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I've been hearing a lot of things about Commissars - some people like them, other hate them. What's your opinion on them?

Without commissars you can fail LD 8 morale checks, and you will be LD 0 in combat.

With commissars you have a 97% chance of passing any morale check.

And yet I've still managed to fail 2 in a row, and one ran off the board after failing to regroup

 undead flesh addict wrote:
And yet I've still managed to fail 2 in a row, and one ran off the board after failing to regroup

And people win the lottery. So what?

If you are running blob sqds, and do not have an Allied SM IC for ATSKNF, then you must use them. absolutely 100%.

I never run them but I always have a SM in blobs, and I want them to break so I can double tap the enemy unit in my turn.

I figured I would ask this here, as this is already talking about Commissars.

I have to ask, what makes commissars so good? I understand that you are now testing against Ld 9, but I personally don't see Stubborn as useful (unless im looking at the rule too literally and don't see the potential). Or is it the Summery Execution rule? Sorry for my lack of competence on this, I usually run Mechvets but am considering running blob so I have never used Commissars before nor have ever really had to worry about moral too much

EDIT: I also find it funny, since the rule says the Commissar kills the units commander (the one with the highest LD and the one with squad tested with), wouldn't that technically be himself? So he would be executing himself? I can see an interesting story about that, a Catachan commissar realized this and "executed himself"

Mostly staying power. Commissars keep your blob on the table and in the fight. They allow your blob to tie down enemy units that would otherwise destroy your blob through a break test because initially our enemies are better at assault and have better armor than us (generally speaking). Your blob can then grind down the enemy over a number of turns and deny them that victory. Being Ld 9 also helps with orders.

I once had a blob of 40 men assault some war walkers and get stuck in to prevent them from finishing off a PCS. I couldn't even scratch the paint on the walkers since I didn't take Krak grenades, but thanks to the commissar, he saved me from giving up 2 kill points that game.

 washout77 wrote:
I have to ask, what makes commissars so good? I understand that you are now testing against Ld 9, but I personally don't see Stubborn as useful (unless im looking at the rule too literally and don't see the potential). Or is it the Summery Execution rule? Sorry for my lack of competence on this, I usually run Mechvets but am considering running blob so I have never used Commissars before nor have ever really had to worry about moral too much

Stubborn = you ALWAYS get LD 9, even when you lost the assault by enough that you would otherwise be LD 0.

Re-roll = if you fail you execute a sergeant and try again.

Both of these added together = 97% chance to pass a morale check and you ignore any penalties that could ever make it less than 97%.

EDIT: I also find it funny, since the rule says the Commissar kills the units commander (the one with the highest LD and the one with squad tested with), wouldn't that technically be himself? So he would be executing himself? I can see an interesting story about that, a Catachan commissar realized this and "executed himself"

The rule explicitly states that a commissar will never execute a commissar.

 Peregrine wrote:

The rule explicitly states that a commissar will never execute a commissar.

I know I know, sheesh have a bit of humor once in a while. That's why I threw in the Catachan part, as it seems that many commissars assigned to Catachan regiments "Go missing" or "Were killed in action"

And thanks, yeah I was looking at stubborn too literally. Forgot the "ignores LD 0" part of the text really. Commissars make much more sense now haha

And Commissars are just awesome sorta dudes. Though I find them so awesome that I think they should only be in their number and as my HQ. Look at Ibram Gaunt for example!

I have never used commissars beyond Yarrick, so I am not very reliable for tactics with them, but I would have to say that the morale boost and the additional close combat power really helps.

(And Commissars are awesome if I forgot to mention that. Their whole fluff is awesome, they look awesome, and as an ork they are dead krumpy)