I was reading about the 'Knights of the Chalice' who feature in the Blood Angels Codex as an apparently new purely Primaris Blood Angels Successor Chapter...it mentions "renowned for their aggressive orbital strikes...coupled with destabilising strikes by Reiver Squads". It does also talk about them fielding large numbers of Inceptor Squads, but I'm not sold on them yet.... About the same time I noticed that the new Vanguard Lieutenant in Phobos armour can become a Reiver.
Both got me interested in a army concept around a Vanguard Detachment with a Phobos Lieutenant and 3 large units of Reivers. Reiver units can now give out up to a -3 Leadership (Ld) to enemy units in a bubble with their Terror Troops rule when they drop in if all in range of the enemy...and with Shock Assault Reivers are even better with their Combat knives...the only issue I noticed is that when the Lieutenant in Phobos armour becomes a Reiver he somehow is not allowed a grav-chute (he gets a smoke grenade instead - eh?!), doesn't even get Concealed Position which is very odd.
Wanting to maximise the Reivers, you'd take 10 man units. At the start of the game you'd probably want to Combat Squad them too...potentially keeping one at max size. If after they drop and you wanted the big unit to split up you could use Tactical Flexibility (1 CP) if they are still at full strength to combat squad them. Depending on points you would want to take Grav-chutes and Grapnel Launchers for maximum flexibility! Why can't the Reiver Lieutenant take either of these GW = fail?!
I was also getting very interested in the negative Ld bubble they all caused with Terror Troops, and I thought about how else to maximise the enemy leadership de-buff...
But for what purpose? The only things I could think of was to de-buff leadership, force morale checks, and cause the enemy to lose the difference in additional models in the morale phase as often as possible...as well as denying enemy psykers, shutting down smite spam!
But is there enough in the list to force this to happen? Is it at all competitive let alone playable? What else could we add...
Being Blood Angels the key (only) Ld de-buff is the Death Mask, so adding a Sanguinary Ancient with Death Mask was my first thought for a potential -4 Ld bubble when in the thick of it...Similarly throwing in the Sanguinor with his Death Mask mainly for the +1 attack bubble for the Reiver units was a given...the list therefore providing a use for ‘Behold the golden host’ stratagem for once if required...
A Librarian in Phobos armour with Hallucination (Select a visible enemy unit within 18". Its Ld is reduced by 1. The opponent must also roll 2d6, and if the result is higher than the unit's Ld all its hit rolls take a -1 penalty) and Mind Raid (Select a visible enemy unit within 18". It takes a Mortal Wound. If your army is Battle-Forged and the power targeted a character, roll 3d6. If the result is greater than or equal to the target's Ld, you get a free Command Point!) to back up the detachment came to mind which are both useful.
But we'd need more CPs in the starting army... Given all the Phobos, and unfortunate footslogging Reiver Lieutenants (why no Concealed Position at least GW, why?), this made a potentially easy choice for the troops of a Battalion - Infiltrators - and if each unit takes an Infiltrator Comms Array they'd be able to benefit from the Phobos Lieutenant's aura...This suggested we also squeeze in the Captain in Phobos Armour too for the extra hit buff for the Infiltrator troops, his beafy Master-crafted instigator bolt carbine (touch on that later), and he will also add to the Infiltrator Omni-scrambler screening bubble...
We could make the Reiver Phobos Lieutenant the warlord and give him the Vanguard trait: Master of the Vanguard - Friendly PHOBOS units within 6" of the warlord gain +1" to their move and advance and charge rolls. Decent for our Reiver bomb...but the Lieutenant(s) have to get up the field somehow...
But what else to make the list work?
1) A jump pack Librarian with Unleash Rage and Blood Boil may help the Reivers...but ideally you'd want a Primaris Librarian (who sadly doesn't have a jump pack) in a Knights of the Chalice list.
2) Perhaps time to use an Impulsor with Shield Dome to transport the Primaris Librarian into the heart of combat with a combat squad of Reivers with him! Or in fact this Impulsor could also be the chariot that the Lieutenant(s) in Phobos armour needs!!!
