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Once upon a time, the Sensei were the only real good guys of Warhammer 40,000.
They've always held a sort of special place in my heart because like all true underdogs, they are hated by everyone (including the players of WH40k sadly enough), and the Imperium hunts them down.

So I've made a tribute to the Sensei in the form of rules for a Sensei Warband.

You can have 1-20 Sensei. Theoretically, you could have a squad of 10 Sensei be a 1,000 point army.

Not sure if you want to go that route, but if you do, go for it.

Anyway, here it is:
The new version: http://www.scribd.com/doc/32134663/Warhammer-40-000-fan-rules-The-Sensei

The old version: http://www.mediafire.com/?2wxzzmimjlm

Thanks and have a nice day!
-Vlad

ah the Sensei the sons/daugheters of the emperor.

Asherian Command wrote:ah the Sensei the sons/daugheters of the emperor.

Yessir.

Does anything appear over/underpowered?

I mean theoretically if all Sensei got the Recovery power that could be a little ridiculous, but then again...you'd have to roll REALLY well. So I'm not too worried.

When you say "They may take their Invulnerable Save in addition to any other save they might have", do you mean that a Sensei can take an armor/cover save, followed by an invulnerable save, against each wound?

EDIT: Also, "Skilled" doesn't really do anything. The whole squad has to take the same Veteran Skills, so rolling "Skilled" basically just reduces the points cost of the unit by some small amount, and right before the game is kind of too late to take advantage of those points saved. . .

BeRzErKeR wrote:When you say "They may take their Invulnerable Save in addition to any other save they might have", do you mean that a Sensei can take an armor/cover save, followed by an invulnerable save, against each wound?

Yep. It's pretty good but not incredibly so, considering that it is only a 5+ invul and the best armor that they can take is powered armor. Plus the best cover save is a 3+ I'm pretty sure, so they're not Terminator tough.

EDIT: Also, "Skilled" doesn't really do anything. The whole squad has to take the same Veteran Skills, so rolling "Skilled" basically just reduces the points cost of the unit by some small amount, and right before the game is kind of too late to take advantage of those points saved. . .

Ooh, that is true. I really didn't think that one through very well. Should I just change it to, "The model gains a veteran skill which it can pass onto its squad"? That would be a bit better, methinks.

Vladsimpaler wrote:
Yep. It's pretty good but not incredibly so, considering that it is only a 5+ invul and the best armor that they can take is powered armor. Plus the best cover save is a 3+ I'm pretty sure, so they're not Terminator tough.

True, and since Power Armor costs them quite a bit I don't think it's overpowering.

Ooh, that is true. I really didn't think that one through very well. Should I just change it to, "The model gains a veteran skill which it can pass onto its squad"? That would be a bit better, methinks.

It would, but it would also mean that a squad of 20 would be getting 3 Vet. skills free, on average. They'd be a nightmare to fight against. Picture Infiltrating, Furious Charging, Counter-Attacking Sensei Moving Through Cover. They deploy exactly 12" away in cover, roll 3d6 for quite a good chance of getting a 6, and land a turn 1 charge. Say it's 20 Champions with Carapace Armor, laspistols and PWs; that's 80 WS 4 S3 Power Weapon attacks at Initiative 5. . . hmm. . . but it costs 900 points.

Actually, they may be a little overpriced. You might want to give them at least basic equipment free; I'm thinking flak armor, CCW/laspistol or lasgun. Then perhaps lower the upgrade costs by just a couple of points each; PWs to 10 points, Power Armor to 10, Carapace to 5. This makes a Power Armored Champion with a Power Weapon and laspistol cost 45 points, meaning a unit of 10 is 450, so you're already into deathstar cost ranges for a unit of S3 T3 models! Their effectiveness is, of course, increased by the random abilities, but I'm not sure how effective they'll be in general.

Basically, the more I look at the Sensei the more it becomes obvious that they are the ultimate in glass cannons, at present. A decently equipped Sensei costs more than a Terminator and dies very easily. You may want to increase Toughness to 4/4/5, and/or lower the points discrepancy between the levels. Perhaps 25/35/50?

BeRzErKeR wrote:

It would, but it would also mean that a squad of 20 would be getting 3 Vet. skills free, on average. They'd be a nightmare to fight against. Picture Infiltrating, Furious Charging, Counter-Attacking Sensei Moving Through Cover. They deploy exactly 12" away in cover, roll 3d6 for quite a good chance of getting a 6, and land a turn 1 charge. Say it's 20 Champions with Carapace Armor, laspistols and PWs; that's 80 WS 4 S3 Power Weapon attacks at Initiative 5. . . hmm. . . but it costs 900 points.

Yeah they're not cheap. But they are quite powerful, haha.

Actually, they may be a little overpriced. You might want to give them at least basic equipment free; I'm thinking flak armor, CCW/laspistol or lasgun. Then perhaps lower the upgrade costs by just a couple of points each; PWs to 10 points, Power Armor to 10, Carapace to 5. This makes a Power Armored Champion with a Power Weapon and laspistol cost 45 points, meaning a unit of 10 is 450, so you're already into deathstar cost ranges for a unit of S3 T3 models! Their effectiveness is, of course, increased by the random abilities, but I'm not sure how effective they'll be in general.

Basically, the more I look at the Sensei the more it becomes obvious that they are the ultimate in glass cannons, at present. A decently equipped Sensei costs more than a Terminator and dies very easily. You may want to increase Toughness to 4/4/5, and/or lower the points discrepancy between the levels. Perhaps 25/35/50?

The more I think about it, the more that I think that you are right. And personally I like the idea of making T4/4/5, certainly fits in with the flavor of what I'm trying to go for!

I will also give them some basic equipment for free to help them out a bit.

Thank you for your suggestions, they're really helping!

(If Kid_Kyoto could see this thread and give me the actual stats for Sensei that would be even better but until then I will have to make do with my imagination!)

Hey guys, it's been a while! Haha anyway here are the updated rules for the Sensei:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/32134663/Warhammer-40-000-fan-rules-The-Sensei

I'm gonna repeat my plea for at least basic equipment free.

These are still the ultimate in glass hammers. 40 points gets you a nice statline and a nice (but random) ability, but only a 5+ Invulnerable save. Flak armour is mandatory, at a very minimum, and if you want them to actually be effective you have to shell out a significant number of extra points. Here's a couple example squads off the top of my head;

5x Champion
5x flak armour
5x plasma gun
Infiltrate

Total; 310

310 points gets you 10 BS4 plasma shots on turn 1, immediately followed by 5 Sensei being turned into smoking craters. Not even the cool special abilities they get will save them from 15 Lootas, or a FRFSRF from a Guard platoon, or a 4x autocannon Havoc squad, or. . . you get the point.

2x Major Hero
2x power armour
1x power weapon, hand flamer
1x power fist, hand flamer
2x digital weapons
2x meltabombs
2x Xeno fliers
Furious Charge, Fleet

Total; 342

Those points get you a nice but very, very small close-combat unit. Would be good for jumping into the backfield and wrecking small units; not so good at going toe-to-toe with something that actually wants to be in combat. A mob of Orks with a klaw nob would eat them, for instance, and only cost about 2/3rds what they do to boot.

Fair enough, they now have Flak armor and lasguns standard. I have maybe swung the pendulum too hard in the other direction to make them cheaper, but let me know what you think. Granted no matter what they're going to be a glass cannon but at the same time I want them to be an AFFORDABLE glass cannon!