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So I’m browsing the chaos codex and reading the fallen entry. They look good, have an extra pip of ld and attack; so I assume they’ll probably cost 16pts as that is how marines are generally costed. Probably a bit too expensive for my tastes..

To my surprise they are 14pts a pop. So a five man squad with a heavy weapon, is 5pts more expensive then an equivalent standard CSM squad. If you take the re-roll ones if they stand still and not losing more then one model to morale as their “chapter tactic” , it’s decent, not as strong as -1 to hit, but nothing to sniff at either. They don’t have objective secure or death to the false emperor. Looks like a fair trade so far to be fair.

Then I realised, if I’m understanding this right and it wasn’t changed since the codex dropped, up to four members of a squad and the champion can take one item from the melee wargear list, which includes chainswords. So in a min 5 man squad, you can get a heavy weapon, the rest with bolters, bolt pistol and chainswords, effectively bringing the standard fallen Marine up to 3 attacks in cc. For a point more then your average CSM...that seems pretty good!

Right, now try getting them to combat without a transport.

I wouldn't go charging across the field with them, just as backfield small heavy weapon support units go, having 3 CC attacks is handy when someone comes knocking to take your objectives

Strikes me as unusual for a 14pt marine to be able to rock a bolter and chainsword with veteran stats without the usual "elite" status tax.

 mrhappyface wrote:
Right, now try getting them to combat without a transport.

Aaaaaand there's the crux of it. They're veteran stats and get lots of guns. Good luck making use of anything though.

 Bryan01 wrote:
I wouldn't go charging across the field with them, just as backfield small heavy weapon support units go, having 3 CC attacks is handy when someone comes knocking to take your objectives

Strikes me as unusual for a 14pt marine to be able to rock a bolter and chainsword with veteran stats without the usual "elite" status tax.

Except those 3A won't really matter: if your opponent has a shooty army then combat stats won't really matter for your non-aggressive units and if your opponent has a CC army then you won't even have a chance to use those attacks (unless you want to spend 3CP). On top of that, the 'only lose 1 model to moral checks' is useless on small elite units like Fallen because of their small unit size.

Honestly, it's better to go with either; cultists, for their cheap price or; havocs for their utility. Both excel in one field or another (rather than become an underwhelming Jack of all master of none) and have access to legion traits and legion specific stratagems.

For 14pts a model, 3 attacks in cc, keeping your bolter & bolt pistol seems to me like a nice backfield min unit to have once you throw in the heavy weapon. The deadliest assault units will sweep them, but harassing units will find it much harder to dislodge them (i'm thinking stormboyz, vanguard marines etc).

I'm genuinely surprised as GW usually prices marines with those kind of stats far too expensive. Maybe they are still outshone by cultists and specialist units.