Terminator Chaplain Loadout

[mel_danes]

Recently picked up a Termi Chaplain and Termi Multi Part kits. I've got the Leviathan sets as well.

With three leaders and two squads I have options.

 

How have you run your Terminator Chaplains and how have they worked for you?

 

I'm not sold on the shield yet, it looks cool, and his ability only really works in hand to hand.

 

Please share your combat experiences.

[DemonGSides]

I find the Storm Bolter shots to be pretty meh.  That being said, the extra wound from the shield is also meh (Same number of shots are gonna kill him either way on anything above 1 Damage).  If Dev Wounds still did Mortals, I would love him a lot more.

I have mine leading a 10 man of Assault Terminators who did nothing in a game I played recently (Monolith got in their way so they were just slamming their hammers into a wall for 2 turns), and I don't think having a few extra shots on the turn they arrived from Deep Strike was going to be meaningful.

Since he's pretty much only ever going to lead Assault Terminators, I don't think it makes sense to give him a Storm Bolter since they also don't shoot, and I don't think the 4 shots he gets a turn are all that meaningful; 3+, S4, 0 AP is snoresville.

I gave him the shield because it looks the coolest.

[Paladin777]

If he's leading assault termies in a detachment that can advance and charge (but not shoot), then the shield is the way to go. 

 

If leading regular termies, then I think the bolter is the way to go. 
 

a single storm bolter isn't gonna turn the tide of battle, but going from 5 wounds to 6 isn't exactly breaking any thresholds either. So really just pick the one you want. 

[Tokugawa]

When can make choice between "S4 ap0 dmg1" bolter and "any other thing", choose "any other thing" won't be wrong usually. 

[Minsc]

Stormshield doesn't do anything against D2 and D3 attacks, but it does help against D1 and can help against attacks with a random Damage-value (the chance of a Captain getting oneshot from a Damage D6-attack is halved if going from W5 to W6).

With that said, neither the Stormshield nor the Stormbolter is likely to have any significant impact on the game in most cases, so I say just pick whatever you think looks cooler. 

[mel_danes]

What they've done to shields on models that already have an invulnerable safe in this edition I'll never understand.

Adding an ablative wound, meh.

 

As several have said the iconic storm bolter is also meh.

 

I like the model, and his buff is cool.

 

Sounds like not a lot of impact from this guy.

No matter, he'll look cool doing little on the board.

[Wind Whistler]

He doesn’t do much himself, but his true value is the +1 to wound buff he gives. Very valuable and easily justifies his inclusion by itself. 

[AutumnEffect]

+1 To Wound is one of the better (I'd almost dare say best) buffs you can hand out. It goes together with Hammer Assault Terminators like chicken and waffles.

 

I'd personally go with the shield. The extra wound is pointless until the exact moment it's not. It also looks better IMO with him next to Thunder Hammer & Storm Shield termies.

[Wormwoods]

Ran one with a shield in a shooty terminator squad, served me pretty well in a pair of casual games. Mostly took the shield for aesthetic reasons, and so he fits in with the eventual assault squad I have planned. 

[Dracos]

At the moment he’s not a “competitive” choice so , as so often it works out , I’d go with the rule of cool. Whatever that is for you. 

[Dracos]

@Lemondish So ….. what part of that do you disagree with? Or are you just trolling with dislikes?

[DemonGSides]

Reacting to reactions lies the path of madness, friend. Let em jeer from the bleachers.

 

 

[Dracos]

@mel_danes I will say it’s not a bad choice, especially for say lightning claws, but chainfist seem to be best general melee option and while I’m not a fan of stormbolters damage output they are a tool in the tool box that reaches out 24 (+6) for a unit that is notoriously slow unless you’re using Vanguard rules. 
 

That said, I’m excited for when Primaris Terminators are released. Big fan of Lightning  Claws Thunder Hammers and Stormshields even is Stormshields are pretty lackluster on most units these days. 

[DemonGSides]

I am excited for some big as hell hammers for sure.

 

I don't think a singular stormbolter in a unit of assault terminators is much of a tool for any toolbox, which ultimately makes the choice on a chaplain termie to be mostly like you said earlier, an aesthetic choice.

[Lemondish]

On 12/4/2023 at 1:17 PM, Dracos said:

@Lemondish So ….. what part of that do you disagree with? Or are you just trolling with dislikes?

 

Didn't have time to respond at length, was gonna get to it before life hit.

 

I disagree that he isn't competitive. Since that was the only value judgment you made, figured it would be self explanatory.

 

"Are you trolling?" Lol get outta here my guy

Edited December 6, 2023 by Lemondish

[Orange Knight]

I have used both variant, and the storm bolter and shield are equally underwhelming on this particular unit.

 

It comes down to what you feel looks better. As for the performance of the Chaplain - he is decent. Terminators in general are just ok, but he does improve the unit. If deploying 5 in a Landraider, I prefer him to a Captain.

[Dracos]

1 hour ago, Lemondish said:

 

Didn't have time to respond at length, was gonna get to it before life hit.

 

I disagree that he isn't competitive. Since that was the only value judgment you made, figured it would be self explanatory.

 

"Are you trolling?" Lol get outta here my guy

Fair enough , I didn’t get around to explaining why they aren’t a “competitive” choice until later and the fact that they are useful to Assault Terminators more than Tactical means there is a place in a certain kind of list for them. 
 

As @Orange Knight says as a whole Terminators aren’t very tournament competitive unless your a Dark Angel player of course. Myself, I thrive on taking at least one or two mediocre competitive choices in my list and finding ways to make them work.