Predicting Space Marine Captain Abilities

[L30n1d4s]

Based on the leaks/releases we have seen so far, here are my guesses at what the different Space Marine Captains will do in 10th:

 

-ALL CAPTAINS -- Let their unit use a Strat for free (just like the Terminator Captain that we have already seen)

*Primaris Captain -- Gain +3A and Devastating Wounds in melee once per battle (this is already revealed)

*Captain in Gravis Armour -- Gives unit 5++ Invul save

*Captain in Phobos Armour -- Can designate an enemy infantry unit within 30"/LOS as a "marked target" -- all friendly shooting against that target gain +1BS against that enemy unit

*Captain in Terminator Armour -- Lets unit re-roll charges (this is already revealed)

*Captain on Bike -- Gives unit Advance and Charge

*Captain -- Gives unit +1A on the charge

 

I guess we will see what it really is tomorrow, but fun to speculate here.

[Tacitus]

Gravis Captain gives Double Tap - we've already seen Aggressors lost their double tap, and are now twin Linked for half the shots, wanna bet Erads also lose their double tap but get it back with a Gravis Cap? 

 

Phobos Captain might be close but I'd bet soemthing with more Oath of Moment wording/interaction i.e. mark the OOM target for +1BS, or Make a second target an OOM target etc. 

 

Your Captain and Captain on a bike are probably reversed.  Advance and charge is already a doctrine though so I doubt its one of the ones - and if it is I think its more likely on a ground pounder (who would have an honorguardish unit)  I wouldn't be surprised if Captain on a Bike gives them fall back and charge - that threads well into Sammael and White Scars. 

[Tokugawa]

10th stick closer to "no model, no rules". Are there jump pack captain still on sold by GW now? They may return with new primaris style model this August though.

[Tacitus]

That's going to be an exception to the no-model-no-rules.  (they'll probably say the "model" is the seperate clamshell of jump packs) Way too many people have bought a Jump Pack upgrade kit, or kitbashed an Assault Marine/Vanguard Vet into a Captain - plus you still have the SC's built off the archetype - Dante, Shrike and the like. 

[Xanthous]

I suspect we'll probably have two gravis captain datasheets, one for the bolt rifle and one for the melee weapons. I wouldn't be surprised if they have different abilities to improve shooting and melee respectively, possibly improving defence at their favoured range? Not sure if/how that would work.

Edited June 9, 2023 by Xanthous

[Tacitus]

I'm betting the Heavy Bolt Rifle and Gravis Fighting Styles Cap gets merged.  I'm also expecting the Gravis Fighting Styles to disappear and MAYBE show up in the weapon profiles - given that it looks like the Power Fist part of a Boltstorn is now actually just a power fist, that option should likely even be twin linked instead of just more attacks on that particular weapon profile.   I think the power sword on the Heavy Bolt Rifle captain is Master Crafted which should allow them to do "Master Crafted Power Swords cannot be swapped" and "Boltstorm Gauntlet and Astartes Chainsword(or whatever the default is) can be swapped for Heavy Bolt Rifle and Master Crafted Power Sword" to keep it all to the one datasheet. 

[Captain Idaho]

Judging from the Tyranids getting different datasheets for Warriors with ranged weapons and Warriors with melee weapons, I think it's @Xanthous is spot on the money there.

 

Though it would be nice to see the datasheets merge, I think the melee focus of the Gravis Captain will result in separate special rules to the Heavy Bolt Rifle version.

 

It's too early for me to call on this one really. The rules could go in many directions depending on the interpretation of the design team and the Captain in question.

 

The Terminator Captain, for example, I didn't expect to have a rule relating to charging. I suspect that was because they wanted to simulate charging from deep strike. Seems like it doesn't quite conjure up the feeling of a tenacious and fell warrior of the Chapter, being thematic generally from Deep Strike, but their angle was probably one of a vanguard type of leader.

 

So interpretation is going to be subjective. I would bet the Bike Captain is a fall back and charge kinda guy. Perhaps getting +1 attack in Tactical Doctrine.

 

I'd like to think a few Captains operate like this actually, tying in with the Doctrines for added effect.

[Tacitus]

That's units not a 1 and done character though.  I don't know if they wanted make people choose between shooty and punchy warriors, or if they just really didn't want to give shooty warriors the melee/adrenaline ability, but the differences between the Gravis Caps are all weapon profiles (assuming Gravis Styles just change the stats on the profiles) 

Edited June 9, 2023 by Tacitus

[Blindhamster]

57 minutes ago, Tacitus said:

That's units not a 1 and done character though.  I don't know if they wanted make people choose between shooty and punchy warriors, or if they just really didn't want to give shooty warriors the melee/adrenaline ability, but the differences between the Gravis Caps are all weapon profiles (assuming Gravis Styles just change the stats on the profiles) 

the hive tyrant has like a million different versions, the gravis captains were already distinct, I'd be surprised if they get merged (but not necessarily unhappy)

[Karhedron]

7 hours ago, Tacitus said:

That's going to be an exception to the no-model-no-rules.  (they'll probably say the "model" is the seperate clamshell of jump packs) Way too many people have bought a Jump Pack upgrade kit, or kitbashed an Assault Marine/Vanguard Vet into a Captain - plus you still have the SC's built off the archetype - Dante, Shrike and the like. 

 

It didn't stop them obsoleting the Chaos Jump Lord, even though Haarken Worldclaimer continues to exist. My hunch is the Jump Captain will be phased out and if you want to run one you will need either Dante or Shrike as special characters.

 

Of course I could be wrong and there could be a new Jump Captain in the pipeline along with a Primaris Assault squad. I would rather keep my expectations low and be pleasantly surprised than raise them up only to be disappointed.

[Tacitus]

Yeah, they shouldn't have, Legends'ed it but there isn't a clamshell of Chaos Jump Packs and there is a Flying Daemon Prince alternative.  They should have both.