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Went to see Predators last week (one word review: disappointing), but I thought it would be fun to create a predator for 40k. Here's my stab at it:

Predator ( 4 4 4 4 2 4 3 10 5+)
Wargear: Wristblades, Shoulder Cannon, Stalker Armor, Frag Grenades

Wristblades: Wristblades are a power weapon and give the Predator +1 strength on the charge.

Shoulder Cannon: The shoulder cannon has the following profile: Assault 3, Strength 5, AP 4. If the shoulder cannon hits and wounds, the Predator may allocate the first wound.

Stalker Armor: Whilst in the open, the Predator has a 4+ cover save. Whilst in cover, the predator gains a bonus of 2 points to it's cover save (normally meaning a 2+). Additionally, if the predator charges from cover, it gets +1 initiative in close combat.

Special Rules: Fleet, Move Through Cover, Stalker, Trophy Hunter

Stalker: The predator may infiltrate. Normally units that infiltrate must remain 12 inches away from enemies if in line of sight - the predator ignores this restriction when in terrain and may start as close as one inch away.

Trophy Hunter: In close combat, the predator must attempt to get into base to base with the model that costs the most points, not the closest model. The predator may reroll hits directed against this model. (that would make this rule really only useful against independent characters).


What do you think? I didn't want to overpower it, figuring it would be about as strong as a marine, with an additional wound. Really it's only pretty good when in area terrain. I also debated modifying the Trophy Hunter rule so that the Predator would also possibly betray you. So, what do you think? How many points?

I think it would be cool to add on to the trophy hunter as a maby backfire to be like if some other troop on your team kills the target he's attacking (through shooting or otherwise) you must have the predator charge/shoot them


purely food for thought

Alot of what you wrote up for custome rules can be covered by the USR's.

Stalker Armor: Stealth, it's not as flashy but it's proven to be balanced.

Stalker: PLEASE DO THIS! You start 1 inch away from a guard player and there won't even be ashes left of you.

I agree with the statement above. A lot of the special abilities can be easily replaced with USR and makes the character more balanced

Is the predator a 1 man unit or is it going to be an IC? If he is going to be an IC, replace move through cover with the IC unit type as this also applies the move through cover rule. The predator should also have the fearless rule as any character should never run away due to failed moral tests. If the predator is not going to be an IC, its it going to function like imperial assassins or are players going to be able to field them in groups of 3.

I agree about changing stalker armour to stealth. The stalker rule should just be changed to infiltrators and/or scouts. Outflanking + fleet should be enough to get the pred into combat early

Rather than giving the predator a power weapon that gives + 1 strength on the charge and another rule that gives +1 initiative on the charge, remove this and give the predator the Furious Charge USR which gives +1 Strength and Initiative on the charge

The predator might have issues against mech so it might be a good idea to give him melta bombs or krak grenades. Perhaps also give him a homing beacon to make it more of a tactical unit. I reckon the predator should have a 5 or 6+ inv save to simulate his energy shield otherwise outside of cover; he will be toast against anything and no inv save is bad for a CC unit. Since he is a CC unit perhaps raise his WS to 5 (Khorne Bezerkers have WS5). I also reckon to add a bit of Predator Vs Aliens action and give the predator the Preferred Enemy: Tyranids special rule.

Assuming this is done, I would probably cost each predator at 75 -100 points and I would probably make them an elites choice for the following armies (Dark Eldar, Chaos Space Marines, Eldar, Tau).

interestingly enough i'm writing a full codex for these guys... including their jet bikes

Here's a few thoughts:

Wrist Blade's +1 strength on charge: have you thought about Furious Charge special rule?
Stalker armor: Do you own an Eldar codex? Look up the rules for Harlequins, specifically the Veil of Tears.
Shoulder Cannon: I was under the impression it was a sort of charge-up weapon rather than a multi-shot one. Would also say it was guided (twin-linked).
Stalker: I'm not personally a fan of first-turn close combat. I think you also made a typo. Normally units must stay more than 18" away whe in line of sight and 12" if not in line of sight. Are you certain he should be able to set up in plain sight within spitting distance?
Trophy Hunter: Maybe look up the rules for Preferred Enemy. I'd say some sort of bonus is in order if he succeed in killing his trophy target, and some drawback (disgrace) if he doesn't at the end of combat.
Frag Grenades: I understand your logic why, but he's not using them in the movies

Oh, and you're missing Spear Gun, the discus, and the net!

and the Gauntlet Plasma Bolt, Combi-Stick, Smart Disc, Shuriken, Laser Nets, Whip, Self-Destruct Device, Naginata, Burner, Glaive, and Maul

Don't forget that there are different types of Predators as well.....

