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Militarum Tempestus is probably one of the hardest sub-factions to play given how hard little variety they have in terms of units they have available for both HQ, Troops and transports. Besides their obvious role as allies, even in that regard they are overshadowed by the other choices you could take within a normal faction or other more efficient choices like Deathwatch.

Overall, Tempestus needs a points overhaul and new units added in to really fluff them out.

For the sake of brevity, we won't consider the latter part and focus on rules changes and points adjustment.

For Militarum Tempestus to be really considered worth taking in the current meta, I think the following have to happen:

- Scions themselves drop in cost from 12 points to 10 and can upgrade each model to gain a CCW for 1ppm alongside their hot-shot laspistol so they can really fill that shock trooper role of being able to charge in a pinch. They become Ld8 base with the Tempestor being Ld9. Tempestors have the ability to give Orders but only to their own unit.

- Tempestus Command Squads are reduced to 70 points. The Tempestor Prime starts with a Refractor Field as part of the base cost and gains a wound and attack. He gains the Senior Officer rule and can give 2 orders a turn instead of just one. The Clarion Vox-Net extends his order range to 18" in addition to its current rules.

- The Taurox Prime drops to 60 points, with you being able to swap for the taurox gatling cannon for free and upgrade to the taurox missile launcher for 10 points. Also have the side armour at least also be 11 and give it the Command Vehicle special rule that allows orders from units inside to be given out from it.

- They get Grav-Chute Commandos as a base army-wide rule rather than a warlord trait.

- Hot-Shot Lasguns become 18" range, Assault 2 but remain S3 AP3. In response to this change, Hot Shot Volley Guns become Assault 3 instead (same range) but remain the same points.

- The Platoon Standard allows all friendly Tempestus models within 12" of the bearer to re-roll all failed, Morale, Pinning and Fear checks.

- Allow Medi-Packs to be taken in standard Tempestus squads that doesn't take up a special weapons slot. Vox-casters also do not take a special weapons slot. Melta-Bombs as well.

- Power weapons reduced to 10 ppm, and power fists to 15.

The following orders are changed accordingly:

Close Assault Doctrine Sanctioned! - The ordered unit gains Fleet and Furious Charge for the rest of the turn.

Advance on Target! - The ordered unit must immediately run and then shoot an enemy target if they are in range, even though a unit is not normally allowed to shoot after running.

Warlord Traits are upgraded to the following:

1. - Dauntless Commander - The Warlord and any friendly Militarum Tempestus unit within 12" of him gain the Fearless special rule.
2. - Grenadier - When throwing frag or krak grenades, the Warlord and his unit count as being twin-linked. When using krak grenades or melta bombs in close combat, the Warlord and his unit have the Tank Hunters and Monster Hunters special rule. Furthermore, the Warlord's unit may use all their krak grenades in close combat rather than just one.
3. - Intrepid Leader - The Warlord may issue an additional order. If the Warlord does not have the Voice of Command special rule, it gains it instead.
4. - Special Operations Commander - The Warlord and D3 non-vehicle Militarum Tempestus units gain the Outflank special rule.
5. - Drill Chief - When firing hot-shot laspistols or lasguns, friendly Militarum Tempestus units with 12" of the Warlord may fire an additional shot provided they did not move in their preceding Movement phase.
6. - Inspired Commander - The Warlord and all friendly Militarum Tempestus units within 12" of the Warlord may re-roll failed Order tests. If they have Vox-casters in their unit, they automatically pass all orders issued to them.

Have a special force organization detachment for Militarum Tempestus called the "Pride of the Progenium":

1-6 HQ's
3-12 Troops
0-6 Fast Attack

Detachment Benefits:

Objective Secured

Target Acquired: The role of the Tempestus Scions is to act as the precise knife to the Imperial Guard's cumbersome sledgehammer, using surgical strikes at the weak points of the enemy army to bring it to its knees for others to deliver the finishing blow. Prior to deployment, for every tempestus scion squad in your detachment, you must select an enemy unit as "marked". Every "marked" enemy must re-roll successful armour, cover and invulnerable saves that are caused by any Militarum Tempestus unit from this detachment.

So what do you guys think? I feel like the Targets Acquired detachment rule might be too finicky.

You can add the extra melee weapons, but you can't reduce them to 9 points as well. you know how much better than other troops they would be at that point?

How to fix their codex: click "select all", click "delete". They're a single unit in the IG codex, nothing more.

I'd only drop them to 10 points, actually: an AP3 gun, Deep Strike and 4+ armor is still fairly decent.

 Peregrine wrote:
How to fix their codex: click "select all", click "delete". They're a single unit in the IG codex, nothing more.

I agree. By all means, permit an IG player to run a MT strike force if desired, but it should not need to be its own codex.

