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So I felt like tackling the old Drop Pod rules and giving them an update for the current edition.
The old rules from Citadel Journal 49 for the curious:
Spoiler:
First up is the easy one, updating the Dominica Pattern Drop Pod:
Spoiler:
There are times when the Sisters of Battle must strike the enemy hard and fast before they can see them coming. For times such as these they use the Dominica Pattern Drop Pod. These drop pods are modifications of the standard Drop Pod design, employing heavy retro thrusters and a considerable amount of shock absorbtion padding inside the craft to absorb the tremendous forces at work when the Drop Pod makes contact with its target.
Special Rules
Transport (Capacity: 10 Models)
Deep Strike
Open-Topped
Wargear:
Storm Bolter
The Dominica Pattern Drop Pod may exchange its Storm Bolter for one of the following options:
Heavy Bolter........5 points
Multi-Melta.........10 Points
Dominica Pattern Drop Pods must start in reserves and do not count against the reserve limit. During the first turn, up to half the total number of Drop Pods (both Deathwind and Dominica Pattern Drop Pods combined, rounded up) may be deployed. All others go into reserves as normal. When deploying the Dominica Pattern Drop Pod follow all the same rules for deployment for the Space Marine Drop Pod. In addition when the Deathwind Pattern Drop Pod lands it counts as if it hadn't moved in the movement phase. (normally deep striking vehicles count as moving flat-out so this is a nice way around that)[/i]
The Dominica Pattern Drop Pod is a Dedicated Transport for the following units: Sororitas Command Squad, Celestians, Battle Sister Squad, Dominions, Retributors
I actually went with the heavy weapon options as upgrades because they fit well into the army as a whole and they help cement the idea that this drop pod isn't just a carbon copy of the Space Marine one.
The Deathwind Drop Pod:
Spoiler:
Sometimes the Sisters of Battle need to soften their target before they engage them directly. When this happens they call down surgical strikes of Deathwind Drop Pods on the enemy. These specially designed Drop Pods are armed with 5 Servitor controlled weapons who unleash a fullisade upon the enemy.
Fast Attack
Deathwind Drop Pod............80 points
BS...F....S....R....HP 2 12 12 12 3
Special Rules:
Deep Strike
Open-Topped
Servitor Minds (the Deathwind Drop Pod is immune to shaken and stun)
Fullisade (each weapon must target the nearest enemy unit that is in range to that weapon and is inside of its front arc. Furthermore, all weapons count as being twin-linked and hull-mounted).
Deathwind Pattern Drop Pods must start in reserves and do not count against the reserve limit. During the first turn, up to half the total number of Drop Pods (both Deathwind and Dominica Pattern Drop Pods combined, rounded up) may be deployed. All others go into reserves as normal. When deploying the Deathwind Pattern Drop Pod follow all the same rules for deployment for the Space Marine Drop Pod. In addition when the Deathwind Pattern Drop Pod lands it counts as if it hadn't moved in the movement phase. (normally deep striking vehicles count as moving flat-out so this is a nice way around that)
Wargear: 5 Heavy Bolters
The Deathwind Drop Pod may exchange all of it's Heavy Bolters for:
5 Multi meltas.....................50 pts
I was considering a missile launcher option but then it begins to look like the Space Marine Death Strike missile launcher.
I went with the Servitor firing stuff because it fits the setting and by making them TL, they're effectively BS3 while maintaining the feeling that Servitors are shooting (they're just shooting a lot).
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/10/10 21:44:02
Now that's something I can get behind. I like the 'fusillade' rule too, it helps balance it and makes all 5 guns pretty useful.
Not bad.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Also, I was going to ask why only 10, but then all the extra systems to cushion the landing answered that.
Automatically Appended Next Post: You know, one thing though. What if we gave up on this servitor business and just made them like any other vehicle?
They are crewed by SOB that can't disembark. It's basically a deep striking gun emplacement.
Make it BS4 but not twin-linked. Leave the points the same.
This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2013/10/10 21:27:52
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pretre wrote: Now that's something I can get behind. I like the 'fusillade' rule too, it helps balance it and makes all 5 guns pretty useful.
Not bad.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Also, I was going to ask why only 10, but then all the extra systems to cushion the landing answered that.
10 is the standard drop pod size for Marines, but I had to justify it a bit more for Sisters. I felt like bumping up the capacity AND giving it heavies as an option AND saying that it's designed for un-augmented humans to drop in would have been too much.
