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So, I'm designing my chapter of Space Marines, the Obsidian Dragoons/Cuirassiers, who speclize in mechanized shooty warfare, and I'm thinking that their shtick is a conformal power assist system that essentially functions like a powered exoskeleton for their power armor, increasing their strength, possibly at a cost in reaction speed. However, I'm having trouble coming up with rules (and costs) for most of them.

Devastators are easy, the Conformal Power Assist System grants Relentless. Not sure how much this would cost, though.

For Assault Marines, the System would either buff their base Strength, or incorporate extra thrusters to allow them to become Jetpack rather than Jump units.

Not really sure what the Tactical Marines would gain, though. What would benefit them most?

Thanks for the help.

This already exists as Centurions, in both assault and devastator variants.

 Blacksails wrote:
This already exists as Centurions, in both assault and devastator variants.

While I understand that, this is a much smaller version of that, and hopefully less sucky. If you've seen Elysium, its a bit like the exoskeleton the main character in that wears, but for power armor, rather than being a whole second layer of power armor.

If you look at the image, the black layer would be the Conformal Power Assist System, and the orange would be the regular power armor.

This would be a few points a model as a buff to the squad, a Centurion Warsuit is a whole different weapons system.

I get that 40k-ing elements of things you like can be cool (I'm currently trying to think of rules for Riptides patterned after Vayeate and Mercurius from Gundam Wing), this doesn't really work in the same way as the ALDNOAH.ZERO version does since Space Marines aren't mechs.

A better word to use would be "harness". Outside the armour is a rather impractical place to put additional components, but it's your lore. Also that image is tiny and impossible to make out unless you already know what you're looking at.

Assault Marines could gain the same rules as any Mark of Chaos for a slightly higher cost. Tacticals could be the same, but with optional Relentless (which would have to be expensive) so they could make excellent use of all those heavy weapons they have the options for.

 Frozen Ocean wrote:
I get that 40k-ing elements of things you like can be cool (I'm currently trying to think of rules for Riptides patterned after Vayeate and Mercurius from Gundam Wing), this doesn't really work in the same way as the ALDNOAH.ZERO version does since Space Marines aren't mechs.

A better word to use would be "harness". Outside the armour is a rather impractical place to put additional components, but it's your lore. Also that image is tiny and impossible to make out unless you already know what you're looking at.

Assault Marines could gain the same rules as any Mark of Chaos for a slightly higher cost. Tacticals could be the same, but with optional Relentless (which would have to be expensive) so they could make excellent use of all those heavy weapons they have the options for.

Harness is a good word. As for the image, its huge on my screen.

I like the idea of the marks.

If this isn't a good idea, what could be a nice shtick for my chapter?




Automatically Appended Next Post:
ADDENDUM:

The Conformal Power Assist Harness Incorporates extra armor and crude force field generators that grant the Marine wearing it a 6++ Save, and prevent the Harness from being destroyed by attacks that would not normally kill the marine.

For example, barrages of Lasgun fire would have no chance of destroying the Harness, as it is protected by an array of force fields and ablative plates.

Plasma fire not blocked by the force field, on the other hand, might destroy the Conformal Power Assist System, but as that would OHKO the marine anyway, that doesn't really matter.

If you want enhanced armour rather than an anime reference, just give them enhanced armour (with some suitable explanation as to why they have it). That, or the many other things that could suit a Chapter's personality without needing houserules. If you want something along the lines of "enhanced Marines", you could go with Iron Hands Chapter Tactics and bionics/innate toughness.

Re-roll failed armor saves of 1?

Heir of the Void wrote:

 Blacksails wrote:
This already exists as Centurions, in both assault and devastator variants.

While I understand that, this is a much smaller version of that, and hopefully less sucky. If you've seen Elysium, its a bit like the exoskeleton the main character in that wears, but for power armor, rather than being a whole second layer of power armor.

If you look at the image, the black layer would be the Conformal Power Assist System, and the orange would be the regular power armor.

This would be a few points a model as a buff to the squad, a Centurion Warsuit is a whole different weapons system.

Centurions do not suck.

 Emperor Pigeon wrote:

Heir of the Void wrote:

 Blacksails wrote:
This already exists as Centurions, in both assault and devastator variants.

While I understand that, this is a much smaller version of that, and hopefully less sucky. If you've seen Elysium, its a bit like the exoskeleton the main character in that wears, but for power armor, rather than being a whole second layer of power armor.

