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.

I've got more of a curiosity topic here, and it's about Possessed Chaos Marines. Model wise, they're fun to put together, but, most of what I've heard from people is that they hate playing with them, but I've yet to actually hear a reason. I've used them myself in a couple of friendly games and personally, I find them entertaining when you give them various marks.

So, for or against, what is your opinion on Possessed CSM, and moreso, why?

They're fairly pricy and unreliable. Considering you have to roll on the chart to determine what you have, it's hard to know before a game starts what their role is going to be, and if I'm not mistaken you roll every turn, making them even more unreliable. They're still better than in the last book, but when compared to terminators, hellbrutes, chosen and the various cult troops, they're generally a poor choice.

I am using them now. They should work great, once I get them into combat. My buddy keeps knocking out the Land Raider they are in.... jerk lol...

Seriously, they are nor as bad as they used to be. Their mutation skills (can't remember the name off hand) don't suck like they used to, as they change every assault phase. Stick a mark of Khorne on them and an icon of Wrath, and they can get nasty in close combat.

Just have to be more saavy about getting my Land Raider in charge range, been playing Nids too much recently...

Agreed on them not being as bad as in the last Codex - back then you rolled their power once before deploying so you didn't even know what role you'd be using them in. That said I still think them a bit too costly for anyone to swap out the Elites they already have for Piggies.

I am playing a Word Bearers army, so I wanted some possesed marines. I pack as many as I can with the lord into a Land Raider with dirge casters.

Overpriced, 3+ save, few attacks, decent mutations but not worth the tax, no assault grenades.

I love possessed, background wise I think they are the coolest thing in a CSM army. But even in a semi-competitive meta they are just underwhelming.

This is all so very true, but, don't you think that the unexpectedness of the possessed attacks embody the true idea of Chaos?

Granted, we could take that one step further and say that the Chaos Dreadnoughts had that, but, c'mon, we all know that those needed to fixed.

 SonOfMalice wrote:
This is all so very true, but, don't you think that the unexpectedness of the possessed attacks embody the true idea of Chaos?

Yeah, well, and Space Ork armies in 2nd Edition having the tendency of either winning spectacularly, or blowing themselves to bits spectacularly I think is why I never ended up with an Ork army either. Losing a tournament because my Fantasy Big'Uns decided to squabble instead of charge a High Elf cavalry formation... ugh. Sadly, my gamer personality is suited to relatively reliable troops, haha. Still love the Orks.

I think people just kinda want to know what they are getting. And in a game that has become less about fun and more about crunching numbers, the possessed come out on the wrong end of math.

well...run some possesed in your list maybe, 5-8 man unit. i run them with Mark of tzeentch ( to fit my thousand sons) 3 + then 4+..Pretty tough. i infitrate them or drive em up in a rhino. But to be honest....They Are not bad....lil pricey. but not as flippin Random as 4th edition.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
D3 chart:
1: Reroll all failed to wound rolls
2:Melee attacks are AP3
3: 1+ initiative and attack

All of these will be great benefits in combat, only problem...Get them to combat

 FrostTooth wrote:
well...run some possesed in your list maybe, 5-8 man unit. i run them with Mark of tzeentch ( to fit my thousand sons) 3 + then 4+..Pretty tough. i infitrate them or drive em up in a rhino. But to be honest....They Are not bad....lil pricey. but not as flippin Random as 4th edition.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
D3 chart:
1: Reroll all failed to wound rolls
2:Melee attacks are AP3
3: 1+ initiative and attack

All of these will be great benefits in combat, only problem...Get them to combat

Pile 'em in a Land Raider with diege casters.

I've been really interested in running a unit that maxes out on boon rolls. I was thinking a lord (flavor to taste with GoM), dark apostle (GoM), and 5-8 possessed (champ has 2 GoM) in a vehicle. That's four GoMs with re-rolls and then rerolls throughout the game. Not a bad little escort.

They arn't bad, but they compete with things that are good. So therefor they are ignored.

If the weren't competing with other good units there might be a reason to take them. Or if there was more reliability in their mutations.

Humblesteve wrote:
I've been really interested in running a unit that maxes out on boon rolls. I was thinking a lord (flavor to taste with GoM), dark apostle (GoM), and 5-8 possessed (champ has 2 GoM) in a vehicle. That's four GoMs with re-rolls and then rerolls throughout the game. Not a bad little escort.

Would the Dark Apostle affect the Boon rolls at the beginning of the game for the Gift of Mutation?

No DA don't affect it, as it happens before deployment and the beseach the gods ability is a bubble effect iirc...


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Nope its only in the DA's unit... and its after deployment the effect begins.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I had the same idea... but it doesn't work like that... unfortunately

 SonOfMalice wrote:
I've got more of a curiosity topic here, and it's about Possessed Chaos Marines. Model wise, they're fun to put together, but, most of what I've heard from people is that they hate playing with them, but I've yet to actually hear a reason. I've used them myself in a couple of friendly games and personally, I find them entertaining when you give them various marks.

So, for or against, what is your opinion on Possessed CSM, and moreso, why?

they are comically bad.


26 points is double the cost of a regular marine and they just dont add enough. They have str5 and 2 attacks, but so do fabius bile marines, who also have bolt pistols, grenades, and specials. If you like their random mutations(AP3, shred, or +1 attack) think about warp talons. Warp talons have AP3 AND shred, same attacks, same 5++ AND 12", DS, Hammer of wrath.

And even then when you compare the Warp Talons to Terminators... warp talons are 30 points have all that stuff listed above by exergy and Terminators have all that minus shred, hammer and 12" but instead get a 2+ save, power weapon and combi bolter... and lets face it 2+ saves are solid now... all for 1 more point...

 JbR of the Endless Spire wrote:
And even then when you compare the Warp Talons to Terminators... warp talons are 30 points have all that stuff listed above by exergy and Terminators have all that minus shred, hammer and 12" but instead get a 2+ save, power weapon and combi bolter... and lets face it 2+ saves are solid now... all for 1 more point...

indeed, although they cant run, or sweeping advance, and come on large bases. but still Termites>Warptalons>>Possessed marines. And no one is confusing Chaos Terminators with an awesome must take unit.

That said, Terminators and Warp Talons have very different roles. Talons kill non-2+ save infantry. Terminators are a versitile unit that can do anything pretty much.

 Grey Templar wrote:
That said, Terminators and Warp Talons have very different roles. Talons kill non-2+ save infantry. Terminators are a versitile unit that can do anything pretty much.

which is why I initially compared possessed to warp talons. Possessed will never be more than 3+ or worse killing machines. Their durability and their targets are very similar to warptalons. 3+ or worse infantry in the open.

Actually I love possessed. They are way too expensive though. AND they are usually only worth putting in a LR.

The only redeeming thing is when you're going up against high Toughness opponents with decent armour. You can make em S5 & T5 with the mark. Their Champion doesn't even get an extra attack for the 30pts or so that he costs.

But they are great at putting the fear of god in people. But I do reckon that Plague marines edge them, unless you're hoping for that AP3 1/3 of the time.

I tend to just make a big blob and throw them forward. Ended my last game with just the champion left, chasing a unit of Grotesques off the board.

G

I think overall the possessed lack the reliable killing power the talons have but both units suffer when dealing with armoured units and vehicles, thats why I pointed out the terminators. The terminators have a much more flexible feel in that regard, thats what makes them the must have unit where talons and possessed are optional. How about consider Raptors too? They are slightly more flexible, though not quite as deadly, they can make it up in numbers.