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The current consensus on the Internet seems to be that Sword Brethren suck. What I don't get is why. For 140 searchlights you get 5 dudes with FC, 1 of which has a PW and one of which has a pair of LCs. 6 PW attacks with S5 I5 on the charge, most likely rerolling to hit and half of them to wound. Sure, you have to pay for a transport, at which point most people notice the cost of the unit and go "I'd rather have Terminators", but Sword Brethren don't need a 250+ points transport to get somewhere.

TL;DR: Y U HATE SWORDBRETHREN INTERWEBZ?

You have some examples of this supposed internet consensus that they downright suck?

Zweischneid wrote:You have some examples of this supposed internet consensus that they downright suck?

Not apart from my own experience from discussing Templars on various boards, I'm afraid.

AlmightyWalrus wrote:

Zweischneid wrote:You have some examples of this supposed internet consensus that they downright suck?

Not apart from my own experience from discussing Templars on various boards, I'm afraid.

Than it should be even easier for you to link some examples of unfounded hatred? No?

I am not aware of wholesale, much less widespread hatred of Sword Brethren. However, I could see some people making comparative arguments that places Terminators or Sang. Guard or whatever above them for one reason or another, which is what you perhaps inferred to in your first post. Though that certainly wouldn't be equated to "hatred", and if you've read arguments by other posters in that way, you might not give them proper credit for elaborating on comparative differences between units (which will always differ depending on priorities, personal bias and overall army composition and play-style).

If that is the sort of discussion you want to have, you might perhaps want to post a more neutrally worded tactics thread Sword Brethren pro & contra, strenghts & weaknesses, how to use, etc.., in the tactics forum?

Sword Brethren compete for the Elite Slot in the Black Templars list.

They don't suck. But, even in a 2000 point game, after I spend points on a Marshal, the Emperor's Champion, a pair of Crusader Squads in a rhino, and my Assault Terminators in a Land Raider, I just don't have the points to spend on Sword Brethren.

I break them out now and again, but they aren't as good as other options.

Well, one reason why there's a bit of disdain ("hate" is far too strong a word and I wish people would stop using it) is because the box is illegal; you can't actually give them the loadout they have in the box if I recall correctly. Secondly, they compete with assault Terminators for an Elites slot. I'd rather run a bunch of TH/SS and furiously charging TLC Terminators than a couple expensive dudes in power armor.

From what I remember, they are too expensive and you would do better simply running dreads, termies or more troops.

They are a great and fantastic unit, but simply cost too much.

Its sort of like my dream fun 6 lightning claw SS DA vets its fun but so darn expensive that it is not worth it

Sword Brethren aren't terrible. But they have a few things going against them. First off as has been stated before they compete against our other elite units. Would I rather take an "ok choice" or things such as tank hunting terminators/dreadnaughts or our furious charging terminators?

Which kind of leads into the second reason. With the codex being as old as it is, are 20 point tactical marines with furious charge worth it? Compared to everything else that is going to be on the table you need to take better choices to compete.

When it comes down to it, I would rather take footslogging tank hunter tactical terminators than pay the same amount of points for a unit that is worse in close combat, worse at shooting, worse survivability, and because they need a vehicle gives two kill points.