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OK, first off please excuse my ignorance here, I'm just getting back into playing for the first time since 3rd edition!!!

Right so back then you had a command squad entry in the codex. It comprised a sergeant and 4-9 marines who could be upgraded to an apothecary, techmarine, standard bearer etc. The whole squad AND the chaplain/librarian/commander etc counted as 1 single HQ choice.



Looking though the 8th edition codex its seems that the members of a command squad are now single stand alone units. So for example to field the above unit you would now have to spend 2 HQ and 3 Elites. Am i missing something or is this just how it works now??? As I said please excuse my ignorance, I've only played one basic game of 8th edition so far!!!

Define work?

Yeah, that's 2 HQs, 3 elites. Which is good for CP

With the coming of 8th edition GW split a lot of the units like that up into smaller individual units. The old command squad now comprises of (from what I can think of from the top of my head).

Apothecary - Single Model Unit
Captain - Single Model Unit
Techmarine - Single Model Unit
Company Veterans - 2-5 Models (Replaced Command Squad)
Company Ancient/Chapter Ancient - Single Model Unit
Company Champion/Chapter Champion - Single Model Unit

Some of these units can also be taken on a bike.

At first it does sound more troublesome, but it isn't that bad at all. With the new detachments you can easily field the old command squads and stick them in their(your) favorite transports. They even got an added bonus of extra wounds on some of the models!

You got it right, that's how it now works. It was like this in the 2nd edition too, and ever since that I have hoped that they would make these specialists independent again. It is much better this way, now each character can actually go where they're needed the most. (You probably still find the Captain, the Standard Bearer and the Apotechary hanging together a lot.)

yeah i guess i never saw the benefits of having the unit split up before, makes sense.

as for taking up slots my mind is still stuck in the single basic force org chart from way back when!!! haha

but i still have one question. one use for the command squad was to protect your commander, you could just allocate hits to your fodder, i mean other models. how does this work now if they are all independent??? in short how to i not get my commander killed!!! haha

gaza4 wrote:
but i still have one question. one use for the command squad was to protect your commander, you could just allocate hits to your fodder, i mean other models. how does this work now if they are all independent??? in short how to i not get my commander killed!!! haha

The commander, along with most of the command squad models (apoth, standard bearer) have the CHARACTER keyword, which prevents then being targeted by *most* enemy models during the shooting phase. Also there are some units (like Honour Guard) that can transfer hits taken by the character to themselves.

 Quanar wrote:

gaza4 wrote:
but i still have one question. one use for the command squad was to protect your commander, you could just allocate hits to your fodder, i mean other models. how does this work now if they are all independent??? in short how to i not get my commander killed!!! haha

The commander, along with most of the command squad models (apoth, standard bearer) have the CHARACTER keyword, which prevents then being targeted by *most* enemy models during the shooting phase. Also there are some units (like Honour Guard) that can transfer hits taken by the character to themselves.

ah i see, this helps. thanks

Sorry, I should clarify - CHARACTERS can only be shot at if they are the closest enemy unit, or the firing unit has some sort of Sniper rule.
Most characters have more wounds than they used to as well, but certainly are not immune to being punked if left unguarded.