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Was wondering this. I first got into WH40K back when I was... I think 14, maybe 15. I went to a game store and saw the BT codex. Thought it looked cool, ended up buying it. From that point I started reading the various 40k novels and what not. I couldn't get into the wargame itself due to price and just sort of forgot about it over time as DoW came out and I felt content enough with that.

Now I -do- have the money to start an army, though my beloved Templars, I've been told time and time again, are just a flat out useless codex. Is there truth to this? Or are there still ways to play?

They still manage.

They're the only marines with the old timey las/plas 5 man tactical squads. They get 2 cyclones in their Terminator squads, not to mention furious charging ligtning claw terminators. Their bikes squads are pretty nice. They've got cheap Tyhpoon land speeders. They can customize Eternal Warrior characters.

Still have a lot going on for them.

They've recenty re-emerged on the tournament scene in some numbers due to the FAQ that allows them to missile spam to great effect, with cheap missile toting land speeders and dual HW's in 5 man termi squads. Not a very Black-Templar-y list, but powerful and possible.

Likewise, having 3++ SS's also makes them much more useable.

Not as capable as some newer books, but not useless by any means either, though be prepared to sacrifice some fluff feel if you want to exploit their strenghts.

That statement would be false. They may not be the most versatile Marine Army, but if played right they can do their job and do it efficiently. The way you have to play them is fairly narrow-minded, either really shooty, or get in their face melee.
A big mix won't really work as well as you'd hope. Now I'm not an expert on Black Templars, and I'm sure someone can come along and give you a decent list, but i know it isn't a useless codex by any means.

Well I tried my hand at making a list really, going off of the tactica on the site here.

HQ:
Champion, Accept Any Challenge (140)
Marshall, Termin Honors, Iron Halo, Power Fist, Melta Bomb, bolt pistol. (150)
Sword Brother Terminators x4, 2x Cyclone Missles (210)

Troops:
Initiates x9, CCW + BP, Power Fist, Flamer (165)
Initiates x9, CCW + BP, Power Fist, Flamer (165)
Initiates x10, CCW + BP, Power Fist, Flamer (181)

Transport:
Rhino, SL, EA (58)
Rhino, SL, EA (58)
Rhino, SL, EA (58)

Heavy Support
Anihilator, Full Las (145)
Anihilator, Full Las (145)
Crusader, SL (270)


I really like their fluff, want to keep it proper assaulty. Those four terminators have power fists and SB.

Codex no, codex + FAQ yes.

Namica wrote:Well I tried my hand at making a list really, going off of the tactica on the site here.

HQ:
Champion, Accept Any Challenge (140)
Marshall, Termin Honors, Iron Halo, Power Fist, Melta Bomb, bolt pistol. (150)
Sword Brother Terminators x4, 2x Cyclone Missles (210)

Troops:
Initiates x9, CCW + BP, Power Fist, Flamer (165)
Initiates x9, CCW + BP, Power Fist, Flamer (165)
Initiates x10, CCW + BP, Power Fist, Flamer (181)

Transport:
Rhino, SL, EA (58)
Rhino, SL, EA (58)
Rhino, SL, EA (58)

Heavy Support
Anihilator, Full Las (145)
Anihilator, Full Las (145)
Crusader, SL (270)


I really like their fluff, want to keep it proper assaulty. Those four terminators have power fists and SB.

Take Melta's instead of flamers, good for antitank or MC and you can still charge after shooting.

They are, in fact, quite awesome. Templars are one of the best codices now.

lonekthx wrote:They are, in fact, quite awesome. Templars are one of the best codices now.

I wouldn't agree with that statement, but it is possible that most of us could be bad players.





from:http://www.baldandscreaming.com/news/2011-ard-boyz-preliminaries-nationwide-results/

That's also assuming there are equal amounts of Black Templars players. Most I know have switched codices by now.

