Hello everyone!  I hope you all have been enjoying the last week of musing over all of the leaks and the subsequent release of the Chapter Approved and Vigilus rulebooks.  What we got was a slew of point reductions, new rules, and general playability increases for some of our “old guard” units.  I am going to spend some time on only a few of the units applicable in that list today, but they are big players in the update – the unit that makes the biggest impact on our new lists going forward and why this is important.

So if you find yourself in a radioactive fallout shelter and don’t know what unit I’m referring to, it’s the Company Veterans.  These are the main players in the Vigilus Sword Brethren Detachment that is specific to the Black Templars.  You can see the rules on my previous post, so I am not going to relist them verbatim.  In essence, this unit choice, among others, are subject to a big upgrade in close combat and durability.  Couple those strategems with a 2 point reduction and a point reduction in some key wargear choices (I am looking at you Storm Shields), you have a near must-take for all of our lists.

Why, you may ask?  Because of their versatility, especially when “led” by High Marshal Helbrecht and his aura abilities.  The two units feed off of each other immeasurably well and turn what was a middling unit into a close combat powerhouse.  Helbrecht gives the Vets +1 Str and rerolls in to hit.  The Vets "eat" wounds for Helbrecht (or any other character).  Add your strategems and you turn the unit into a durable meat grinder.  Likewise, you can equip them with longer range weaponry like storm bolters to put out stupid amounts of firepower for next to nothing.  Give them storm shields and they also act as great bubblewrap units for you.  Or even chump assault units against opponent's heavier units.  Those units will grind to a halt for at least a turn while they are trying to push through our 90-point unit with 3++ and FNP.

So the Company Veterans are good.  How do I arm them?  I am of the opinion that there is two really competitive options, but others might come up over time.  The first one, and I would guess will be the most popular, is the 5-man Power Sword and Storm Shield setup.  This wargear alignment depends on you having Helbrecht within aura range, as it brings our power swords to strength 5, which gives us a 3+ to wound against most models.  In addition, it has superior AP than its counter-parts, allowing us to take down more elite units.  The storm shields should be obvious here...for 2 points, you don't have to worry about not getting our armor saves.  Out of the box, this gives you 11 power sword attacks at str 5, with rerolls to hit.  That means, against MEQ, you'll generate 5.4 unsaved wounds a turn.  Not too shabby, especially when you add in Helbrecht's wounds.  If you pop our new 2CP strategem, you'll do 10.5 unsaved wounds against MEQ.  That is some ridiculous efficiency for a 100 point unit.  These guys need a good delivery option and only two come to mind as being reliable.  Drop Pod (preference) and Stormraven.  The pod will drop in when you want it to and get your units to that sweet spot of 9" from your enemy.  The Stormraven is dramatically more expensive and will see more incoming fire prior to dropping its precious cargo.  But you get more weaponry to go with that.  I prefer the reliability of the drop pod, especially since its only 65 points now after CA 2018 dropped.

The other wargear option?  Storm Bolters and Storm Shields.  For 90 points, you get a durable unit that is putting out 20 Str 4 shots at 12".  Hell yeah I'll take that all day.  Another benefit is that you still have reasonable close combat ability and with your storm shield, and as mentioned earlier in the article you can hold up enemy units there for at least a turn.  This allows you to utilize these squads on foot to protect valuable units in your list or in the middle of the board to create a "speed-bump" of sorts.  Obviously, there are only 5 wounds in the unit, but those wounds come with a package cost of 90 points.  That makes the unit a perfect throwaway unit for your opponent's rock units.  These guys are perfectly okay walking, but you can also combine them with Laser-back transportation for duality.

For additional funsies, add in Company Ancients to your close combat oriented Vets.  Since you will likely take wounds in some fashion to the Vets, whether by your opponent or eating wounds from your characters, he will allow that model to make an additional attack.  He is no slouch in close combat either.

Its been a long time, but we finally have units that are extremely competitive and fulfill our every desire in close combat.  Let me tell you, it has been entirely overdue.  So let's see some Vets hit the table and let me know how they are working for you!

