How to play Exorcists?

[Skywrath]

Assuming a person was to play Exorcists, as they are confirmed to be a GK successor, would you play them as GK, but with primaris stuff attached to them?

 

Bit of a lore-note here: Seeing how they are primaris, and the successors of the GK, does that mean that GK primaris are coming soon?

[Waking Dreamer]

It's not officially confirmed to be a GK successor, and there isnt any rules in how to properly play them in regards to their own chapter tactics. I don't think it's possible to give them the GK CT if they are NOT exactly GK. So no primaris models with all the GK rules, either currently or in the near future it seems.

 

But the mix and match of CTs system from the Codex: SM 2.0 seems like they best bet to give them some cool/fluffy/effective CT for you to use with Primaris models if you wish. So picking 2 CT from that system is probably what I would do if you are going to create a full Exorcists army.

[Deadass]

They're supposed to be played as vanilla Space Marines. They are depicted in C:SM and while they are specialised in fighting daemons, they also fight all other threats to the Imperium and use standard astartes equipment, all of which sets them apart from their parent chapter.

 

It's not officially confirmed to be a GK successor, and there isnt any rules in how to properly play them in regards to their own chapter tactics.

I believe they were confirmed as a Grey Knights successor in one of Steve Parker's deathwatch novels.

[Skywrath]

It's not officially confirmed to be a GK successor, and there isnt any rules in how to properly play them in regards to their own chapter tactics. I don't think it's possible to give them the GK CT if they are NOT exactly GK. So no primaris models with all the GK rules, either currently or in the near future it seems.

 

But the mix and match of CTs system from the Codex: SM 2.0 seems like they best bet to give them some cool/fluffy/effective CT for you to use with Primaris models if you wish. So picking 2 CT from that system is probably what I would do if you are going to create a full Exorcists army.

 

This was more for a curiousity perspective, rather than a practical one. And as AHorriblePerson pointed out, it has been confirmed they are GK successors. 

 

What exactly would a vanilla Space Marine faction imply? Ultramarine tactics I presume?

[Deadass]

When I said "vanilla", I meant that they should be played using the regular space marine codex. As suggested by Waking Dreamer, the best way to show off their way of war would be to cook up a custom chapter tactic with the traits available in the book. Giving them Warded might be a decent way to display their resilience to psychic attacks, for example.

 

You can then choose to declare them a successor of another vanilla chapter for the purpose of giving them access to an upgrade to one of the combat doctrines, new warlord traits and a couple of additional relics. Ultramarines are always a good choice, though Salamanders seem fluffy to me too.

[Brother Tyler]

Note that this discussion has been moved from the Grey Knights forum to the Index Astartes forum because the focus appears to be on the Exorcists Chapter.

 

What is your source for the Exorcists being "confirmed" as successors of the Grey Knights? I know that the Black Library Deathwatch novels (by Steve Parker) stated that as an in-universe view. However, all of the other official information on the Exorcists is that their true lineage is unknown, a closely guarded secret. The official stance (as far as I'm aware) has been to step away from the lineage described in Mr. Parker's novels. Is there some other source that contradicts this?

 

As far as the Grey Knights potentially getting Primaris in the future, that is covered in this topic.

 

I would not play the Exorcists as Grey Knights. The rules for them have been to use Codex: Space Marines and whatever Chapter Tactics you want. I'd prefer Chapter Tactics focused on daemon-killing, but GW/FW went with a more flexible option.

[Deadass]

The excerpt from Steve Parker's Deathwatch novels is my source. Hence why I mentioned it. Sure, it's an in-universe remark made via the thoughts of an Exorcists astartes, but I can't think of any sensible reason to assume it's not to be considered fact. I'm not disputing that they exist, but I have yet to see any official statement made by either Steve Parker or any other writer from GW or BL. The way I see it, the thoughts of Brother Rauth and the various pieces of lore about the Exorcists from Imperial Armour Vol. 10 and the codices are all in-universe information provided by individuals with varying degrees of knowledge about the chapter.

 

I don't see why both accounts can't be true: The identity of the Exorcists' parent chapter is unknown to the wider Imperium - just like the Grey Knights are anyway - while members of the chapter and those associated with them may know more.

[Spinsanity]

Aren’t the GKs immune to possession or to corruption, or something like that? Considering the Exorcists are each subjected to possession before becoming a full-fledged marine, and that a sizeable number of failed initiates were turned into a renegade chapter of sorts, it sounds dubious they could share the GKs’ geneseed

[Dumah]

I don't think their supposed incorruptability is due to their gene-seed so much as their training, conditioning, and the rigorous screening process for candidates. Also wards; lots and lots of wards.

[Brother Tyler]

They are not immune to possession/corruption. From the original story about their practice (from the Third War for Armageddon campaign):

To: ++ Inquisition Clearance Insufficient ++

From: ++ Inquisition Clearance Insufficient ++

Date: 013.M36

 

Subject: Adeptus Astartes, Exorcists Chapter

 

Thought for the day: Ruthlessness is the kindness of the wise.

 

Honoured Lord, it is with great pleasure I contact you to inform you of the success of our project. Minor setbacks aside, I can report that the first two companies of the Chapter created in this thirteenth founding are responding well to the daemonic possession therapy. Under controlled hexagramic conditions, the subjects were exposed to possession by minor creatures from the daemonic pantheon under the watchful eye of Ordo Malleus daemon hunters protected by sigils and wards of great power. Incense inimical to the summoned creatures was burned while chants of binding

were continually intoned from the ++Liber Expurgatorius. Inquisition Clearance Insufficient ++.

