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Hi all.

Quick question.
Can Deathwatch units combat squad and have They shall know no fear?

This is made clear simply by looking at the datasheets Special Rules section.

(They have ATSKNF but not Combat Squad)

Not clear enough, it seems. Page 102 clearly states a unit that can combat squad!

The heck...

Not used in any datasheets, but gets spelled out on 102...

See, this is why books shouldn't be written by committee.

Why would you even need Combat Squad anyway? It is one of the most gimmicky rules in the game.

Slayer-Fan123 wrote:
Why would you even need Combat Squad anyway? It is one of the most gimmicky rules in the game.

it's handy when you write a list with a few large blobs and then realize looking at what you're fighting you'd be better off with MSU. flexability is never a bad thing

Then build with MSU. Marines are terrible in large groups anyway and you want to minimize casualties. I can think of literally only two situations where it does anything. One involves Skyhammer and the other involves Carcharodons which is awfully specific.

This lets me drop pod in 10 dudes, fire 4 frag cannons at one thing and 5 special ammo bolters at something else. Very pricey, and I would not likely do it, but it is an option.

Slayer-Fan123 wrote:
Then build with MSU. Marines are terrible in large groups anyway and you want to minimize casualties. I can think of literally only two situations where it does anything. One involves Skyhammer and the other involves Carcharodons which is awfully specific.

Combat squads can also fit in the same transport, which means a 10man marine squad only spends 35pt on a drop pod or rhino, instead of 70.

Deathwatch does seem to be a very suicidal army...

Then again, they always were depicted asusing Hollywood tactics.

 Wolfblade wrote:

Slayer-Fan123 wrote:
Then build with MSU. Marines are terrible in large groups anyway and you want to minimize casualties. I can think of literally only two situations where it does anything. One involves Skyhammer and the other involves Carcharodons which is awfully specific.

Combat squads can also fit in the same transport, which means a 10man marine squad only spends 35pt on a drop pod or rhino, instead of 70.

Which is terrible logic because:
1. They're all moving forward anyway. Therefore splitting doesn't do much.
2. Almost all the heavy weapons are long range, which means you weren't buying that 5 man squad a vehicle anyway.
3. If you're splitting up with a Grav Cannon up close, they're going after the Grav Cannon no matter what, so you would try to keep it safe in a larger squad.
4. You might be getting a free transport anyway from the Gladius.

Like I said, there are TWO situations where it makes any sense:
1. You went for all the bells and whistles in a Skyhammer so you split up your Grav Cannons and Multi-Meltas to maximize damage output.
2. Half your Carcharodons Tactical Marines have the CCWs and a Melta Gun plus Combi, and the other half is all Bolters plus Grav Cannon after you drop out of the pod.

Entirely gimmicky, seriously. Anyone complaining about this when they complain about Marines is only whining at that point.

Slayer-Fan123 wrote:

 Wolfblade wrote:

Slayer-Fan123 wrote:
Then build with MSU. Marines are terrible in large groups anyway and you want to minimize casualties. I can think of literally only two situations where it does anything. One involves Skyhammer and the other involves Carcharodons which is awfully specific.

Combat squads can also fit in the same transport, which means a 10man marine squad only spends 35pt on a drop pod or rhino, instead of 70.

Which is terrible logic because:
1. They're all moving forward anyway. Therefore splitting doesn't do much.
2. Almost all the heavy weapons are long range, which means you weren't buying that 5 man squad a vehicle anyway.
3. If you're splitting up with a Grav Cannon up close, they're going after the Grav Cannon no matter what, so you would try to keep it safe in a larger squad.
4. You might be getting a free transport anyway from the Gladius.

Like I said, there are TWO situations where it makes any sense:
1. You went for all the bells and whistles in a Skyhammer so you split up your Grav Cannons and Multi-Meltas to maximize damage output.
2. Half your Carcharodons Tactical Marines have the CCWs and a Melta Gun plus Combi, and the other half is all Bolters plus Grav Cannon after you drop out of the pod.

Entirely gimmicky, seriously. Anyone complaining about this when they complain about Marines is only whining at that point.

Wouldnt it be an option to buy 3 drop pods, 2 with 10x Marines and 1 with 5x Marines for the option of Dropping in 20 turn one and combat squading?

Slayer-Fan123 wrote:

 Wolfblade wrote:

Slayer-Fan123 wrote:
Then build with MSU. Marines are terrible in large groups anyway and you want to minimize casualties. I can think of literally only two situations where it does anything. One involves Skyhammer and the other involves Carcharodons which is awfully specific.

Combat squads can also fit in the same transport, which means a 10man marine squad only spends 35pt on a drop pod or rhino, instead of 70.

Which is terrible logic because:
1. They're all moving forward anyway. Therefore splitting doesn't do much.
2. Almost all the heavy weapons are long range, which means you weren't buying that 5 man squad a vehicle anyway.
3. If you're splitting up with a Grav Cannon up close, they're going after the Grav Cannon no matter what, so you would try to keep it safe in a larger squad.
4. You might be getting a free transport anyway from the Gladius.

Like I said, there are TWO situations where it makes any sense:
1. You went for all the bells and whistles in a Skyhammer so you split up your Grav Cannons and Multi-Meltas to maximize damage output.
2. Half your Carcharodons Tactical Marines have the CCWs and a Melta Gun plus Combi, and the other half is all Bolters plus Grav Cannon after you drop out of the pod.

Entirely gimmicky, seriously. Anyone complaining about this when they complain about Marines is only whining at that point.

It is a gimmick rule, andit's a holdover from before formations really, back when a mixed squad was somewhat effective, and you had a hard limit of slots available.

 Selym wrote:
The heck...

Not used in any datasheets, but gets spelled out on 102...

Honestly?

You don't really need it to be turned into a rule on the datasheet, given the wording of the rule. It would be nice to have had it on the datasheets to remind people it was a thing--but "Combined Squads" aren't listed in C: AM.

See, this is why books shouldn't be written by committee.

Yes, because this is a result of books being "written by committee".

The more pressing thing than "Oh noes it's not spelled out on page 102!" is this:

Why do Banebolts of Eryxia have a Stalker-pattern Boltgun profile when you cannot take a Stalker-pattern Boltgun on any model that can take Relics?