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.

Hi guys!

For an upcoming event my FLGS is running, we are required to build "themed" armies to compete. We've been told to try to keep it competitive, but also that serious points will be awarded for the "character" of army lists submitted. So having said that, I;d welcome comments on this list:

Emperor's Champion + Accept Any Challenge (140)
Grimaldus - 195 Points
High Marshall Helbrecht - 175 Points

Except the special weapons, all Models in the crusader squads are armed with Bolt Pistols and Close Combat Weapons

Crusader Squad 1

10 x Initiates with Close Combat weapons
10 x Neophytes
1 x Power Fist
1 x Meltagun

Total = 285


Crusader Squad 2

10 x Initiates
10 x Neophytes
1 x Power Fist
1 x Meltagun

Total = 285


Crusader Squad 3

10 x Initiates
10 x Neophytes
1 x Power Fist
1 x Meltagun

Total = 285


Crusader Squad 4

10 x Initiates
10 x Neophytes
1 x Power Fist
1 x Meltagun

Total = 285

Assault Terminators
6 X Lightning Claws
2 x Thunder Hammers
8 x Furious Charge

Total = 344

Army Total = 1994

Holy crap thats a lot of marines! That looks pretty good IMO, that many marines on the table will be scary regardless.

Yeah i know! I don't think anything captures the BT's personality more than - horde!!!

I don't play them, nor know their fluff. But that would be a really fun army to play, neophytes are their scouts equivalent correct?

Yes thats right. The fluff is that the initiates are each assigned a Neophyte who does chores for them etc. During battle, it's up to the Neophyte to learn from the Initiate, so that they may become elevated to their ranks someday.

Sounds cool, I'd love to have my own Neophyte! Anyways, good luck with the tourny, hope you get some good advice on here if I am wrong.

IMO to make it more competitive i would give helbrecht his command squad. it gives him access to furious charge. and when you think about him with FC he becomes one of the more killy HQs in 40k, and for only 178pts. he will have 6-8 attacks, at str5 and init6, and they ignore armor saves. well worth it. especially since he is basically leading what amounts to a beefed up crusader squad. since you have 4 of them already convert one of them into the CS for helbrecht and you are golden. (you can even attach grimaldus and RAW you can give him FC for 3 pts as well)

I don't think I can give grimaldus FC though, as that will be denied because of his cenobite servitors.

grimauldus would be the "attached" character and as per the command squad rules you may give any character (leading and attached) the "veteran skill" that whole squad takes. helbrechts rule forces the entire command squad to take FC, if grimauldus works as a regular chaplain (since regular chaplains can still join squads if they have cenobytes)..

beyond that bonus, you get the +3 to the righteous zeal move of your uber helbrecht hammer unit.

zero downside. that squad could take on thunderwolves my friend. you lose 5 neophtyes from your list, but gain a huge advantage when it comes to being able to handle another hammer unit like t-wolves, nobz, etc etc.

I checked as well I didn't see anything baring chaplains from joining squads even when they have a attached cenobytes. So a FC'in Grimaldus could work it seems and I have to say I have never tried that before but it would definitely be something worth trying.

Even for a fluffy BT list this seems nice you got lots of marines some with FC and lots of neophytes for some addition attacks and absorbing hits. Good luck to you in the tournament.

is says right in the cenobyte armoury entry that chaplains can join squads even if they are accompanied by them (well not directly)..

"for each cenobyte servitor accompanying the chaplain, you may add +1 (to a maximum of +3 per unit) to the dice roll when rolling for the distance moved due to the Righteous Zeal special rule. Note that this affects any Infantry squad the Chaplain (and his Servitors) has joined"

after quoting that i read further down the entry, chaplains with cenobytes can not take any veteran skills (ie: FC) so my idea is now irrelevant. ah well.. though you can still attach Grim to the unit for the zeal bonuses, fearless, guaranteed relic proximity, etc

Thanks for the feedback so far guys. Basically I'm going to play it as an infantry blob - centered around Grimaldus. That's a way of giving neophytes some re-rolls as well.

Actually here's some good news for the hopefuls out there...

Grimaldus CAN be attached to Helbrecht's command squad and he HAS to take Furious Charge for 3pts.

Grimaldus special rule: Command Squad: Grimaldus can lead a reclusiarch squad. No other chaplains can join HIS reclusiarch squad and he can't join another chaplain's. Grimaldus may however join a marshal/castellan's command squad as normal.

So you take Helbrecht, you give him a command squad, you ATTACH Grimaldus to it, and the entire squad INCLUDING Grimaldus HAS to take FC vet skill because Helbrecht's special rule "Retinue" overrides the cenobyte servitor special rule.

That means that on the charge, Grimadlus is a NASTY Str5 Init6(SIX!!!!!) chaplain. Pop his holy relic and he'll have SEVEN attacks on that charge, with Helbrecht being Str5 Init6 and anywhere from 7-9 attacks...................now a possible 16 init 6 WS5, rerolling misses Str5 attacks? I think I just hit a deer.
Not to mention the rest of the squad is about to do a suckerpunch at Str5 Init5 with all their attacks. End result is one unit that I would put toe-to-toe with anything from a MC to a full LC's armed termy squad, with-out fear of losing the assault.

Also on a side note, another theme you could go for with the blob list is a chaplain army. Turning 2 of your squads into Command squads and putting a chaplain leading each one with 3 cenobyte servitors, and then attach a chaplain to each squad with 3 cenobyte servitors. With a minimum 7" Righteous Zeal move and completely fearless with rerolls built into the charge, give the army Uphold the Honour and watch your two command squads shrug off Lascannon shots and worse and continue to run hellbent for the enemy

@Marshal Kervhart

You have some good ideas here. I'm still not convinced that the Retinue rule would override the Cenobyte Servitor rules.

Having said that, there's nothing to stop you adding a normal chaplain to do this.

Also, Uphold the honour of the emperor may not be the best choice - cover saves are the name of the game these days, and besides - losing preferred enemy is far too big a blow for my liking. It's just too good not to take, especially in such an assault focussed army.