Primaris Crusader Squads

[BitsHammer]

 

how are the buff sources going to die with 75 2 (or more) wound bodies to chew through?

Pretty easily?

 

https://games-workshop.ru/wh40k9ed/factions/officio-assassinorum/Vindicare-Assassin

https://games-workshop.ru/wh40k9ed/factions/space-marines/Eliminator-Squad

 

And other sources of "Ignore <Look Out, Sir!>".

 

Yeah, a lot of ways to sling mortal wounds at otherwise protected units. Sure, we'll stop 1/3 of them, but we're not talking a lot of wounds for them to need to chew through.

[tvih]

 

how are the buff sources going to die with 75 2 (or more) wound bodies to chew through?

Pretty easily?

 

https://games-workshop.ru/wh40k9ed/factions/officio-assassinorum/Vindicare-Assassin

https://games-workshop.ru/wh40k9ed/factions/space-marines/Eliminator-Squad

 

And other sources of "Ignore <Look Out, Sir!>".

 

For Grim the servitors certainly are useful against those. Otherwise... stick some Company Vets in there I guess.

 

I'll tell ya a real pain though... OML Canoness with the relic Inferno pistol. Ridiculous thing, that.

[General Strike]

I'm not sure whether this comment is worth saying, but it is just like everything else, we can't lean too much into one thing. Crusaders are like this too, we gotta use them to fit a purpose. 

[Mandragola]

I'm not sure whether this comment is worth saying, but it is just like everything else, we can't lean too much into one thing. Crusaders are like this too, we gotta use them to fit a purpose.

Well, there’s sort of an argument that you can lean heavily into crusader squads if you want. You have the option of sticking about a hundred obsec 2w 5++ models on the board, with prett respectable shooting and melee.

 

One of the things I like about these units is that other people’s armies aren’t designed to kill them. You can take a charge from a unit of incubi and expect to punch back, which they won’t like.

 

You’ll lose some guys to morale but not too many. They’re still marines so only ever run off on a 1 if you fail.

[Freypal]

The more I've thought about it, the more I'm leaning toward building my first lot with bolters... There's plenty of melee punch available elsewhere with BGV, Sword Brethren and AIs. Feels like a good durable, (and fluffy) block to sit on objectives and provide some chaff clearing fire. A couple of power fists in there along with the power sword to allow some counter punch and they're not exactly bad in melee without the chainswords... 

 

I know I'm slow to this realisation... it having been suggested many pages back! 

 

It will be interesting to see how lists evolve as more games take place, it still feels like a unit with no "one right" build... Which is both nice and confusing!

[tvih]

At first I'm probably just gonna build the SB+Initiates and run them as Intercessors. Then I'll probably wait for the upgrade sprue's shotguns to build the neophytes, and not sure when I'm buying that. I know neophytes are kinda "iconic" for us, but I was never too keen on them personally :P

Edited October 21, 2021 by tvih

[SWORD BROTHER RYAN]

Guess I'm a little too 'old school' with what I'm going to build them as. I just can't see myself allowing for anything else other than melee punchers. Swords and pistols galore! It may have it's drawbacks in game, but I came up with choppy crusaders. I just can't let them go.

[tvih]

As usual I'm magnetizing them so I can do whatever. But for choppy troop needs I already have 20 assault intercessors sitting idle, and sadly firstborn crusader squads are a bit meh compared to auto bolt rifles. I mean heck, the heavy bolt pistols are almost as good for shooting as firstborn boltguns :P

[Matrindur]

Only just realized you don't get enough shoulder pads in the crusader squad kit to build the Sword Brother as a normal Initiate?

 

You get 8 Neophyte, 10 Initiate and 2 Sword Brother shoulder pad per 10 guys so if you want to have a 20 man unit (meaning you want to build a Sword Brother as an Initiate) you have to buy the upgrade sprue.

[Marshal Reinhard]

Well you could technically paint the sword brother pad as the regular coloured ones, mix them in. But I hear ya. 

 

I guess my having a ton of spares from my obsessively hunting after BT deathwatch pads will pay off, huh.

[a_typical_hero]

Gotta say I always only used one shoulder pad (the left one) with the Chapter symbol on it. That is how we were first depicted in the Index Astartes of that time. So I always ended up with "double" the amount of shoulder pads from the old upgrade sprue. Same here now.

 

Am I the odd one out?

 

Index Astartes:

https://i.imgur.com/oAaH1xv.png

[Marshal Reinhard]

Am I the odd one out?

Probably

[General Strike]

Gotta say I always only used one shoulder pad (the left one) with the Chapter symbol on it. That is how we were first depicted in the Index Astartes of that time. So I always ended up with "double" the amount of shoulder pads from the old upgrade sprue. Same here now.

 

Am I the odd one out?

 

Index Astartes:

https://i.imgur.com/oAaH1xv.png

I'm running my Intercessor Squads and a couple of my generic characters as Grey Shields from the Indomitus Crusade who became Black Templars. They only wear one shoulder pad and have less ornamentation than my Crusaders and Templar specific models as part of my version of the lore. They haven't earned the right to wear the second symbol yet, that kind of thing. All the phobos stuff I build will be that way too, just because I think the mindset of a Templar who volunteers for that duty would be different, any Templar willing to hide and be patient will be an odd one.

