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With the ever present threat of a new IQ codex looming I have broken out the VDR program (yes please boo! as loud as possible) to fill what I thought was a glaring hole in the IG codex. Now I will present my idea and then my own comments on it.

IG HQ personal transport vehicle
Can only be chosen for IG command squads.
25 points
FA 9 SA 9 RA 9
Fast. Transports 5. Open top. Search light and Smoke launchers.
May take a pintle storm bolter for 10 points or a heavy stubber for 12.

Now I think there will be at least two negative reactions to this.
1. its uber broke, haxxzors, pwnage, etc....
2. it is useless and has no purpose, fills no holes, etc...

1. To refute the the first I would say this. It can only transport 5 so ogryns with minimum of 3 (couts as 6 models) could not ride in it. Some troop squad after taking wounds, or from the remanent squad if it stays in the codex, could jump in an be a fast scoring unit but it is very weak and can be destroyed with a glance due to open topped.

2. To refute the second I would say that ther are two very usefull reasons to have this. To put your HQ where he is needed for troops to use his leadership without buying a chimera. To use as a suicide vehicle to tank and elite hunt, with a command squad of meltas or plasmas.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Well, first; Haxxzors?

Next, the main issues with this vehicle is that it is designed for a suicide run, which does not make fluff, it is a completely new vehicle that the IG has never been mentioned of having, which does not meet fluff, and it doesn't seem to have any Command Squad features, which should be defining its role.

My counter, make a Capacity 6 or 7 Chimera based vehicle with special comms modeled onto it and/or with an additional or beefed up turret with twin-linked weapons (HB, Autocannon, or Lasscannon). Make it fast or give it some sort of booster for 18" movement. Fills the role, meets the fluff.

Okay, I see your point for the sucide run which it was not meant for, but as for fluff it does. Most commanders are not going to walk around a battle field or to it or anywhere. They are going to be driven around because they think they are important. This vehicle is supposed to represent his personal transport, thus the low armor. In modern day it would be similar to a HUMMVEE or a British Landrover. I agree perhaps a comms module with a cost of 10 points that alows a reroll of reserve would make sense, but I dont want heavy weapons or armor on this as it is supposed to represent a personal transport.

In the fluff that already exists commanders of the Imperial Guard ride around in Chimeras or Chimera Variants, usually modified with comms equipment. There are no staff cars on the battle field, to the battle field, or around the battlefield. HMMWVs are usually used by commanders not because of its low armor value, comms, ect. but because that is what their troops are in. If the unit is a tank company, then they ride in tanks, usually modified Bradleys (USArmy) or M113's. Use a Chimera varient, less muss, less fuss, and is already supported by the fluff.

I understand your pointed for mounted infantry, or an armored company, but infantry plattons don't have either and are usually tasked 3-4 V's for a company level unit. They don't get bradleys or 113's.

That's because HMMWVs are cheaper than Bradleys and M113s, and no, they do often get M113s and Bradleys in an Infantry Unit, it's pretty common SOP, just not usually stateside. Another point to consider is that the Imperium does not, and never seems to have had a field/staff car, as the HMMWV is treated as (the HMMWV is NOT a staff car nor is it a battle field vehicle, neither in design nor intent, it just sort of got sucked into that role in our time, the HMMWV is a replacement for the Jeep, which was strictly a rear lines field car and light reconaissance vehicle, never intended for actual combat). I understand what your intent is; cheap suicide car. Problem being, there is no merit for it, neither in the fluff nor in the game. Some might consider joining the Imperial Guard suicide, but the average Guardsmen does not consider suicide. PEOPLE! STOP MAKING SUICIDE UNITS JUST BECAUSE THEY HELP YOU MIN/MAX YOUR ARMIES!!! They are boring, stupid, and they just demean the game.

Anything that can be blown up by bolter fire is not good!

I think this needs to be a command Chimera with the updated cheaper price for the Chimera which should hopefully be coming in the new codex. Give it some improved leadership qualities (mastervox option and a banner like option), limit it to 1 per army and make its size limit 8; officer, retinue and each of the advisor options. Limit it to an upgrade of the Command HQ squad.