 Peregrine wrote:
How to fix their codex: click "select all", click "delete". They're a single unit in the IG codex, nothing more.

That and the Taurox Prime, although I guess you could just make it a dedicated transport, if it isn't already.

Provided that people can still run a force of pure Stormtroopers using a formation or similar, then I'm all for a Codex such as theirs going.

 Peregrine wrote:
How to fix their codex: click "select all", click "delete". They're a single unit in the IG codex, nothing more.

Two units, actually, and available as one Choice, the Command Squad and the Scions Squad.

Still, I do agree that they are not like Harlequins or Legion of the Damned who are completely dependent and operate as fortunate allies to certain groups. At most, the Scions could be an option for the Inquisition like in days gone past, but I'd rather see Arbites as they are more appropriate.

 Peregrine wrote:
How to fix their codex: click "select all", click "delete". They're a single unit in the IG codex, nothing more.

This, its the same with admech and cult mechanacus, put them in the same dex.

I'd prefer my Skitarii have their own codex. I don't want the other admech stuff, thanks.

Tempestus is definitely barebones as a sub-faction which I had mentioned previously. However, that is not the purpose of the thread, its to make the most of what is currently available for the Tempestus as a codex.

In any case, I did not consider how strong they would be compared to other troops (probably because I compare them to other elites given that's effectively what they are) so I've bumped their points cost up to 10 and have the option to gain a CCW for 1ppm.

Any other suggestions besides squashing their dex and leaving them as only available in the IG codex?

The biggest glaring fix is to make Hell guns Assault 2. Then the profile of the profile of the Scion is less bad. They can already spam special weapons like nobody's business, but Veterans are doing that better.

I'd give them a lot of unique equipment and rules to really drive the point that they're better supplied and trained than guard.

Equipment:
-- Hotshot DMR, S4 AP3, Precision Shot, Assault 1, 24". Maybe add this to a squad on a specialist like a vox or medkit, maybe split fire too.
-- Incendiary Frag Grenade (S3 AP4, 3" Blast, Ignores Cover), replaces Frag
-- Improved Krak Grenade (S6 AP4, adds +1 to Vehicle Damage chart), replaces Krak
-- Tempestus Accelerated Flamer (Rolls 2D6 for "No Escape" or "Wall of Death" and select the highest)
-- Clarion Vox - Treated as a Vox unit with a 24" range. Clarion Vox Net extended to 24".
-- Monoscopes - Once per game, an equipped squad may reroll all misses while making a snapshot.

Senior Officer Orders:
-- Expert Targeting : Tempestus Infantry models add +1 to the Vehicle Damage chart with Krak, Melta and Plasma Weapons. Against Super-Heavy vehicles, "Explodes!" results remove 1+D3 Hull Points.
-- Xeno Hunters : Tempestus Infantry models add +1S to attacks with Krak, Plasma, and Melta weapons against MCs. Against GMCs, a 'to wound' roll of 6 also confers Instant Death.

Anyway, you get the idea.

Yoyoyo wrote:
I'd give them a lot of unique equipment and rules to really drive the point that they're better supplied and trained than guard.

Equipment:
-- Hotshot DMR, S4 AP3, Precision Shot, Assault 1, 24". Maybe add this to a squad on a specialist like a vox or medkit, maybe split fire too.
-- Incendiary Frag Grenade (S3 AP4, 3" Blast, Ignores Cover), replaces Frag
-- Improved Krak Grenade (S6 AP4, adds +1 to Vehicle Damage chart), replaces Krak
-- Tempestus Accelerated Flamer (Rolls 2D6 for "No Escape" or "Wall of Death" and select the highest)
-- Clarion Vox - Treated as a Vox unit with a 24" range. Clarion Vox Net extended to 24".
-- Monoscopes - Once per game, an equipped squad may reroll all misses while making a snapshot.

Senior Officer Orders:
-- Expert Targeting : Tempestus Infantry models add +1 to the Vehicle Damage chart with Krak, Melta and Plasma Weapons. Against Super-Heavy vehicles, "Explodes!" results remove 1+D3 Hull Points.
-- Xeno Hunters : Tempestus Infantry models add +1S to attacks with Krak, Plasma, and Melta weapons against MCs. Against GMCs, a 'to wound' roll of 6 also confers Instant Death.

Anyway, you get the idea.

I see where you're going for some of these, but I feel like it just adds more paper-work rather than add to the feel of their elite shock troop nature. I do like the Monoscopes and the Hotshot DMR idea though, in terms of the monoscopes they're typically dead in assault so a one-shot hail mary with Overwatch sounds cool and the Hotshot DMR sounds like a cool "sniper" version of the normal hotshot lasgun.

I think an Auspex is also a good addition. Especially for an army with global AP3.

IIRC, it's mentioned that Tempestus has access to them in the fluff from somewhere.