That, and 'ard boyz is all about using builds that are hyper effective, but not necessarily fluffy. Those BT are likely all gunline, and I'd like to stick with fluff and be assaulty.

Tankhunter Termies with Cyclonesx2, cheap land speeder typhoons and lightning claw termies in a LRC are effective (and the LC termies in a crusader are fluffy too).

I don't know about you guys, but i run a mixed list.
at 1000 pts I run:
Champion with Accept Any Challenge
5 Sword Brethren with assorted wargear in a lazorback
2 - 9 man initiate squads for assault ('fist and CCW & BP) in Rhinos
1 - 5 man squad w/ Plasma Gun and Cannon in a lazorback for fire support.

Actually running a rhino rush with typhoons strategy at that point level is actually pretty good. The typhoons let you pop transports pretty well and the troops with preferred enemy make for a decent in your face fighters. You would probably need to run plasmaguns to help pick off things you don't want to assault, but they can be pretty decent.

We had one player come in third place with his BT's in one of our LGS league tourneys. He ran Assault terms in a crusader and 2 Lasbacks with crusaders and champion. He would of made top or second, but the last 2 armies were able to pop his LRC on turn 1 in both their matches for the finals. If his termies would of made it across, then it would of been a different story.

we didn't have to deal with Greyknights or Dark Eldar... for some reason those players didn't get involved. so the termie hammers made for a deadly opponent.

The codex can still be competitive. Gunline Templars are far more effective than assault Templars. Either way, any defeats should be softened by the knowledge that your balls are larger and brassier than the other guy's.

Namica wrote:Well I tried my hand at making a list really, going off of the tactica on the site here.

HQ:
Champion, Accept Any Challenge (140)
Marshall, Termin Honors, Iron Halo, Power Fist, Melta Bomb, bolt pistol. (150)
Sword Brother Terminators x4, 2x Cyclone Missles (210)

Troops:
Initiates x9, CCW + BP, Power Fist, Flamer (165)
Initiates x9, CCW + BP, Power Fist, Flamer (165)
Initiates x10, CCW + BP, Power Fist, Flamer (181)

Transport:
Rhino, SL, EA (58)
Rhino, SL, EA (58)
Rhino, SL, EA (58)

Heavy Support
Anihilator, Full Las (145)
Anihilator, Full Las (145)
Crusader, SL (270)


I really like their fluff, want to keep it proper assaulty. Those four terminators have power fists and SB.

Your list is, unfortunately, illegal. You can't have 4 Terminators in a squad unless you take it as a Terminator Command Squad and in order to do that your Marshal has to have Terminator Armour.

I'd also suggest replacing the Marshal's Iron Halo with a Storm Shield. You save points AND get a better invuln! You're already not getting an extra attack unless you buy another power fist (not worth it...). Oh, and drop the melta bomb and use the points to upgrade to a chain fist.

Finally, and this is just personal opinion, drop both the Annihilators. Replace with three Typhoons. Use the points to upgrade flamers to meltas, add that last Terminator, give the Terminators Tank Hunters and then do something cool with the remaining 17 points. The tactica is from the "dark age" before the FAQ IIRC, so take everything with a bit of salt.

PotMS + EA Vindicators are nice as well. Move 12" and shoot and Ignores shaken and stunned (stunned becomes shaken, can still shoot while shaken)


The BT Drop pods are good as well. You an keep your crusaders off of the board until late game when you need them to take objectives. Also they can fire a Deathwind laucher (at BS4) the turn that they land as well.





The bikers are not bad either. you can get 3 with 3 plasma guns for not much, AND if you take 3 with Power Weapons they get to keep their pistol. They can be a cheap, fast assassin squad (if you are not running the land speeders)

svendrex wrote:The BT Drop pods are good as well. You an keep your crusaders off of the board until late game when you need them to take objectives. Also they can fire a Deathwind laucher (at BS4) the turn that they land as well.

Templar Drop Pods are BS2.