Angels)

(no changes)

Hidden Content

Page 3 (skills - Fire Hawks, Howling Griffons, Lamenters, Mantis Warriors, Marines Errant, Minotaurs, Novamarines, Raptors)

(no changes)

Hidden Content

Page 4 (skills - Red Scorpions, Sons of Medusa, Star Phantoms)

(no changes)

Hidden Content

Page 5 (Chapter Honours - Astral Claws (includes rules for Tyrant's Legion kill teams))

(added verbiage to make it clear that an Astral Claws kill team can either be all Space Marines (either all scouts using the official rules or all power armour using the main Adeptus Astartes rules I'm developing) or a Tyrant's Legion kill team (i.e., the kill team rules in the box))

Hidden Content

Page 6 (Chapter Honours - Carcharadons Astra, Executioners, Exorcists, Fire Angels)

(Carcharadons Astra fighters only cause fear when charging now)

Hidden Content

Page 7 (Chapter Honours - Fire Hawks, Howling Griffons, Lamenters, Mantis Warriors, Marines Errant, Minotaurs)

(adjusted Minotaurs Unrelenting Assault rule)

Hidden Content

Page 8 (Chapter Honours - Novamarines, Raptors, Red Scorpions, Sons of Medusa)

(no changes)

Hidden Content

Page 9 (Chapter Honours - Star Phantoms)

(no changes)

Hidden Content

I also made a few minor happy-to-glad adjustments (e.g., I removed the text about the Fire Angels having more vehicles because those don't matter in SWA). There may have been a few other changes that I've failed to mention, but if so, it's because they're so minor that I've forgotten what they were.

Again, suggestions for improvement are appreciated.

[Dosjetka]

I'm currently planning a Novamarines Kill Team but am wondering if there is/are particular Chapter(s) you'd like people to try out?

[Brother Tyler]

Pretty much any that isn't a "use X Chapter Tactics" (e.g., Sons of Medusa = Iron Hands, Lamenters = Blood Angels, and anything that = Ultramarines).

[Dosjetka]

Alright. :tu:

 

Something I noticed is that you gave Fire Hawks access to the "Stealth" skill tree for Specialists and Leaders. Given their general attitude and preference for "close quarters combat and above all, brutal application of focused overwhelming force to obliterate the enemy" (from Imperial Armour vol. 9), I'm not sure that's an appropriate option for them. I suggest giving Specialists access to "Combat" and Leaders access to "Muscle" instead. The "Combat" skill tree is less useful for Specialists but in my opinion closer to the established lore.

Edited January 22, 2018 by Chaplain Dosjetka

[Reyner]

Is the Marines Errant Doctrines of War rule only for close combat? Could it be used to reroll a miss when shooting? 

[Brother Tyler]

Dosjetka: Noted, I'll make the changes.

 

Reyner: It's both ("To Hit" is shooting and "Attack" is close combat, I think). I just followed the verbiage of the Adepta Sororitas rule on which this one is based.

[Reyner]

Ah cool :)

[Brother Tyler]

I've adjusted the skills for the Fire Hawks.

If I made any other changes, they were small bits of lore - nothing else has changed with regard to the rules. So all you really need to look is page 3.

Page 1 (introduction and timeline)

(no changes)

Hidden Content

Page 2 (skills - Astral Claws, Carcharadons Astra, Executioners, Exorcists, Fire Angels)

(no changes)

Hidden Content

Page 3 (skills - Fire Hawks, Howling Griffons, Lamenters, Mantis Warriors, Marines Errant, Minotaurs, Novamarines, Raptors)

(changed Fire Hawks skills per Chaplain Dosjetka's suggestion above)

Hidden Content

Page 4 (skills - Red Scorpions, Sons of Medusa, Star Phantoms)

(no changes)

Hidden Content

Page 5 (Chapter Honours - Astral Claws (includes rules for Tyrant's Legion kill teams))

(no changes)

Hidden Content

Page 6 (Chapter Honours - Carcharadons Astra, Executioners, Exorcists, Fire Angels)

(no changes)

Hidden Content

Page 7 (Chapter Honours - Fire Hawks, Howling Griffons, Lamenters, Mantis Warriors, Marines Errant, Minotaurs)

(no changes)

Hidden Content

Page 8 (Chapter Honours - Novamarines, Raptors, Red Scorpions, Sons of Medusa)

(no changes)

Hidden Content

Page 9 (Chapter Honours - Star Phantoms)

(no changes)

Hidden Content

Pending any other feedback, we'll move forward to the painting challenge soon (once I figure out a good time so that we don't interfere with other ongoing challenges).

[Reyner]

Yeah the Fire Hawks work better without Stealth :D I have narrowed down my Kill Team choices to Marines Errant or Red Scorpions now. 

[Dosjetka]

There's nothing to see here, move along.

Edited February 13, 2018 by Chaplain Dosjetka

[Brother Tyler]

Shhh!!!

 

We're not supposed to know who did which kill team.

[Dosjetka]

I only mentioned what my plans were because it would be silly if we playtested the same Chapter Honours. -_-

Edited February 13, 2018 by Chaplain Dosjetka

[Dosjetka]

By the by, is a Red Scorpions Apothecary allowed to take equipment marked with "Veteran Sergeant only"?

[Brother Tyler]

That's a good question. My initial answer is "no" because I don't think they're allowed to take that wargear in WH40K. However, I'm not dead set on this and am open to discussion.

[Dosjetka]

I'm fine with him not having such access; if you want a more kill-y leader, take the Veteran Sergeant and get access to the expanded armoury. If you want a leader that makes your Kill Team more resilient, take an Apothecary but have less access to wargear. The trade-off works, in theory. :tu:

[Brother Tyler]

Members of the B&C are challenged with the modelling and painting a power armoured kill team of Adeptus Astartes from select Chapters that participated in the Badab War.

The purpose of this challenge is to find imagery suitable to decorate the finished Shadow War: Badab War rules that will be published here at the B&C for download. The winning squad will be featured at the bottom of page 9. And the member submitting the winning squad will also receive some other small prizes to be announced later.

You can find full details on the challenge here.

[Slave to Darkness]

Would Rogue Trader colour schemes be ok or would you rather it be the modern schemes? I ask because some of them changed over the years.

[Brother Tyler]

Either version is fine.

[deathspectersgt7]

Can it be a mixed Squad ? 

[Brother Tyler]

Mixed schemes or mixed Chapters?

 

Mixed schemes: if that's what floats your boat, go for it.

 

Mixed Chapters: no.

[TheTrans]

Currently got my Tyrant's Legion kill team (just reskinned the CSM rules) almost complete. It has 4 mareins, 4 Auxillia and 1 Terminator, would this be ok?

[Brother Tyler]

The Astral Claws (or Tiger Claws) can have:

• Space Marine Scout kill team
• Space Marine power armour kill team
• Tyrant's Legion kill team (1 Space Marine + auxiliaries)
• and any of the above may include a Terminator as a special operative)

You could submit the above as two separate kill teams - power armoured Space Marines and Tyrant's Legion - as long as no model appears in both kill teams (might require 1 or more additional models).

[Slave to Darkness]

Either version is fine.

:tu:

 

Sound as a pound, count me in. Now I just need to decide what chapter...

[Shas O R'alai]

Why are the Salamanders not up there :( I just painted a Test model for my Badab Salamander and it looks epic!