If you look at the image, the black layer would be the Conformal Power Assist System, and the orange would be the regular power armor.

This would be a few points a model as a buff to the squad, a Centurion Warsuit is a whole different weapons system.

Centurions do not suck.

For more than the cost of a fully pimped out Devastator Squad full of dudes, you're getting a fraction of the firepower on a Centurion squad that you could get on a bare-bones Devastator squad. They're slightly more durable, but Combat Squading the Devs and putting them in Rhinos negates this, giving you a vastly more mobile force that is almost as durable, for a fraction of the cost.

Assault Centurions are too slow to reliably make their cost back without being shot to death.

Heir of the Void wrote:

 Emperor Pigeon wrote:

Heir of the Void wrote:

 Blacksails wrote:
This already exists as Centurions, in both assault and devastator variants.

While I understand that, this is a much smaller version of that, and hopefully less sucky. If you've seen Elysium, its a bit like the exoskeleton the main character in that wears, but for power armor, rather than being a whole second layer of power armor.

If you look at the image, the black layer would be the Conformal Power Assist System, and the orange would be the regular power armor.

This would be a few points a model as a buff to the squad, a Centurion Warsuit is a whole different weapons system.

Centurions do not suck.

For more than the cost of a fully pimped out Devastator Squad full of dudes, you're getting a fraction of the firepower on a Centurion squad that you could get on a bare-bones Devastator squad. They're slightly more durable, but Combat Squading the Devs and putting them in Rhinos negates this, giving you a vastly more mobile force that is almost as durable, for a fraction of the cost.

Assault Centurions are too slow to reliably make their cost back without being shot to death.

Just use three stock standard centurions, 9 heavy bolter shots and 18 bolter shots will decimate hordes all of which is twinlinked. Also they work very well in the anti-tank role with Imperial fists chapter tactics. admittedly Assault centurions require to much investment to be viable.

on another note i do particularly like the power assist harness so an idea might be something along the lines of movement buffs, say for 5pts a model they can move an additional 3", and for a more advanced form it grants relentless, perhaps at 8pts a model?

 Emperor Pigeon wrote:

Heir of the Void wrote:

 Emperor Pigeon wrote:

Heir of the Void wrote:

 Blacksails wrote:
This already exists as Centurions, in both assault and devastator variants.

While I understand that, this is a much smaller version of that, and hopefully less sucky. If you've seen Elysium, its a bit like the exoskeleton the main character in that wears, but for power armor, rather than being a whole second layer of power armor.

If you look at the image, the black layer would be the Conformal Power Assist System, and the orange would be the regular power armor.

This would be a few points a model as a buff to the squad, a Centurion Warsuit is a whole different weapons system.

Centurions do not suck.

For more than the cost of a fully pimped out Devastator Squad full of dudes, you're getting a fraction of the firepower on a Centurion squad that you could get on a bare-bones Devastator squad. They're slightly more durable, but Combat Squading the Devs and putting them in Rhinos negates this, giving you a vastly more mobile force that is almost as durable, for a fraction of the cost.

Assault Centurions are too slow to reliably make their cost back without being shot to death.

Just use three stock standard centurions, 9 heavy bolter shots and 18 bolter shots will decimate hordes all of which is twinlinked. Also they work very well in the anti-tank role with Imperial fists chapter tactics. admittedly Assault centurions require to much investment to be viable.

on another note i do particularly like the power assist harness so an idea might be something along the lines of movement buffs, say for 5pts a model they can move an additional 3", and for a more advanced form it grants relentless, perhaps at 8pts a model?

Never really though of Centurions as anything other than anti-tank, but I see how they could provide some pretty great anti-horde/blob firepower on a durable platform.

Glad you like the Power Assist Harness. I thought it was a cool idea. Given that Marines should do most of their cross-country movement in a transport or drop pod, 5 points might be just a bit steep for just an extra 3'' of movement. 8 points for Relentless would defiantly be worthwhile on Devastators, but I'm not sure about 8 points for tacticals.

Hum. Maybe 5 or 6 points for 6++ and an extra 3'' movement? Based on the price for the Sisters of Battle's 6++ save, that would be about right. Relentless would probably have to be priced differently for Devestators, but I can't think of a good price spread. A extra 4 points might be about right, but I'm not sure anyone would pay 24 points a model, even for Relentless Devastators with a 9'' move.