~Marshal Laeroth~

Well, its that time of the year Brothers and Sisters!  And what a great time of year it is!  The Emperor has seen our efforts across the galaxy this past year and focused his thoughts in our direction.  In the first time in quite a while, we get Black Templars rules!  Feast your eyes on some of the goodies coming out of Vigilus Defiant and the new Chapter Approved 2018 book.

Hello everyone.  Today, I have a topic of a somewhat controversial nature: Black Templars and their competitiveness in today's current meta.  Frankly, its a topic of much discussion over the past year plus since the Space Marine codex was released in 8th Edition.  I've seen it discussed on the B&C forum, but the discussion really starts to fizzle out when the meat comes out due to people getting defensive.  There has been various Youtube channels that have explored the thought of making BT competitive, as well as some other blogs out there.  I am going to combine those thoughts with mine, to paint a picture of what the Black Templar reality truly is.

Hello all!  Just wanted to throw out an update to let everyone know that I am going to get a post up this weekend.  Its been a good chunk of time, since my last post and time to rectify that.  I have a couple topics I have up my sleeve that I think need to be discussed.  Until then, crusade on Brothers!

~Marshal Laeroth~

Given I have just started a new job, I might be posting less frequently. But I am hoping to at least take some time to dissect the various news in the the most recent FAQ’s. Of those changes that which are the most important is the Deep Strike Change.

For one, the power level question in addition to units, while important shouldn't drastically hamper us (if nothing else we can spend 91 points (6 Initaites and a Neophyte) for 12 power (or rough equivalent to a 5 man Terminator Squad). The more important one will be the limitations on Turn 1 Deep Strike, sense before the FAQ; a tide list would use cheap deep strikers in mass to form as a functional faux screen. The second is functional removal of forward deployment deep strikers, turn 1. Now we have a couple options here to handle that, but here is my list for reference. 

Black Templar Battalion
HQ - 179
Marshall - 101; Power Fist, Storm Shield
-Helm, Warlord (Rite)
Castallen - 78; Bolt Pistol, Jump Pack
-Teeth of Terra

Troops - 580
2x Crusader Squad - 392 (196); 14 Man, 7x Neo w/BP&Knife
-SB w/CombiFlamer&PowSword, 4x Init w/BP&Chain, 1x Init w/Flamer
-1x Init w/BP&PowSword
2x Intercessor Squad - 188 (94); 5 Man, 4x Inter w/BoltRifle
-Sgt w/BoltRifle&PowSword
Total 759

Black Templar Vanguard
HQ - 75
Emperor’s Champion - 75

Elite - 206
2x Reivar Squad - 200 (100); 5 Man, GravChutes
-Sgt w/Carb&Knife, 4x Reiv w/HvyPistol&Knife
Cenobyte Servitors - 6

Fast Attack - 280
2x Assault Squad - 280 (140); 7 Man, Jump Pack, 4x Marine w/BP&Chain
-Sgt w/TwinPlasmaPistol, 2x Marine w/PlasmPistol&Chain
Total 561

Vostroyan Battalion
HQ - 75
Company Commander - 30; Shotgun, Chainsword
-Kurov’s Aquila
Tempestor Prime - 45; CommandRod, Chainsword

Elite - 133
1x Special Weapon Squad - 45; 6 Man, 3x Gaurd w/Lasgun
-3x Gaurd w/PlasmGun
Militarum Tempestus Command Squad - 88; 4 Man
-4x Scion w/PlasmGun

Troops - 196
2x Infantry Squad - 118(59); 9 Man, 6x Gaurd w/Lasgun, 1x Gaurd w/PlasmGun
-Sgt w/LP&Chain, 1x HvyTeam w/Autocannon
1x Militarum Tempestus Scion Squad - 78; 5 Man, 2x Scion w/PlasmGun
-Tempestor w/PlasmPistol&Chain, 2x Scion w/HotShotLas

Fast Attack - 120
2x Rough Riders - 120 (60); 5 Man, 2x Pony w/LP, Chain + Lance
-Sgt w/LP, Chain + Lance, 2x Pony w/LP, Chain + PlasmGun

