Unique characters of old?

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**Crimson Heretic**

I've just been curious about unique characters that were phased out of codexs over the years..like marbo? gaunts ghosts? al-raheem? were they useful? what did they do?

**TheCustomLime**

Marbo allowed you to deep strike a melta bomb. Al'rahem let you bring in a infantry platoon from the flank.

**ClockworkZion**

Sisters had Saint Praxedis and Saint Helen that are gone, Kyrinov got axed for the second time in the most recent codex (he was axed previously when Sisters became C:WH).

**BoomWolf**

Never heard of the two saints...did they do anything special or were they just a "for the sake of it" character?

**ClockworkZion**

BoomWolf wrote:
Never heard of the two saints...did they do anything special or were they just a "for the sake of it" character?

Someone with a copy of the old 2nd Edition Sisters dex could answer better but I know Praxedis was a bit of a beast in combat. She'd rush in and start crushing skulls with her mace. The only thing special about Helen I remember is that her CCW also had a ranged profile.

**Agent_Tremolo**

Wazdakka Gutsmek had a souped up bike (back in 2nd ed. it was armed with a battlecannon!) that could fire while turbo-boosting. He also made ork warbikers troops, making him a must for Speed Freak armies.

Old Zogwort was a psyker that could turn enemy ICs into squigs.

Makari the Grot: Ghazghkull's standard bearer, had a 2+ invulnerable save.

Zodgrod Worstnagga: Could turn a single unit of Gretchin into super-grots.

Nazdreg: I don't remember much about him, other than being a cheaper, mega-armored alternative to Ghazghkull.

**casvalremdeikun**

Crimson Fists had Captain Cortez, the most badass Space Marine in history.

**Psienesis**

BoomWolf wrote:
Never heard of the two saints...did they do anything special or were they just a "for the sake of it" character?

The Lexi articles are good summaries:

Saint Praxedes of Ophelia VII was the Canoness of the Order of Our Martyred Lady. At the start of the Second Tyrannic War, she reinforced the Caladenian Regiment of the Imperial Guard on Okassis. She led the forces in a defence of the Cardinal palace and sent a gallant counter-attack when the Tyranids reached the palace. She led from the front and managed to kill a Hive Tyrant, throwing the rest of the attack into disarray. This allowed many refugees to flee the planet and left Praxedes and her forces on the world.[1]
She proceeded to press deep into the heart of the Tyranid forces and led a guerrilla war against the Tyranids. The disruption she managed to cause meant that the attack on the space port by the Tyranids was nowhere near as effective as it should have been which allowed the remaining civilians to flee the planet. All contact was lost with her forces once the last shuttle had taken off and she became known as the first martyr to Kraken. Her name is revered across the Ultima Segmentum but some claim she fights on still against the hordes of Tyranids from within.[1] She was finally confirmed killed in action in that battle on Okassis, where she succumbed to mortal wounds after slaying a Hive Tyrant in 991.M41 while buying time for the evacuation.[2]

And Helena was... iirc... Helena the Virtuous, who was a Drill Abbess? who was later sainted. I don't remember what for, as her relics have more reference than she does.

**ClockworkZion**

Yeah, Praxedis was a fething BOSS. Helen on the otherhand is kind of forgettable. Probably because she didn't HOLD THE LINE against a Hive Fleet and kill a Hive Tyrant in hand to hand.

**Happyjew**

The Doom of Malan'tai. Introduced in 5th edition, removed in 6th edition.

If you look, you can easily find stories of the horror this model used to impose.

**Thud**

Doomrider! Slaaneshi biker dude. Would occasionally just up and leave.

Nuadhu Fireheart (?). Sam Hainn hero on a Vyper.

Lysander used to be a Sergeant in the 3rd edition SM codex.

Iyanna Aerianal (?). Iyanden Spiritseer or somesuch.

Kruellagh the Vile. Dark Eldar Archon. Worst pun ever.

Agent_Tremolo wrote:
Nazdreg: I don't remember much about him, other than being a cheaper, mega-armored alternative to Ghazghkull.

He had BS4 and a gun that was basically a plasma cannon. There was also some force org shenanigans going on with him. Or maybe just some restrictions.

**AegisGrimm**

Nuadhu Fireheart was pretty cool. He wasn't crazy overpowered or anything, but he was uniquely Eldar. Beat out a certain Space Wolf lord on a grav-chariot by more than a decade, and fit his army's fluff much better.

