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So, I've been a big fan of the Ciaphas Cain books for a while now, and wanted to take a stab at making rules for the cowardly commissar and his aide Jurgen in games. Capturing the flavor of Cain and Jurgen was tough to do. Cain doesn't really work like a "normal" commissar, so there's lots of special rules in an attempt to be fluffy. Please let me know if it works, and what needs to be changed to improve it. Thanks!

Caiphas Cain may be taken in an Imperial Guard army as an HQ choice. He must be used exactly as described here, and may not be given any additional equipment.

90 Pts.
WS BS S T W I A Ld Sv
Ciaphas Cain 5 5 3 3 3 4 3 7 4+/5++
Ferik Jurgen 3 4 3 3 2 3 1 7 5+

Options: An army that includes Ciaphas Cain may include Ferik Jurgen for +20 points. For rules on how Jurgen is to be used, see the "Cain's Aide" rule below. If not accompanying a unit, Cain and Jurgen may purchase a Salamander Scout Vehicle with Heavy Stubber upgrade (Forge World rules), which they may use as a transport, for +55 pts. This Salamander has the Transport rule and a capacity of 2.

Wargear (Cain): Carapace Armour, Master Crafted Laspistol, Close Combat Weapon, Frag and Krak Grenades

Wargear (Jurgen): Flak Armour, Meltagun, Lasgun, Frag and Krak Grenades

Special Rules (Cain): Independant Character, HERO OF THE IMPERIUM, Master Duelist, Dirty Coward, Warm Bodies, Smooth Operator

HERO OF THE IMPERIUM: Such is Cains reputation that he is able to inspire soldiers to brave and heroic deeds merely by showing up and saying a few encouraging words. As long is Cain is not inside a transport, all friendly Imperial Guard units within "24 of him may re-roll failed morale checks, pinning tests, and leadership tests for Orders.

Master Duelist: As much as Cain loathes to get into close combat, his skill with a chainsword is unparalleled, and has saved his life on more than one occasion. Attacks made by Ciaphas Cain in close combat have the Preferred Enemy (all enemies) special rule and the Rending special rule.

Dirty Coward: Despite his reputation, Cain is more worried about saving his own skin than anything else. If Ciaphas Cain and any unit he is accompanying are on open ground (any part of the battlefield that does not grant a cover save) and are not inside a transport at the beginning of a turn, Cain must pass a leadership test or he and any unit accompanying him must immediately Go To Ground. A unit that Goes to Ground in this way may not take any other action that turn.

Warm Bodies: Whether they voluntarily throw themselves in front of him, or he just happens to slip behind them at exactly the right moment, Cain has a knack for keeping the people around him between him and danger. Any failed "Look Out Sir!" roll made for attacks targeting Cain may be re-rolled.

Smooth Operator: Cain is an excellent fast talker who can worm his way out of tense situations without losing face. Whenever Cain refuses a challenge, roll D6. On a 4+ he may participate in combat as if he wasn't challenged and suffers no penalties for refusing the challenge.

Special Rules (Jurgen): Cain's Aide, Blank

Cain's Aide: Jurgen is Cain's Aide and sticks to his side like glue during battle. Jurgen is not considered an Independant Character, always accompanies Ciaphas Cain, and must join any unit that Cain joins. If Cain and Jurgen are not in another unit, then they are considered to be their own unit of 2. If Cain dies at any point during a battle, Jurgen must pass a leadership test or be removed as a casualty as well. If he passes, he may not join any new units, although he may remain with any unit that he and Cain were joined to when Cain died. If Jurgen and Cain were not joined to a unit, then Jurgen is considered to be the sole surviving member of his unit for the rest of the game and should be treated as such.

Blank: Jurgen is a psychic blank, with remarkable resistance to the influence of the warp. The player controlling Jurgen makes a Deny the Witch roll of 2+ instead of 6+ against any psychic power targeting Jurgen or a unit that Jurgan is a part of.

Dude, have him deny challenges on a 4+ with no negatives. A way of him worming his way out of the situation.

A few points:

- Didn't Cain "forget" to return some carapace armour after a mission, and wear it under his uniform at all times?

- Ws7 seems insanely good, I think that even as a master swordsman ws5 is enough. I would also give Jurgen bs4, as he is pretty much a veteran.

- I would probably streamline his "master duelist" rule by just saying that he has preferred enemy(people trying to kill him) and rending.

- Make it so that the salamander must take a heavy stubber upgrade. Also, needs to have the rule transport, 2 capacity added.

Cain's Inspiring Presence should work even when he's falling back. He's always falling back.

 Furyou Miko wrote:
Cain's Inspiring Presence should work even when he's falling back. He's always falling back.

Usually into some sort of enemy force trying a crucial outflanking manoeuvre.

