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So, here's my idea. Executioners aren't the most stable of tanks and I think that having them act like normal Leman Russes isn't fun. So, here is a rule I came up with:

Leman Russ Executioner Special Rules: Critical explosion.

The Executioner cannon, despite it's advanced cooling technology, is quite prone to fatal malfunctions if damaged enough or if the rambunctious machine spirit is displeased. When the shielding fails and the machinery of this devastating weapon melts down, the results are quite explosive indeed. If any of the following conditions are met, any models within 3+D3" of the hull of the Executioner suffer an immediate S6 AP2 wound (resolve against the facing that faces the executioner with vehicles) with no cover saves allowed. After all wounds have been resolved, remove the Executioner model and replace it with a crater as if the tank suffered a normal Explosion! result.

Condition A:
The executioner cannon is damaged in a Weapons Destroyed result. However, instead of simply not being able to use the cannon, it instead gains the Gets Hot! special rule (In this case, if you roll double ones for scatter). If the tank suffers no damage from the cannon getting hot, then simply continue using it while discounting the shot that went hot. However, if it suffers damage from the cannon getting hot, then the Executioner critically explodes.
Condition B:
If the tank is wrecked or if it explodes, roll a D6 and apply the following modifiers. On a result of 6 or more, the tank suffers a Critical Explosion.

+1 if the Tank explodes.
+1 if it suffered or suffers a Weapons Destroyed Result in the same phase.
+1 if it lost any hull points to an AP1 weapon during the same shooting phase that it was exploded in.


Edit: Made some changes as to not gimp assault armies. Is the whole "Weapons Destroyed" thing too complicated?

So will you be reducing its cost as now it can take out huge chunks of its support infantry when it goes up?

Maybe 5 points or so. It's more of a threat to meltacide units than anyone else and even then it's not going to go boom every time the tank is wrecked. Also, most gunline guards (Which an exploding executioner would do a lot of damage) are well protected by an Aegis defense line. You can also mitigate the damage done by spacing out your models while still keeping it bubble wrapped. In fact, the critical explosion is more like a big "Feth You" to assaulting units rather than a liability to your own army.

It does seem to me to be a bit of a thing to spite assaulter's. Unsure of having it possibly going up from a weapon destroyed, and it looks too likely in assault.

E.g it takes 4 hits from an ork nob charging into melee with a PK. There's 4 S9 hits on AV11 so about 2-3 pen. Thats quite likely to get a destroyed result and then a 50% chance it blows up and wipes out the attacking ork unit. Since the only things that can really touch a russ for orks have to do it in melee, would make this a bit unfair I think. This of course would cross over to other armies as well (tyranids) just maybe not so significantly.

I'd probably remove that assaulting bit and maybe just make the chance of it blowing up a flat rate. Maybe if its weapon destroyed result and the executioner cannon gets destroyed, then roll on the critical damage table. And then when its destroyed just as you have it now.

I think adding in something like this is should be move of a disadvantage for you. It almost feels like you want to use them as a suicide bomb unit sort of thing.

 rahxephon wrote:
It does seem to me to be a bit of a thing to spite assaulter's. Unsure of having it possibly going up from a weapon destroyed, and it looks too likely in assault.

E.g it takes 4 hits from an ork nob charging into melee with a PK. There's 4 S9 hits on AV11 so about 2-3 pen. Thats quite likely to get a destroyed result and then a 50% chance it blows up and wipes out the attacking ork unit. Since the only things that can really touch a russ for orks have to do it in melee, would make this a bit unfair I think. This of course would cross over to other armies as well (tyranids) just maybe not so significantly.

I'd probably remove that assaulting bit and maybe just make the chance of it blowing up a flat rate. Maybe if its weapon destroyed result and the executioner cannon gets destroyed, then roll on the critical damage table. And then when its destroyed just as you have it now.

I think adding in something like this is should be move of a disadvantage for you. It almost feels like you want to use them as a suicide bomb unit sort of thing.

That is a fair point and something I've thought about. It would really screw Orks or other horde armies since you can have a unit that not only shoots well but, if assaulted, it has a somewhat good chance to wipe out a good amount of models. And trying to crack av 14 with BS 2 shooting is hard enough. My actual intentions was to make more explosions and maybe add some risk to using an imperial plasma tank.