Hello all
I am considering the below for a series of narrative games between Orks and Steel Legion (once they are all painted, lets see what a difference this airbrush makes!), maybe with a demon army joining.
The Steel legion regimental rules are somewhat lacklustre compared to the Cadian/Catachan/Tallarn options, and as they are going to be a mono regiment force I think they can take a little bump without being over powering. Also the unit list is changed from the rulebook to make them more Armageddon specific. The intent is to have a viable mechanised infantry force with support. An ideal force in my minds eye uses only the Chimera chassis for all its needs and supports infantry with missile launchers and special weapons (so not bare bones as why mechanise those?). I considered restricting the weapons to what the range has (
http://www.collecting-citadel-miniatures.com/wiki/index.php/Steel_Legion), but I have already done a few conversions and can always do more. If starting from a completely blank slate I would make chimera's less tough to bring down the cost of transport versions to make a fully kitted out squad more valuable, but thats too much work for this plan.
If I was joined by any other players I would be tempted to make the Infantry squads cost 50 points each, but reduce the cost of infantry heavy weapons by 8 and special weapons by 2 to encourage their use...
So…
New Rules
New Order
Go Go Go! This order may be issued to an infantry unit within a Chimera. The unit immediately disembarks normally and opens fire with its weapons. Heavy weapons count as having moved. Note as the unit is inside a Chimera when it receives its orders it cannot be given additional orders through mechanisms such as the Laurels of Command.
Warlord
If Commissar Yarrick is in your army he is automatically the Warlord. If a Steel Legion character is chosen they must be an ‘Ex gang Leader’ (it’s the only way to gain respect!)
Extra Vehicle Equipment
A positive to the continuous warfare plaguing Armageddon has been the discovery of buried archotech and other wonders as war churns the landscape. One of the most startling is the knowledge to create superior Hunter Killer missile targeting subroutines. The fortunes of war meant a mere 28 years were spent debating and testing the merits of the changed programming and many factories now produce this variant, delivering them straight to where the fighting is most fluid.
Armageddon pattern Hunter killer Missile – 5pts, the missile always hits on a 4+ (no modifiers, re-rolls, etc.)
Infantry Vox – 3pts (Chimera and variants only). This vehicles Vox has been boosted and interfaces added in the troop compartment. Units being transported count as being within 3” of a vox and may issue and receive orders. Due to the ‘robust’ construction of a Chimera the vox can only be used to send or receive one order and it cannot be used if the vehicle advanced in the movement phase. For anything that requires line of sight the transported unit may trace this from the vehicle.
Specialist Detachment- Mechanised Infantry (1CP)
Every infantry unit bar any ‘Hive Conscripts’ in the army must be mechanised, i.e. be able to start the game being transported.
Warlord – Combined Arms
A Warlord with the ‘Voice of Command’ ability may instead of ordering an infantry unit instead give a ‘Tank Order’ to a Chimera or Spectre.
Stratagem
1CP + 20 Reinforcement points. Long Ranged Support. Manticores are too fragile to routinely accompany the Steel legion into battle. However the large number of Hives, Manufacturia, Silos and Forward bases means the legion can often call on the support of over the horizon rocket batteries.
Roll a
D6, on a 2+ fire one Storm Eagle Rocket with a
BS of 4+ at one enemy unit that is visible to an officer in range of a Vox. On a 1 one of your units is chosen by the enemy player.
(Tempted to do a Deathstrike version but I think it would be too hard to balance.)
Armoured Fist (1CP): A Chimera or Spectre within 6" of a charged infantry unit can overwatch and hit on 4+.
Relic
Powerfield. Vehicle only. 3+ Invulnerable Save that stops working the first time it fails. Can be fitted to any Dedicated Transport taken for an Officer.
New Units
Troops
Hive Conscripts
The Steel Legion routinely goes on recruitment drives in the lower levels and underhives. Entire gangs, indeed often whole communities, are marched to waiting regiments about to deploy to battle. While their marksmanship is inferior to the legions that are trained to shoot under an impossibly vast sky (to a hiver), they fight just as viciously, employing every low born dirty trick and improvised weapon they have. Given rebreathers, basic environmental clothing and allowed to keep existing weapons supplemented with cheap mass produced autoguns they are sent to what is often their last battle. The lucky ones find space inside transports, the rest have to ride exposed to war on the tops of Chimera and backs of tanks.
–Stats and Squad size as Conscripts. Carry Autoguns.
WS is increased to 4+. Squad may take 0-2 special weapons.
The squad is exempt from the Mechanised infantry rule.
(This unit can’t use ‘lasgun’ orders but otherwise is the savage underhive scum you would expect to find on Armageddon…)
Elites
Storm Troopers (Enforcers)
Serving as enforcers in hives or selected from grizzled Steel Legionnaires, Storm Troops have access to better equipment than the regular Legions and the experience to use it.
Unit size 1 Sergeant and 5-11 Troopers, 6pts each
M6”, WS3+, BS4+, S3, T3, W1, A1(2 for Sarge), LD6(7 for Sarge), SV4+
Each model has frag and krak grenades and may be armed with a Hotshot Lasgun, Bolter, Shotgun or Shock Maul (+2str, -1Sv) and Ballistic Shield (re-roll saving throw).
1 Trooper may take a Heavy Flamer and for every 3 troopers one may carry a Demolition charge OR replace his weapons with a special weapon.