**Happyjew**

Let's see:
Col. Schaeffer and the Last Chancers, Lord Commander Solar Macharius, Captain Al'rahem, Captain Chenkov, Stumper Muckstart (Ratling Sharpashooter), Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt, Guardsman Marbo, Mogul Kamir: IG
Moriar the Chosen: Blood Angels
Doomrider: Chaos Space Marines.
Veteran Sergeant Naaman: Dark Angels
Kruellagh the Vile: Dark Eldar
Iyanna Arienal, Nuadha 'Fireheart': Eldar
The Nightbringer,The Deceiver: Necrons (rolled into generic "C'tan Shard")
Warlord Nazdreg Ug Urdgrub: Orks
Saint Praxedes of Phelia VII, Helena the Virtuous, Redemptor Kyrinov, Cardinal Armandus Helfire: Sisters of Battle
Captain Cortez, Chaplain Xavier, Ancient Helveticus, Captain Invictus: Space Marines
Doom of Malan'tai, The Parasite of Mortrex: Tyranids

And that is all I can find at the moment. As to effectiveness..cannot help you there.

**Crimson Heretic**

cypher?

**Sir Arun**

Honoured Kroot Shaper Angkor Prok

For the Grey Knights there was Mordrak and his entourage of Ghost Knights, and Justicar Thawn

**ClockworkZion**

Crimson Heretic wrote:
cypher?

He's back now so I don't think he counts.

**AegisGrimm**

Sir Arun wrote:
Honoured Kroot Shaper Angkor Prok

For the Grey Knights there was Mordrak and his entourage of Ghost Knights, and Justicar Thawn

Love that model. I am lucky to have won it on Ebay years and years ago, and use it as a Shaper in my Kroot Merc army..

**Sir Arun**

me too ^^ Though I had to fork over almost €30 to get my hands on it.

Shame GW makes cool looking sculpts and then stops making them.

I dont mind if weird looking retro minis are OOP, but these? Damn

**docdoom77**

Agent_Tremolo wrote:
Wazdakka Gutsmek had a souped up bike (back in 2nd ed. it was armed with a battlecannon!) that could fire while turbo-boosting. He also made ork warbikers troops, making him a must for Speed Freak armies.

Old Zogwort was a psyker that could turn enemy ICs into squigs.

Makari the Grot: Ghazghkull's standard bearer, had a 2+ invulnerable save.

Zodgrod Worstnagga: Could turn a single unit of Gretchin into super-grots.

Nazdreg: I don't remember much about him, other than being a cheaper, mega-armored alternative to Ghazghkull.

I'm fairly certain Nazdreg increased your strategy rating and had an awesome gun. I'll check my 2nd edition codex when I get a chance. I miss Nazdreg. A bad moon Warboss to rival Ghazghkull.. yes please!

**fox-light713**

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the Red Terror from the Tyranids yet. Also I miss the 3rd edition ravaners, those were sweet.

**the shrouded lord**

red terror is in the current codex...
now, some of you may remember my opinions because i expressed them when the new 'nids codex was released. but, THEY KILLED MY PARASITE OF MORTREX!

**fox-light713**

the shrouded lord wrote:
red terror is in the current codex...
now, some of you may remember my opinions because i expressed them when the new 'nids codex was released. but, THEY KILLED MY PARASITE OF MORTREX!

Ohh, didn't know that.

**BoomWolf**

Psienesis wrote:
BoomWolf wrote:
Never heard of the two saints...did they do anything special or were they just a "for the sake of it" character?

The Lexi articles are good summaries:

Saint Praxedes of Ophelia VII was the Canoness of the Order of Our Martyred Lady. At the start of the Second Tyrannic War, she reinforced the Caladenian Regiment of the Imperial Guard on Okassis. She led the forces in a defence of the Cardinal palace and sent a gallant counter-attack when the Tyranids reached the palace. She led from the front and managed to kill a Hive Tyrant, throwing the rest of the attack into disarray. This allowed many refugees to flee the planet and left Praxedes and her forces on the world.[1]
She proceeded to press deep into the heart of the Tyranid forces and led a guerrilla war against the Tyranids. The disruption she managed to cause meant that the attack on the space port by the Tyranids was nowhere near as effective as it should have been which allowed the remaining civilians to flee the planet. All contact was lost with her forces once the last shuttle had taken off and she became known as the first martyr to Kraken. Her name is revered across the Ultima Segmentum but some claim she fights on still against the hordes of Tyranids from within.[1] She was finally confirmed killed in action in that battle on Okassis, where she succumbed to mortal wounds after slaying a Hive Tyrant in 991.M41 while buying time for the evacuation.[2]

And Helena was... iirc... Helena the Virtuous, who was a Drill Abbess? who was later sainted. I don't remember what for, as her relics have more reference than she does.

While its a nice piece of fluff, it tells me nothing of the in-game existance of the two, and were they even a meaningful character or a "cannonnes with a unique weapon" type of IC.

**docdoom77**

docdoom77 wrote:
Agent_Tremolo wrote:
Wazdakka Gutsmek had a souped up bike (back in 2nd ed. it was armed with a battlecannon!) that could fire while turbo-boosting. He also made ork warbikers troops, making him a must for Speed Freak armies.

Old Zogwort was a psyker that could turn enemy ICs into squigs.

Makari the Grot: Ghazghkull's standard bearer, had a 2+ invulnerable save.

Zodgrod Worstnagga: Could turn a single unit of Gretchin into super-grots.

