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Hi Guys,

Have been looking through all the Horus Heresy stuff on forge world and decided I might try making my own rules for the Primarch of the Imperial Fists, Rogal Dorn. Was after some feedback on them to see what tweaking I could do, if it’s too powerful/cheap/overstated or the opposite.

The main trouble I had with this guy was finding a reference for the weapons he uses. It looks like there are varied opinions as to what he used and what time. Since I’m doing him for heresy area there seemed to be strong background that the Sword of the High Marshalls has fragments of an unnamed sword he used at the time in it. So I’m basing his primary melee weapon on the sword and Dorn’s arrow as his ranged weapon. If someone knows the name of the sword please chime in because I couldn’t find it. I’ve named it Sword of Truth in the mean time, since he was known for, somewhat annoyingly, always telling the truth.

Even as a Fists player I’m not biased enough to put Rogal up with the true close combat beasts that some of the other Primarchs are. So his rules will revolve around his other attributes, his tough/stubborn nature and his siege specialties.
Anyway onto some rules.

Name: Rogal Dorn
Points Cost: 475
Unit Type: Infantry (Independent Character),
War gear: Sword of Truth, Dorns Arrow, Armor of Temperance, Frag and Krak Grenades.
Special Rules: Primarch, Rite of War, Master of the Siege, Weak Point, Aura of Command, Honour of the Legion, Bulky.
WS 7
BS 5
S 5
T 6
W 5
I 5
A 5
LD 10
Sv 2+/4+

Sword of Truth: Strength as user, AP2, Armour Bane.
Dorns Arrow: Assault 1, 12” ,Twin-Linked, Str 8, AP1, Melta.
Armor of Temperance: 2+ Armour Save, 4+ Invul.

Master of the Siege: After both forces have finished deployment Rogal can increase the cover save of D3 ruins partially or wholly in his deployment zone by 1 (e.g 4+ to a 3+). A ruin may only have its cover save increased once by this effect. Rogal Dorn has mastered the art of siege craft and fortification. Such was the Emperors belief in these abilities that Rogal was tasked with the defence of the Imperial Palace during the Horus Heresy. On the battlefield these skills, along with specific combat doctrines, enable his forces to utilize available structures in ways that wouldn't be imagined by other battlefield commanders.

Rite Of War: This ability allows any primary detachment that Rogal is part of to increase their Force Organistation allowance for Fortifications and Heavy Support by 1. Any points costs incurred are followed as normal per the 40k Rule Book. The Imperial Fists starship Phalax is their primary base of operations. Having a starship the size of most Legions homeworlds at hand has given the Imperial Fists the ability to rapidly deploy additional resources on the battlefield when needed. These usually take the form of defensive structures and additional heavy weapons support elements to assist the ground forces when required.

Weak Point: Once per shooting phase Rogal may nominate a single enemy unit within 24”. This unit must reroll successful cover saves taken that turn. Rogals knowledge of Siegecraft allows him to pinpoint weaknesses in enemy defensive positions. His ability to nominate optimal ammunition types, firing angles and bullet trajectories can make the most rugged of fortifications seem like open ground.

Aura of Command: All units from the same detachment as Rogal use his leadership for any Moral or Pinning test they are required to take. In addition, all units within 12” of Rogal have the Stubborn special rule. Rogals indominatable personality and stoic demeanor are infectious throughout any force he fights along side. Not only does he rouse a fighting spirit in his men but compelles them to take and hold ground no matter the cost .

Honour of the Legion: If possible, Rogal must accept any challenge issued by an enemy character. As a son of the Emperor, Rogal will never back down from a challenge, to do so would cast dishonour on himself and all the Legion stands for.

Primarch: Confers the following special rules Eternal Warrior, Fear, Adamantium Will, Fearless, Fleet, It Will Not Die. Rogal Dorn is Primarch of the Seventh Legion and one of the 20 genetically-engineered sons of the Emperor of Mankind. As such he is a near demi-god, designed for the soul purpose of bringing the galaxy, all xenos, and any who stand against the dogma of Imperial Truth to compliance. He is bred to be a perfect general, warrior and statesmen; larger, stronger, faster, and smarter than any normal human could ever hope to be and rival many of the most power entities of the galaxy.


I didn't go into the backstory behind each one as I wanted to keep things pretty clear cut at the moment. (added a bit for each now)

Let me know what you think. Is this playable? or would you play against it?

I like it for the most part, and I would play against it.

However, Dorn's Arrow already has rules in C: SM, Pedro Kantor wields it. I'd suggest you stick to the profile in C: SM for continuity.

It's quite good, and seem ballanced. Wording is a bit weird sometimes, but it's OK.
I can suggest giving him two weapons - AP3 Rending Sword and S10 Hammer, like Horus have his fast Claw and devastating Mace.
I could also suggest some rule that force him to accept challenges because of his martial pride. And maybe FNP, because he was a terminal masochist of the Glove.

