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Hey guys,

So yeah, I've been a complete sucker for the Graham McNeill Ultramarine novels, and thought I'd share some thoughts on a couple of named characters that I thought would be a pretty cool addition to Space Marine codex.

Bare with me, as this is my first attempt at making new Independent Characters.

Uriel Ventris
175 Points

WS 6
BS 5
S 4
T 4
W 3
I 5
A 3
Ld 10

Special Rules:
And They Shall Know No Fear
Combat Tactics
Independent Character
Pure of Taint

Wargear:
Sword of Idaeus
Bolt Pistol
Boltgun
Power Armor
Digital Weapons
Frag Grenades
Krak Grenades
Melta Bombs
Iron Halo

Pure of Taint: Having been captured on the traitor world of Medrengard, Ventris had managed to resist the forces of Chaos and break out of the War Chief Honsou's daemonic imprisonment against all but impossible odds. Combined with the everlasting fury and sense of duty to eradicate the followers of the Ruinous Powers, Ventris' newfound fervor has made him one of the finest warriors of the Chapter against the forces of Chaos. Ventris benefits from the following Special Rules: Preferred Enemy: Chaos Daemons and Chaos Space Marines.

Sword of Idaeus: A memoir and heirloom that was handed down to Ventris from the former Captain of the Fourth Company, moments before his noble sacrifice at the Battle of Bridge Two-Four. The Sword of Idaeus is a mastercrafted Power Weapon that rends, and will always wound on a roll of a 5+, at worst (ie - Against Toughness 7 or greater, the weapon will always wound on 5+. Otherwise, it wounds just as normal against all other Toughness values).

Brother Sergeant Pasanius Lysane
80 Points (Upgrade Option for a Tactical Squad)

WS 4
BS 4
S 5
T 5
W 2
I 4
A 2
Ld 9

Special Rules:
And They Shall Know No Fear
Combat Tactics

Wargear:
Arm of Harkus
Boltgun
Bolt Pistol
Flamer
Tactical Dreadnought Power Armor
Frag Grenades
Krak Grenades

Sgt. Lysane can be purchased as an upgrade for a Tactical Squad, replacing the Sgt that normally comes with the squad. If the Tactical Squad that Lysane is joined to is killed, leaving Lysane alone, he gains the Independent Character Special rule.

Arm of Harkus: Since losing his right arm against the Nightbringer, C'tan, Lysane has had two augmentations performed to replace it, the most recent being from Fourth Company's own Techmarine Harkus. The Arm of Harkus functions as a close combat weapon that rends.

Tactical Dreadnought Power Armor: A man of great size and stature, the Ultramarine armory found it necessary to infuse the remains of a once destroyed suit of Terminator Armor, and by piecing it's larger plates and components together with a suit of Power Armor, were they able to fashion a suit of armor for Lysane. Having been allowed to maintain his mobility and agility, all while also having the size and strength close to that of a veteran in Terminator Armor, Lysane can still perform Sweeping Advances, and also benefits from a 6+ Invulnerable Save.

My Thoughts:

Basically, Ventris is a typical Space Marine Captain, with 2 additional Special Rules, and a mastercrafted Power Weapon that always has a chance of wounding. Aside from the Melta Bombs and Digital Weapons, there isn't anything else that he has that doesn't come stock with Space Marine infantry already (with the ONLY exception that he has a Boltgun, Bolt Pistol, and Power Weapon). My only concern is if he's under or overpriced for his abilities. I think it's fair, but I'd like to know what others thought.

On Pasanius, he basically can be upgraded the same way Telion can with a Scout Squad. He's a regular Sgt, with a +1 bonus to Weapon Skill and Wounds. His Arm of Harkus wasn't anything of great note, but I thought it appropriate to make it some kind of Power Weapon variant at least. In regards to his Tactical Dreadnought Power Armor, I thought it would be justified in giving him the 6+ Invul Save, considering how the fluff writes about his size and whatnot. Granted a 6+ save can be HUGE, but I thought it matched very well. Other than that, he comes stock with the regular wargear as well, along with a Flamer. My fear with him is that he may be underpriced at 80 points.

Thoughts and comments are welcome!

IMOH i think the smurfs have too many charaters

i like the ideas though mabye for other chapters though

I think the S. of Ideaus is a bit silly: always wounding on 6's? Either you've worded your initial ideas wrong, or you've really nerfed the weapon. If I were you, I would change it to a Power Weapon that causes Rending.

Also, there is no mention of Pasanius' arm being anywhere like a Power Fist. AFAIK, it was just a regular arm, difference being that it was comprised of Necrodermis. Ergo, I would change it so he has a 5+/6+ "Regeneration" save.