3) Potentially a mitigation to this list's main -Ld effect is morale boosting enemy characters or those who make units immune...therefore a couple of units of Eliminators to babysit the Master-crafted instigator bolt carbine Captain in Phobos armour will help take out those pesky characters, as he can target characters too...perhaps a Spearhead detachment with the Captain, and three Eliminator Squads, or just fit a couple of them in the Battalion...
4) What the list doesn't currently have is anti flyer or anti armour at all (totally relying on shear number of AP- Reiver attacks so far) - big problem. But being Blood Angels we have a great unit which can include a Ld de-buff! That's right: Sanguinary Guard with Death Masks! Perfect.
5) If we were to stick true with the theme of the Knights of the Chalice, I should really look to Inceptor Squads...! I reckon armed with Plasma Exterminators used to chase down enemy flyers and armour...they are 3 wounds each now!!! But are they any good in this list?
6) Finally some Suppressor units to provide anti-overwatch supporting fire to the combat squad-ed Reivers...
Edit: 7) I did forget about the Invictor Tactical Warsuit which may actually be really useful distraction carnifexs and heavy hitters (maybe two of). Possibly modified with Reiver helmets for the drivers!
Enough to make a 2000 point list out of that?...Or make that a 1556 point list! See below:
As a slight tangent I have always wanted to take Inquisitor Karamazov in an Imperial list. Would you believe it when I looked that he also causes the Ld de-buff to those around him! Therefore, as Blood Angels don't yet have Combat Doctrines to keep hold of, perhaps an allied detachment of Inquisitors would fit somehow thematically in (investigating the purely Primaris Blood Angel successor for 'flaws')...I came up with this nicely rounded 444 point Supreme Command detachment which we could try to fit in:
Inquisition Supreme Command Detachment - 444:
HQ - Inquisitor Karamazov (150): Ordo Hereticus, Forces enemy PSYKERs within 12" to subtract 1 from their psychic tests and imposes a penalty of -1 Ld to all enemy INFANTRY within that same radius. - 150;
HQ - Inquisitor (55), Ordo Hereticus, psyker one power, Incinerator (20), force sword (12) with Terrify power - 87;
HQ - Ordo Malleus Inquisitor in Terminator Armour (91), psyker one power, psycannon (20), force sword (12) with Dominate power - 123;
Elites - Acolytes (8), Ordo Hereticus, Needle Pistol (2), Power Maul (4), Loyal servant rule (look after Karamazov and the Hereticus Inquisitor), 6 man. - 84.
Inquisition Psychic table is Telethesia:
Terrify: WC value 6. Target a single enemy unit within 18". The unit subtracts 1 from their leadership and cannot fire overwatch. A Ld de-duff and anti-overwatch! Perfect.
Dominate: WC value 7. Targets an enemy Character within 18". You immediately take control of the enemy unit and can make a single shooting or close combat attack. So your Knight is a character now you say??
For those non Blood Angels Space Marine Chapter players out there, using the new Codex Space Marines you are probably even better at this type of list!
You could make a successor chapter based around the chapter trait Fearsome Aspect, -1 Leadership to enemy units while they're within 3" of any of your units, to combine with the Reivers' aura. Amazing!
This would be the main trait and then combined with: Hungry for Battle, +1" to the advance or charge roll or; Whirlwind of Rage: When making melee attacks for a unit that charged, was charged or made a Heroic Intervention, unmodified hit rolls of 6 score an additional hit or; Stealthy: Count as being in cover when at least 12" away from enemies or; Tactical Withdrawal, Units with this tactic can Charge after having performed a Fall Back move earlier in the turn or; Long Range Marksmen: +3" range to all ranged weapons or; Master Artisans: A unit with this tactic can re-roll a single failed to hit roll and a single failed wound roll each time it shoots or fights (including overwatch) or; Stalwart: When rolling for wounds against your models, natural rolls of 1 or 2 always fail, regardless of any modifiers or abilities the attacking unit might have. One of those I reckon...