You know, one thing though. What if we gave up on this servitor business and just made them like any other vehicle?
They are crewed by SOB that can't disembark. It's basically a deep striking gun emplacement.
Make it BS4 but not twin-linked. Leave the points the same.
Why? It's not like we don't already have Servitors in our stuff. They load the Exorcist Missile Launchers and carry Celestine's cape and are a very iconic part of the setting.
Besides, if you put normal people in there, then there has to be restraint devices, and all sorts of other stuff that takes up space. This is one of those things I think FW nailed nicely in their Deathstorm design:
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2013/10/10 21:31:43
2013/10/10 21:32:48
Subject: Re:Adepta Sororita Drop Pod Updated Rules
Are the heavy bolters/multi meltas turrets or fixed in the arc they're facing? Just make sure that's clear, as it would limit the ability to put 3+ MM on a any given target, and encourages good placement/risk taking when deploying.
All in all, one of the better proposed ideas I've seen around here.
Fluffy, existing background/rules, updated well, simple, fairly costed, and adds a good dimension to the army.
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Live near Halifax, NS? Ask me about our group, the Ordo Haligonias!
2013/10/10 21:36:33
Subject: Re:Adepta Sororita Drop Pod Updated Rules
Normal drop pod rules: they have to start in reserve and don't count against the limit.
Blacksails wrote: Are the heavy bolters/multi meltas turrets or fixed in the arc they're facing? Just make sure that's clear, as it would limit the ability to put 3+ MM on a any given target, and encourages good placement/risk taking when deploying.
Fixed arc. They basically only get to shoot anything that they can "see" out their door.
Blacksails wrote: All in all, one of the better proposed ideas I've seen around here.
Fluffy, existing background/rules, updated well, simple, fairly costed, and adds a good dimension to the army.
Thanks!
2013/10/10 21:39:28
Subject: Re:Adepta Sororita Drop Pod Updated Rules
Blacksails wrote: Cool, just be sure to add that in the rules in a brief manner. Always better to be 110% clear when showing someone homemade rules.
Updated! I don't have C: Space Marines on hand right this second so I'll need to finish updating their deployment rules later (scattering and all that) but the basics are down at least.
You know, one thing though. What if we gave up on this servitor business and just made them like any other vehicle?
They are crewed by SOB that can't disembark. It's basically a deep striking gun emplacement.
Make it BS4 but not twin-linked. Leave the points the same.
Why? It's not like we don't already have Servitors in our stuff. They load the Exorcist Missile Launchers and carry Celestine's cape and are a very iconic part of the setting.
Besides, if you put normal people in there, then there has to be restraint devices, and all sorts of other stuff that takes up space. This is one of those things I think FW nailed nicely in their Deathstorm design:
How about F calling them drop pods then and call them decimation shrines or something. I just like the idea of dropping an immobile fire point into their lines and like SOB better than servitors.
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2013/10/10 21:48:41
Subject: Re:Adepta Sororita Drop Pod Updated Rules
You know, one thing though. What if we gave up on this servitor business and just made them like any other vehicle?
They are crewed by SOB that can't disembark. It's basically a deep striking gun emplacement.
Make it BS4 but not twin-linked. Leave the points the same.
Why? It's not like we don't already have Servitors in our stuff. They load the Exorcist Missile Launchers and carry Celestine's cape and are a very iconic part of the setting.
Besides, if you put normal people in there, then there has to be restraint devices, and all sorts of other stuff that takes up space. This is one of those things I think FW nailed nicely in their Deathstorm design:
How about F calling them drop pods then and call them decimation shrines or something. I just like the idea of dropping an immobile fire point into their lines and like SOB better than servitors.
While I get what you're saying (and I like the idea of deep striking shrines as a fortification option) this was just me updating stuff we had then lost instead of making something new.
On a different note I'll be potentially adjusting wargear option costs for the Dominica Pattern Pod depending on what the costs look like in the new codex.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Blacksails wrote: I like it. Its a neat option, kind of a go big or go home gamble.
That, and well, Sisters could use all the help they can get!
Pretty much what I was aiming for. Plus can you imagine the chaos to something like a Leafblower list when those Multi-melta pods hit the back lines?
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/10/10 21:52:07
2013/10/10 21:56:00
Subject: Re:Adepta Sororita Drop Pod Updated Rules
Oh exactly. And 130pts for an Open topped AV12 vehicle with meh BS that will always be within assault or melta range in return is pretty fair. Just a pure suicide disruption unit.
