Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

As more and more Marine codicies are released (the Blood Angels revamp, the Space Wolves revamp, etc), I keep thinking to myself that the Dark Angels really need a boost in power. Our Codex was apparently written for 5th Edition, yet fails horribly when compared to another prominent codex written for 5th (Orks), or against any other Marine codex, for that matter. As a Deathwing player, I am especially appalled at the lackluster Belial, who can die in one shot from a Krak Missile. As the leader of what should be one of the most elite human forces in the galaxy (barring the Custodes and Grey Knights), I really think Belial, of all characters, needs a boost. Honestly, I wouldn't have minded if Belial, Azrael, and Sammael had been merged into Codex: Marines and been given their own entries. This is both an upgrade to Belial, and an attempt to merge him into Codex: Space Marines. So here's what I've brainstormed:

Belial, Master of the Deathwing

Points: 220

WS/BS/S/T/W/I/A/LD/SV
6 /5 /4 /4 /4 /5 /3 /10 /2+

Wargear:
Terminator Armor
Iron Halo
Storm Bolter
Sword of Silence

Special Rules:
Master of the Deathwing
Fearless
Independent Character
Eternal Warrior
Rites of Battle
Deathwing Assault

Master of the Deathwing: Belial is the current Master of the Deathwing, leading the elite Dark Angels Deathwing into battle. An army containing Belial may take Assault Terminator or Terminators as Troops Choices.

One member of any one Terminator or Assault Terminator squad may be upgraded to a Terminator Apothecary at +20 points. The Apothecary is armed with a Narcethium and grants the Feel No Pain USR to his squad.

Another member of any one Terminator or Assault Terminator squad may be upgraded to carry the Deathwing Banner at +25 points. Any model in the same unit at the Banner Bearer receives an extra attack in close combat.

Deathwing Assault: As in Codex: Dark Angels. Grants this rule to any Terminator or Assault Terminator squad in the same army as Belial.

Rites of Battle: As in Codex: Dark Angels.

Options:
May replace Storm Bolter and Sword of Silence for a pair of Lightning Claws or a Thunder Hammer & Storm Shield for free.

Thoughts? Comments?

Eternal Warrior is definitely a must, but how do you justify the apothecary option?

Owain wrote:Eternal Warrior is definitely a must, but how do you justify the apothecary option?

It's realy is one of the options Belial can give to his terminators, I see no reasone to drop it.

idk about having 4 wounds since he's just the current one in charge of the DW. Other than that I think that he should have the rule that exchanges "chapter tactics" to Stubborn or Fearless, stubborn being the rule that we had in our last codex which was basicly fearless.

Good to see you've kept him close to the original. I'd say you've overcosted him slightly, stat-wise and with his special rules he's very similar to Lysander so you can probably drop him down to 200 points without issues.

I actually used Lysander as the base for Belial. I figure that 220 points is a ballpark estimation; maybe I should scale him down some. I was gonna playtest him soon.

And yeah, I completely forgot about Chapter Tactics. Chapter Tactics should, as mentioned above, replace Combat Tactics with Stubborn (that feels like DA to me). I just wish that Cypher was in the Chaos Space Marine codex so we could give preferred enemy to a CSM army containing Cypher (presumably, they're all Fallen).

Also, I forgot to mention: the Sword of Silence is a Master Crafted Power Sword that hits at STR 5.

And as for the four wounds bit; this is the guy who stood up to Ghazzy and lived. I'm pretty sure only Commissar Yarrick has that honor (unless my brain is failing, which it probably is ATM). He's also in charge of one of the most elite Imperial fighting forces, so I gotta figure he's pretty tough.

Couple of idea

First is the apothicary thing. Maybe change it to a single unit of terminators may upgrade to an apoth for 20 ponits. therefore its cool but not increadibly op with an army only consisting of FNP termies.

Also I think a cool change to leader of the deathwing would be:

Deathwing terminators:
Death wing terminators are outfitted for the mission at hand, to represent this deathwing terminator squads are neither assaut nor normal terminator squads. Instead a deathwing terminator may choice to be armed in one of the following ways. TH&SS 2LC or SB and PF. 1 of every 5 man exchange thier current equipment for HF CML or AC at C:SM cost

Cost not so sure tbh.

Well, the separate DW termies is a good idea. Perhaps have the option to upgrade all Terminators into DW Termies if Belial is taken?

And the Apothecary can only go in 1 squad in the army. There should only be 1 apothecary per DW force; having multiple Termie squads, with 3+ storm shields and an apothecary is just insane.

I'd like to see Belial get one special rule to reflect his skills as a leader. Like making teleporting terminators more accurate for example.

Also I don't like the idea of changing the terminator squads. I'd want them to still mix weapons and stay at 5 man, possibly with the option to do 10 man.