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********Error in omission or intended?*********

(all techmarines are considered without servitors)

According to the Blood Angels (PDF) Codex; Techmarines are an infantry unit. They DO NOT have 'independent character' under their Special Rules header.

On page 66 of the rulebook, under TRANSPORT CAPACITY, paragraph 2, it is stated that:
"A vehicle may hold only 1 infantry unit and/or any number of independent characters (as long as they count as infantry), up to a total number of models equal to the transport capacity."

Ergo, a Blood Angel Landraider Crusader (capacity 16) may contain 1 (ONE) BA techmarine and up to 2 BA HQ independants for a total of 3 non termie models 'filling' a 16 slot hold.

According to the Space Marine Codex; Techmarines are an infantry unit. They DO have 'independent character' under their Special Rules header.

A Space Marine army could easily have 3 techmarines, 2 (HQ) independants AND a 10 man squad in the same sized vehicle or 5 man squad in a SMALLER vehicle. (there are ways to get more techmarines, but that's beyond the point)

Seems incredibly counter-intuitive to me. If anyone knows of any official updating anywhere relating to Blood Angels or a suitable place to vent my incredularity, please lemmie know.

The Blood Angel's Techmarine can be "accompanied" by Servitors, meaning that they must form a unit with him. On the other hand, the Space Marines' Servitors can form their own unit independent of the Techmarine. As a result, the BA Tech loses Independent Character and is, effectively, a Servitor Sergeant. I suppose that the BA writers didn't want to add extra rules about transporting the Tech, so they just made him an Infantry unit to prevent 3 Techs with 12 Servitors and Mephiston in one Crusader.

That's assuming they actually thought it out to that level.

Aha--another reason...BA Techs don't use up a FOC slot, but SM Techs do.

groz wrote:The Blood Angel's Techmarine can be "accompanied" by Servitors, meaning that they must form a unit with him. On the other hand, the Space Marines' Servitors can form their own unit independent of the Techmarine. As a result, the BA Tech loses Independent Character and is, effectively, a Servitor Sergeant. I suppose that the BA writers didn't want to add extra rules about transporting the Tech, so they just made him an Infantry unit to prevent 3 Techs with 12 Servitors and Mephiston in one Crusader.

You couldn't do that as 1 techmarine with his 1-4 servitors fills the 'single unit' rule, ergo 3 techs with 4 Servitors and Mephiston (plus HQ) in one Crusader.
You could have (should they be independant characters) 3 techs, Mephiston, a Chaplain (Lemartes is jump infantry) and 10 death company (15). I can't find a way to completely fill one (16) from the BA codex.

Regular space marines aint that different as it stands.

I actually believe they intended or assumed to have made the same distinction as the techmarine attached to a thunderfire cannon. He is only an independent character once his gun is gone. Like under 'Retinues'; the last paragraph page 48.

What put a spanner in the works was the presence of 'Independent Character' on techmarines from a different codex while I was comparing. Serves me right I guess.

Can BA ICs such as Mephiston or Corbulo join a BA techmarine and the servitors?

G

They're just a unit. Sure. Totally conventional.

The only problem I had, or thought I had, was the IC SM techmarine when BA techmarines do not specify IC.

I believe now that SM techmarines are superior insofar as they can leave their servitor unit ( to their mindlock) and join another unit, whereas BA techmarines are stuck with their servitor retinue (until it's dead) as per 'Retinues'; the last paragraph page 48.

The BA (and DA) techmarines are treated as Elites although they do not take up a FOC slot.
They are not IC's unlike the SM Techmarine.
They do have a servitor retinue which is an advanage (IMHO) over the SM non-retinue servitors

Can the BA techmarine be singled out in close combat when he has a servitor retinue?

G

Apparently not. Just had a lesson in retinue rules under a thread I posted: Guard without a tyrant

Green Blow Fly wrote:Can the BA techmarine be singled out in close combat when he has a servitor retinue?

G

Depends on the wording. If the listing says the servitors are taken 'as a retinue' or 'as a bodyguard' then the IC loses his IC status and becomes an UPGRADE character for the unit. He cannot be targeted separately. If he merely joins a unit of servitors then they are two separate units and can be targeted as such in CC.

The BA techmarine is NOT an IC.
He is always just part of the unit.