I'd take one or two in a list knowing gun lines are ever prevalent with Eldau/Taudar running around.
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Live near Halifax, NS? Ask me about our group, the Ordo Haligonias!
2013/10/10 21:58:13
Subject: Re:Adepta Sororita Drop Pod Updated Rules
Blacksails wrote: Oh exactly. And 130pts for an Open topped AV12 vehicle with meh BS that will always be within assault or melta range in return is pretty fair. Just a pure suicide disruption unit.
I'd take one or two in a list knowing gun lines are ever prevalent with Eldau/Taudar running around.
I -almost- put Heavy Flamers in as an option, but with how easy it is to scatter out of range and my reluctance to give those torrent just to compensate kept me from doing so.
One option for the Deathwind would be to use the automated weapon rules.
So it drops empty, and can shoot the closest thing with BS2. I'd just count all the guns as one TL mount with a 360 arc, even though it's composed of 5 weapons. Just the nearest two can shoot at any given target.
But give it a capacity of 5, so sisters can come over and man the guns once it's down. This would boost the BS and let them choose the target. If you don't want to deal with embarkation, you could make it play like a gun emplacement, where you just need to be in BtB to man it, and fire the pod, rather then the sister's gun.
Just some ideas to rattle around, looks to be fun!
So I felt like tackling the old Drop Pod rules and giving them an update for the current edition.
The old rules from Citadel Journal 49 for the curious:
Spoiler:
First up is the easy one, updating the Dominica Pattern Drop Pod:
Spoiler:
There are times when the Sisters of Battle must strike the enemy hard and fast before they can see them coming. For times such as these they use the Dominica Pattern Drop Pod. These drop pods are modifications of the standard Drop Pod design, employing heavy retro thrusters and a considerable amount of shock absorbtion padding inside the craft to absorb the tremendous forces at work when the Drop Pod makes contact with its target.
The Dominica Pattern Drop Pod may exchange its Storm Bolter for one of the following options:
Heavy Bolter........5 points
Multi-Melta.........10 Points
Special Rules
Drop Pod Assault: Drop Pods and units embarked upon them must be held in reserve and must enter play using the Deep Strike rules. At the beginning of your first turn, choose half of your Drop Pods (rounding up) to make a Drop Pod Assault. Units making a Drop Pod Assault arrive on their controlling player's first turn. The arrival of the remaining Drop Pods is rolled for as normal. A unit that Deep Strikes via Drop Pod cannot charge in the turn it arrives.
Immobile: A Drop Pod cannot move once it has entered play, and counts in all respects a vehicle that has suffered an Immobilised damage result that cannot be repaired in any way. Note that this does not cause it to lose a Hull Point.
Inertial Guidance System: Should a Drop Pod scatter on top of impassable terrain or another model (friend or foe) then reduce the scatter distance by the minimum required in order to avoid the obstacle. Note that if a Drop Pod scatters off the edge of the board, it suffers a Deep Strike Mishap as per the Warhammer 40,000 rulebook.
Transport:
Transport Capacity: 10 models. One the Drop Pod has landed the hatches are blown and all passengers must immediately disembark. Once passengers have disembark, no models can embark on the Drop Pod for the remainder of the game.
The Dominica Pattern Drop Pod is a Dedicated Transport for the following units: Sororitas Command Squad, Celestians, Battle Sister Squad, Dominions, Retributors.
I actually went with the heavy weapon options as upgrades because they fit well into the army as a whole and they help cement the idea that this drop pod isn't just a carbon copy of the Space Marine one.
The Deathwind Drop Pod:
Spoiler:
Sometimes the Sisters of Battle need to soften their target before they engage them directly. When this happens they call down surgical strikes of Deathwind Drop Pods on the enemy. These specially designed Drop Pods are armed with 5 Servitor controlled weapons who unleash a fullisade upon the enemy.
Fast Attack
Deathwind Drop Pod............80 points
BS...F....S....R....HP 2 12 12 12 3
Unit Type: Vehicle (Open-topped, Transport)
Wargear: 5 Heavy Bolters
The Deathwind Drop Pod may exchange all of it's Heavy Bolters for:
5 Multi meltas.....................50 pts
Special Rules:
Servitor Crew: Crewed by implacable Servitors, the Deathwind Drop Pod efficiently engages enemy units with each of it's weapons. Deathwind Drop Pods ignore Shaken and Stunned effects. Additionally each weapon counts as an Hull-Mounted Automated Weapon that fires at BS 2 at the nearest enemy non-flyer model in it's line of sight. If no other enemy models are in the weapon's range and line of sight the weapon may then fire at the nearest enemy flyer instead.
