Whirlwind Revamp

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**Commander Endova**

So, among Space Marine players, it's no secret that the Whirlwind is sort of most unloved Heavy Support choice, which I find unfortunate. Below is what I feel is a solution.

WHIRLWIND...60 Points
Whirlwind – BS:4|FAV:11|SAV:11|RAV:10

Composition:
1 Whirlwind

Unit Type:
Vehicle (Tank)

Wargear:
-Primary Launch Pod
-Secondary Launch Pod
-Smoke launchers
-Seachlight

Options:
A Whirlwind must replace it's Primary Launch Pod with:
–Vengeance Missiles...+10 pts
–Castellan Missiles...+10 pts
–Firestorm Missiles...+15 pts
–Hyperios Missiles...+15 pts
–2 Starfury Missiles...+15 pts
A Whirlwind must replace it's Secondary Launch Pod with:
–Vengeance Missiles...+10 pts
–Castellan Missiles...+10 pts
–Firestorm Missiles...+15 pts
–Hyperios Missiles...+15 pts
–2 Starfury Missiles...+15 pts
-May take any of the following:
–a storm bolter...+10 pts
–a hunter killer missile...+10 pts
–a dozer blade...+5 pts
–extra armor...+15 pts
–Power of the Machine Spirit...+30 pts

Vengeance Missile | R:12”-72” | S:5 | AP:4 | Ord. 1, Barrage, Large Blast

Castellan Missile | R:12”-72” | S:4 | AP:5 | Ord. 1, Barrage, Large Blast, Ignores Cover*

*Models wounded by a Castellan Missile may never take cover saves.

Firestorm Missile | R:12”-48” | S:6 | AP:4 |Heavy 1, Barrage, Firestorm*

*Firestorm: When firing a Firestorm missile, choose a single model in the target unit, and then roll 1d6 for scatter. Place a dice or marker where the shot lands. The controlling player may then “shoot” a flame template from the dice or marker.

Hyperios Missile | R:36” | S:7 | AP:1 | Heavy 1, Anti- Air*

*Anti-Air weapons may only be fired at Skimmer models.

Starfury Missile | R:12”-60” | S:9 | AP:1 | Heavy 1, One Shot

So, basically, the philosophy is that you can mix and match your two weapons for a variety of roles, which should make the platform more attractive.

Thoughts? Opinions?

**grayspark**

It's nice to have all the missiles and such, but I think the current one would be useful if the strength value of both of its attacks were raised by 1.

By the way, the new missiles you introduced are great.

**Commander Endova**

It's true. That would be a much simpler fix. I just wanted to go for a more radical solution, since I had some of these ideas floating around. And I'm glad you like them. Thanks!

**Formosa**

Str6 ap4 Ord barrage d3
12" 120"

before the guard dex came out i would never suggest a multiple shot ord weapon...

**ChrisWWII**

Sounds quite good, but maybe make the Hyperion missile something like the Hydra where it ignores the cover save from going flat out?

**purplefood**

I like.

**cosmic pixie**

+1 for the Hydra missile ou could even make it AA - that could viably make the Whirlwind useful in Apoc.

**Jackmojo**

I like most of the missile ideas you have here but I'd change a few myself.

The firestorm missile is needlessly complex, I'd just use the normal barrage rules for it...and even then I'd never take it personally.

The Starfury can probably get away with not having ammo issues, since it forces the Whirlwind to expose itself to return fire (perhaps drop it to Str 8 as well), and whirlwinds that seem threatening aren't going to survive much return fire.

All that said, I'd probably just want to add an anti-tank direct fire missile to the whirlwind and then it would be a more compelling choice (along with perhaps the suggested strength increases) as I rather like its simple versatility.

Jack

**Grey Templar**

Why do Castellan missiles ignore cover and Incendiary don't?

seems like that needs to be the other way around.

**Commander Endova**

Oh. Lol. I miss-named the missile. Incendiaries are supposed to be Vengeance missile. I'll edit that.

**Oscarius**

You might want to change the Firestorm somewhat. At the moment the tank can move 6" (12" for the BA) and put down 2 ap3 flamers at 48".

A simple rule so that it can never be a defensive weapon could be nice, or that only one launch pod can be used unless you got the Machine Spirit.

**Commander Endova**

Hadn't considered that. I might get rid of it entirely. I think anything other higher than AP3 makes it to much like the Castellan...

EDIT: Okay. | S:6 | AP:4 | 1d6 scatter. Good? Bad?

**kenshin620**

What? No minefield rocket?

I think the incendiary doesnt make any sense with a flamer template but thats just me

**VikingScott**

If anything the whirlwind needs the minefeild rockets again. Those where cool and useful.

**candy.man**

I also suggest the reworking of the firestorm missile. I reckon you should make the Firestorm something like heavy 3 blast (regular blast and not ordinance blast).

**Dok**

The problem with this is that no one would still take the original two choices. They are just bad. They need to be pumped up or modified to make them worth any points. I do like your new missles, but a flamer that you can put anywhere might be a bit cheesy.

**Magister187**

I think if the normal version was a bit cheaper and you could field multiples in one slot (1-3, not as a squadron) it might be worth it to play a nice indirect fire support. The Anti-armour missiles as an option would also be nice:

Whirlwind

60 Points, can select 1-3 using only one spot on the FOC. They do not function as a squadron.

+25 Points, Hyperios Missiles (cool name!): 48". Str 8 AP 3. 1d3 Shots, Ordnance. (no Indirect fire). Basically just fires off 1d3 Krak missiles at a lightly armoured target.

**Jackmojo**

Personally, I'd have no problem with them as a battery/squadron, would at least be a different and interesting choice then.

For the Hyperios missile I'd go AP1 so they have some punch though, and/or make it heavy 3. Random is just too much of a lift from the Exorcist.

Jack

**MekanobSamael**

Concern: firestorm sort of makes vengeance and castellan superfluous. It's more accurate, it's strength is higher, and, being a template weapon, it ignores cover saves.

Maybe drop the cost of vengeance and castellan to 5 points to compensate?