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I'm in the beginning stages of testing my own 40k rewrite and I'm wracking my brain trying to find some way to represent "zealot" as a special rule. I like the way it works in 7th ed but while I rewrite my own game, I figured I would break up all the little things that get me while I'm at it. One of those things is special rules that are combinations of other special rules.

What are some other ways to represent raving zealotry in the 40k universe? How have other games represented that quality? For full disclosure, my game is similar enough to 5/6/7 ed 40k that anything that could potentially apply there, applies here. The only core mechanic that doesn't exist are sweeping advances, but other elements have been made more relevant to make up for that. Thanks!

Would this rule be applied to models that currently have Zealot? I'm guessing that you're not intending to re-work absolutely everything (otherwise you wouldn't need to include it at all).

Zealot tends to be on models that are orators, encouraging large groups to heedlessly advance, but I think Fearless is too good to represent that - these are ordinary troops given a rousing speech, not the psychologically hardened elite troops that Fearless normally represents (after all, they return to normal once the character is dead). So, my suggestion:

A unit that contains at least one model with the Zealot special rule can never be Pinned or choose to Go to Ground. In addition, such a unit must re-roll any failed Fear, Regroup or Morale tests.

Now, that's significantly worse than the current version - such models as have Zealot are costed as force-multipliers, so my suggestion probably needs something extra.

Or always takes tests at full LD
(on any LD tests)

which stubborn should be i feel.

Its half-baked, but how bout this for a start?

Zealot-
Models with this rule are so passionate that they often times ignore impossible odds, physical pain, and many times common sense when engaging the enemy.
This is represented in the following ways.
Models with the zealot rule have the FNP 5+ and Blind rage special rules when near enemy HQ units or when near an objective.
Blind Rage- Any model affected by this must immediately assault the nearest enemy unit, and gains D3 attacks on the charge, the furious charge special rule, and the stubborn special rule. Subsequent turns after this initial assault they lose -1WS at the beginning of every second assault phase, but increase by +1 at the same time.

eh sounds unnecessarily complicated with lots of bells and whistles.

But it really depends on fists custom k.

Personally would do Zealot- USR. Never Takes LD checks from loosing models, rerolls charges, gains stubborn in CC.
simple and too the point using things everyone already knows.

Here's what I would say;

"If a unit which includes at least one model with the Zealot special rule fails a Morale check, it does not fall back and instead may immediately move D6". This rule does not function if the unit is locked in close combat."

How old school

I actually quite like how zealot works right now, I feel it does represent what it's supposed to, and that is a orator type figure firing up his squad to the point where they ignore all danger whilst in a religious fervour