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Is a Thunderfire a unit, which a Character could join?

Is the Thunderfire Techmarine a character that can join other units? (I don't think so, even after the Thunderfire is destroyed)

Yes, everything is a unit. Now iirc there is a restriction on unit types an IC can join (no book in front of me) and that may limit an IC from joining it.

Unless the Techmarine has the IC rule in his profile, he cannot join other units.

1 - Thunderfire Cannons are Artillery units. Nothing in the rules for artillery says that IC's cannot join. The rules for ICs state that they cannot join vehicle squadrons or units that always consist of a single model (most vehicles and monstrous creatures).

2 - Techmarines are ICs and may join other units. The rules for the Thunderfire Cannon state that the Techmarine doesn't get his IC or Blessing of the Omnissah rules unless/until the TfC is destroyed (so no leaving the gun all by itself).

And why you'd run a AV10 gun that gets hit and blown up by anything in the game is beyond me.

Hard as hell to hide too.

Meh... because it can be in cover? With his own Bolster Defences ability it can be in 3+ cover at hella range. That's about its only good point.

That's it: your two corners with a big piece of terrain in each holding a Scout Squad, Thunderfire Cannon, and Master of the Forge with Conversion Beamer... Fun times for all!

Had to actually look for the rules for Artillary, but on page 55 it specifically says that IC can join the unit but don't count as crew.

does it have 60" range? It is viable. It can not cost that many points and it lobs pie plates.

D-Cannons survive a long time. I would be more worried about a Lascannon smoking the Techmarine.

Also bear in mind that the Bolster Defence only works on ruins.

It doesn't lob pie plates, just mini pie plates, but it lobs 4 of them a turn! Combind that with cover in a ruins & bolster defenses and that is a 60" range gun that fires four blasts with a 3+ cover save. Even if the gun gets taken out you now have a techmarine with a sevro harness.

Not too bad IMHO