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So I recently traded away some of my Tyranids for some Black Templar and a codex. I thought, "What the heck, I have soooo many Tyranids, why not gather another army". Needless to say, I've been a bit overwhelmed identifying what models I have, and how to use them . I've been reading the codex, and have found that I have fallen in love. The down side is, I don't know if I've fallen in love with the BT or if I've fallen for having an elite army like SM.

So I guess my question is, are BT any good? Or are they just out dated at the moment? I want to start attending tournaments this summer (After 10 years of basement gaming ), but I don't think I'm the greatest player in the world. So I guess I'm looking for an army that doesn't take the greatest player to master. Should I maybe roll with a different SM chapter?

Please help me Dakkites, you're my only hope

Yes they are quite good. Tank Hunters with Terminators toting cyclones gets you a pair of strength 9 missiles for instance, strength 7 assault cannons and other nifty things. I believe they are considered tier 2 now along with the DA with that FAQ awhile ago.

For more specifics you'll need to wait for someone more well versed with them though.

The main trump-card for the Templars is their vows. Accept Any Challenge is amazing. Never underestimate re-rolling all of your failed hits.
Another great strength they have is the very reason a lot of people don't play them: they're outdated. This means that a lot of their stuff is cheaper (BT drop pod = 30 points, standard = 35. Doesn't sound like much, but when you're playing a Steel Rain list, that adds the hell up.
Ultimately, Black Templars are as strong as every other chapter, with a view vows to make them even stronger. Their only downside is the Righteous Zeal rule, but with a little control over your squads and adding crusader seals, it gets a lot easier.

Furious Charge Assault Terminators with a Chaplain. S5 I5, reroll misses, reroll wounds. Win.

How exactly does the Righteous Zeal rule work? I'm afraid I may be misreading it.

Jamora wrote:How exactly does the Righteous Zeal rule work? I'm afraid I may be misreading it.

If any of your units take ANY casualties from shooting (even one) the unit takes a morale check. If you fail, you fall back (not a big deal with "And They Shall Know No Fear"). If you pass the check, move the unit D6 towards the closest enemy unit. Crusader Seals give the unit the ability to re-roll the D6 if they want.

Also, read up the newly released FAQ for the Black Templars, it helped them a lot.

Captain Aphael wrote:

Jamora wrote:How exactly does the Righteous Zeal rule work? I'm afraid I may be misreading it.

If any of your units take ANY casualties from shooting (even one) the unit takes a morale check. If you fail, you fall back (not a big deal with "And They Shall Know No Fear"). If you pass the check, move the unit D6 towards the closest enemy unit. Crusader Seals give the unit the ability to re-roll the D6 if they want.

And Cenobyte Servitors on a Chaplain lets you add 1 for every servitor, for a maximum of 3. The Fearless from the Chaplain, along with a Chaplain's ability letting you consolidate towards any enemy unit is what makes "Black Tide", i.e. loads of maxed crusader squads charging across the board, possible. This kind of list has a reasonable chance to take an enemy by surprise, as there's a LOT of power armoured bodies on the table and almost no vehicles.

As a side note, the Black Templars are better than anyone else due to our drop pods using the 4th edition rules. This more or less nullifies the advantage of reserving against an all-pod Templar army.

Gavo wrote:Also, read up the newly released FAQ for the Black Templars, it helped them a lot.

I've been looking for that for a while. Any idea where I can find it?

http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m1620223a_Black_Templars_Version_1_1.pdf

They are also due for a new codex sometime in the near (please god please) future.

If you need help identifying models post pics and we’ll help you best we can.

I thought with the FAQ that the drop pods were exactly the same as the other one's now?

So, if 1 of my guys dies, there's a chance of my unit running way away? That seems like kind of a big deal :S

Jamora wrote:I thought with the FAQ that the drop pods were exactly the same as the other one's now?

So, if 1 of my guys dies, there's a chance of my unit running way away? That seems like kind of a big deal :S

Interestingly enough, while they DID change the drop pod assault rule in the FAQ, they didn't change how it works.

Oh, and you have to see it like this: There's a chance that you get to get closer to the enemy when you get shot! If you get a Marshal, you give the entire army Ld10 while he's alive! And, as mentioned, Chaplains make you fearless.

If you are smart in your army build then "NO"

Remember they only make a righteous zeal check when they take losses in the shooting phase

With that in mind there are 2 ways most players get around this.

A) Have a chaplain with the unit (a must for large footslogging 20man crusader squads anyway) then they will auto pass all righteous zeal checks (also move towards any enemy unit not just the closest)

B) Have a marshal whose Ld10 can then be used across the board for all Ld checks

Note: Righteous zeal does not affect jump infantry

Oooo, ok. That makes sense.
Again, I've only had a day or two to browse over the codex, so not a lot of time to get everything figured out

Any other neat tricks I should know about?

Blessed hull on the LRC negates "lance" weapons

Ma55ter_fett wrote:Blessed hull on the LRC negates "lance" weapons

Greatest part of the game: seeing an eldar players face when you show him that rule

My main opponent is Dark Eldar
I just got a little giddy

They have their strengths and weakness.

I dont think their codex has aged all that badly compared to others.

Enjoy em!

I highly recomend a Steel Rain list. I'm making a 1500 list with 6 pods and a 2000 with 8 pods. Besides the ability to go wherever you want, or drop onto every objective on the board, nothing scares the crap out of your oponent like 6 ceramite meteors screaming down from low orbit.

They also make the most out of the SM battle force, as you will actually use the scouts inside, rather than try to unload it on some unsuspecting newb.

Captain Aphael wrote:I highly recomend a Steel Rain list. I'm making a 1500 list with 6 pods and a 2000 with 8 pods. Besides the ability to go wherever you want, or drop onto every objective on the board, nothing scares the crap out of your oponent like 6 ceramite meteors screaming down from low orbit.

I would try for 9 in your 2k. That is currently my loadout previously from 8. Being able to drop 5 instead of 4 does wonderful things.

I'd just like to point out that some people are getting RZ wrong in this thread.

It's two separate rules.

Rule 1: In the enemy shooting phase the "25% casualty --> morale check" is replaced by "any casualties --> morale check."

Rule 2: If an infantry unit passes a morale check (regardless of source) they move D6" towards the nearest visible enemy.

Now most often this is during your opponent's shooting phase, but every now and then there are powers and whatnot that force morale checks. If you pass these, you still get to zeal move.

Xca|iber wrote:I'd just like to point out that some people are getting RZ wrong in this thread.

It's two separate rules.

Rule 1: In the enemy shooting phase the "25% casualty --> morale check" is replaced by "any casualties --> morale check."

Rule 2: If an infantry unit passes a morale check (regardless of source) they move D6" towards the nearest visible enemy.

Now most often this is during your opponent's shooting phase, but every now and then there are powers and whatnot that force morale checks. If you pass these, you still get to zeal move.

Wow, didn't even think of that, thanks for pointing it out!