Giving the main Warlord who is perhaps the Phobos Reiver Lieutenant the trait: Fear Made Manifest - Enemy units within 6" get -1 Leadership, which would stack with his Terror Troops ability, and the Fearsome Aspect ability for a -3 Ld from one model!!! EDIT: This would actually 'allow' one Phobos Lieutenant to remain a non-Reiver and keep his Grav-chute to be able to drop down with some of the Reivers - Fear Made Manifest therefore making him an honourary Reiver! This is a nice thematic solution to get the Lieutenant up the field with the Reivers!!!
And then using Hero of the Chapter (1 CP) to give another Phobos Reiver Lieutenant another warlord trait such as Master of the Vanguard - Friendly PHOBOS units within 6" of the warlord gain +1" to their move and advance and charge rolls. Which would then stack with say the Hungry for Battle ability if taken for +2 to charge and advance. Reiver heaven! EDIT: Again, maybe even just not make the Phobos Lieutenant a Reiver to keep his Grav-shute...but I'd like at least one of them a true Reiver!
Taking a normal Primaris Librarian with Veil of Time and Psychic Scourge (Make a Leadership value + 1D6 contested against the Leadership value + 1D6 of an enemy unit within 18" of the psyker. If you beat the enemy they take D3 mortal wounds, equal them they take 1 Mortal Wound) would be useful support beside the Librarian in Phobos armour I mentioned before.
Luckily Space Marines can take the Primaris Ancient with the Standard of the Emperor Ascendant which has a Ld de-duff too - enemy units within 6" (or is it 9" now?) get -1 leadership.
Reliquary of Gathalamor: Enemy Psykers must subtract 1 from Psychic tests made within 18" of the bearer. In addition, if the psychic power is not successfully manifested, roll a D6. On a 4+ the Psyker that attempted to manifest that psychic power suffers D3 mortal wounds; would come in very handy with all the very low leadership psykers about depending on your meta...
The Honour Vehement: Friendly units with the Shock assault ability always get the +1A instead of having to meet the criteria. Useful for ongoing Reiver combats...
The Vox Espiritum: PRIMARIS only. +3" to their aura ability. I am not sure if that is all auras but I think it is. Cough, the Reiver Lieutenant's -3 Ld de-buff bubble (and re roll 1s to wound), cough...
Finally Purgatorus: Upgrades a bolt/heavy bolt pistol to Pistol 2 S5 AP-3 D2, might be a nice upgrade to a Phobos Reiver Lieutenant if nothing else, but I think the Standard and the Reliquary are the ones to go for unless you know you're not up against psykers. The Armour Indomitus would be useful for one of the Lieutenants however...
Other supporting units of use not previously mentioned:
Thunderfire Cannon or two using Suppression Fire (2 CP) and Tremor Shells (1 CP) and a Librarian in Phobos armour with Tenebrous Curse would combo nicely to trap your enemy whilst your Reivers close in around them...
Impulsor with Shield Dome to transport the Primaris Ancient with standard into the heart of combat with a combat squad of Reivers with him. And/or the Phobos Lieutenant(s)...perhaps a couple of Impulsors required then...
Repulsor with Las-talon and Twin Lascannon, a more anti flyer/armoured transport.
Repulsor Executioner with Macro Plasma Incinerator and Icarus Rocket Pod, an even better (but more expensive) anti flyer/armour transport.
Aggressors with auto boltstorm gauntlets and a frag grenade launchers...just because...
Operative Requisition Sanctioned (ORS) (-2CP) - Culexus Assassin - Abomination, -2 from psychic tests and denies of enemy pskers with 18". More anti psyker, but it depends on your meta. I assume that Combat Doctrines still work with ORS?
So, a lot of information thrown at you here... Can anyone suggest a 2000 point 'competitive (?)' Knights of the Chalice (Blood Angel successor), or even a normal (new codex) Space Marine list which is based around Leadership de-buffing?!
Or was all this just a crazy dream...are there too many Ld immune armies out-there to even make this type of list at all viable?