Dedicated transports
Armageddon Pattern Chimera, Gryphonne variant
In M37 two years of Armageddon’s Chimera output was bartered with Gryphonne IV in return for access to their unique Chimera turrets. While the majority of the necessary information was transferred, overconfidence on the part of the Tech Priests representing Armageddon resulted in an incomplete implementation. Despite their best efforts the turret basket remains significantly larger than a standard Armageddon pattern Chimeras, with consequent limits to transport capacity. Still as one of the few sources of the turret following the destruction of the Forge World the deal is seen as one of the few redeeming decisions of the previous planetary dynasty.
Transport capacity reduced to 10, but the turret may mount an autocannon or twin heavy bolter at the standard costs.
Armageddon Pattern Samaritan – 65pts
A chimera forgoing the traditional turret and hull weapon in favour of increased room to transport the sick and injured.
BS is 5+, transport is 6. Medic special rule:- At the end of the movement phase one infantry unit may regain D3 wounds or have a 1 wound model previously slain in the battle returned to the unit.
Fast Attack
Armageddon pattern Spectre (authorised Chimera Variant 2197.14C)
The Spectre is made with small variations on many major Chimera producing worlds, but the lack of a commonly agreed complete
STC has prevented it from achieving wider manufacture or the honour of construction at a sanctified Forge World. The defining characteristic is the move of the turret back towards the centre of gravity of the vehicle, with a turret ring and basket at same level of sophistication as a Leman Russ tank. The resultant increase in accuracy is paid for by the reduction in size of the troop hold. The type remains a popular scout or cavalry tank option for mechanised formations, able to outpace the more lumbering Guard tanks and keep up with the troop transports.
Stats as per Chimera bar the transport capacity being reduced to 6.
Turreted weapon may fire on the move without a -1 to hit.
Turret weapons include Hve Flamer, Multilaser, Hve Bolter, Twin Hvy Bolter, Autocannon and Lascannon.
Heavy Support
Armageddon pattern Spectre, Chimedon/Chimerax/Chimerro variant
More extreme variants of the Spectre. The crew is concerned almost entirely with the complex weapon system housed in an enlarged turret. The Chimedon carries a conqueror cannon, the Chimerax quad autocannon and the Chimerro a standard multilaser paired with an autoloading Hunter Killer missile system. Most patterns entirely forgo the transport capability in favour of increased ammunition, however familiarity of building the chimera has meant the Armageddon pattern retains a small, cramped, transport space with only slight impacts on ammunition levels.
The
Chimedon grew out of an
STC fragment that seemingly showed a battlecannon fitted to a Chimera. Despite efforts on numerous forgeworlds this has never been successfully replicated. Some regard it as a hoax or elaborate heresy. Others point out the successful mating of a conqueror cannon to a Spectre variant as evidence that the fragment was wrongly interpreted.
The
Chimerax is a relatively rare variant of a Hydra that has grown out of production factories where the technology to replicate the complex targeting systems has been lost. The fact the vehicle still operates without this is seen as divine blessing by many enginseers, if not tech priests. On Armageddon damaged factories abound that can no longer produce Hydra, but Chimerax can act as stand in against primitive Ork aircraft and is indeed better against the typical light vehicles that bedevil steel legion columns.
The
Chimerro simply takes the practice of carrying Hunter Killer missiles to its logical extreme, and mounts lots. Some versions use rack after rack of missiles waiting to be fired, though these are at risk of damage from stray rounds. More sophisticated vehicles mount the reloading systems typical found in rearming depots to replace missiles almost as soon as they are fired. In practice firepower is limited to the speed crews can find, mark and engage targets that are worthy of their sanctified missiles.
Stats as per Chimera bar the transport capacity being reduced to 4.
Turreted weapon may fire on the move without a -1 to hit.
Base cost 60 points, then add points depending on hull weapon and turret weapons
Chimedon Conqueror cannon – 25 points
Chimerax Quad Autocannon – 30 points
Chimerro Multilaser and D3 hunter killer missiles each time it fires - 20 points
Armageddon Pattern Hydra
Armageddon Pattern Wyvern
+15 points, toughness is 7 and wounds 12.
Complete Unit list
HQs
Commissar Yarrick
Company Commander
Lord Commissar
Tank Commander
Primaris Psyker
Troops
Hive Conscripts
Infantry Squads
Elites
Astropath
Atlas Recovery Tank
Command Squad
Commissar
Master of Ordnance
Ministorum Priest
Officer of the Fleet
Platoon Commander
Servitors
Special Weapons Squad
Storm Troopers
Tech-Priest Enginseer
Wyrdvane Psykers
Fast Attack
Armageddon pattern Spectre
Armoured Sentinels
Hellhounds
Heavy Support
Armageddon Pattern Basilisk
Armageddon Pattern Hydra
Armageddon Pattern Medusa
Armageddon pattern Spectre, Chimedon/Chimerax/Chimerro variant
Armageddon Pattern Wyvern
Cyclops Demolition Vehicle
Deathstrike
Heavy Weapons Squad
Leman Russ Battle Tanks
Leman Russ Conqueror
Leman Russ Annihilator
Dedicated Transports
Armageddon Pattern Chimera, Gryphonne variant
Armageddon Pattern Samaritan
Chimera
Trojan Support Vehicle
LoW
Baneblade family
Imperial Navy choices unchanged
