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I'm building a GK army and I'm planning on using the Nemesis Strike Force detachment (allows 1st turn Deep Strike and run and shoot on the turn you arrive). I'm interested in which allies would let me manipulate reserve rolls. I know I can use a comms relay, but I'd rather not be forced to have a unit on the board at the start of the game to use the relay as I'm going for a Null Deployment list. I want all of the Deep Striking units to arrive on turn 1.

I'm not super interested in Warlord traits that allow rerolls or bonuses to reserve rolls unless they're attached to a specific character. For example, the Inquisition book has 'Reader of the Tarot', which allows you to roll two dice for Reserves, Outflank or Mysterious objectives/terrain and choose the result you want. I couldn't find a character in the book that came with that trait guaranteed.

Non army-specific:
Scrier's Gaze in the Divination discipline - Not really viable, as it can't be used on reserve rolls until turn 2 at the earliest, and requires the unit using it to be on the board turn 1.
Comms relay attached to a fortification - allows you to reroll reserves, requires a model on the board to 'use' it.

Astra Militarum:
Officer of the Fleet can issue orders to grant +1 to reserves or -1 to enemy reserves. Requires a unit on the board, but can be used on turn 1. Needs to pass a Leadership test (LD 7) to use, which isn't great. I think this one is a non-starter for my purposes

Eldar:
Autarchs allows you to add or subtract 1 from your roll, making your units arrive on a 2+. This doesn't require the Autarch to be on the table to use.

So far I'm leaning towards a minimal allied Eldar detachment for an Autarch and a couple small squads of Dire Avengers in Wave Serpents to provide some Objective Secured units.

Are there any other non-random ways of getting Reserve Roll manipulation that I'm not aware of?

Sadly, as Eldar aren't BB allies with the knights, the Autarch's reserve bonuses cannot be used by the knights.

Forgeworld vehicles such as the Damocles or Land Raider Prometheus allows you to manipulate reserves, though both have to be on the board.

The best combo I can think of is to ally in drop pods, especially the Space Wolves ones (think Purifiers) and have a Comms Relay on the ground for 1 unit to drop down onto.

It's really a shame that they got rid of Psychic Communion.

Yeah I think SW drop pods are a good way to go. They don't do anything for reserve manipulation, but they do guarantee a more potent board presence on turn 1 via Drop Pod Assault.

Ally in inquisition with a bunker. Get servo skulls and comm relay, you somewhat get a good chance to enter in reserves, somewhat safely.

 jy2 wrote:
Sadly, as Eldar aren't BB allies with the knights, the Autarch's reserve bonuses cannot be used by the knights.

I can see where you're coming from, but the Path of Strategy rule says (in my iBooks version):

“ If your army contains one or more Autarchs, you can modify your Reserve Rolls by +1 or -1 (choose separately after each roll is made).”

It doesn't say anything about Reserve Rolls for friendly units, or even if the Autarch needs to be in your Primary detachment. I'll do a quick search of YMDC and post a thread there if I don't find anything, but right now I don't see anything forbidding it from affecting non BB units.

ultramarine captain cato sicarius grants +1 to reserve rolls. but has to be on the battlefield.
no mention of starting the turn there for it to work, so get him in the first to land drop pod and add that +1 to the rest of your rolls.

also. for the eldar thing, under ally level, is where the restrictions are for not being able to use modifiers for non bb allies.

 Stearic wrote:
ultramarine captain cato sicarius grants +1 to reserve rolls. but has to be on the battlefield.
no mention of starting the turn there for it to work, so get him in the first to land drop pod and add that +1 to the rest of your rolls.

also. for the eldar thing, under ally level, is where the restrictions are for not being able to use modifiers for non bb allies.

Just found it, thanks. I might have to do the Sicarius thing then.

55 points for an Imperial Bunker, which is as tough as a Land Raider and has eight fire points to boot. A Comms Relay for reserve Re-rolls is 20 points more.

Great Investment.

raverrn wrote:
55 points for an Imperial Bunker, which is as tough as a Land Raider and has eight fire points to boot. A Comms Relay for reserve Re-rolls is 20 points more.

Great Investment.

The only thing about the bunker - which is an overall great fortification - is that it is vulnerable to drop-podding meltas.

 Stearic wrote:
ultramarine captain cato sicarius grants +1 to reserve rolls. but has to be on the battlefield.
no mention of starting the turn there for it to work, so get him in the first to land drop pod and add that +1 to the rest of your rolls.

I just did a little research, and I'm not sure this would work either. The Deep Strike rules state that you roll for the arrival of ALL Deep Striking units as specified in the Reserves section, and THEN deploy them as indicated.

Perhaps placing him in a fortification such as a bunker and taking a Comms Relay for rerollable 2+ reserves. This still needs some thought. I was really liking the idea of a couple MSU Dire Avengers + Wave Serpents to up the firepower and grant some mobile Objective Secured. I may still do that, but use the Bastion/Relay and fill it with Purifiers.

Psychic Communion for the Inquisitors as Psykers. Add or subtract 1 on the roll after it's been made. And it's cumulative with other modifiers. But, it's the same issue that they have to be on the table to use the power.

 jy2 wrote:
The best combo I can think of is to ally in drop pods, especially the Space Wolves ones (think Purifiers) and have a Comms Relay on the ground for 1 unit to drop down onto.

This won't work until turn 2, as you have to make all your rolls for units arriving before you start deploying.

The Callidus Assassin gives you a +1 to Seize the Initiative and -3(!) to your opponent's first Reserve roll. Not a direct buff to your other units, but can help slightly to get them into play sooner.

Also, her own deployment rules are pretty sweet; helps with your alpha strike idea.

 pizzaguardian wrote:
Ally in inquisition with a bunker. Get servo skulls and comm relay, you somewhat get a good chance to enter in reserves, somewhat safely.

This was going to be my response, but someone else was smart and fast enough first.