Well I've had a go at making a Knights of the Chalice list following the above ideas. You don't get much doing pure Primaris do you... :-S
Knights of the Chalice (Blood Angels successor - 'counts as Blood Angels') Reiver themed army list:
Battle-forged: 3 CPs
Battalion: 5 CPs
HQ: Captain in Phobos Armour - Relic (Veritas Vitae) - 99
HQ: Librarian in Phobos Armour - Hallucination and Mind Raid - 101
Troop: Infiltrators x5 - Infiltrator Comms Array - 120
Troop: Infiltrators x5 - Infiltrator Comms Array - 120
Troop: Infiltrators x5 - Infiltrator Comms Array - 120
Heavy Support: Eliminators - 2x Bolt Sniper Rifles, 1x Instigator Bolt Carbine - 74
Heavy Support: Eliminators - 2x Bolt Sniper Rifles, 1x Instigator Bolt Carbine - 74
Vanguard 1: 1 CPs
HQ: Lieutenant in Phobos Armour - Bolt Pistol, Master-Crafted Occulus Bolt Carbine; Paired Combat Blades, Grav-Chute - Warlord (Master of the Vanguard) - 81
HQ: Lieutenant in Phobos Armour - Heavy Bolt Pistol, Combat Knife - Reiver - 75
Elite: Reivers x10 - Grav-Chutes - 200
Elite: Reivers x10 - Grav-Chutes - 200
Elite: Reivers x10 - Grapnel Launchers - 200
Vanguard 2: 1 CPs
HQ: Sanguinor - 150
Elite: Sanguinary Ancient - Plasma Pistol, Power Fist, Death Mask - Relic (Standard of Sacrifice) - 80
Elite: Sanguinary Guard x 5 - 4x Angelus Boltguns, 1x Inferno Pistol, Power Fists, Death Masks - 174
Elite: Invictor Tactical Warsuit (with Reiver helmet mod) - Fragstorm Grenade Launcher, Heavy Bolter, Incendium Cannon; 2 Ironhail Heavy Stubbers, Invictor Fist - 131
10 CPs, -1 CP (Armoury of Baal) = 9 CPs starting. 1999 Points.
I am not sure if a Lieutenant in Phobos Armour can be given Death Visions of Sanguinius due to the way it is worded, thoughts? I'd like to give it to the Warlord Lieutenant ('in Phobos Armour')...if so, another -1 CP at the start...
Tactics:
The Captain and Reiver Lieutenant sit at the back buffing the Eliminators, taking out any key characters in the open, while simultaneously both buffing the Infiltrators who are elsewhere due to their Comms Arrays.
The Librarian and the Infiltrators screen and cause problems in the mid-field and go for objectives.
The Master of the Vanguard Lieutenant Grav-Chutes in with four combat squads worth of Reivers and just gets stuck in to the juiciest part of the enemy line. The Grapnel Launcher Reivers give the enemy's back-line a nice surprise, or go after remote objectives late game.
The Invictor Tactical Warsuit shreds some of the screening chaff 9" away fist turn to make way for the Reivers arrival.
Then, 'BEHOLD THE GOLDEN HOST', the Sanguinor, the Sanguinary Ancient, and the Sanguinary Guard jump in and go after any heavy target(s) in close proximity to the Reivers.
I'd want to get off 'Behold the Golden Host' at least once using this list... ;-)
So, a lot of strength 4 attacks...and...not much else! What do you think?
I do think at the moment without Combat Doctrines Blood Angels will suffer with this sort of list, I think new Codex Space Marines can do this a lot better now, especially with Tactical and Assault Doctrines active, which this type of list desperately needs.
Go on, someone make me a new Codex Space Marines list with a similar theme - or just the same and we can compare how much better it is! :-)
For those who are purist Primaris and hardcore to the theme of the Knights of the Chalice, I recommend swapping out the Vanguard 2 detachment above, for an Outrider detachment featuring:
Outrider: 1 CPs
HQ: Primaris Librarian - Unleash Rage and Blood Boil - 101 /or, Librarian in Phobos Armour - Tenebrous Curse and Temporal Corridor - 101
Fast Attack: Inceptors - Plasma Exterminators - 177
Fast Attack: Inceptors - Plasma Exterminators - 177
Fast Attack: Suppressors - 90
This is 10 points more expensive than the Vanguard it replaces, so to fit this in take one of the Infiltrator's Comms Array away. Job done!
