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Codex CSM: Do all units with an Icon require an Icon bearer model?

This is an easy task for CSM's, but creating terminator and possessed icon bearers would require some time.

Short answer, yes. You need the icon itself somewhere on one of the models.

groz wrote:This is an easy task for CSM's, but creating terminator and possessed icon bearers would require some time.

Not that much time. Just the appropriately size piece of copper wire (Pretty thick though) and your set. Give a termie coming off og one of his spikes or his back. Same for possessed. With a little greenstuff you could just use the CSM Icon bearer arm. But I've had plenty of friends say "these possessed has 'blah' icon"

Yes, they do. And the icon can be shot and killed rather easily under the new rules, too - with bad repercussions for the unit.

Just think of it as an opportunity for modeling.

Note that Cult troops do not have an icon, but you can buy one, so they do not lose the benefits of the Mark when their icon dies.

By WYSIWYG rules, they do have to have one.
In my experience, though, most players are fine with you simply pointing out which model has the icon, if you don't have an icon, provided that it's obvious.

I, for example, typically use my Champion as the Icon bearer... I say, "Champ's the Icon bearer," and we're set.

Eric

If worse comes to worst, you could always paint the symbol on top of the terminator very large like...

As long as you point out who has the icon and usually like Magikal says, the champ is good enough to represent an Icon bearer.

Good info and ideas, thanks!

No reason to penalize you in a friendly game. Play the icon you want, just tell your opponent who has it, etc...

yeah,
you need to have a model that can easily be ID'd as the Icon bearer, but there are no hard set rules as to what a icon is.
a funky hat or a cool key chain could be described as a bless'd chaos icon!

If your champ has the icon you could lose both together to a unlucky wound distribution failed save... I have most of my champs carring the icon. I've had no major traumas yet.

I might be wrong on this But having them on different models will allow you to distribute as you see fit...?
If you no longer see the icon as valuable you can distribute a spare wound on him instead of the champion... and vica/versa put the wound on the champ if you really need the icon on the table... options are good to have.

you can get some cool banners and Icons on WHFB sprues. and if you ask around WHFB players seem to have lots of spares. they only need one per squad and often get two or three boxes of troops to make a unit and each boxs contains command bits . I've got two new beastman banners that are Really cool.... they are on my to-do list of updating my boys. some of the DArk elves banners look the business too!

PAniC...

I've seen a few "icon bearers" with the icon modelled onto the base of the figure, which solves the issue.

There are small plastic icons in the various kits that will do the job nicely. Nothing says they HAVE to be on a banner pole.

To be honest, is it really that hard to go the extra mile and model something onto the model to mark your icon bearer? Just look at all the crazy bitz on the CSM lord sprue. I am sure you can find a suitable icon bit.

With the old edition chaos, icons werent around, its only just recently they've been added, i by mistake got an old edition squad of csm and just us a sym bol of chaos on there base for an icon, works just the same.

BDA

The main thing is that your opponent is clear as to which model is carrying/bearing/marked with the icon and which icon you are using.

As others have said, it doesn't take much time or effort to stick together an icon bearer and they make a nice focal point to rally your troops around and show your contempt for the Imperial lapdogs! For my Nurgle army I've used a lance arm from Chaos Knights in WFB on one squad, and a slightly converted banner from my Skaven army on another.

A friend of mine plays Chaos and was annoyed about creating banners onto the models as it makes it harder to store them. Magnets solve the issue usually, though I also really like the idea of modelling it onto the base itself

By the rules, yes, they do.

And that is intentional. Icons are valuable tactically, in the same way that Heavy and Special weapons are valuable. Or Champions with CCW upgrades.

The interesting question is how you choose to represent the Icon, and who you have carry it. The Icon doesn't have to be a flag - show some creativity. I'm going to have JP troops with Icons, so carrying a flag doesn't make so much sense - I'm going to be using a special modeling bit for this purpose. Also, you need to choose whether to have any models double-down in utility to allow more casualties down the line.

What I wonder is whether GW will make a Teleport Homer bit for the Loyalists. That would make sense.

yeah,
they do make a telport homer bit, it's on the terminator sprue.
I mean that's what i always assumed that thingy with a handle was...

ummm did a search on dakka here is another thread http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/186310.page

PaniC...

Another thing you can do if you don't have time/materials, etc to model the icon: Make paper counters and place them next to the model with the icon. If you change your squads around alot and don't want permanent icons this is cheap, quick, and easy to give yourself and your opponent the knoweledge they need to play the game correclty.

Over time it would be better to use magnets and view it as an opportunity to create some interesting new modeling bits, but not everyone plays the game for the same reasons.

Meph