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So, btw, I will prolly do lots of this. A small introduction seems in order since this is my second one. I am pretty new to the game. I am playing Space Marines. They are all grey, save for two tac marines. I am a reluctant painter. I am really just trying to get an army in order that would be decent at a tourney. I don't have lots o money to spend, but I can do some buying. That is why I am asking lots of questions.

On to the question.

This guy seems really good as a cheap HQ. First of all, I like the idea of running tons of dreads. Secondly he has the whole harness, which gives him two power fist attacks, a flamer, and a plasma pistol....all for 100pts. Optionally buying a power weapon, seems great to me. I know Vulkan is really popular to ride around in a LR with some assault Termies, but would this guy suppliment them will. With a power weapon, he would get 3 assault attacks at initiative 4, then two powerfist at ini1. Add in some th/ss and lc guys, and that should be awesome, right?

BTW, Thanks for all of the input on the Vanguard Vets!

That's a pretty good build for him, if you want a pure assault unit (as it's cheap.) The other Marine HQs do the whole 'killing things' better than the MotF, but he is effective. Give him a Thunder Hammer instead and he hits with 5 Pfist-equivalent attacks on the charge.

What also works with him is Bike+Conversion Beamer. He's relentless, and just buzzes around your backfield shooting power shots at your opponent.

That's a pretty good build for him, if you want a pure assault unit (as it's cheap.) The other Marine HQs do the whole 'killing things' better than the MotF, but he is effective. Give him a Thunder Hammer instead and he hits with 5 Pfist-equivalent attacks on the charge.

What also works with him is Bike+Conversion Beamer. He's relentless, and just buzzes around your backfield shooting power shots at your opponent.

Yeah give him a bike and a Conversion Beamer and keep him within 48" to 72" from the enemy to gain that S10 Ap1 blast as BS5

Valk

MotF can be an excellent choice:

Bike + Conversion beamer is very good.

Unit of servitors with heavy weapons to add cheap dakka to a gunline list also works.

Including Vulkan is awesome if you have the points to play.

I say go for it if you have an idea in your head!



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Try to stay away from the CC outfit unless he is rolling with CC termies because Co:SM are simply not meant to be really competitive in assault (which kills me because I want to run a Raven Guard list really bad!)

Don't forget that he lets you reinforce a piece of terrain for +1 cover save. It's very good if you're fielding sniper scouts or heavy weapons in tactical squads.

Appreciate the input so far. If I used him in assault, it would be with Termies. Springing from a land raider!

Honestly, you'd be better served in that role with a Chaplain or Libby though. the MotF has not invulnerable, IIRC.

if you want to know how to use a MOTF look up my article on Unit choices for a SM gunline in the tactics section here on Dakka.


in short he is a Support unit. don't tool him for CC, use him as a anti-MEQ plasma and Repair platform. if you take 3 or more servitors without weapons he can automatically repair a vehicle in the Shooting phase.

a Conversion Beamer on a Bike is another good build. he can still repair vehicles if needed too.

I use one with a Conversion Beamer on foot; not as effective as the Bike+beamer but is dirt cheap and works really well with a Lascannon combat squad or a Missile launcher Dev squad(although they cost too many points to start with).

I thought about getting the standard Techmarine and going for the CC thing but yeah he is just not as killy as other choices(Cheaper though).

I am definately gonna try the chaplain in termie armor now, totally didn't think of it.....duh!

Nantukoshade wrote:I am definately gonna try the chaplain in termie armor now, totally didn't think of it.....duh!

In my vanilla SM army I run a Codicier w/ terminator armor, storm shield, nullzone, and whatnot.
I find he's superior to a Chaplain in almost all circumstances.

I run MotF, while he's nothing in CC because he's got no invul save. So someone with a powerfist can just one shot him or a power weapon he's only got 2 wounds. The conversion beam is ok but needs to be on a bike to be really effective and now your playing cat and mouse and your still vulnerable to getting hit with a missile and getting dead.

What makes the MotF awesome is his ability to use dreads as heavy. My dreadnought droppod list puts the fear of the god-emperor in people in my neck of the woods.

What makes the MotF awesome is his ability to use dreads as heavy. My dreadnought droppod list puts the fear of the god-emperor in people in my neck of the woods.

That's the only reason to take him.
Keep him cheap. He might be able to repair one or two Dreads during the battle. But don't count on this.

MotF is a GREAT HQ for marines. However, he is NOT as assault unit.

My favorite way to run his is with a power weapon and put him in a drop pod with a unit of tac marines with a flamer and a combi flamer. That unit can then pod down and put out 3 flamer templates on a single unit and with a powerfist sarge and the MotF they are scary enough in HtH that most units will think twice about assaulting you.

On a bike with a conversion beamer is also a good set up, although it is a bit pricey and not optimal, IMO.

If you want to see a highly effective dread list using a MotF, look up 40Kenthusiasts battle reports, he runs a tournament list with 5 to 6 Ironclads that looks to be pretty nasty.

You can also use the MotF to great effect in a Marine gunline army. He gives the +1 cover save to a piece of terrain and rides in a razorback with a unit and gives them some extra punch.

He is very versatile but don't throw him into a nasty assault as he will get his butt kicked. He can safely assault units with no power fists or only a low number of power weapon/rending attacks, other than that, don't bother.


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Also, don't bother with termie armor for the chappy unless you love the model. Just keep him cheap, 100 points and use him in power armor. He is only marginally less protected than a chappy in termie armor, saves points and frees up an extra slot in the LR.

You want to get really nasty, you take 7 assault termies (5 claws, 2 hammers), Khan on foot, a chappy and put them in a LRC and you have a serious deathstar. That unit has a 20" threat radius and hits at In5, Str 5 with a boat load of rerolling to hit and wound power weapon attacks, Khans instant death sword and some hammers for insurance. You will obliterate pretty much anything you assault with that.

Definitely overkill, but fun too.