I like the addition of a Primaris Librarian for Unleash Rage (even more Reiver attacks!), but if you want to maximise Phobos then go for another Librarian in Phobos Armour. This one with Tenebrous Curse, will help corral large threat units to be served up as Reiver meat...The Suppressors can hang out with the Eliminators being buffed by the Captain and Lieutenant to ensure kills for anti-overwatch, and the Inceptors, well, intercept and hunt down flyers...
How very Knights of the Chalice!
For those who are purist Primaris and use the new SM Codex, I recommend swapping out the Vanguard 2 detachment above, for one featuring:
Vanguard 2: 1 CPs
HQ: Primaris Librarian - Veil of Time and Psychic Scourge - 101 /or, Librarian in Phobos Armour - Tenebrous Curse and Temporal Corridor - 101
Elite: Primaris Ancient - Relic (Standard of the Emperor Ascendant) - 69
Elite: Invictor Tactical Warsuit (with Reiver helmet mod) - Fragstorm Grenade Launcher, Heavy Bolter, Incendium Cannon; 2 Ironhail Heavy Stubbers, Invictor Fist - 131
Elite: Invictor Tactical Warsuit (with Reiver helmet mod) - Fragstorm Grenade Launcher, Heavy Bolter, Incendium Cannon; 2 Ironhail Heavy Stubbers, Invictor Fist - 131
Dedicated Transport: Impulsor - 2x Stormbolter, Ironhail Heavy Stubber, Shield Dome - 103
This is the same price as the Sanguinary Vanguard above. Job done!
Combine with Fearsome Aspect, and Hungry for Battle or Whirlwind of Rage/Tactical Withdrawal/Stealthy/Stalwart as Chapter Traits.
Make the Lieutenant in Phobos Armour with Grav-Chute the warlord and give him the Master of the Vanguard warlord trait (to combine with Hungry for Battle when Grav-ing in with the Reivers).
Using Hero of the Chapter give the Primaris Ancient the Fear Made Manifest instead, or give the Captain in Phobos armour either Target Priority or Marksman Honours.
Then give the warlord Lieutenant in Phobos Armour: The Armour Indomitus or, Reliquary of Gathalamor or, The Honour Vehement or, The Vox Espiritum depending on what you're up against. The Armour Indomitus is a solid choice for him to stick around to support the Reivers... Perhaps the Reliquary of Gathalamor could additionally be given to a Phobos Librarian in the mid-field if you can afford the extra CPs.
So the now two Invictor Warsuits cause havoc from the off, the Primaris Ancient gets a ride with one of the Grapnel Launcher Reiver combat squads in the Impulsor into the heart of the enemy where the rest of the Reivers will drop in, and the additional Librarian offers further psychic support...
The only negative is lack of anti-flyer I feel...but you could always give both Invictor Warsuits Twin ironhail autocannons instead of the Incendium cannons...you will find the extra 10 points required by taking away one Infiltrator Comms Array...but I am unaware of any significant points changes in the new SM Codex so it may just fit in...
What do you Space Marine players think of this purely Primaris leadership de-buffing army?
Turns out in the new SM Codex Reivers are only 16 points per model rather than 18 in the Blood Angels codex, so SM players could have a bounty of 60 points 'spare'. Tricky to spend them though given the selections...
I'd suggest just making the drop units of Reivers super flexible by giving them Grapnel Launchers as well as the Grav-Chutes...I've also made a tweak to the Eliminators - if they are being buffed by the Captain and Lieutenant at the back then may as all give them all Bolt Snipers...and although I didn't want to take away the Reiver keyword on the second Lieutenant, we may as well give him something decent to shoot with so there are points to return him to standard load out with the master-crafted occulus bolt carbine...no longer Reiver though, booo, but he has his Grav-Chute back so can back up the Reiver bomb if required...The Invictor Warsuits now have the Twin Ironhail Autocannons...and made the Primaris Ancient the warlord with Fear Made Manifest for theme (-3 Ld near him...), making the drop Lieutenant a Hero of the Chapter to avoid an early warlord death...I think that's it...inefficiently 9 points spare unfortunately!
