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Hey all I'm just kitbashing a BA command squad together out of some spares to finish off my demi-company. They will of course have jump packs but I'm not sure whether to give them melta or plasma guns or indeed if there is anything else anyone else recommends?

So any suggestion's or feedback would be appreciated.

Also does anyone recommend a particular non-LOW/unique character/combo for these guy's?

Cheer's.

Kryczek

Melta and storm shields.

Bikes and Grav Guns, and 2-3 Storm Shields.

BA command squads can't get bikes.

Hmm never thought of the SS Martel cheer's.

Martel732 wrote:
BA command squads can't get bikes.

I have NO clue what the point would be otherwise.

I guess Melta Guns so you can charge and get the most from your CT...

Allow me to offer more than a few words of insight to your question kryczek.

Bear in mind your 5 man command squad has two 'locked' characters in the Sanguinary Novitiate and Company Champion, both of which cannot have any extra wargear beyond the optional squad jump pack upgrade. The Company Champion has a bolt pistol, a power sword (not weapon, power sword), and a combat shield. The Novitiate has a Bolt Pistol, chain sword, and Narthecium. Their wargear cannot be changed. The remaining three veterans however can have a nice mix of a lot of different wargear.

Now, a viable option is, as has been suggested, giving the three veterans Storm Shields. I suggest doing this regardless of what else you do. It makes the squad at least somewhat more survivable versus anything that would just outright drop by bypassing their armor.

You can then choose to keep them inexpensive or add in some extra weapons such as a trio of meltaguns, or flamers, or even plasma guns if you wish.

I personally went with a different direction with my command squad. I kept two models cheap, armed with just storm shields and no other upgrades. You could opt to put power weapons on them, but since this squad can only ever be 5 models strong, I feel having some ablative wounds is a better option to allow the attached independent character (Librarian, Captain, Dante, whoever you choose to benefit from the feel no pain) to be able to absorb some harsh shots that might hurt or outright insta-kill them.

I personally equipped one of my three storm shield veterans with a Power Fist to allow the squad to swing above their pay-grade a bit. Of course this model still has a storm shield too, as he can be the emergency 'look out sir' catcher if the other two storm shield toting command squad veterans have already gone down. The storm shield here also allows the marine better odds to survive to swing at initiative 1 and maybe endure the swing backs too.

It really boils down to what you want the squad to do and what role they will be filling in your army. My personal command squad are there to add to the effectiveness of my HQ choice by providing him with ablative wounds and Feel no Pain as well as a challenge catcher with the Co. Champ and Storm Shield marines to give look out sir defense/shield wall while the squad (and other elements of my force) advance forward toward charge range.

If you'd like any other info, feel free to PM me kryczek. Take it easy and best of luck.

-Red__Thirst-

My command squads don't need powerfists because they are either with Dante or Mephiston. I also hand out melta bombs.

"I have NO clue what the point would be otherwise. "

It's BA. You expected something good?

Cheer's Red__Thirst much appreciated. That is a good idea. I was going the melta route but you've definitely gave me some food for thought.

I would NEVER give Command Squads of any kind power weapons. Vanguard are always going to get them cheaper, and with the one formation with the two Vanguard and one Sternguard squad, that's no exception.

Slayer-Fan123 wrote:
I would NEVER give Command Squads of any kind power weapons. Vanguard are always going to get them cheaper, and with the one formation with the two Vanguard and one Sternguard squad, that's no exception.

Unfortunately, one already is forced to take a power weapon with the Command Squad. But with the rest of the dudes(besides the Sanguinary Initiate) toting Meltaguns or Flamers, charging shouldn't be a problem.

Well Blood Angels are forced to upgrade to the Champion, which I think is stupid.

Actually him and the apothecary come stock and for 20 pts cheaper than SM command squads with the same dudes.

That's not a benefit. The Champion SUCKS.

Slayer-Fan123 wrote:
That's not a benefit. The Champion SUCKS.