 

Once the subject was exposed to the essence of the daemon, the creature was allowed to remain in the host body for twelve hours before being cast out by a daemon hunter. In some cases the resultant physical and psychological damage to the Space Marines was irreparable and we were forced to terminate, but the majority of the subjects survived the procedure and required only minor reconstructive surgery and corrective psychotherapy.

 

After a period of recuperation, the subjects were instructed in the methods of combating the daemonic, trained in the use of the 666 verses of the Book of Exorcisms and equipped with the weapons of an Exorcist. The two companies were then put into action on a daemon infested world on the northern fringes of the Eye of Terror. With a squad of the Grey Knights held in reserve, the Exorcist Space Marines achieved a kill ratio of 97:1. Impressive under normal circumstances, but against the daemonic, I'm sure you'll agree that these figures clearly indicate that the procedure is both safe and effective. The test subjects adrenal production more than tripled and levels of the neurotransmitter Serotonin dropped drastically, resulting in heightened states of aggression and combat effectiveness. Only 1% of the Space Marine subjects re-succumbed to daemonic influence on the planet and I believe that, subject to careful monitoring, this Chapter might eventually be granted a base and limited autonomy within a reasonable time frame.

 

With this success behind us, I believe the time is right to begin the creation of a full Chapter of Exorcists. The technology is in place and the need for such troops has never been greater. The two test companies can be integrated into normal Chapter organisation with the minimum of fuss and the resulting Chapter of Exorcists could be operational within less than fifty years. By then, the minor side effects that have manifested in a number of test subjects should hopefully be eliminated.

I remain your humble servant

Lauram Clelland

Genetor-Major, Xenobiologis

The key points to note are that:

• "...the majority of the subjects survived the procedure and required only minor reconstructive surgery and corrective psychotherapy." So it looks like the majority (that survived) required minor reconstructive surgery (meaning that their bodies were changed/corrupted/damaged somehow during the temporary possession) and corrective psychotherapy (meaning their minds were messed up/with during the temporary possession). More importantly, a minority either did not survive and/or required major reconstructive surgery and/or major corrective psychotherapy.
• When dispatched to the daemon world and subjected to the influence of the Warp, "...Only 1% of the Space Marine subjects re-succumbed to daemonic influence..."

I tend to agree with AHorriblePerson in this, though, in that the Exorcists could be created using the gene-seed of the Grey Knights. They might not, though, and the official information (aside from the potentially incorrect in-universe beliefs/knowledge of the BL character) is that the gene-seed lineage of the Exorcists is unknown [to all but a few] because it is a closely guarded secret.

 

Regardless, the Exorcists have always been portrayed as a Chapter that makes use not of the weapons, wargear, and special vehicles of the Grey Knights, but as a Chapter that looks like any other Codex Chapter, albeit with special skills and knowledge against Chaos.

[Icosiel]

Hello, battle-brothers!

 

So, I have an army of Exorcists. I've really enjoyed using them since the release of Codex Space Marines 2.0. Combining custom Chapter traits really helped me make my Exorcists feel like themselves. However, all of the Codex Supplements have since released, and unless I'm mistaken there's no reason to not have a custom Chapter count as a successor of one of the First Founding Chapters. This is fine for obscure Chapters such as the Lamenters, who very clearly are successors of the Blood Angels. It also works for Chapters like the Space Sharks, because one could infer that they are Raven Guard successors or something else.

 

However, the Exorcists are explicitly stated to not be successors of anyone. The Inquisition created them in secret (maybe from Grey Knights), so who should they be successors of? It feels weird to take Salamander relics or Ultramarine warlord traits because they don't fight like any First Founding Chapters. They do their own thing.

 

Is there any advantage that I'm missing to running them with just the base Codex, and no supplements? Or am I unnecessarily gimping myself?

[Dumah]

You're missing out on Super Doctrines, Warlord Traits and Stratagems by not choosing a supplement as founder. There's really no reason not to do it; you can justify most choices fairly easily, especially considering the Exorcists' reputation for showing high adaptability in combat. 

[Lord_Caerolion]

I'd just say use the Ultramarines, as they're the most "stereotypical" and flexible. As for the rest, you don't have to use the Warlord Traits, etc, so you can still use the generic ones for that.

[CCE1981]

Use the “parent” Chapter that most reflects their/your playstyle.

 

I created my own Successor Chapter specifically so that I can use any Codex or Supplement. Justified as the different fighting styles of the Companies of my Chapter.

[Arganias]

This is my interpretation of them based off of my thoughts on their fluff. 

 

Warded: I figured this made sense due to their Possession Therapy, makes them a little more reselient to the various MW causing abilities and spells that Daemon armies can throw out.

 

Knowledge is Power: While they don't necessarily use Psychers more or less than other chapters, I figured the Excorcists would bring skilled psychers to bare against Daemonic enemies.

 

 

These are just my thoughts on them if you want to break away from the parent chapters.

[Gamiel]

This old (2017) article suggests using Iron Hands Chapter Tactic - https://www.warhammer-community.com/2017/07/18/choosing-the-right-chapter-tactic-for-your-successorsgw-homepage-post-4/

[Brother Tyler]

I merged the two topics about the Exorcists. The first assumed that the Exorcists were Grey Knights Successors and developed into a discussion of what rules to use for them. The second started asking which rules to use for them.