Titan build & concept brain storm

[kernbanks]

Hello community, lurker here, more active on reddit - but my office shut down that IP address to users on the network when people started using the two way communication chatroom :( 

 

As summer approaches I like to do bigger projects, this year I want to add an Imperator class Titan to my collection to top off the 2 Warlord (1 Titan Manufactorium mk2 and 1 home build), and pile of armorcast Reavers and Warhounds I have.  I've found a few different forums / blogs / youtube stories that cover bits a pieces but all are circa 2011 or earlier and wondering if anyone has more current experience?

 

 

 

The brain storm side of the discussion is more for me to "think out loud" on the forum.  I know GW has announced a new APOC and I'm very excited... hence the project above and I've been playing a lot of AT (think the game is awesome, I can't remember which reviewer said it but, "the best game you'll never play" rings very true for most people out there).  Anyway, a piece of the game I love is the energy management, way too complicated to port into a faster playing 40k so skipping it.  But I hope (as I noticed others have as well in old posts) they revamp Titan class war engines.  Writign rules so they fit in 40k really ruined how they play, both macro weaponry and void shields just don't feel right.  So my ramble...

 

Void Shields, should be more like ablative invul saves, only effect shooting from 12" or greater away, have a still high toughness (thinking 12+) AND not be able to be effected by S7 or less.  So shots come at the engine, wound the shield, shield takes an invul save, if it passes nothing happens carry on, if it fails the engine looses a void shield.  Not sure the correct number of shields for different engines but I have numbers rattling around my head.  When the last shield drops, the unit firing at the engine stops and the next unit to target the engine uses the toughness of the engine against it's armor save (1+ and 1s DON'T fail, lasguns shouldn't kill titans).  Then shield recharge is based on your bracket and be automatic, bottom tier gets nothing, above that 1, above that more... again details would need some play testing and swag at balance for power level.

 

100% agree with Macro Weapon thread, macro weapons should deal 2x damage to NON-Titanic targets and in unique cases (volcano cannon) have weapon specific rules to do more damage to Titanic.

 

Titandeath, going nova is awesome but when an engine doesn't it should fall.  Roll a scatter die, imagine the base moving the titan's height in inches in that direction, everything under it takes MWs.  Titan owner should have a proper piece of wreckage terrain (should also have a huge crater terrain as well for when it goes nova). 

 

I don't think these mechanics would be overly complicated or slow down a game of 40k APOC.  thoughts?

 

 

 

[Frostglaive]

Back in 7th and prior, Void Shields were essentially just ablative hull points that had the capability of regenerating. So I do like your idea of making it ablative invuls. Now would they still save against Mortal Wounds though?

The idea that low-mid strength weapons not affecting a Titan... that one I'm not 100% sold on. I love the concept. But 8th edition is the edition where anything can kill anything, no matter how improbable it may be. So if you're anti-tank weaponry is completely obliterated, there's still a small chance of taking out heavy targets, no matter how unlikely it may be. That being said, it does make sense that low-mid strength weapons shouldn't affect a god-engine in any way. I'm leaning more towards agreeing with you on this. But I can kinda see the argument for the other side as well.

 

Macro weapons.... yeah, that thread speaks for itself. They need an overhaul.

 

For Titandeath, since 40k no longer uses a scatter dice for anything, I have an alternative: If a Titan does not explode, all models within either D6 or 2D6 inches suffers X number of mortal wounds (more than likely D6). If a Titan does explodes, everything within 3 or 4 D6 suffers D6 mortal wounds. The first would represent the Titan simply collapsing. The explosion itself would represent it going supernova. Or we could do a full-blown chart again like back in 7th ed for all super-heavies. 1-3, small explosion. 4-5, big explosion. On a 6, SUPERNOVA!

[kernbanks]

Maybe I was overzealous with S7+ to hurt an engine and it should be S5. I can see the heroic aspect of someone manning that heavy bolter firing away at the engine scoring hits on joints etc... but I just don't like the idea of S3 and 4 anti infantry guns doing anything. 

 

I could go either way with voids stopping mortal wounds, but I'm more of a fan of the concept that an engine is so huge that mind bullets effecting actual important and non-redundant systems being unlikely and engines having a 'feel no pain' against mortal wounds that drops as it drops tiers.  like a 3+++ when full health (the thing is giant and all systems and redundant systems working great) then down to a 4+++, 5+++ and in the end 6+++ against any mortal wounds. But then again, psychically smashing / frying the modarati's brain should just do damage.

 

I also like the concept of 0+ or 1+ armor, meaning serious ap weapons need to be used to bring the save down.  But of course 1s always fail... so an ap 0, -1, and maybe -2 all act like 2+ armor and everything else makes that less likely. 

 

And I'm split, I play apoc to see titans die, but man does it suck when you don't get to shoot with one.  And my collection has many, I try to remember back when I was only bringing a single engine and loosing it before I got to shoot felt.  I think part of that is driven from playing AT and having engines pound eachother for turns before something cracks and then in 40k, where the titan should be more powerful they just die.