Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I thought of this when I was looking through Battlefleet Gothic last week. The gist of the Orbital Support for 40K idea is that players have one Orbital Support slot in their FOC, and Orbital Support (shortened to OS onwards) provide players with some extra buffs (An example would be a Space Marine player having a Battle Barge in their OS slot, and this allows them to drop an Orbital Bombardment regardless if they have a Chapter Master or not).

A limitation I had in mind would be that you'd need to field a fleet commander or equivalent on the actual battlefield (ex: the Master of the Fleet for Guardsmen) and you only get one OS unit. Also, OS units would not be entirely pie plate dropping, but improving your Reserve Rolls, Twin-Linking artillery units, re-rolling Deep Strike, etc.

Feel free to comment and I'd like to hear feedback on this idea.

The idea that an orbiting ship can afford to fire a snap shot at a skirmish below is a plausible one.

It is certainly not a bad idea - the only problem I could see anyone having with it is its necessity, to add another thing to an already overburdened 40k.

But I'd play it.

I wouldn't mind it, as long as it was unique for each army and fitted with the fluff. Pie dropping is fine for Imperial Armies, but the Eldar Corsairs have one that creates Nightfight for a turn. Necrons could improve RP for a turn, Orks could have a small blast Strength D attack which scatters 3D6 no matter what, but it can target the ground instead of models to signify dropping an asteroid on your head.

As long as it's flavourful and improved the game, i'd play it.

I'd agree with Alex on this. I like the idea so long as the orbital support elements match up with the armies they are supporting.

Of course, the caveat to that is that you need to find a way to reasonably balance such things between one another.

Perhaps something like this?;
A Strength 2D6 Blast that scatters the full 3D6 (creates Difficult Terrain if it doesn't land on a unit)
An Orbital Bombardment regardless if they have a Chapter Master or not
Twin-Linked Artillery units
Imparts a -1 modifier to Enemy Reserve rolls
Night-Fighting for one Game Turn
Drops D3 Strength 6 Blasts from a sudden Warp Storm (Both CSM and Daemons)
Shoots one unit with a Strength 10 Ap1 Railgun from an orbiting ship
Deep-Strike one unit (regardless if it can by default or not)
Drop a 2+ Poisoned blast