Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So I like the idea of a medical Chimera.

A chimera forgoing the traditional turret and hull weapon in favour of increased room to transport the sick and injured.
No weapons as standard (though you could add a pintle one on), prob mount comms gear or a searchlight instead of a multilaser (sorry C.S. Goto).

What do you think as to the following?

Armageddon Pattern Chimera, Samaritan variant

65 Points
Stats as per Chimera, ditto Explodes and Smoke Launchers
Transport 14 (Heavy weapons teams take up two spaces, No Ogryns allowed - they break stuff).
Medic special rule:- At the end of the movement phase each transported unit may regain 1 wound or have a 1 wound model previously slain in the battle returned to the unit. This cannot take the number of models being transported above 14.

I dont like the idea of giving imperial guard a better version of reanimation protocols from a vehicle. Look at what the ghost arks rule is and compare it to yours.

Could be good for morale effects as well.

 Lance845 wrote:
I dont like the idea of giving imperial guard a better version of reanimation protocols from a vehicle. Look at what the ghost arks rule is and compare it to yours.

So have gone and read it - it says that units that are embarked may make their resurrection roll despite not being on the tabletop and that units within 3” get a second reanimation roll that turn? So lots of 5+ rolls?

I think that seems different enough, this brings one wound back or one 1 wound guardsman back in a unit and they miss their shooting phase (unlike the ghost arc whose ability is used at the start of the turn for embarked troops), the ghost arc has the potential to bring back more (or less) and effects units around it?


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Yoyoyo wrote:
Could be good for morale effects as well.

Perhaps - I wouldn’t want it to conflict with flags and commissars though. Could argue it would encourage you to fake injuries to get saved

1 wound automatic/model returned automatic is much more reliable than a 5+ roll. 3 medic vehicles around a unit can just ressurect 3 models a turn automatically.

You make regenerating screens. Shooting or not.

 Lance845 wrote:
1 wound automatic/model returned automatic is much more reliable than a 5+ roll. 3 medic vehicles around a unit can just ressurect 3 models a turn automatically.

You make regenerating screens. Shooting or not.

You know they have to be IN the transport to benefit from it, right?

I think it's a great idea and I remember the old medic rhinos from RT days. Surprised FW never updated the idea.

Honestly I think gibing it transport makes things complicated. Assume it's full of surgeons and medics and servitors and just have it give a 5+ invulnerable or feel no pain (is that still a thing?) to units within 3". Make it semi mobile void shield generator basically. So:

Mobile Salvation Unit - If the Samaritan Medical Chimera has not moved this turn, Imperial Guard units with 3" of its hull get a 5+ feel no pain save against shooting attacks.

 Lance845 wrote:
1 wound automatic/model returned automatic is much more reliable than a 5+ roll. 3 medic vehicles around a unit can just ressurect 3 models a turn automatically.

You make regenerating screens. Shooting or not.

Well it would take three movement phases to go into each of the chimera? Just as easy to stay in the same one for three turns, though of course you aren’t much of a screen then.

It isn’t an aura effect, you have to be inside the vehicle being treated while your squad mates crowd round looking concerned, and the effect takes place at the end of the move phase so no disembarking.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
I think it's a great idea and I remember the old medic rhinos from RT days. Surprised FW never updated the idea.

Honestly I think gibing it transport makes things complicated. Assume it's full of surgeons and medics and servitors and just have it give a 5+ invulnerable or feel no pain (is that still a thing?) to units within 3". Make it semi mobile void shield generator basically. So:

Mobile Salvation Unit - If the Samaritan Medical Chimera has not moved this turn, Imperial Guard units with 3" of its hull get a 5+ feel no pain save against shooting attacks.

I did consider an aura effect (though not FNP which is an interesting idea), but there is already a medic ability for units on the tabletop and I didn’t like the image of units crowding the ambulance - their NCOs would ensure they didn’t get in the way or make it a target

Good point, so maybe it has to specify a unit it grants FNP to?

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Good point, so maybe it has to specify a unit it grants FNP to?