Heavy Support - 156
2x Heavy Weapon Squad - 156 (78); 3 Man, 3x HvyTeam w/Lascannon
Total - 680
Grand Total - 2000

So this list is my post FAQ list with 12 Command Points, 119 Models, 45 of those capable of deep striking or otherwise, and a net ‘118’ Power of which 52 of is droppable as Deep Strike. Furthermore there are 23 Units and up to 10 Reserve Units of various stripes. On average I will place 5 Units into reserve, the Reivars, and the Scion Units. And if curious I have 2000 total points and around 970 (969 exactly I believe) can be placed into reserve.

The beta’s rule, affects our use of deep strike as screens, Reivars and in the above list my Assault Marines. The basic change requires a different kind of melee ‘screen’ unit, fast moving and cheap. Rough Riders and Assault Marines for example, in the list above fill that role. The corollary is that using flank units, are no longer as needed.

I’d still advise have something that can do that role, because of niche scenarios vs lists like Blood Angels (whom have a redeploy stratagem), Grey Knights with Gate, and Genestealer Cults, are limited examples. It is no longer a main concern, at a list building level. It is now a concern on game level. The lack of a flanker or deep strikers also means our center can advance more aggressively as they don’t need to meander as much in the turn 1 backfield because there is no worry about an Alpha anymore.

Turn 2 Alpha or Beta’s will represent a different issue. You are less likely to have a center unit in position to counter assault, but a deep striker has now choose which to tackle vs forcing their opponent which unit to tackle back with. That also means certain glasscannons (Scions) with slow movement have to choose the operative target on the drop as that is their only viable target. I meandered quite a bit, but I’ll just look at the basics and my intention next month.

All said and done using the above list, as a sort of baseline, I’ll try and discuss each element of the list, over month or so. The first week is mostly a review of earlier posts, sense it’ll deal with my ‘center’. The second week, looking at the Reivars, Assault Marines And Rough Riders, their role as screens. And how especially the former two have changed in function. The ponies will be used as a way to transition into Week 3. Where I will discuss what we need in our allies (if you are bringing them) and what you should not use for allies. Then finally, recap the previous weeks, and conclude with some thoughts on the FAQ. My hope is try and share what I have learned about dealing with newest FAQ and how it’ll affect our boys in black.

​~~Schlitzaf~~

Week 4: The Crusader and their Line Brothers

The Crusader Squad alongside Grey Hunters is the ideal line squad for much the same reason that Intercessor and Reivars have been discussed throughout these last few weeks. They are jack of all trades, while each having their own focus or role they excel, they don’t do poorly in any role. Of those four units, Crusader Squads are special. They are only of the four without battlefield flexibility, only strategic flexibility. Flexibility determined in the list building stage. That is all vaguely nebulous, let’s focus on Hunters, and Crusaders vs Tacticals. Why are Tacticals bad?

1. They are what is essentially a tactical firefight unit, they want to get within 12” for maximum effectiveness. However they lack the ability to follow up once they are in optimal engagement range.
2. The Chaos equivalent, to Tacticals, the Chaos Marine Squad, doesn’t have that issue, being able to go ChainBro. So why are they still worse than Crusaders and Grey Hunters?
   
   

That is the riddle for the ages, but the key difference is that, Crusaders are cheaper. A basic example at 14 Man Crusader Squad of Equal Neo/Init, has saved a plasma gun worth of points. The other ideal Grey Hunters have Bolter&Chain, so can engage before turn two, while once getting in rapid, have an appreciable number of attacks, so are able to receive a charge. It’s also an important in that some folks may personally dislike Power Swords on 1 attack models, it does increase our offensive potential. Especially vs units were things like Guardians with Platforms things or Deathgaurd. It’s not much, but it’s just enough to allow you win combat in an efficient fashion. In contrast, Chaos Marines and Tacticals limited to two power weapon attacks. 

