Optimates Crusade - Templars by 36Nights

[ThirtySixNights]

Greetings from the future.

 

I bring you an obligatory 'Update'  this one coming from a time and a place very different from the last. I've got some unit and model progress updates but a tonne of tactics and battle reports. If anyone has been across the TTS40k discord they may have seen someone relentlessly talking about and playing nothing but Templars.

When I began sharing my models here and painting them again, I was unsure if i intended to use the models in any tabletop battles, but as soon as I wanted to I had to get some real troop choices. I was previously using a proxy of models painted as sword brothers, but i didn't like this at all. I wanted real Templars, the black ones with white shoulder pads.

 

So I finally built a 15 year old box of crusaders, got some scouts and went to town.

 

And here's what I made.

 

http://gdurl.com/ElXto

 

Magnetised Sword Brothers, with venerable Storm Bolters (real crusader squads dont have them tsk tsk)

 

http://gdurl.com/nVuh

 

Neophytes for flavour, with these AMAZING transfers from some website everyone probably knows about already.

 

http://gdurl.com/SXKN

 

Initiates to accompany them.

 

The new models (except for one neophyte because i wanted to see what it looked like feedback pls) all don't have highlights yet, i'm trying to batch paint through all my models as some sort of motivational method. Not sure it's working though

 

http://gdurl.com/GkSR

 

Finally i picked up a new assault box because i wanted to take advantage of our amazing litanies and rules on one single big crusader blob, so i've magnetised all of the new models and the addition of these 3 crusaders will allow for me to run one 15 man blob with close combat weapons.

 

http://gdurl.com/O3Ai

 

I've also picked up the man himself, and i've been trying my best to paint him exactly as he appears in every official pic. Also if you'll direct your eyes to right you'll see the result of my frustration in having my stern guard not quite look enough like they are carrying special issue bolters, so they've all got big magazines and big scopes. Pls motivate me to finish those so i can do some group shots there.

 

http://gdurl.com/KbIj

 

And I made an extra rhino, blacked out my current one's old paintjob to put a nice cross on the top of each. added some extra bits for flavour. I think they look nice. Ready to soak up a bunch of smites.

 

-------

 

Alright, let's talk about Tactica! I've now played at least 20 games with my IRL list and i've got many take-aways. We all know that our chapter tactics and our superdoctrine don't stack up against that of practically every single other chapter. So i've tried my best to create lists that capitalise on the Superdoctrine and the Sword Brethren detachment special rules. I find that if i'm against a less experienced player, I can catch them off guard with a massive turn three counter assault and dominate the lategame.

Our relics, litanies and our stratagems are what have held my win rate somewhere in the middle.

My Lists consist of the following elements.

 

1 Battalion and 2 Vanguard Detachments, one of which is a Sword Brethren specialist.
 

• Emperor's Champion
• Techmarine
• Lieutenant
• Chaplain w/Jump
• Grimaldus
• Captain (Sigislash)
• 3 x Crusader Squad. 4 Initates w/bolter. 4 Neo w/Bolter. Sword Brother w/ Stormbolter
• 2 x Rhino 
• LRC w/stormbolter (sometimes with the HCM, but never with the melta)
• Cenobytes
• 2 x 5 Company Veterans (Sword Brethren) w/Thunder Hammers & Storm Shields OR Powersword & Storm Sheilds.
• Ironclad w/Hurricane
• Drop Pod
• 5 Sternguard
• 5 Assault Terminators (SSTH)
• Stormtalon, typically just HB's

I've ran it with many alterations, however ultimately I'll create a moving castle of sorts with the armoured elements combining Divine Protection and the Aurillan Shroud. Holding the middle of the ground, winding up great anti-infantry firepower to remove screens and objective scorers before unloading a huge assault on turn three to make the most of the super doctrine.

 

When it works it's glorious, it typically doesn't work when i'm faced with dumb meta lists that are literally all vehicles. Knights, Iron Hands and sometimes adeptus mechanicus. It also never works if I can't hit hard enough on turn three or at any point to successfully wipe out their threat units.

 

I'm happy with the list and the strategy where it's at, but i'd very much like to explore what it could be and what I could make it.

My aim is always to use no-primaris and as many fluffy units as possible, if anyone has any suggestions with that in mind, i'd love to hear them!

Hope you enjoyed! Keep safe Brothers.

Edited May 14, 2020 by ThirtySixNights

[ThirtySixNights]

Quick update. Finally got my shapeways 3D printed shields. They are simply fantastic. A few little printing mishaps that I fixed with a hobby knife and so on.

 

 

I painted up one for display. Excuse the model as I painted it eons ago and the highlights aren't great. It's all magnetised!

 

[Brother Kraskor]

That shield is awesome! Great job.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Excellent work.

[Hymnblade]

The highlights on that big cross really make it pop!

[Marshal Vespasian]

Love the qiartered design on the shield!