I think it is safe to say that the above rules cannot represent every predator but rather some kind of generic hunter. Perhaps add wargear options to the rules above for additional point costs.

What about making predator weapons function like oblit weapons where a player can choose each turn what predator weapon they would like to use each turn (although this would make the predators 100 points per model).

The predator wouldn't be part of any 40K fighting force, it might be there hunting for itself but it isn't going to be attached to the 101st Vostroyan or anything like that.

I like the idea of a predator or two as a third party thrown into a game to cause as much mischief as possible. Give the predator to a third player, then let him play his own game killing characters the two regular players attempt to beat each other. Give the predator to different players in different games, see who can kill the most points worth of characters with the predator.

Like the Pred , but wheres the Alien ... me sad

Theres already a codex for aliens silly, but most people call them tyranids And about the predator rules, we've got something similar too. Striking scorpions are pretty close, they even have dreadlocks :p All youd have to do is increase the toughness and maybe give them plasma pistols that dont get hot. Btw I disagree with your predators review. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Best predator movie so far in my opinion

Here is my stab at it. Drop in 3 during a game and give them the last turn(they watch their prey before they move in).

ws bs s t w i ld sv
6 4 4 4 3 5 10 5+inv.


Weapons: Shoulder cannon. Digital weapons. Refractor field. Roll a dice, 1-3 has wrist blades(pair). 4-6 nagira(cant spell it) staff.

Shoulder cannon: St: 6 Ap: 5 Rng:36 Rapid fire.

Digital weapons: As digital weapons(wrist blaster, little extras they always have etc.).

Refractor field: 5+ invulnerable save

Wrist blades: 2 Power weapons(+1 attack).

Nagira staff: Counts as relic blade. +2 strength at initiative.

Special Rules:
Fearless
Furious charge
Stealth
Outflank
Infiltrate
Move Through Cover
Fleet
Medi-pac: At the end of his turn if the Predator did not partake in close combat he can attempt to regenerate a wound on a 6+ roll
Hunting party: Predators operate as a party of three but hunt independently as IC. So there are three of them....somewhere....watching


I tried not to make him OP. He has a lot of special rules to get him into combat. But he is still somewhat squishy if he gets seen by the big guns or tries rushing a tac. squad who goes for the rapid fire. I tried to keep him very killable(pretty much a refractor field only) but give him some longevity to reach cc without getting blown away before doing anything.

The only thing I'm not too sure on is the shoulder cannon. Humans do survive glancing blows so that is the reason for S: 6 Ap: 5. I didn't want to make it an assault weapon as it is never used that way in the movies. He can track multiple targets so I put it as a rapid fire weapon for up close, but he still needs to take time to be stationary and aim for long range targets.

i'd say lose the power weapon ability for the wrist blades and replace it with a 3+ rending

Actually yeah that does sound good, as i don't really see them slicing through terminators. How does rending in cc work again, please remind me(i think if a 6 is rolled to wound there is no armor save).

Thats right.

I don't know how the 3+ rending works. But I guess normal rending would work, as well as the staff. But he is gonna get tossed if he runs into marines(and we all know how many of those are out there), fluffwise I would put my money on a space marine anyway. I think with the power weapons it beefs him up enough to be an actual threat in the 40k universe maybe give him the old 4+ choppa rule, I wouldn't be worried at all if he runs in ALONE with only rending. Remember he is going to be alone and three attacks at Str5 on charge isn't anything special, same as a base nob. If he has power weapons he is a threat to at least consider. In 38,000 years I think they might pick it up as well. I would say the 4+ and rending to compensate, he still has to be a threat but not OP. He has a ton of rules already so what is one more right lol.