One per command squad, cap. 7 (you're not going to take a Priest and/or a Pyscher and you know it! But a Commissar and maybe a special character? [Nork]), perhaps with an additional HW mounted on the vehicle. Also, free Master Vox and a +6" command bubble (the troopers know their command section is faster, and can be to their assistance sooner, giving them more courage to take the fight to the enemy!).

Skinnattittar wrote:One per command squad, cap. 7 (you're not going to take a Priest and/or a Pyscher and you know it! But a Commissar and maybe a special character? [Nork]), perhaps with an additional HW mounted on the vehicle. Also, free Master Vox and a +6" command bubble (the troopers know their command section is faster, and can be to their assistance sooner, giving them more courage to take the fight to the enemy!).

I've allways thought guard should have some kind of propaganda van (maybe a propaganda chimera?) that give some kind of leadership bonus. I think what your saying is a more sensical proposition.

Skinnattittar wrote:One per command squad, cap. 7 (you're not going to take a Priest and/or a Pyscher and you know it! But a Commissar and maybe a special character? [Nork]), perhaps with an additional HW mounted on the vehicle. Also, free Master Vox and a +6" command bubble (the troopers know their command section is faster, and can be to their assistance sooner, giving them more courage to take the fight to the enemy!).

But I do use psykers from time to time.

And I'm hoping their powers get better in the new codex.

As for the other advisors, I'm hoping their value is closer to their cost in the codex as well, and I own them too.

I think that the command vehicles should be built to hold the officer, his four buddies and one of each of the advisors, on principle. If you use priests, psykers and commisars, you shouldn't have to leave one of them out of the truck because of it.

Why not simply make the Salamander an official option for Command squads?

salamanders are light scouting vehicles

the only thing a guard commander uses as a mobile HQ is stuff like the Capitol Imperialis (think AT-AT just 10 times bigger)

having a staff car is okay, but prehaps only use it in a special mission where a commander gets ambushed on the way to a meeting and a task force is sent to help out while he is zooming round the board away from anything that looks his way

or prehaps if you really want to have your guard act like UN troops (not in the cadians case just looking like them) go with it, however i would make it at least armour 10 so a bolter can't smash it up and prehaps give it a heavy bolter (its more fitting on top of a Humvee and is pretty much the 40k equivalent of a .50 Cal)

IG Commanders have been known (in the fluff) to use Salamanders as mobile command section transport. A Capitol Imperialis and similiar such "mobile Head Quarters" would be for the entire HQ of a large unit, not just a company, probably not a battalion (regiment for you non-US folks), a brigade and above would start needing something subsantial for their command and control level, however a brigade in the Imperium isn't really much considering (see : Gaunt's Ghosts) in the way of size.

However, making this a "replacement" HQ would be similiar to making a Sentinel Squadron a replacement, or perhaps a Leman Russ or even a Baneblade! The Salamander is used as an HQ in the old Armored Company lists as an alternative option to Chimera-ing up your Command Squads. For a regular infantry army, this isn't really fluffy nor a proper replacement.

What about Centaurs?

AlfredTheStrange wrote:

Skinnattittar wrote:One per command squad, cap. 7 (you're not going to take a Priest and/or a Pyscher and you know it! But a Commissar and maybe a special character? [Nork]), perhaps with an additional HW mounted on the vehicle. Also, free Master Vox and a +6" command bubble (the troopers know their command section is faster, and can be to their assistance sooner, giving them more courage to take the fight to the enemy!).

I've allways thought guard should have some kind of propaganda van (maybe a propaganda chimera?) that give some kind of leadership bonus. I think what your saying is a more sensical proposition.

I think soemthing like that would work really well. It would fit even better for an ig army with Inquesition units in it, like something that the inqesition uses for keeping popultaions in check. For it to give a morale boost, not be killed by a bolter (I play SM, trust me this would die quick agaisnt it) and a heavey bolter OR optinal flamer would be cool too.