These weapons may not overwatch.
Fullisade: Every weapon on the Deathwind Drop Pod counts as twin-linked.
Drop Pod Assault: Drop Pods and units embarked upon them must be held in reserve and must enter play using the Deep Strike rules. At the beginning of your first turn, choose half of your Drop Pods (rounding up) to make a Drop Pod Assault. Units making a Drop Pod Assault arrive on their controlling player's first turn. The arrival of the remaining Drop Pods is rolled for as normal. A unit that Deep Strikes via Drop Pod cannot charge in the turn it arrives.
Immobile: A Drop Pod cannot move once it has entered play, and counts in all respects a vehicle that has suffered an Immobilised damage result that cannot be repaired in any way. Note that this does not cause it to lose a Hull Point.
Inertial Guidance System: Should a Drop Pod scatter on top of impassable terrain or another model (friend or foe) then reduce the scatter distance by the minimum required in order to avoid the obstacle. Note that if a Drop Pod scatters off the edge of the board, it suffers a Deep Strike Mishap as per the Warhammer 40,000 rulebook.
I was considering a missile launcher option but then it begins to look like the Space Marine Death Strike missile launcher.
I went with the Servitor firing stuff because it fits the setting and by making them TL, they're effectively BS3 while maintaining the feeling that Servitors are shooting (they're just shooting a lot).
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/10/11 03:04:16
Dakkamite wrote: I don't understand it, but theres something about SoB players that makes them think unholy amounts of melta concentration is somehow reasonable...
Might be the fact that it's our only real ranged anti-tank weapon.
And if you'll note those melta can only fire on targets that are in range, and in their arc of fire. That means a max of 2 weapons per target if you get caught with a larget tank in two arcs. This is actually less than the old 3x on any target, and only can fire all of the meltas if it's basically surrounded by targets.
I also specified it can't overwatch, it's open-topped and only has 3 hull points. It might get 2 turns of good shooting tops.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Oh and I nerfed the old BS. There is that too.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/10/11 05:06:15
Dakkamite wrote: I don't understand it, but theres something about SoB players that makes them think unholy amounts of melta concentration is somehow reasonable...
It's because we don't have a hard-on for plasma like the rest of the Imperium.
"That time I only loaded the cannon with powder. Next time, I will fill it with jewels and diamonds and they will cut you to shrebbons!" - Nogbad the Bad.
Dakkamite wrote: I don't understand it, but theres something about SoB players that makes them think unholy amounts of melta concentration is somehow reasonable...
Well, if you take out Las Cannons, Plasma weapons of any stripe, and only take Missiles that shoot out of pipe organs. You either get flame weapons, bolt weapons, and MELTA weapons.
I'd be all for any of the above, but if an all MMelta DP is offensive, slap an exorcist launcher in there. Solves the Servitor problem, the girl inside would just keep playing away.....
Laud Hailers blasting church music as the Drop Pod rockets towards the planet surface, Love it.
A ton of armies and a terrain habit...
2013/10/11 09:52:47
Subject: Re:Adepta Sororita Drop Pod Updated Rules
Blacksails wrote: Oh exactly. And 130pts for an Open topped AV12 vehicle with meh BS that will always be within assault or melta range in return is pretty fair. Just a pure suicide disruption unit.
I'd take one or two in a list knowing gun lines are ever prevalent with Eldau/Taudar running around.
I -almost- put Heavy Flamers in as an option, but with how easy it is to scatter out of range and my reluctance to give those torrent just to compensate kept me from doing so.
There would be no point in having HF as an option except other than to complete the Holy Trinity since deep striking vehicles count as moving at cruising speed which means, since they aren't fast, snap shots on the turn of arrival and since you can't snap - shot template weapons...
Other than that, very well balanced (better than GW at least ) well done!
Horst wrote:This is how trolling happens. A few cheeky posts are made. Then they get more insulting. Eventually, we revert to our primal animal state, hurling feces at each other while shreeking with glee.
2013/10/11 12:51:33
Subject: Re:Adepta Sororita Drop Pod Updated Rules
Blacksails wrote: Oh exactly. And 130pts for an Open topped AV12 vehicle with meh BS that will always be within assault or melta range in return is pretty fair. Just a pure suicide disruption unit.
