Faction-specific NPOs - Asuryani Guardians

[Brother Tyler]

This is part of the NPO Project.

 

The images below represent my first real attempt at creating NPOs for the Asuryani. In the spirit of NPOs being "regular soldiers," I left this as purely Guardians, based on the Guardian Defender and Storm Guardian units presented in the codex. While I briefly considered creating a type of leader that might be on par with an Aspect Warrior (but not an Exarch), I felt that was a step beyond what this project is trying to achieve. I also considered including a Warlock and a Pathfinder. Warlocks are known to lead Guardians into battle, but since they're not part of the unit entry, I felt it was appropriate to leave them out. Similarly, Games Workshop has given us rules for snipers and Pathfinders are the natural representative for that role in the Asuryani armies, but I didn't think it was necessary. I may develop a Pathfinder [Sniper] datasheet later, but that seems like something that is too specific to missions and mission packs that use the sniper rules, so they're not necessary in the general use NPO roster. While I originally conceived of this as the "Asuryani" faction, I later changed it to "Asuryani Guardian" to allow for the possibility of other NPO team options from the Asuryani (I don't personally plan any, but I could easily see where other players might want to take things).

 

Each NPO is presented on two datasheets. The version on the left is the standard version, which I prefer. The version on the right omits the keywords, APL, and Move entries because mission packs often present mission special rules that dictate NPO force composition and NPO movement, rendering these entries irrelevant. The version on the right also leaves out NPO force composition notes, where applicable. For example, Storm Guardian Gunners are limited based on the number of total Storm Guardians, which is shown in the version on the left but not that on the right (since it would be dictated in the mission pack).

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

(click the images to see full size versions)

 

I tried to keep things as close as possible to the composition of each type of squad (Guardian Defender/Storm Guardian) as found in the codex. This required a little creativity which I hope doesn't create confusion. The stats for the flamer and fusion weapon were derived from similar weapons found in various other kill team faction rules (the fusion gun being a meltagun). Both platforms use rules similar to those used for servo skulls (i.e., don't participate in Fights, reduced APL when determining control of a marker, effect of having a Conceal order). I don't know that these are the "right" rules to give them, but they're a starting point. Something I did with both was require that some Asuryani Guardian NPO be within 1" of these platforms for them to perform behaviours (though the Serpent's Scale Platform is supposed to provide its defensive benefits regardless). I based the shuriken cannon rules (Heavy Weapon Platform) on the Voidscarred Corsairs, and the defensive rules for the Serpent's Scale Platform on the shimmershield of the Blades of Khaine (though the range was modified to be in line with the Warhammer 40,000 counterpart).

 

You may see some inconsistencies in the left/right versions, in which case I'll provide the intended rules in replies here.

 

Something I found is that developing the behaviours of each NPO is much more challenging than I first thought it would be. It requires going through a logical sequence and developing correct descriptions, where applicable. I don't know that the versions I've presented here are necessarily the right ones, but they provide a decent starting point. I imagine that discussion here will refine things so that we can improve upon these.

 

While I have begun working on ideas for NPOs from other factions (I'm starting with the other Aeldari sub-factions), each will be covered in their own discussion so that each discussion can remain focused.

 

The intent is to finalize these (only after the other NPO factions have been developed and finalized so that there can be some level of consistency and balance) and present each faction as a downloadable file.

[Ace Debonair]

By a stroke of luck, I'm actually painting some Guardians now to use as NPOs next Christmas, so the timing on these is really good. 

EDIT: I'm a month late to the party on this topic, so actually *my* timing is awful 

 

The only minor quibble I have is that there are only five chainswords available for the Storm Guardians in the current kit, alongside seven power swords, and we have enough of a headache tracking all the book-keeping without counts-as-combat weapons that happen to look like power swords. 

 

Admittedly, that might just be a 'me' problem, and I have no problem house-ruling things a bit to make it easier for my nephews (and me, if I'm honest ) to keep track of.

 

Also, if this was an intentional design decision (now I'm more awake I can see why you don't want squad-wide power weapons), then fair play. 

 

Edited January 22 by Ace Debonair
I can't read dates when I'm not properly awake

[Brother Tyler]

I don't think it's a really big problem. Those "swords" on the sprue could be Aeldari power swords or they could be Guardian combat weapons - as long as you can differentiate between the two in-game, it shouldn't be an issue. Differentiation would most likely be some visual cue(s), setting the power swords apart from the combat weapons. For example, I plan to paint Aeldari power swords with the flickering lightning while the Guardian combat weapons would be painted as wraithbone.

 

From a practical standpoint, I feel your pain. I don't know why the sprue doesn't include a sufficient number of chainswords to equip all ten Guardians with chainswords and enough additional weapons to complete the full range of other possibilities (e.g., two flamers, two fusion guns, two power swords). That's a disconnect between Games Workshop's rules and models, however, and it's not confined to this kit (e.g., Adeptus Arbites Exaction Squad, Inquisitorial Agents, etc.). Ultimately, I tried to port the Warhammer 40,000 rules into Kill Team while crafting them so that players could get by with a single box. I don't think that we're necessarily beholden to that, however, especially since these are NPOs and the force composition will be dictated by the mission pack and not as a standard kill team.

[Ace Debonair]

That seems fair enough.  I hadn't considered the idea of just making the 'power' swords into Wraithbone swords, that's a clever solution.