Valkyrie wrote:I think the S. of Ideaus is a bit silly: always wounding on 6's? Either you've worded your initial ideas wrong, or you've really nerfed the weapon. If I were you, I would change it to a Power Weapon that causes Rending.

What I meant to say is that it functions like a Power Weapon, but when wounding against a model with Toughness 8 or greater, Ventris still can wound on a 6+. I did add "at worst" in my initial wording. Perhaps that may have thrown you off. However a Rending Power Weapon isn't that bad of an idea either.

Valkyrie wrote:Also, there is no mention of Pasanius' arm being anywhere like a Power Fist. AFAIK, it was just a regular arm, difference being that it was comprised of Necrodermis. Ergo, I would change it so he has a 5+/6+ "Regeneration" save.

I know that. I just wanted to give his arm some kind of significance, being as how it's played such an important role between his relationship with Ventris, and throughout their journeys together. Maybe a Regeneration roll, like in WHFB, would be a nice change of pace to it instead.

EDIT: Changed the OP to better explain how the "Sword of Idaeus" works. Hopefully that'll clear up the confusion. I'm still working on how I'd like Pasanius' "Arm of Harkus" would be though... Stay tuned for more!

So you basically gave him Artificer armor but with a 6+ save?

Riddick40k wrote:So you basically gave him Artificer armor but with a 6+ save?

That what it seems he's saying to me!

2+/6++ armour.

Unless it's just regular power armour so it has 3+/6++. This isn't too much of an improvement, so wouldnt have to cost a lot and gives that edge deserving of a special character!

Also, with Ventris's sword, it's a nice idea but there arnt too many things with toughness 8 or greater IIRC most seem to stop at about 6, and that's hard enough! Maybe make it poisioned 4+ (so re-roll against anything T4 or less) with rending to get around armour if you get your 6 to wound, with possible reroll helping you achieve this! (or have Auto-wound on to-hit roll of 6, like the blinding venom rule of gargoyles)

I think they seem like nice, balanced characters, however I don't feel there's anything particularly new here that can't be accomplished with a normal model and wargear, for Ventris at least.

As I said, I think they're nice and balanced (balanced is always a nice thing to see in this part of the forum), but I don't think they're really original enough IMHO.

PrometheusZero wrote:Unless it's just regular power armour so it has 3+/6++. This isn't too much of an improvement, so wouldnt have to cost a lot and gives that edge deserving of a special character!

Actually, I had meant it to be a 3+/6++. It's still Power Armor, but with a 6+ Invulnerable Save.

PrometheusZero wrote:Also, with Ventris's sword, it's a nice idea but there arnt too many things with toughness 8 or greater IIRC most seem to stop at about 6, and that's hard enough! Maybe make it poisioned 4+ (so re-roll against anything T4 or less) with rending to get around armour if you get your 6 to wound, with possible reroll helping you achieve this! (or have Auto-wound on to-hit roll of 6, like the blinding venom rule of gargoyles)

That's actually a pretty cool idea too!

Thanks for the feedback, everyone!

I have a question regarding Pasanius arm have you finished all the Ultramarine books as i think you should before adding it to his war gear

My mistake i just speed read the part but you have covered it

Ok, so I just made another edit...

After finishing the entire saga, I thought that the Arm of Harkus would probably function best as a CCW, that can rend. In all honesty, I think this is fair, considering how Pasanius is portrayed. I lowered his WS back down to 4, but raised his Strength and Toughness to 5, to better represent his amazing stature and strength.

Finally, with Ventris, I added Rending to the Sword of Ideaus.

Thanks again for reading!

Was Ideas not supposed to have like an Iron Gauntlet or something,lioke on the 4th company banner?

Deadshot wrote:Was Ideas not supposed to have like an Iron Gauntlet or something,lioke on the 4th company banner?

Not sure... I'll have to check the Omnibus to be certain, but I don't recall anything like that off the top of my head.

Just checking one thing, does the tactical dreadnought power armor take count as 1 or 2 models for embarking or disembarking?

Rurouni Benshin wrote:

Deadshot wrote:Was Ideas not supposed to have like an Iron Gauntlet or something,lioke on the 4th company banner?

Not sure... I'll have to check the Omnibus to be certain, but I don't recall anything like that off the top of my head.

SM codex,Pg 23.The 4th company banner

"shows the Iron Gauntlet of its former leader,Captain Idaeus."

Reisen-tanith wrote:Just checking one thing, does the tactical dreadnought power armor take count as 1 or 2 models for embarking or disembarking?

I'd be inclined to say that it counts as Power Armor for purposes of Transport Capacity. The fluff says that it is in fact Power Armor, but made with some parts of a once destroyed suit of Terminator Armor. I also can't recall one moment in any of the books where his armor limited his mobility at all either.