I'd take one or two in a list knowing gun lines are ever prevalent with Eldau/Taudar running around.
I -almost- put Heavy Flamers in as an option, but with how easy it is to scatter out of range and my reluctance to give those torrent just to compensate kept me from doing so.
There would be no point in having HF as an option except other than to complete the Holy Trinity since deep striking vehicles count as moving at cruising speed which means, since they aren't fast, snap shots on the turn of arrival and since you can't snap - shot template weapons...
Other than that, very well balanced (better than GW at least ) well done!
If that problem was worked around with a rule of some kind, then Heavy Flamers would be hilarious to use on Orcs, Nids and entrenched Tau.
This is neat stuff. The extra shock absorbers to let T3 Sisters survive explains nicely why you can't fit more of them in a pod than you can T4 Marines.
And after some chewing it over, I can see the logic of servitors crewing the disposable "I shoot everything everybody shoots me blaargh KABOOM" Deathwind model. Two suggestions, though:
1) Can we call it something more Sisterly, though? Yes, I know it was named that in the original, but it's a straight copy of the Marine name and, more to the point, "wind" describes missiles much better than meltas. I dunno, maybe "Firefall Pattern" or "Meteor Pattern" or, hey, how about "Lucifer Pattern" because it is an angelic bearer of light that falls flaming from the heavens.....
2) For a new unit, I want a "drop chapel" that lands and unfolds into a mini-fortress crewed by BS4 Retributors. (Not sure whether to make them an embarked squad with lots of fire points or just part of the vehicle). It can do a Slam & Ignores Cover attack on everything it lands on, then thereafter grants +1 to Ld and AOF for friendlies within 6". Just think of the models you could make!
I don't think this would count as a Fortification, though, since you choose where to put it during play: It'd be more like a particularly crazy form of Heavy Support -- maybe even a Superheavy for Apocalypse.
I'm also tempted to require taking some kind of upgraded "Drop Canoness" to unlock these units, since they're not standard Sisters stuff, but that adds a level of complication that may well not be worth it.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Dakkamite wrote: .... theres something about SoB players that makes them think unholy amounts of melta concentration is somehow reasonable...
When did we ever claim to be reasonable?
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/10/12 02:37:31
BURN IT DOWN BURN IT DOWN BABY BURN IT DOWN
Psienesis wrote: Well, if you check out Sister Sydney's homebrew/expansion rules, you'll find all kinds of units the Sisters could have, that fit with the theme of the Sisters (as a tabletop army) perfectly well, and are damn-near-perfectly balanced.
SisterSydney wrote: This is neat stuff. The extra shock absorbers to let T3 Sisters survive explains nicely why you can't fit more of them in a pod than you can T4 Marines.
Thanks!
SisterSydney wrote: And after some chewing it over, I can see the logic of servitors crewing the disposable "I shoot everything everybody shoots me blaargh KABOOM" Deathwind model. Two suggestions, though:
1) Can we call it something more Sisterly, though? Yes, I know it was named that in the original, but it's a straight copy of the Marine name and, more to the point, "wind" describes missiles much better than meltas. I dunno, maybe "Firefall Pattern" or "Meteor Pattern" or, hey, how about "Lucifer Pattern" because it is an angelic bearer of light that falls flaming from the heavens.....
Sister vehicles seem to be focused on more of a purification/immolation theme. I'll see what I can come up with though. I'm not against suggestions either!
Also we have the Deathwind they have the Deathstorm. Not 100% the same.
SisterSydney wrote: 2) For a new unit, I want a "drop chapel" that lands and unfolds into a mini-fortress crewed by BS4 Retributors. (Not sure whether to make them an embarked squad with lots of fire points or just part of the vehicle). It can do a Slam & Ignores Cover attack on everything it lands on, then thereafter grants +1 to Ld and AOF for friendlies within 6". Just think of the models you could make!
I don't think this would count as a Fortification, though, since you choose where to put it during play: It'd be more like a particularly crazy form of Heavy Support -- maybe even a Superheavy for Apocalypse.
I've played with the idea before, I just need to sit down and really dig into it in someway.
And maybe build something too.
SisterSydney wrote: I'm also tempted to require taking some kind of upgraded "Drop Canoness" to unlock these units, since they're not standard Sisters stuff, but that adds a level of complication that may well not be worth it.
As discussed in the wishlist thread, GW has moved away from that in the list building side of things and it'd frankly be better to say they're rare and let the players decide how and why they want to field things.
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) well done!
