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I have a thing for Vindicare Assassins. It may be a power trip.

The problem is, their stat line never seemed that impressive. Fluff-wise, the Vindicare seems to represent the Emperor's ability to smite his enemies from any distance. So, just for fun, I thought I would post what I would like the Vindicare to be.

Caution: the following may include flights of fancy, and some examples of "Over-Powered".

The Gunner:

Ignores Cover: in the fluff, it seems reasonable to expect the Big V to have enhanced optics, allowing him to shoot between tree leaves, and defeat tech, such as Shadowfields, or whatever they're called these days. Psyker or Warp-powered concealment would still work against him.

Always in Cover: "V" gets a cover save, no matter what is shooting at him. Further, the assassin cannot be targeted until after his first shot. Nobody knows he's there until then.

Special Deployment: the assassin sets up after all other models, friendly and opposing, have been set up.

Fleet: when he does move, the assassin has the option to use the "Fleet" special rules. Also note that he does not get his "Always in Cover" save if he is moving.


The Gun:

Exitus Rifle: Automatic hit, Ignores Armor. All saves are taken at 5+ (roll 5 or 6 to save), although saves conferred by Psy- or Warp-based Wargear may be used as normal. Saves from Drones, "Look out Sir!", or similar "interference" type saves cannot be used. Some will be tempted to blow the whistle on me, right here. I say: it's a blasted sniper rifle! It should have an awesome stat line! If you're still not convinced, read the Notes at the end of this post.

Range: 72". Working out the scale makes a standard gameboard something like 576 feet at the long edge. This should be nothing.

At his option, the Vindicare may target one weapon on a vehicle. This shot is resolved at Str8, AP2. The vehicle may make an armor save as normal.

Fast vehicles: Any vehicles which moved 18" or more in it's movement phase cannot be targeted by the Vindicare.

The Exitus Pistol has similar characteristics, although it is an Assault 2 weapon, with a 24" range. This may be too long...


Notes:

To keep this profile form being completely broken, the Big V would have to be expensive, maybe 250 points or more.

I want the assassin to have some other save for when people do start shooting at him. Either a cloak like Scouts have, or some kind or Wargear that makes him hard to see/hard to hit. Again, "brokenness" is an issue, and to avoid it, this would need to be an expensive upgrade.

Other Wargear: some options to make him last longer if he is assaulted. I'm not sure about this, although grenades seem to be a good place to start.


I'm putting this in "proposed rules". If "General" seems more appropriate, please relocate. Commentary and criticism are welcome. Please troll gently, "blamming" is discouraged.

The Vindicare's gun is already too powerful, if a bit short ranged for a sniper. He practically hits automatically anyway, so no need to make him perfect. Personally, I think his stat line is too high, not too low. I guess if you wanted to pay 250 points for him you could add some things but honestly I don't see the upside to this.

I say he needs a range increase and no points change to be good. He is just fine as it is, you already can't Look out Sir! his shots anyway.

He is already the best and most taken assasin. He needs no changes. Any buffs would lead to him getting a corresponding point increase. For the buffs you mention, if I am reading this right, he would need to cost 500-600 points.

 Exergy wrote:
He is already the best and most taken assasin. He needs no changes. Any buffs would lead to him getting a corresponding point increase. For the buffs you mention, if I am reading this right, he would need to cost 500-600 points.

\

Your joking. No matter how OP this is, it is no baneblade.

I do think it's odd, fluff wise, that:
A. His gun is very short range and
B. He even appears on the battlefield at all. Shouldn't he do his work pre battle, sewing chaos to give his army the edge before combat begins? With that in mind, even if he supports an actual battle wouldn't it be from miles away?

His gun fires as far as a lascannon. That is not short range.

 DarknessEternal wrote:
His gun fires as far as a lascannon. That is not short range.

You mean a heavy bolter right? Last time I checked a lascannon's range of 48' was significantly greater than 36'. I know you're the forum pessimist and snarker, but some fact checking may be in order.

... you too, mister Kain.

Lascannons are 48" range.

 Furyou Miko wrote:
... you too, mister Kain.

Lascannons are 48" range.

Conceded and fixed.

The problem is, their stat line never seemed that impressive

WS 8, he hits 99% of opponents on a 3
BS 8, 2+/4+ to hit
S 4, normal astates strength
T 4, normal astartes toughness, means that most small arms don't instant kill them
w 2, doning alright with 2 wounds, most unique characters around their points cost only have 2 wounds
I 7, they smack things up first
A 4, and they smack them up alot
Ld 10, the highest you can get
4++ save, 50% invulnerable save is not to be laughed at

not doing too bad with those stats

they also have:
6+ feel no pain
don't have to take dangerous terrain tests (move through cover)
are fearless
and fleet

Ignores Cover: in the fluff, it seems reasonable to expect the Big V to have enhanced optics, allowing him to shoot between tree leaves, and defeat tech, such as Shadowfields, or whatever they're called these days. Psyker or Warp-powered concealment would still work against him.

Always in Cover: "V" gets a cover save, no matter what is shooting at him. Further, the assassin cannot be targeted until after his first shot. Nobody knows he's there until then.

Special Deployment: the assassin sets up after all other models, friendly and opposing, have been set up.

Fleet: when he does move, the assassin has the option to use the "Fleet" special rules. Also note that he does not get his "Always in Cover" save if he is moving.

He has infiltrate already so you can set him up after most models.
He also has fleet and stealth, so he has a 6+ cover save no matter what and couple that with his blind grenades if hes shot at within 8" he gets another +1 to his cover.

adding ignores cover to an AP 1 weapon that can punch through invul saves would be a bit OP

Exitus Rifle: Automatic hit, Ignores Armor. All saves are taken at 5+ (roll 5 or 6 to save), although saves conferred by Psy- or Warp-based Wargear may be used as normal. Saves from Drones, "Look out Sir!", or similar "interference" type saves cannot be used. Some will be tempted to blow the whistle on me, right here. I say: it's a blasted sniper rifle! It should have an awesome stat line! If you're still not convinced, read the Notes at the end of this post.

2+ to hit with a 4+ re-roll, AP 1 fill your first two points. cover saves are usually 5+, 4+ when you get them. No matter how good he is an assassin can't stop someone diving infront of a bullet. If you worried about look out use turbo penetrators to inflict more wounds. THe one thing you don't mention s the 50% wound chance, thats the biggest drawback of the vindicares weapons.

you make his rifle 72" and you would have to make every other sniper rifle in the game that range.

your nerfing his gun with your proposed vehicle rules. Turbo penetrators give you 4d6 armour pen. thats 3 for being a sniper rule already, plus 4d6, rending as well so you add d3 for every 6. Ap 1 so the explode 50% of the time. Their actually better at taking out vehicles than an anti-armour tank like the vanquisher