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In light of the awesome Red Scorpions named veteran sergeant rules that I’ve overlooked for quite some time (and in memory of the amazing chapter trait section of the 4th edition marine codex), I thought you all might appreciate a more generic rules set which accomplishes much the same and more. The points costs listed are based on equivalent costs from other codices (such as chaos marks), the 'mark ups' for named characters that grant roughly the same abilities, etc.

Any Space Marine sergeant may replace all wargear with a bolt pistol, power sword, meltabombs, and gains an additional wound to become a veteran sergeant for 50 points. Veteran sergeants may gain one of the following traits for the indicated points cost. Your army may contain one of any trait (for instance, you could not have a veteran tactical sergeant and a veteran devastator sergeant with the Purgator trait). If the veteran sergeant is killed, the USR’s gained by his inspiring (or maniacal) presence are lost immediately or at the end of the current initiative round in the assault phase.

Veteran Sergeant Traits:

Zealot (20 pts) – The veteran sergeant replaces his bolt pistol and power sword with a relic blade. The attached squad rerolls all misses in the first round of any combat it participates in.

Purgator (5 pts) – The veteran sergeant replaces his bolt pistol and power sword with a combi-weapon (any type). He may use the chosen combi-weapon twice during the game. The squad may take a second special weapon (flamer, meltagun, or plasma gun) at +10 points over the original cost but only if the squad is composed of ten models.

Pure (15 pts) – The veteran sergeant replaces all wargear with a narthecium and redactor, becoming an apothecary to his squad. He retains the veteran sergeant stat line.

Indomitable (35 pts) – The veteran sergeant replaces his power sword with a thunder hammer. The veteran sergeant, his squad, and any attached characters gain the Relentless and Stubborn USR’s.

Enraged (5 pts) – The veteran sergeant replaces his bolt pistol with a storm bolter, combi-flamer, or combi-melta. The veteran sergeant, his squad, and all attached characters gain the Rage, Furious Charge, and Fearless USR’s.

Honourable (10 pts) – The veteran sergeant’s squad may reroll failed morale, pinning, or leadership tests. The squad may not fire upon units which have not regrouped after falling back and may not move within 12” of such a unit, making a compulsory move away from such a unit when and where possible in the movement phase.

Cunning (30 pts) – The veteran sergeant replaces his bolt pistol and power sword with a hellfire round loaded bolter, becoming BS 5 and gaining the Rending USR with his shooting attacks only. Rolls to wound or to penetrate armour will rend on a 5+. The veteran sergeant, his squad, and any attached characters gain the infiltrate special rule and may outflank.

Swift (15 pts) – The veteran sergeant, his squad, and any attached characters become fleet of foot when starting a turn outside of a transport or building. When rolling for the distance run, roll two D6 and pick the highest. Note, a biker veteran sergeant with this trait will still not be able to run in the shooting phase.

Blessed (30 pts) – The veteran sergeant, his squad, and any attached characters gain a 5+ invulnerable save. This squad may redeploy after both players have finished deploying but before infiltrate and scout moves are made.

Merciless (10 pts) – The veteran sergeants replaces his bolt pistol and power sword for a pair of lighting claws. His squad counts as scoring an additional wound in any close combat. His squad must pursue any unit which has failed a morale test and failed to regroup, as if it had the Rage USR and the squad falling back were the closest enemy unit.

And more to come...

I think some of them need some work.

For example what does redeployment have to do with being blessed?

I would drop that piece but instead the owning player may declare it's use at the start of any player turn (his or opponents) once per game. For that turn allow the squad to benefit from both FNP and a 5+ invul. save.

I must admit I really like the idea of unique sarges for a more 'hero hammer' style of play. That said, my one issue is that you are only really supporting a few space marine units instead of the entire set of armies of 40k.

So basicly, even though I love the idea, what about similiar rules for tyranids, or necrons, or Eldar for example. Without that, its tough for me to balance liking these rules with my dislike for buffing only a few armies at the expense of others.

Intresting thread, love the idea....
My main army is guards, and it would be nice to come up with similar things.... Like for platoon commanders or vet sergeants...

Also, some of the things need some tweakingin the ppm aspect.... vanguard space marines that reroll cc and get a relic blade for 20 pts is op imo.

But the root of the idea is very appealing !

Yes, this idea for several armies (nids, newcrons, CSM, ect) would be great.