 Matt.Kingsley wrote:
However, Dorn's Arrow already has rules in C: SM, Pedro Kantor wields it.

Talon of Horus also has rules in CSM, which soesn't stop WF from completely revamping it in "Betrayal".
I can accept AP1 for a pimped-up Strombolter, as Dorn could have ascess for some extremely cool ammo, but S8 is too much - R24 S4 AP2 Assault3 would be OK IMHO

Doesn't look like you've given him the Primarch special "rule". All the published ones have it so far.
I say "rule" because it gives the character the following special rules: Independent Character, Eternal Warrior, Fear, Adamantium Will, Fearless, Fleet, It Will Not Die and Master of the Legion, allowing the force to use a Rite of War. Most legions also get their own Rite (for the Fists something like extra Heavy Support, Fortifications and some assault units)

Matt.Kingsley wrote:I like it for the most part, and I would play against it.

However, Dorn's Arrow already has rules in C: SM, Pedro Kantor wields it. I'd suggest you stick to the profile in C: SM for continuity.

Yes I saw this, I initially had it the same way but thought I should give him some sort of anti tank capability. At strength 5, even with armour bane, he is going to have trouble taking down something like a Landraider or even a Furioso Dread in combat so I thought I'd give him the melta gun as an extra chance to do some damage to mech.

Mezmerro wrote:It's quite good, and seem ballanced. Wording is a bit weird sometimes, but it's OK.
I can suggest giving him two weapons - AP3 Rending Sword and S10 Hammer, like Horus have his fast Claw and devastating Mace.
I could also suggest some rule that force him to accept challenges because of his martial pride. And maybe FNP, because he was a terminal masochist of the Glove.

 Matt.Kingsley wrote:
However, Dorn's Arrow already has rules in C: SM, Pedro Kantor wields it.

Talon of Horus also has rules in CSM, which soesn't stop WF from completely revamping it in "Betrayal".
I can accept AP1 for a pimped-up Strombolter, as Dorn could have ascess for some extremely cool ammo, but S8 is too much - R24 S4 AP2 Assault3 would be OK IMHO

I like all these ideas! I think some of them might be solved by adding the Primarch Rule that STG Rock mentioned so I'll edit it in a min to incorporate that stuff. All I have given him is a twinlinked melta gun essentially so it's nothing fancy, if it's too strong I could drop it back down to an infernus pistol type arrangement ? i.e a lower range? What do you think?

Sgt Rock is gonna kill me wrote:Doesn't look like you've given him the Primarch special "rule". All the published ones have it so far.
I say "rule" because it gives the character the following special rules: Independent Character, Eternal Warrior, Fear, Adamantium Will, Fearless, Fleet, It Will Not Die and Master of the Legion, allowing the force to use a Rite of War. Most legions also get their own Rite (for the Fists something like extra Heavy Support, Fortifications and some assault units)

I wasn't aware of that rule sorry! I'll tie it in and adjust some of my rules to be within their Rite of War rule as that's pretty much what I was trying to go about with his Fortifications Specialist.



Ok made the changes and added some story to each rule. Do you think he needs a points readjustment again after the Primarch rule was added?

 vossyvo wrote:
All I have given him is a twinlinked melta gun essentially so it's nothing fancy, if it's too strong I could drop it back down to an infernus pistol type arrangement ? i.e a lower range? What do you think?

It's not about strong or weak, but about canon. Dorn's arrow is not a melta gun, but a supercrafted bolter. In 40k Pedro Cantor uses it filled with kraken shells, so it's stats are:
R24 S4 AP4 Assault3
Dorn could use some better ammo, like the one Calgar uses for his inbuilt bolters, or even better, but is would be R30 S5 AP2 at best because Dorn's arrow is still a bolter, no matter how cool and pimped up.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I could suggest the following set of weapon:
Sword of Truth: S: user, AP2, Melee, Rending
The fist of Dorn: S:x2 AP2, Melee, Unwieldy, Concussive, Srikedown, Armourbane
Dorn's Arrow: R: 30" S:4 AP:2 Assault 4


Automatically Appended Next Post:
And i could also suggest giving him S6 and I6, becuse all the primarchs had at least 6 on each (except Morty, who's I5, but that doesn't matter, as his scythe is unwieldy anyway)

*Assault 4, not 3

Mezmerro's idea of Dorn's Arrow with better bullets sounds good, just make sure you include that bit in the fluff so it's clear!

Looks cool! I'd love to face that!

 Mezmerro wrote:



And i could also suggest giving him S6 and I6, becuse all the primarchs had at least 6 on each (except Morty, who's I5, but that doesn't matter, as his scythe is unwieldy anyway)

Definatly this !