[Brother Kraskor]

 

Gotta say I always only used one shoulder pad (the left one) with the Chapter symbol on it. That is how we were first depicted in the Index Astartes of that time. So I always ended up with "double" the amount of shoulder pads from the old upgrade sprue. Same here now.

 

Am I the odd one out?

 

Index Astartes:

https://i.imgur.com/oAaH1xv.png

I'm running my Intercessor Squads and a couple of my generic characters as Grey Shields from the Indomitus Crusade who became Black Templars. They only wear one shoulder pad and have less ornamentation than my Crusaders and Templar specific models as part of my version of the lore. They haven't earned the right to wear the second symbol yet, that kind of thing. All the phobos stuff I build will be that way too, just because I think the mindset of a Templar who volunteers for that duty would be different, any Templar willing to hide and be patient will be an odd one.

 

 

That's genius. Such an elegant fluff solution to a modelling problem! 

[SWORD BROTHER RYAN]

If you're like me, then you have gotten a LOT of extra shoulder pads from generic marine sets laying around due to sing either BT upgrade sprue or getting from 3rd party. Also, the decal sheet comes with a LOT of crosses. I'd just use some old pads (Even though they look a bit wonky on primaris) and the decals to get what you need. (You could always green stuff the extra bit at the bottom if you're comfortable with it)

[General Strike]

I'm really mind battling over equipping special weapons in the squad. I love the look of the Pyreblaster, but the powerfist deals more death. But I'm building my squads with auto bolt rifles and carbines, so I should build with range in mind for them, right? Or counterpunch if they end up in melee kinda treating them like I do my sergeants in other squads? It's just those two powerfists become two guys not doing anything while the rest are shooting, while the pyreblaster will sometimes shoot at least. Edited October 24, 2021 by General Strike

[Charlo]

The way I see it, Crusaders are a rare example of a decent multi-purpose unit. They can so it all pretty damn well!

 

Pyreblasters ars ultimately very underwhelming (though the relic one is fun, guaranteeing lots of hits with the addition of Blast) whereas two Primaris with Power Fists hidden in a squad is rather unique!

[General Strike]

I guess if it comes down to how I plan to use them. I want to plot them on midfield objectives, use my intercessors for backfield, and rush up to target kill with my termies or bvg. So fists might be useful in a midfield game.

[Freypal]

I'm really mind battling over equipping special weapons in the squad. I love the look of the Pyreblaster, but the powerfist deals more death. But I'm building my squads with auto bolt rifles and carbines, so I should build with range in mind for them, right? Or counterpunch if they end up in melee kinda treating them like I do my sergeants in other squads? It's just those two powerfists become two guys not doing anything while the rest are shooting, while the pyreblaster will sometimes shoot at least.

 

This is exactly the conundrum I'm having... I don't have a massive amount of models and currently lack any kind of lower strength ranged units so leaning towards building them with bolters given I already have assault intercessors and BGVs for CC. But as you say, the idea of 2 "hidden" PFs and a PS seems kinda fun and useful... if somewhat situational? 

 

I guess they then become a middle ground between Intercessors and Assault Intercessors. Less specialised, more flexible... 

[CrystalSeer]

Keep in mind, pyreblasters are also good for auspex scan and overwatch.

[Charlo]

Having to pay CP to use them in niche situations isn't what I'd call "good", but yeah

[Marshal Reinhard]

Going all fists. A bunch of old intercessors can get the pyreblasters though... have a bunch so no reason not to.

[Waaagh?]

I'm kinda at a point where I'm considering not taking Crusader squads at all. Thinking of sticking with a mix of normal and assault intercessors.

 

I can't see any huge advantages to the Crusader squads other than the chance to pop some special weapons in there. From what I can see a 10 man squad of intercessors outshoots (and have pistols) a shooty loadout and a 10 man squad of Assault Intercessors might have slightly less special weapons but can fight twice and is slightly tougher.

 

If I'm not interested in massive blobs of models, is there anything I'm missing?

Edited October 25, 2021 by Waaagh?

[Marshal Reinhard]

D2xshotgun strat, powerfists galore, including possibly the powerfist relic, other such nuggets.

 

Assault/reguluar intercessors are just crusader squads without neophytes anyway

[BitsHammer]

I'm kinda at a point where I'm considering not taking Crusader squads at all. Thinking of sticking with a mix of normal and assault intercessors.

 

I can't see any huge advantages to the Crusader squads other than the chance to pop some special weapons in there. From what I can see a 10 man squad of intercessors outshoots (and have pistols) a shooty loadout and a 10 man squad of Assault Intercessors might have slightly less special weapons but can fight twice and is slightly tougher.

 

If I'm not interested in massive blobs of models, is there anything I'm missing?

Flexibility and durability. The large max size makes them more durable, and the unit acts much like a Tactical squad that gets to split between melee and shooting rather than special and heavy weapons.

 

Basically if you want dedicated shooting or melee then use the specialist units bit if you want a flexible unit who can take the midfield and hold the point, take Crusaders.