Yup. The free Power Weapon is offset by the "Please Shoot Me" Combat Shield. If it was a Storm Shield and Power Weapon and we weren't paying points for it, I would be okay with it.

 casvalremdeikun wrote:

Slayer-Fan123 wrote:
That's not a benefit. The Champion SUCKS.

Yup. The free Power Weapon is offset by the "Please Shoot Me" Combat Shield. If it was a Storm Shield and Power Weapon and we weren't paying points for it, I would be okay with it.

I still wouldn't be okay with it. I'd rather be able to buy a Special Weapon. Apothecaries get the exception because FNP is an excellent rule.

Slayer-Fan123 wrote:

 casvalremdeikun wrote:

Slayer-Fan123 wrote:
That's not a benefit. The Champion SUCKS.

Yup. The free Power Weapon is offset by the "Please Shoot Me" Combat Shield. If it was a Storm Shield and Power Weapon and we weren't paying points for it, I would be okay with it.

I still wouldn't be okay with it. I'd rather be able to buy a Special Weapon. Apothecaries get the exception because FNP is an excellent rule.

Agreed on both counts. I would be less unhappy with a Storm Shield than a Combat Shield if I HAD to take a Champ.

I don't know if the champs that bad. He's a good challenge taker and a decent wee boxer for 5pts essentially. I do agree it would be better for the option of another special weapon or such but hey ho. I also just noticed that we don't need to swap a weapon for the SS which is handy.

Ok so I'm thinking of 3x melta guns and 1 p-fist on the other 3 guy's. That makes them expensive enough for 5 marines IMHO. What do you think? Should i just plump for the SS as well or ditch the fist for them maybe?

I'm also now swithering over the JP's as well. I probably want them for my captain who'll be based on Malakim Phoros from the Badab books. Now he doesn't have a jump pack but a lot of my other characters do so i'm not too sure whether to bother with them now as I think he may need the back up more than them as lib's and chap's probably belong more with DC. What do you think?

Take storm shields and meltaguns for sure. I run mine with dante with packs or mephy in a pod.

That probably is the best option. Hmmmm now i need to get some SS.

Cheers all.

These guys can suck up quite a bit of plasma or grav fire with a 3++/5+++. If they jump packs and Dante, it can be a real pain train because they are charging every turn with hit and run. Assuming Dante doesn't massacre the squad.

I must admit I'm not in a heavy meta area and I'm thinking that's maybe too tanky for the kind of games we aim to play now.
I will definitely have 3 melta gunners though but I'm thinking the SS might just be a bit too far. Although i can definitely appreciate the increase in protection against bigger gun's we'll rarely face masses of low AP weapons.

BA need all the tanky they can get. We've got no true deathstars at all.

Deathstars don't really feature much for my group. Same with LOW. Indeed my WK is the only one we have and it's been reduced to an ornament.

kryczek wrote:
Deathstars don't really feature much for my group. Same with LOW. Indeed my WK is the only one we have and it's been reduced to an ornament.

Dante's not much of a LoW, bth.

Martel732 wrote:
Take storm shields and meltaguns for sure. I run mine with dante with packs or mephy in a pod.

Which discipline/s do you choose for Mephi?

The Deer Hunter wrote:

Martel732 wrote:
Take storm shields and meltaguns for sure. I run mine with dante with packs or mephy in a pod.

Which discipline/s do you choose for Mephi?

Typically, sanguinius and I have another divination libby in the unit with a force axe. That way, I have two shots at invuln save and I can quicken whichever one I need. however, I might switch to Librarius.

Dante's not much of a LoW, bth.

None of those ones really are for me but they are what they are in FOC. Also unique's are frowned upon now as well for us as were trying to build fluff for our own characters.


Ok I've had to plump for just 3 melta guns as my bitz have let me down. No SS However I do have a BA terminator squad in my future so that may happen yet.

I stuck them together last night and they look nice. Once i get a lick of paint on them I'll see if anyone can be bothered playing and try them out.


Anyone have any suggestion's on who's the best non-unique character to go with them. I'm thinking libby but this unit might do well with the chaplin. Any other opinions?