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So I've been thinking about Scions/Storm Troopers and how they could be made more viable. I've used them in 7th and found them OK, but not exactly the best of the best of the second best we're supposed to expect from the Imperium's 3rd or 4th most elite defenders.

Summary

I did this write up based on the existing models (as much as I would have loved to offer different weapons) and on the theory Scions are extensively cross trained with different techniques.

Rather than just deep striking suicide squads I give them 3 options - deep strike, stealth/infiltrate or fearless. Players pick when before deployment, after seeing your opponent and mission.

Similarly I remember an old bit of fluff about the hellgun/hotshot that it's hard to maintain and use which is why only Scions get it. So I figured it was a flexible system and by adjusting settings, swapping lenses, changing barrels it can have different profiles. Again pick before deployment.

Obviously I could go on and on adding other options but I think 3 of each makes some sense.

Imperial Guard Scion Squad

5 models for 50 points (lowered, a lot)
0-5 additional models at 10 ppm

WS3, BS4, S3, T3, W1, I3, A1, Ld8, Sv 4+ (unchanged)

Equipment - Hotshot Lasgun, Frag, Krak Targeters (unchanged)
Weapon Options - Up to two models may choose special weapons (unchanged)
Transport options - Chimera or Taurox Prime (unchanged)

Special Rules:

Hotshot Lasgun - is a modular system that only the most highly-trained and educated soldiers can make full use of. By changing settings, lenses, barrels and other elements the strength, range and power of the beam can be altered to fit the mission and the foe. Each squad must designate the pattern of its weapons before deployment. It is not possible to change patterns during a battle. Hotshot Lasguns count as Lasguns for all purposes including orders (ie yes you can get an extra shot).
Razor Pattern - S3, AP3 24" Assault 1, Ignore Cover
A narrow, high temperature beam that burns through anything in its path but often lacks the stopping power of higher energy beams
Nail Pattern - S3 AP- 12" Assault 3
High volume low energy blasts for clearing multiple targets
Hammer Pattern - S5, Ap4, 12" Assault 1
A high power low range beam

Doctrines - Scions are trained in a variety of specialist equipment and issued the appropriate tools depending on the mission. This may include everything from grav chutes, to cameoline, to psychomotive drug regimes. The squad must choose a doctrine before deployment.
Deep Strike
Infiltrate and Stealth
Fearless and Feel No Pain.

The 'Sternguard' Hotshot Lasgun makes sense. They don't need to stay in command range to work properly.

I'll read the rest later.

And for completeness sake:

Hotshot Volley Gun is a heavy version of the Hotshot Lasgun, it must have the same pattern as the rest of the squad. Volley Guns on Taurox Primes may be configured as normal.

Razor Pattern - S5, AP2 24" Assault 1, Ignore Cover
Nail Pattern - S3 AP- 12" Assault 6
Hammer Pattern - S8, Ap3, 12" Assault 1

I like it, I'd be more inclined to allow you to change Hot-Shot styles during a game however, similar to how Sternguard can just change ammo during a game, I can see these guys dialing up the charge on their weapons too.

Assault 1 feels really underwhelming

They're fine as is. The only change really needed is to the profile of the Hotshot. I'm a proponent of Assault 2 instead of Rapid Fire.

I like the idea; I agree with Valkyrie though that they might as well be allowed to change modes during the battle, as it'll give more flexibility to them.

On the different ammo types:

• Razor pattern: may actually be a touch too powerful. AP3 and Ignore Cover mean it's ignoring pretty much everything, I'd maybe have it force re-rolls for cover saves, which isn't quite as severe; this still reduces 4+ cover to a 25% chance to save. I just feel like if you're forcing marines into cover then they should still get some benefit in return for your constant mocking laughter and chicken noises.
  
• Nail pattern: seems about right.
  
• Hammer pattern: what do you envision this being used against? It seems like against most targets the better AP of razor would be the more useful. What if it were 18" S4 AP2 Heavy 1, making it challenging to use, but potentially very nasty?

Just some quick thoughts, it bears more thinking about. I like the idea of being able to switch, and I like the basic idea behind each, I just don't think they're quite balanced.

S5 AP4 would be great vs anything that isn't a Marine, really.

Like what you have so far, my two cents:

For Transport options, I think the Valkyrie and Vendetta should be available options.

Also, I would like to see the Storm Troopers keep their Move Through Cover rule (small, but fits them so nicely)

Thanks for all the feedback, some responses:

I'm totally out of step with 7th edition. I still obsess over rules for T3 riflemen knowing full well they are nothing but a speed bump for raging gods, demons, titans and primarchs who really matter in the game

So with that in mind yeah, letting these mortal men soon to die change the settings on their guns seems a small mercy

My original take was they should have 3 weapon choices Razor Gun (obvious pun on laser), Shot Cannon and Lasgun/Grenade Launcher combo. The 'settings' idea was a way to do the same thing without new models.

I also worried that the 3 settings are not quite as useful as they should be, although boosting them requires raising prices. So how do this look:

15 ppm
Can change weapon settings at the start of the shooting phase

Razor Pattern - S3, AP3 36" Assault 1, Ignore Cover (longer range)
A narrow, high temperature beam that burns a needle-sized hole through anything in its path but often lacks the stopping power of higher energy beams

Nail Pattern - S3 AP- 18" Assault 3 (longer range)
High volume low energy blasts for clearing multiple targets

Hammer Pattern - S5, Ap4, 12" Assault 1 (no change)
A high power low range beam

I like the overall idea.

In the current codex, scions are Ld7, not 8.
I'm not a fan of the fearless+FNP buff. I just don't like widely accessible fearless. I'd rather see stubborn and +1 Ld. It would also mitigate morale, but at the same time help a bit with orders.

Orders are also something that needs work with MT. At the moment, the command squad is only worth it for the HQ slot and the additional heavy weapons. Its ability to issue orders doesn't really justify the added cost.
Also, deepstriking MSU units are not the best platform to receive orders (as opposed to the IG blobs that move slowly).
I don't know what could be done to help that. Maybe a form of "mission order", where a unit could get an order issued to it via radio when it's still in the plane before being deepstriked, or any other think that would work better with small units deployed far from the command squad.

I thought they were already LD8.
A simple buff to the basic weapon as Assault 2 and then LD8 would work fine.

For 15 ppm, how about a special rule:
Storm Trooper: These highly skilled and trained warriors are honed to the finest humanity can offer without undergoing augmentation. As such any heavy weapons wielded are shot at BS 2 instead of snap shots due to movement, unless other modifiers exist. (culexus always at bs1 etc).

Yes its not fair that devastators can't do that, but i think its fair to say Scions are generally worse off than devastators even.

Scions don't carry heavy weapons. Perhaps this could always let them fire their Volley Rifles at full range?

 Bobthehero wrote:
Scions don't carry heavy weapons. Perhaps this could always let them fire their Volley Rifles at full range?

Ah well.. yeah, i thought it was heavy but it is in fact salvo. that seems reasonable. shoot at the lower shot profile, but at full range instead of 1/2.