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Subject line says it all: What's the point of a Chaplain? I think that they're pretty useless. Why bother bringing a chaplain when you can bring a vanguard squad for just about 25 points more.

Well, first things first. If you have 125pts left over in your list, don't spend it on vanguard

Second, the chappie is a support character, and is best placed with assault terminators. He is not a must, but he does make an already very powerful unit even more powerful. He also makes assault marines (or even vanguard) much better. For assault marines, he is almost a must have IMO. I agree that the pts can be spent better elsewhere though, a libby is often a much better investment for your HQ

He's a cranky marine with a skull helmet who makes your cranky terminators...crankier?


The point is he's really really cranky and he's comin' for you!


(the point is they are fun to throw in, and look so cranky)

7 Terminators charging out of a Crusader against opponents with WS4:

21 attacks, 10.5 hits, ~9 wounds

And against WS10:

21 attacks, 7 hits, ~6 wounds

7 Terminators with a Chaplain charging out of a Crusader against opponents with WS4:

21 attacks, 16 hits, ~15 wounds

And against WS10:

21 attacks, 12 hits, 10 wounds

The Chaplain is a force multiplier. The more badass the unit you stick him with, the more force he multiplies.

He's fluffy. I had one because he was fluffy. He was the fluff master

Jihallah wrote:

(the point is they are fun to throw in, and look so cranky)

And he just looks FREAKING cool. As said before, he makes my Assault Marines much more effective.

I would hope OP is running him with a squad and not alone.

I saw someone do that once, was funny.

Since I play DA I use Interrogator Chaplains. They have extra wound and other fun stuff. Assault squads and terminators are my main hitting power. Anytime I can reroll assault dice it helps me kill the enemy so much faster. I don't know how anyone can have less than 2 chaplain models and use less than one of them.

Im still confused about assault terminators, if they have LC do they get 4 attacks? Ie. 2 base, 1 for extra ccw and 1 for a matched pair? I presumed as they are power weapons they dont get the bonus attack for a pair, but then whats the point in always taking two? Wouldnt it be more sensible to take one and a pistol? This would give you the same amount of attacks in cc but the ability to shoot the pistol in the shooting phase before the assault. Am i wrong here?

They get 2 base, 1 for additional ccw (normally disallowed when using special ccws, but twin claws is specifically allowed to count).....and thats it. You can add another 1 if you charge of course.

mattyrm wrote:Im still confused about assault terminators, if they have LC do they get 4 attacks? Ie. 2 base, 1 for extra ccw and 1 for a matched pair? I presumed as they are power weapons they dont get the bonus attack for a pair, but then whats the point in always taking two? Wouldnt it be more sensible to take one and a pistol? This would give you the same amount of attacks in cc but the ability to shoot the pistol in the shooting phase before the assault. Am i wrong here?

Lightning claws can only be used with in combination with more lightning claws to gain a bonus attack for having two close combat weapons. It's in the rulebook, section on special close combat weapons, lightning claws have their own entry. A Terminator has two attacks base. A lightning claw and anything else still has two attacks. A pair of lightning claws gets a bonus attack, so now you have 3. Similarly power fists can only work together with other power fists to gain an bonus attack.

Regular power weapons do not have this restriction, a pistol and power sword together will give you a bonus attack.

I always use a chaplain + jump pack with my assault marines. Anythgin that lets a 10 man assault squad re-roll to hit works forme.

A friedn of mine always sends a PF chaplain in with his LC termie squad. That way the whoel squad get to re-roll to hit AND to wound (due to twin LCs). So far the only unit that can confortably hold them in assault is a dread or defiler since they lack the power to dame them.

Definately for angrying-up an assault squad.

I considered having every sargeant in my chapter represented by a chaplain model, for the sake of sexy fluff.

ISn't there a chapter that does that? I know red scorpions have apothacaries instead of sergeants.

I use my Chaplain with an Assault Terminator Squad coming out of a Redeemer. Makes it insanely good. Also, keep in mind that they are fearless as well. Not many units can survive a Flamestorm-Assault Terminator combo.

I used to have a lot of fun with the Assault Chaplain in an assault squad, but it is not as effective. But the mobility is nice.

The also make the Squad Fearless

Inquisitor Lord Bane wrote:He's fluffy. I had one because he was fluffy. He was the fluff master

You just killed three kittens. I hope your happy .

On topic: Because they're cool. Good background, and good for turning a squad into monday morning mode, if you catch my drift. Sure, they're not the MOST competative things in the codex, but...use them if you like them.

Praxiss wrote:I always use a chaplain + jump pack with my assault marines. Anythgin that lets a 10 man assault squad re-roll to hit works forme.

This makes the difference against ork boyz! It works for me too!