Would it be unreasonable to basically just make them apothecary tanks? Select a non-infantry unit at the start (end?) of the movement phase. Either heal a model in the unit for d3 wounds or, if no models in the unit are wounded, bring a single model back to life with 1 wound. That would let a single unit benefit from 3 medical chimeras in a single turn, but 195 points to bring back 3 guardsmen or 1 and a half primaris marines each turn doesn't scream broken to me.

Cuts out the complications of changing the unit size of embarked units and basically just gives the apothecary's exisitng rule to a tank platform.

Wyldhunt wrote:

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Good point, so maybe it has to specify a unit it grants FNP to?

Would it be unreasonable to basically just make them apothecary tanks? Select a non-infantry unit at the start (end?) of the movement phase. Either heal a model in the unit for d3 wounds or, if no models in the unit are wounded, bring a single model back to life with 1 wound. That would let a single unit benefit from 3 medical chimeras in a single turn, but 195 points to bring back 3 guardsmen or 1 and a half primaris marines each turn doesn't scream broken to me.

Cuts out the complications of changing the unit size of embarked units and basically just gives the apothecary's exisitng rule to a tank platform.

Would be pretty potent with Bullgryns. Not sure if BROKEN, just good.

Wyldhunt wrote:

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Good point, so maybe it has to specify a unit it grants FNP to?

Would it be unreasonable to basically just make them apothecary tanks? Select a non-infantry unit at the start (end?) of the movement phase. Either heal a model in the unit for d3 wounds or, if no models in the unit are wounded, bring a single model back to life with 1 wound. That would let a single unit benefit from 3 medical chimeras in a single turn, but 195 points to bring back 3 guardsmen or 1 and a half primaris marines each turn doesn't scream broken to me.

Cuts out the complications of changing the unit size of embarked units and basically just gives the apothecary's exisitng rule to a tank platform.

That is an easier implementation, but begs the question why when there is already a medic option. I suppose it could be the analogue of the tech priest/Atlas for the tanks.

The_Real_Chris wrote:

That is an easier implementation, but begs the question why when there is already a medic option. I suppose it could be the analogue of the tech priest/Atlas for the tanks.

Probably because Medics are stupidly restricted to Command Squads only?

I am concerned about setting a precedent of squandering excessive medical care on guardsmen. Medical supplies are important resources that would be more suited to the treatment of officers, planetary governors and the like. A guardsman can be easily replaced and any loyal soldier would be happy to give his life to know that his superiors will have everything they need.

 Bilge Rat wrote:
I am concerned about setting a precedent of squandering excessive medical care on guardsmen. Medical supplies are important resources that would be more suited to the treatment of officers, planetary governors and the like. A guardsman can be easily replaced and any loyal soldier would be happy to give his life to know that his superiors will have everything they need.

Depends on what we call Medical Care. A couple of orderlies, who took a 6 hour training course, running around giving shots of Joy Juice (TM), No-Pain (TM) and Frenzon (R) in the middle of a fight isn't that big a stretch and properly GrimDark.

 Bilge Rat wrote:
I am concerned about setting a precedent of squandering excessive medical care on guardsmen. Medical supplies are important resources that would be more suited to the treatment of officers, planetary governors and the like. A guardsman can be easily replaced and any loyal soldier would be happy to give his life to know that his superiors will have everything they need.

RP forum is further down, friend.

The regimental make-ups for many had/have medics as part of the individual squads.

Plus, medics are canonically a thing (they have rules and everything.) So if you think of a medical chimera as just a tank with a bunch of pain killers and bone saws inside, it's not that much of a stretch. It's basically one step up from a truck used to haul the medic's gear from place to place.

I also imagine that regiments frequently tasked with VIP protection/rescue might end up with something like this. A planetary governor might pay to add some tanks to your regiment so long as 1 in 10 is equipped with advanced medical kits and is given orders to prioritize saving his life in times of crisis.

I think at the end of the day simplicity wins out. Thanks for your thoughts.

Dedicated transport (like a Trojan)
Armageddon Pattern Chimera, Samaritan variant

65 Points
Stats as per Chimera, ditto Explodes and Smoke Launchers
Transport 6 (the rest of the space is taken up with stretchers, medics, etc.).
Medic special rule:- At the end of the movement phase an infantry unit within 3" may regain D3 wounds or have a 1 wound model previously slain in the battle returned to the unit.