IIRC it was mentionned that he should have stats of a Lord Commissar somewhere. WS7 is a bit high...

Edited.

I liked pretty much all the recommendations, so I've incorporated them. How much does the Heavy Stubber upgrade cost for the Salamander? I'm don't have the FW rules, so I'm kind of shooting in the dark when it comes to the Salamander.

I really liked the idea of Cain refusing challenges being supported by a rule, so thanks for that.

WS 5 is standard for a Lord Commissar. The WS of 7 was to reflect Cain's dueling skill (Amberly calls him the best duelist she'd ever seen once) but I guess the Master Duelist rule (which has been simplified) reflects that well enough. It also made Cain harder to hit. Maybe I'll add that carapace armor instead. I think I read something about that too.

I took out the fleeing and pinned exceptions to Cain's HERO OF THE IMPERIUM rule. My only worry is that it'll make the rule too good (it's already considerably better than Summary Execution) , but I guess the disadvantages of the Dirty Coward rule makes up for it.

I would drop the preferred enemy and rending from master duellist and instead have something fancy that represents how he is a master a blocking and deflecting blows, something along the lines of ''When in a challenge Cain may choose to forgo any number of his own attacks to lessen the amount of attacks the enemy model makes by the same amount, this happens at I 10.'' Then add rending to his weapon to make it look more like a special weapon then some random chain sword (call it Good Ol Bitey or something) and call it a day.

Awesome start - Just need to add Amberely in her custom artifcer armour see below:

thoughs on your Cain stats - Cain does not have a refractor fiedl normally, although Amberely does? Perhaps just a straight Invulnerable save to represent his luck and skill at suriving - 5+ normally and 4+ in Close Combat?
I like Master Duellist - especially given the things he has defeated in close combat.
Jurgan - I would just go with that any uinit with Jurgan can not be affected by Psychic Powers (like with Lady Malys)
I would put Cains Iniaitive at 4.

Inquistor Amberley Vail
Some Inquisitors believe the Emperor’s work is best done by charging around the place like a grox in a ceramic emporium, leaving a trail of carnage and destruction in their wake, while others prefer not to let the enemies of all that’s good and holy get clean away by making it blindingly obvious they’re coming for them.
WS 4, BS 4, S3, T3, W3, I5, A3, LD10, Amour 4+ / 5++

Composition: 1 (Unique)
Unit Type: Infantry (Character)
Wargear: carapace armour, digital weapons, frag grenades, krak grenades, psyk-out grenades, refractor field, .
Special Rules:
Inquisitor Amberely Vail is a HQ Choice for Codex: Inqusition

If Inquisitor Amberley Vail is your Warlord she has the following trait:
1. Unquestionable Wisdom: This Inquisitor has unbending determination and a clinical understanding of how to achieve her goals. The Warlord and her unit can choose to pass or fail any Morale checks they are called upon to make.

Custom Artificer Armour

Options:
May take:any two of the following unless has Custom Artifcer Armour:
- Power sword, 10 pts
- Needle pistol - 15 pts
May replace All Wargear with Custom Artifcer Armour - 50 pts

Custom Artifcer Armour provides a 2+ armour save and a 5+ Invulnerable save
Cutomer Artifcer Armour includes a Heavy Bolter and a Power Fist.

May take up to three servo-skulls - 3 pts each

Doesn't Amberley have a Displacer Field, not a Refractor Field?

Hasn't she used both?

A salamander with stubber is 65pts.

I tweaked the rules a bit. The 5++ is now just part of Cain's stats instead of being a refractor field. I gave him one because they're standard for Lord Commissars, which I used as a loose framework for Cain, but he never has one in the books as far as I know. The Salamander now has a heavy stubber and is closer to the FW points cost. It's still a little cheaper because I think the Scout rule is less useful, since you're probably not going to want to send Cain too far from the rest of your army. He's already at initiative 4.

I'm keeping Jurgen's Blank rule as it is. It's just a personal preference, but I like to add a small chance of failure.

I'm not gonna change preferred enemy to something that denies attacks for 3 reasons: 1) It adds complexity where I want to simplify, 2) Cain already has several rules representing his cowardly nature and survival skills, and 3) Cain has proven himself to be quite capable of being killy in CC when the need arises. Sometimes the best defense is a good offense! (but only as a last resort, of course)

Inquisitor Vail looks like fun, but she needs the Independent Character rule and a base points cost.

Indeed - Cain is IMO a much more of a (hidden) self proclaimed coward than one in actuality......and is extremely deadly in close combat

In terms of Amberleys Points - how about 30pts - she is a bit different to the standard Ordo Xenos Inquisitor but has less options and need to purchase her custom armour to really effective on the battlefield.....