This 'terrifying' SM Chapter needs a name...
Battle-forged: 3 CPs. Fearsome Aspect and Hungry for Battle.
Battalion: 5 CPs
HQ: Captain in Phobos Armour - 99
HQ: Librarian in Phobos Armour - Hallucination and Mind Raid - 101
Troop: Infiltrators x5 - Infiltrator Comms Array - 120
Troop: Infiltrators x5 - Infiltrator Comms Array - 120
Troop: Infiltrators x5 - Infiltrator Comms Array - 120
Heavy Support: Eliminators - 3x Bolt Sniper Rifles - 72
Heavy Support: Eliminators - 3x Bolt Sniper Rifles - 72
Vanguard 1: 1 CPs
HQ: Lieutenant in Phobos Armour - Bolt Pistol, Master-Crafted Occulus Bolt Carbine; Paired Combat Blades, Grav-Chute - Hero of the Chapter (Master of the Vanguard) - Relic (The Armour Indomitus) - 81
HQ: Lieutenant in Phobos Armour - Bolt Pistol, Master-Crafted Occulus Bolt Carbine; Paired Combat Blades, Grav-Chute - 81
Elite: Reivers x10 - Heavy Bolt Pistols, Combat Knives, Grav-Chutes and Grapnel Launchers - 200
Elite: Reivers x10 - Heavy Bolt Pistols, Combat Knives, Grav-Chutes and Grapnel Launchers - 200
Elite: Reivers x10 - Bolt Carbines, Grapnel Launchers - 180
Vanguard 2: 1 CPs
HQ: Primaris Librarian - Veil of Time and Psychic Scourge - 101 /or, Librarian in Phobos Armour - Tenebrous Curse and Temporal Corridor - 101
Elite: Primaris Ancient (with Reiver helmet mod) - Warlord (Fear Made Manifest) - Relic (Standard of the Emperor Ascendant) - 69
Elite: Invictor Tactical Warsuit (with Reiver helmet mod) - Fragstorm Grenade Launcher, Heavy Bolter, Twin Ironhail Autocannons; 2 Ironhail Heavy Stubbers, Invictor Fist - 136
Elite: Invictor Tactical Warsuit (with Reiver helmet mod) - Fragstorm Grenade Launcher, Heavy Bolter, Twin Ironhail Autocannons; 2 Ironhail Heavy Stubbers, Invictor Fist - 136
Dedicated Transport: Impulsor - 2x Stormbolter, Ironhail Heavy Stubber, Shield Dome - 103
10 CPs, -1 CP (Hero of the Chapter), -1 CP (Additional Relic) = 8 CPs starting. 1991 Points.
Possibly give Reliquary of Gathalamor to a Phobos Librarian for another 1 CP.
If anyone knows how to spend that 9 points comment (I was hoping an Eliminator Las Fusil was 12 points to exchange a Sergeant's Bolt Sniper for, but they are 15 points sadly)...and if you are a SM player have have the units, try it out and comment on its performance...
V.2 Taking away the second Librarian HQ and moving the second Lieutenant to Vanguard 2 you can technically fit in a third Invictor Warsuit...good for first turn AP2 autocannoning...
Battle-forged: 3 CPs. Fearsome Aspect and Hungry for Battle.