What is perhaps more important than even that? A power sword for 4 Points let me iterate does increases the damage output of a squad. For 4 Points (say that 5 times fast). The cheapest special for Marines is 9, and the cheapest Heavy is 10. Power Sword is saving you essentially half a marine, the cost which we can then use to pay for the power sword on your Sword Brother. Finally, a squad of ChainBros want to advance every turn. Meaning you are forced into Flamers or Meltaguns as specials. Or limited to 6” movement, making you very static. Grey Hunters while would nominally suffer this same issue, can afford to be more static as they can engage from afar. Then using their rapid specials still do damage and then can receive enemy charges. All while avoiding the dreaded one’s on charging or advancing. 

1. Weapon Options, Crusaders and Grey Hunters Weapon access enables them to do the role required for line squads
2. Neither squad suffers an identity crisis, that affects other ChainBros or BolterBro Squad
   
   

Just to expand on 2, yes split firing exists. But while this squad is rarer than unicorns, a unit of 10 Tacticals with Heavy/Special/Special has around 9 models, that want to get in 12” rapid range. Meaning the squad is gonna want to be moving each turn. Depending on the squad, you have a 20+ Point Heavy, that is normally only single shot and wants to stay still. 

Even if the Lascannons tank hunts while rest of squad shoots infantry. If you are moving to allow proper targets, your Lascannon at -1 to hit. This is why heaviers with high rate of fire like HvyBolters and GravCannons are good for line Squads. Plasma and Grav Specials, for most part cannot advance and shoot. Meaning a chainbro Squad that wants to get into around 12” at start of there turn. Takes two movement phases to get their against a non moving opponent, and getting in range by turn 3. When you have a squad like Grey Hunters which while like to be within 12” are still useful out of it, it’s less of an issue.

But a unit like ChainBro Chaos Marines or Crusaders that a death sentence. Your delaying your charge by at least a turn. And in exchange you get two rounds of special shots. At which point why are you using ChainBros? (Answer once in magic, need ChainBros needed to seal the deal). This makes that 4 point power sword, important as unlike other upgrades it doesn’t drag the squad down by diluting your role focus. 

So how does it come back together to what makes Crusaders good and best Tactical or Line Squad (beside maybe Grey Hunters)? Because every part of the Crusader Squad is used when properly setup. You don’t have chaffBros, your Bolter or ChainBros are a fundamental and intrinsic part of the squad and how that squad functions. They aren’t afterthoughts, they are the squad. If you need a certain unit in the army at List building, Crusaders can be and are your answer. Ultimately that idea applies to all good line squads and what makes a good line squad from a bad one, is that good line Squads don’t see non-CoolWeaponBro as ChaffBro, but see them as fundamental and necessary part of how the unit engages the enemy. 

​And in comparison to other good 'tactical' squads (Intercessors, Strike Squads and Grey Hunters especially), is while those squads are good 'tactically'. Meaning on the battlefield able to role shift to whatever, well role you require of them at that moment in time. Crusader Squads are good strategically, in that whatever role you need them to fill, they can fill at list building stage. At the end of the day that is important, because being Troops, it makes leveraging at Battalion or Double Battalion easier for those sweet command points. A pure Templar list should at 2000 be able to easily leverage two double battalions, 2 Castellans, 1 Marshall, and the Emperor's Champion, with two backrow FauxDevi Crusaders, two Tide Crusaders, then either 2 Intercessors, Fire Support Crusaders, Scouts or just third tide and third MSU FauxDevi Crusaders. 

~~Schlitzaf~~

Intercessors and Crusaders are the basic line Squads available to Black Templars. No weird deployment gimmicks, just some basic weaponry and squad configurations. And fill the niche of bulking up our army, for (relatively) cheap. Now as awesome as Crusaders are, hold your horses, I’ll be talking Intercessors first.

Hello everyone!  Every once in a while, you want to play games that give you supreme enjoyment in the game no matter how the list performs.  You play it for the rule of cool, rather than competitive prowess.  This is one of those lists, that takes competitive traits and puts it in a more casual list.  In this case, its an army many people have probably fantasized building.  Let's take a look at it.