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I have heard that Dark Apostles and Warpsmiths are not the most competitive HQ choices out there and so I thought I might throw a few ideas out there for improving them:

Dark Apostles

- Reduce cost to 75pts per model
- 1-3 as Elites choice
- Allows free Gift of Mutation for his unit (affects whole unit not just the champion) - re-roll spawn and dark ascension
- When rolling his Boons, roll twice and choose the result
- Grant Furious Charge and Preferred Enemy to a single unit within 6"
- Allow one unit with the Daemon rule to become Troops (i.e. a single unit of Obliterators not multiple)
- Access to Terminator armour, jump packs, bikes

Warpsmiths

- Slotless choice like Techmarines
- Access to jump pack, bike (no need for termie armour as he has fleshmetal)
- 1-2 Obliterators/Mutilators as bodyguard (Chaos servitor equivalent)
- Mechatendrils reduce enemy attacks by 1 per model in BTB, + 1 on roll to repair vehicles
- Improved IWND for vehicles within 6", or grants IWND to vehicles without it

I obviously wouldn't expect all of these extra rules to be implemented but if one or two of them per character were added it would make them both more viable IMO.

Does anyone else have more ideas?

Making Apostle cheaper IMO is rthe wrong way - I'd make him better. Dark Apostle fluff-wise is a warlord of his host, having sorcerer(s) and/or chaos lord(s) under his command. He is a leader of marines, powerful warrior (not at the scale of Lord, though) and could invoke the powers of the Warp (but not as good as Sorcerers).
Yed Codex:Helldrakes give him the role of mere "cultist blob booster".

I like your idea of booning enire unit, but I could suggest different ability:
1) The mark of Chaos Undivided: during deployment and at the start of his turn Apostle could choose to treat it like the mark of Khorne, Nurgle, Tzeench or Slaanesh
2) Invocation of the God: Used at the start of Movement Phase. Effect depend on his current Mark:
- Khorne: Apostle and his unit gain +1 WS and Furious Charge
- Tzeench: Apostle gain 1 warp charge and can manifest one Tzeench discipline power of his choice even despite he is not a psyker.
- Nurgle: Apostle and his unit gain Shrouded and FNP.
- Slaanesh: Apostle and his unit gain Fleet and can run and shoot at the same turn (in any order).

I like your thinking Mezmerro, your Invocation of the Gods rule has real potential.

What do you think for the Warpsmith?