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From what I hear Crusader Squads are working nicely when used as blobs. How are these blobs equipped? I'm thinking about using some as allies for my DA. There's nothing wrong with getting some power armor on the field with how expensive RW and DW are.

Why would Crusaders need power armor? They all have Storm shields!

I think he means BT Crusaders...

Super Newb wrote:
Why would Crusaders need power armor? They all have Storm shields!

Crusader Squads, as in Black Templars Troops Choices. You know, the guys who've been around much longer than the current Grey Knights Codex.

Anyhow, back on topic:

If you're going to run a 20-man blob I'd probably run them with meltagun, Power Axe and a Sword Brother with Lightning Claw. You can add a combi-weapon and/or replace stuff for Power Fists if you feel like it, but 25 it'll get expensive fast. The Lightning Claw synergises pretty well with the Rending in challenges of the Black Templars Chapter Tactics as you get more chanses of rolling a 6 while still striking at Initiative.

I agree with Almighty, single LC for challenges, buried axe for nasties and meltagun for armor.

I was thinking throwing an EC in one of the squads. Thoughts?
He seems pretty nasty, and not to mention cheap for the HQ requirement.

I agree except I'd replace the axe with a powerfist. He's already gonna be unweildly, mights as well give him a chance to better damages vehicles and MCs.

Further, do you have the rest of the Initiates with boltguns or chainsword/pistol?

And what about the meatshi-- sorry, Neophytes? Do you keep them with CC weapon/pistol, or do you give them shotguns/boltguns?

Ally Dark Angels and stick Azreal with them, now the 20 crusaders all have 4++ invul.

With the BT Chapter Tactics, wouldn't be better to give the Sword Brother just a regular power sword? He gets the bonus attack, and more attacks means a better chance to roll a 6 in challenges.

For a "packaged" BT ally, here's what I'd run:

EC

15-man crusader squad with all BP/CCW, 2x PFs, 1x MG, the ratio of initiates/neophytes is up to you.

LRC, MM

The EC will take the challenges (he has to), and the squad can gang up the rest of the enemy.

Reroll to wound for LC gives better chance to rend against sword.

 phoenix darkus wrote:
For a "packaged" BT ally, here's what I'd run:

EC

15-man crusader squad with all BP/CCW, 2x PFs, 1x MG, the ratio of initiates/neophytes is up to you.

LRC, MM

The EC will take the challenges (he has to), and the squad can gang up the rest of the enemy.

That sort of answers my next question. Would a 20 man blob be okay footslogging, or would 15 with a LRC be better?

Back in the days when taking wounds meant you actually got closer to the enemy, I would have said footslog is a decent option; but nowadays without a transport you're easy prey. The crusader USR is nice but when you have the whole board to cross it's not gonna make that big of a difference. I would keep some sort of a transport, and the LRC is ideal thanks to being an assault vehicle and a dedicated transport. You could go with a Stormraven and a smaller squad. Or a Stormeagle and a bigger squad!

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:

Super Newb wrote:
Why would Crusaders need power armor? They all have Storm shields!

Crusader Squads, as in Black Templars Troops Choices. You know, the guys who've been around much longer than the current Grey Knights Codex.

You act like "been around much long" matters to the ambiguous sentence. If anything the newer Crusaders would be fresher in people's minds.

Super Newb wrote:

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:

Super Newb wrote:
Why would Crusaders need power armor? They all have Storm shields!

Crusader Squads, as in Black Templars Troops Choices. You know, the guys who've been around much longer than the current Grey Knights Codex.

You act like "been around much long" matters to the ambiguous sentence. If anything the newer Crusaders would be fresher in people's minds.

When he's referring to "Crusader Squads", "getting some Power Armour" and "blobs" as opposed to "Henchmen Squads" there's not a lot of ambiguity TBH. Crusader Squads have both been around for longer and been updated more recently than the Grey Knights Codex anyway, so your second point is also moot.

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:

Super Newb wrote:

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:

Super Newb wrote:
Why would Crusaders need power armor? They all have Storm shields!

Crusader Squads, as in Black Templars Troops Choices. You know, the guys who've been around much longer than the current Grey Knights Codex.

You act like "been around much long" matters to the ambiguous sentence. If anything the newer Crusaders would be fresher in people's minds.

When he's referring to "Crusader Squads", "getting some Power Armour" and "blobs" as opposed to "Henchmen Squads" there's not a lot of ambiguity TBH. Crusader Squads have both been around for longer and been updated more recently than the Grey Knights Codex anyway, so your second point is also moot.

TBH? Maybe for you since you are a mighty walrus with the power of human speech and typing. But cut the rest of us lowly folks some slack, eh?

Guys, let's zip up our pants and get back to discussing crusader squads. Personally I'm trying to decide how to balance power axes and fists, although that's not really a new problem for Templars. For the most part I think the axe is the way to go, since you get more attacks for fewer points. Sgainst certain targets the fist is much better, but a single fist attack isn't really reliable and I'm not keen on having a fist on something that can get pulled out into a challenge. I'd think the way to go would be axes, and then take an alternative unit to deal with the stuff you can't handle with axes.

I second avoiding the fist on the initiate. It's way to expensive for a 1 attack model. Power axe is my vote. As for the 1 HQ, if we're talking allies, I'd go for a chaplain over the EC. He's a better force multiplier, which is nice on the blob and I don't see the EC being much better than a Chappy in CC anyways. Don't know how I'd arm the Sword brother though. LC maths a little better than a sword, though I'd probably do a pair since I don't have a single LC model.

I've had a lot of success with mine equipped with 10 initiates, sword brother with power sword and regular initiate with power axe. And 4 neophytes with shotguns, further I use Grimaldus and the EC all in this same squad transported by a LRC... As a regular Tau player... This combination blows my mind fighting terminators and whatever else they decide to charge after, pure weight of attacks, and re rolls.

I agree that a single Fist attack is wasted.
Axe is cheaper and twice the swings.
Could always go with the fluffy choice of dual swords in the squad and just stay away from 2+ saves.

Try 5 men, plasmagun, lascannon, las/tlplas razorback or tllasback, spam until 6 slots filled.

NauticalKendall wrote:
I've had a lot of success with mine equipped with 10 initiates, sword brother with power sword and regular initiate with power axe. And 4 neophytes with shotguns, further I use Grimaldus and the EC all in this same squad transported by a LRC... As a regular Tau player... This combination blows my mind fighting terminators and whatever else they decide to charge after, pure weight of attacks, and re rolls.

I run mine exactly like this, except I use helbrecht and I have no complaints. I think a LRC is definitely something you should consider though.

If you're going small, Crusader Squads can take both Special and Heavy weapons with only 5 guys. Which means the return of Las/Plas squads for BT players. Only 105 pts, 140 with a rhino.