Battalion: 5 CPs
HQ: Captain in Phobos Armour - 99
HQ: Librarian in Phobos Armour - Hallucination and Mind Raid - Relic (Reliquary of Gathalamor) 101
Troop: Infiltrators x5 - Infiltrator Comms Array - 120
Troop: Infiltrators x5 - Infiltrator Comms Array - 120
Troop: Infiltrators x5 - Infiltrator Comms Array - 120
Heavy Support: Eliminators - 3x Bolt Sniper Rifles - 72
Heavy Support: Eliminators - 2x Bolt Sniper Rifles, 1x Las Fusil - 84
Vanguard 1: 1 CPs
HQ: Lieutenant in Phobos Armour - Bolt Pistol, Master-Crafted Occulus Bolt Carbine; Paired Combat Blades, Grav-Chute - Hero of the Chapter (Master of the Vanguard) - Relic (The Armour Indomitus) - 81
Elite: Reivers x10 - Heavy Bolt Pistols, Combat Knives, Grav-Chutes - 180
Elite: Reivers x10 - Heavy Bolt Pistols, Combat Knives, Grav-Chutes - 180
Elite: Reivers x10 - Bolt Carbines, Grapnel Launchers - 180
Vanguard 2: 1 CPs
HQ: Lieutenant in Phobos Armour - Bolt Pistol, Master-Crafted Occulus Bolt Carbine; Paired Combat Blades, Grav-Chute - 81
Elite: Primaris Ancient (with Reiver helmet mod) - Warlord (Fear Made Manifest) - Relic (Standard of the Emperor Ascendant) - 69
Elite: Invictor Tactical Warsuit (with Reiver helmet mod) - Fragstorm Grenade Launcher, Heavy Bolter, Twin Ironhail Autocannons; 2 Ironhail Heavy Stubbers, Invictor Fist - 136
Elite: Invictor Tactical Warsuit (with Reiver helmet mod) - Fragstorm Grenade Launcher, Heavy Bolter, Twin Ironhail Autocannons; 2 Ironhail Heavy Stubbers, Invictor Fist - 136
Elite: Invictor Tactical Warsuit (with Reiver helmet mod) - Fragstorm Grenade Launcher, Heavy Bolter, Twin Ironhail Autocannons; 2 Ironhail Heavy Stubbers, Invictor Fist - 136
Dedicated Transport: Impulsor - 2x Stormbolter, Ironhail Heavy Stubber, Shield Dome - 103
10 CPs, -1 CP (Hero of the Chapter), -2 CP ( 2 Additional Relics) = 7 CPs starting. 1998 Points.
So, good if you like the new Invictor Tactical Warsuits...this one has three! Nice on the first turn with Devastator Doctrine active getting all those AP-2 autocannon shots... Lost the second Librarian in this version, but the extra Warsuit might be a harder hitting addition...to use up the remaining points I've given one of the Eliminator sergeants a Las Fusil to do some tank sniping...
Eureka! I found it! The perfect Space Marine Chapter for this type of list - The Brotherhood of Shadows (https://wh40khomebrew.fandom.com/wiki/Brotherhood_of_Shadows). Their specialties are: Punitive Actions, Enforced Pacification, Infiltration, Assassination, Terror Tactics, Psychological Warfare. Perfect for the Fearsome Aspect successor chapter trait. Funnily enough Night Lords Traitor Legion are known rivals of the Brotherhood of Shadows, as the latter hates everything the former represents. Though both rivals have the same tactics and utilise the same kinds of weapons...
They have a really interesting story and some unique rank names such as: Listener - Chapter Master equivalent, Master Butcher - Chief Apothecary equivalent, Butcher - Apothecary equivalent, Master Torturer - Reclusiarch equivalent; senior Chaplain, Torturer - Chaplain equivalent. Which has given me a great thematic idea of some character tweaks in the SM list...
Their doctrine mentions they value stealth above all things (suggests taking Stealthy successor chapter tactic as the second one). The Brotherhood are also known for tracking their "prey" for long periods of time only striking when the time is right. Also the way a battle-brother gain rank is by the number of kills they obtain. As this number increases the higher a battle brother rank will be even serving as one of the 'Silencers' a squad composed only of veterans (Reiver squads anyone), this squad serves the Chapter command known as the 'Black Council'.
So:
Brotherhood of Shadows chapter 'The Black Council' (Fearsome Aspect and Stealthy)
Battle-forged: 3 CPs.