Nazdreg: I don't remember much about him, other than being a cheaper, mega-armored alternative to Ghazghkull.

I'm fairly certain Nazdreg increased your strategy rating and had an awesome gun. I'll check my 2nd edition codex when I get a chance. I miss Nazdreg. A bad moon Warboss to rival Ghazghkull.. yes please!

I looked it up. Nazdreg got an extra wargear card (one of which had to be a Kustom Shoota) and he started the game with d3-1 extra strategy cards.

**Verviedi**

I miss Lukas Bastonne (Cadian Sergeant based on Memento)

**Brother SRM**

They removed Chaplain Asmodai from the Dark Angels 4th edition book, but actually added him back in 6th edition with an awesome new model. That was nice.

Captain Invictus was an Ultramarines Terminator captain with a plasma blaster. He was around in 3rd ed. He's still around in the fluff.

**squidhills**

Stumper Muckstart was a character you took for a 2nd Ed IG army when you wanted to annoy your opponent. He was basically a poor man's Vindicare Assassin: he could either increase the AP of his gun d3. or he could increase the number of wounds his gun caused by d3, which were similar abilities to the Vindicare at the time. Like an Assassin, he could deploy in cover, outside of the deployment zone, and was a small model in an era when the efficacy of cover was based on how much of your model was hidden from view. He didn't have a save and he only had one wound, so he died as soon as he was hit (but hitting him was the tricky part).

The best part? He cost less than 50 points, which meant that, should you kill him, he was worth no victory points at all (2nd Ed only awarded points for units that cost 50+ points)! He was worth nothing if you killed him, but he was too dangerous to ignore completely, making him a glorious extended middle finger towards your opponent. Nearly 20 years later, I still love the little guy.

**ClockworkZion**

BoomWolf wrote:
Psienesis wrote:
BoomWolf wrote:
Never heard of the two saints...did they do anything special or were they just a "for the sake of it" character?

The Lexi articles are good summaries:

Saint Praxedes of Ophelia VII was the Canoness of the Order of Our Martyred Lady. At the start of the Second Tyrannic War, she reinforced the Caladenian Regiment of the Imperial Guard on Okassis. She led the forces in a defence of the Cardinal palace and sent a gallant counter-attack when the Tyranids reached the palace. She led from the front and managed to kill a Hive Tyrant, throwing the rest of the attack into disarray. This allowed many refugees to flee the planet and left Praxedes and her forces on the world.[1]
She proceeded to press deep into the heart of the Tyranid forces and led a guerrilla war against the Tyranids. The disruption she managed to cause meant that the attack on the space port by the Tyranids was nowhere near as effective as it should have been which allowed the remaining civilians to flee the planet. All contact was lost with her forces once the last shuttle had taken off and she became known as the first martyr to Kraken. Her name is revered across the Ultima Segmentum but some claim she fights on still against the hordes of Tyranids from within.[1] She was finally confirmed killed in action in that battle on Okassis, where she succumbed to mortal wounds after slaying a Hive Tyrant in 991.M41 while buying time for the evacuation.[2]

And Helena was... iirc... Helena the Virtuous, who was a Drill Abbess? who was later sainted. I don't remember what for, as her relics have more reference than she does.

While its a nice piece of fluff, it tells me nothing of the in-game existance of the two, and were they even a meaningful character or a "cannonnes with a unique weapon" type of IC.

Both of them where Canonesses with unique weapons and I think some special rules.

**Veteran Sergeant**

BoomWolf wrote:While its a nice piece of fluff, it tells me nothing of the in-game existance of the two, and were they even a meaningful character or a "cannonnes with a unique weapon" type of IC.

The answer is "No, not really", but most of the special characters of the years haven't really been important or "meaningful". I'd say at least half of them didn't even survive past 2nd Edition. 3rd Ed Codexes were pared down significantly because 3rd Ed was such a radical departure that 2nd Ed Codexes weren't compatible with 3rd Ed rules and point values and many of them were rushed (some factions had 2 codexes in 3rd because they had to revise them later). So a lot of the Special Characters from 2nd Edition never got written into their 3rd Ed Codex books, and were never brought back.

But here are the characters you're asking about:

Helena had a beatstick that had a 6" S6 -4 Save Mod (basically AP3 if you're not familiar with 2nd Ed mechanics).

Praxedes had a beatstick that was statted out about halfway between a Power Axe and a Power Fist and could knock opponents over with it when she charged.

**BaalSNAFU**

casvalremdeikun wrote:
Crimson Fists had Captain Cortez, the most badass Space Marine in history.

Found him last week at a LGS and I was on it like white on rice.

Would anyone who remembers/ haa the 3rd edition SM Dex be so kind as to post or share a link to his rules and statline? I'd be very much obliged.

I also miss Moriar the Chosen. He was badass incarnate (or re-incarnated rather). His artwork was even cooler than the rules for him. He was also cool in that his pewter model could be used to club bull elephant seals to death once dropped into a sock and tied off.