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.

Ok so Venerables are supposed to have been Robo-Copped in ages past, and venerated for their ancient battle experience. But that means their experience is probably out-of-date, right?

Also, the rule making your attacker re-roll on dread vehicle damage doesn't seem to relate to the word "Venerable."

So here's my suggestion:

VENERABLE
A model that has this special rule can be used as your HQ. Yes, mofo, a DREADNOUGHT CAPTAIN. Eat it.
Furthermore, a player whose army contains at least one model with this special rule can use any game rule from ANY PREVIOUS EDITION of Warhammer 40K, as long as it is used directly by Space Marine forces in his army, and as long as it is used consistently throughout the game.

Now that's Venerable.

Master of the Forge wrote:
Ok so Venerables are supposed to have been Robo-Copped in ages past, and venerated for their ancient battle experience. But that means their experience is probably out-of-date, right?

Also, the rule making your attacker re-roll on dread vehicle damage doesn't seem to relate to the word "Venerable."

So here's my suggestion:

VENERABLE
A model that has this special rule can be used as your HQ. Yes, mofo, a DREADNOUGHT CAPTAIN. Eat it.
Furthermore, a player whose army contains at least one model with this special rule can use any game rule from ANY PREVIOUS EDITION of Warhammer 40K, as long as it is used directly by Space Marine forces in his army, and as long as it is used consistently throughout the game.

Now that's Venerable.

So... Is this a joke? Because I think it's a joke, but it's not very funny. What benefit is there in making the Venerable Dreadnought an HQ? And how would you balance 'using old rules'? For that matter, what do you even mean by that? He can use old wargear? You can use an older version of a USR? (Say, swapping in 5th edition Furious Charge to soup up your Blood Angels?) You can just straight-up use old, incongruous rules of any kind? That doesn't make any sense, and it's completely imbalanced no matter how it's read.

I like the tongue-in-cheek concept!

Along that theme, but with a few minor tweaks:

EXTREMELY VENERABLE
A model with this special rule is considered a HQ unit, but may not be used to satisfy the 1+ requirement for a CAD.

They're leaders, and should be rare, but their senility and general lack of a grasp on reality - due to both being older than dirt AND the millenia of drug infusions characterizing their existence between battles - hamper their ability to be effective leaders on the battlefield without someone with a more agile mind. This also limits the number of Venerable Dreadnoughts you can bring by making them HQ instead of Elites, befitting their rarity.

BACK IN MY DAY...
At the beginning of your turn, you must choose any edition of the Warhammer 40k tabletop game except the current edition. All hits against a Veteran Dreadnought are resolved using the rules for damaging vehicles from that edition until the beginning of your next turn.

This is probably something of a nerf, except in extraordinary circumstances, given how much less painful the vehicle damage is these days to compensate for the addition of HP around... 5th edition, was it? 6th? Still, a fluffy way to go. Might need to compensate on other areas...

NOT DEAD YET, YOU DAMN VULTURES!
A Venerable Dreadnought which chooses 5th edition or earlier when using the Back in my Day... special rule is not wrecked upon the removal of its last Hull Point. This remains true so long as the Venerable Dreadnought continues to choose 5th edition or earlier.

There we go, that should bring some memories back. Damn youths won't be getting that Venerable Dreadnought's estate so damn easily!

PANOPLY OF THE ANCIENTS
A Veteran Dreadnought includes Pewter Plating in its default Wargear list.
A Veteran Dreadnought automatically replaces their Power Fist and its built-in storm bolter with a Power Cane with a built-in Projectile Taser.
A Veteran Dreadnought may replace its built-in Projectile Taser with a built-in Pepper Spray Canister at no cost.
A Veteran Dreadnought may replace its Power Cane with built-in Projectile Taser with a Power Walker.

Pewter Plating: A model with Pewter Plating adds +1 to all AV facings. They don't build 'em like they used to!
Power Cane: Str +2, AP 2, Concussive, Strikedown
Power Walker: Str x2, AP 1
Projectile Taser: Range 12", Str 6, AP 6, Assault 1, Strikedown
Pepper Spray Canister: Range Template, Str 1, AP -, Assault 1, Poison (5+), Blind

Man, I had fun in this section. I almost went with a "Power Dreadsock" as a D strength option..., but that's a bit more of a meta approach, and I went with Old Man fluff instead of Neckbeard fluff.

Dreadsock: If you need to dice-off to determine the result of a rules argument, you may add 1 to your result. May only be used by metal really old venerable dreadnoughts.

We can dice off, or settle this the old fashioned way...

 Nevelon wrote:
Dreadsock: If you need to dice-off to determine the result of a rules argument, you may add 1 to your result. May only be used by metal really old venerable dreadnoughts.

We can dice off, or settle this the old fashioned way...

The wording "Dreadsock" makes me think of something more like this:

Dreadsock: I will sacrifice myself for the Emperor!
If your opponant has brought a Gargantuant creature or Super Heavy vehicle, you may activate Dreadsock by screaming "EVEN IN DEATH I SERVE!". This is shortly followed by placing the metal dreadnought into an old sock and going to town on your opponants Gargant/SH. If your opponant attempts to stop you, you may brand them a heretic and deal out the justice upon them.

"But I put so much time into building and painting that Wraithknight!"
"TIME YOU COULD HAVE SPENT WORSHIPPING THE EMPEROR, TRAITOR!"

Literally ROFL.
Now I soiled myself, damn you.

Glad to see I'm not the only one who's been thinking about this WAY too much.

I got a very 'Indian in the Cupboard' vibe from this (that's like Toy Story for you youngens).

I can see old dusty WH40K figures from RT fighting for their lives against modern larger, more bedazzled sculpts. Someone should do up a narrative game or tournament pitting armies from various editions against each other.

 Elbows wrote:
I got a very 'Indian in the Cupboard' vibe from this (that's like Toy Story for you youngens).

I can see old dusty WH40K figures from RT fighting for their lives against modern larger, more bedazzled sculpts. Someone should do up a narrative game or tournament pitting armies from various editions against each other.

6+ dust save.. So thick the attack deflected. Metal models only.
Acts as invunrable... No reroll.

Rogue trader ancient veteran. Gains 4+ save default as a result of age.
Ita tough metal construction showing its advantages over its plastic brethren.

 Elbows wrote:
I got a very 'Indian in the Cupboard' vibe from this (that's like Toy Story for you youngens).

I can see old dusty WH40K figures from RT fighting for their lives against modern larger, more bedazzled sculpts. Someone should do up a narrative game or tournament pitting armies from various editions against each other.

Remind me next time I’m looking for a list idea to pull stuff off the shelf by age. I wonder how “new” I’d get before I hit 1,850.