Battalion: 5 CPs
HQ: Captain in Phobos Armour {Listener} - Chapter Master - 99
HQ: Librarian in Phobos Armour - Hallucination and Mind Raid - 101
Troop: Infiltrators x5 - Helix Adept {Butcher} - 120
Troop: Infiltrators x5 - Helix Adept {Butcher} - 120
Troop: Infiltrators x5 - Helix Adept {Butcher} - 120
Heavy Support: Eliminators - 3x Bolt Sniper Rifles - 72
Heavy Support: Eliminators - 3x Bolt Sniper Rifles - 72
Heavy Support: Eliminators - 3x Las Fusils - 108
Vanguard 1: 1 CPs
HQ: Lieutenant in Phobos Armour - Bolt Pistol, Master-Crafted Occulus Bolt Carbine; Paired Combat Blades, Grav-Chute - Hero of the Chapter (Master of the Vanguard) - 81
Elite: Reivers x10 {Silencers} - Heavy Bolt Pistols, Combat Knives, Grav-Chutes - 180
Elite: Reivers x10 {Silencers} - Heavy Bolt Pistols, Combat Knives, Grav-Chutes - 180
Elite: Primaris Apothecary {Master Butcher} - 68
Vanguard 2: 1 CPs
HQ: Primaris Chaplain {Master Torturer} - Warlord (Fear Made Manifest) - Relic (Benediction of Fury) - 77
Elite: Primaris Ancient - Relic (Standard of the Emperor Ascendant) - 69
Elite: Invictor Tactical Warsuit - Fragstorm Grenade Launcher, Heavy Bolter, Twin Ironhail Autocannons; 2 Ironhail Heavy Stubbers, Invictor Fist - 136
Elite: Invictor Tactical Warsuit - Fragstorm Grenade Launcher, Heavy Bolter, Incendium Cannon; 2 Ironhail Heavy Stubbers, Invictor Fist - 131
Heavy Support: Hellblasters x5 - Plasma Incinerators - 165
Dedicated Transport: Impulsor - 2x Stormbolter, Shield Dome - 97
10 CPs, -2 CP (Chapter Master), -1 CP (Hero of the Chapter), -1 CP (Additional Relic) = 6 CPs starting. 1996 Points.
Making the Captain a Chapter Master is hardcore CP wise but thematically for the Brotherhood is a must...although this now makes the Infiltrators Infiltrator Comms Array less useful as the Captain loses Rites of Battle...(needs an FAQ that). However thematically this means that each Infiltrator unit can take a Helix Adept, or in Brotherhood of Shadows rank terms, Butchers! Nice...
I have taken on the comment advice and upped the anti-tank with some Las Fusil Eliminators and a unit of Hellblasters all who will be within range of the Chapter Master, along with the other Eliminators. I am tempted to spread the Las Fusils out by giving one to each sergeant rather than having one unit with them all though... The addition of the Primaris Chaplain with Benediction of Fury provides an absolute beatstick as the 'Master Torturer', especially with the Mantra of Strength Litanies of Battle activated (Smash Chaplain anyone: 6 attacks on the charge, WS2+ S7 AP-2 D4, unmodified wound rolls of 6 do a mortal wound in addition to other damage!). Yes, The Imperium's Sword warlord trait would make him even better (rerolls failed charges (either one or both dice), and gets +1S and +1A the turn he charges) but at the moment for theme alone I have gone with Fear Made Manifest. He along with the Primaris Ancient (and maybe Primaris Apothecary, although he may hang out with the Captain) will drive up in the Shield Domed Impulsor to support the Reiver drop. This list still has two Warsuits, one with an Incendium Cannon for points, which can support both the back and front line. The Infiltrators are now self sustaining which is cool...and the Librarian in Phobos Armour is still in there to cause trouble. If you didn't mind about CPs you could throw in Reliquary of Gathalamor or The Armour Indomitus still but you want to keep some for in game stratagems! Stealthy will actually really help here as you don't need to take Prepared Positions (saving 2 CPs...). Mind Raid on the Librarian will also help with the CPs often - if there are any enemy characters left... But we did lose some Reivers which is sad, but the overall list I think is better...