Word Bearers

[Imperial Commander Gent]

Well Guys, I want to write up some house rules for a Word Bearers army because I do not feel that the new codex Does them ANY justice (that and I am currently reading dark apostle and am absolutely loving it!) and so this little set of rules that I will be writing up will be a companion set to the codex chaos demons coming out next month.

Here is what I have so far

Dark Apostle - 175 Points Base
ws bs s t w i a ld sv
6 5 4 4 3 5 3 10 3+

Equipment:
Cursed Crozius (See Below)
Bolt Pistol
Frag Grenades
Krak Grenades
Power Armor

Special Rules:
Fearless
4+ Invulnerable Save
Fiery Oratory (See Below)
Blessing of the Dark Gods (See Below)

Options:
May Replace his bolt pistol with a combi-weapon for +5 points or a plasma pistol for +10 Points
May Take a chaos Bike for +30 points
May Take a jump pack/wings for +20 points
May Replace All Wargear with Terminator armor, a combi-bolter, and a cursed crozius for +30 Points
If he takes Terminator Armor, he may replace his combi-bolter with a combi-weapon for +5 Points


Descriptions:

Cursed Crozius
This Weapon was once a divine weapon wielded with the faith of the Imperium and devotion of the emperor in mind. Now it is a corrupt badge of power wielded by the dark apostles of the Word Bearers legion. The effects of this weapon game wise are all hits from this weapon are treated as a power weapon and grants the user a 4+ invulnerable save. The cursed crozius also counts as an icon for the purposes of daemon summoning and deep striking models.

Fiery oratory
The word of the dark apostle is followed without question not through fear of retribution, but through utmost devotion to the Dark Apostle and a devout belief in what He is and all that He stands for. In Game terms, any word bearers unit joined by a Dark Apostle are fearless and any fleeing unit within 12" and within Line of Sight of the dark apostle at the end of a fall back move will automatically regroup, even if below half strength.

Blessing of the Dark Gods
The gods of chaos have truly honored these unholy warriors for all of their devotion and the uncountable millions of souls that the Apostle has sacrificed in their names. In game terms, a Dark Apostle is immune to instant death.


That is what I have so far guys, what do you think?

[experiment 626]

a nice throw-back to the last codex, but overall i think he's a little cheap for his abilities...

a few things;
- when making a character, break down all his individual rules/equipment. so for example, being a chaos lord, start him out with the base cost of a chaos lord. next, look at the costs currently in the codex for a power toy + better invu save (MoT). you can get away with trimming a few pts off the actual cost of these two upgrades, but overall, let the current pts values pretty much stand...

- 150pts is waaaay too cheap for basically giving him a 24" zone of 'and they shall know no fear!' (again, this is why you need to state radius or diameter of his range - exploitation is something we guardsmen do for a living!)
keep in mind that the demagogue of old was pretty much a shorter 'pass all moral check' ability... as it's an old rule that many chaos players are more familiar with, i'd try and stick to that.

- again, 150pts for a 3+/4+ save model which can't be insta-fethed is cheap... (again, for the old version it was 135 pts for just the crozius + d.rune upgrades which did the same thing for the power armoured version.)

- i'd also give the acursed crozius back it's personal icon ability too as really when you think about it, the crozius is an icon of true devotion to darkness!

overall i like the stuff! especially seeing as i'm now doing my own word bearers off-shoot as i can't get the requisit ork models in time for an upcoming tourny!

cheers!

[Imperial Commander Gent]

Well Stitch, thanks for the comments. Now, there is a radius for this thing, it is 12" and all it does is stops the men from fleeing. Now points wise, I was also thinking that he was a bit cheap so how does 175 or 180 sound? It is a bit more reasonable in my mind and I hope that sounds better.

[Imperial Commander Gent]

In times of war, the Dark Apostle will appoint a member of the annointed as his personal champion and it is the duty of this warrior to oversee the campaign in the absence of a Dark Apostle. The Coryphaus is the field commander of the host and it is he whos job it is to plan out all the battles that the host partakes of.

The coryphaus and his retinue take up one HQ slot
0-1 Coryphaus - 115 Points
ws bs s t w i a ld sv
6 5 4 4 2 5 3 10 2+

Wargear:
Terminator Armor
Power Weapon
Combi-Bolter

Options:
May Replace his Power Weapon and Combi-Bolter with a pair of Lightning Claws For +10 Points
May Replace his Power Weapon with a Power Fist for +5 Points
May Replace his combi-bolter with a combi-weapon for +5 Points
May Replace his Power Weapon with a chainfist for +10 Points

May be accompanied by a retinue of Annointed Terminators (see Below)
If the coryphaus and his retinue number 5 models or less, he may take a Land Raider as a dedicated transport for +220 points

Special Rules:
5+ Invulnerable Save
Fearless

The Warriors of the annointed are the warrior elite of the host. Each member having proven himself in the eyes of the Dark Apostle and in the minds of the gods on scores of occasions. They represent the will of the Dark Apostle manifested through ritualistic chanting and impeccable courage and devotion on the battlefield. Each warrior of the Annointed is a giant even amongst giants and it is there duty to lead the host from the front, killing all nonbelievers in a wonton rampage of destruction.

Each squad of annointed take up one elites slot on the force organisation chart
Annointed Terminators - 40 Points Each
Squad Size: 3-10
ws bs s t w i a ld sv
5 4 4 4 1 4 2 10 2+

Wargear:
Terminator Armor
Power Weapon
Combi-Bolter

Options:
See Codex Chaos Space Marines (Use the options from the chaos terminators entry with the exception that only 1 aspiring champion may be taken)

Special Rules:
Champions of the Dark Gods (See Below)

Descriptions:
Champions of the Dark Gods
Annointed terminators have been slaughtering the weakling servants of the imperium for 10,000 years. Their resolve is unflinching and their trust in the Dark Apostle is infinite. In game terms, Annointed Terminators are fearless.

[Dragoon King]

Well, glad to see your putting so much effort into reviving a REAL Chaos legion, and are not happy with all Undivided Legions being vanilla cookies! I mean, they are all the same! GRRRR! If GW doesn't bring out Legion codices, a lot of Chaos players will be angry, including me. The only Chaos armies worth playing now are BL and the cult armies, but they have been neutered a bit too. There is no character what so ever with the other Undivideds. Word Bears are exactly the same as Iron Warriors, who are just like the Night Lords, who are carbon copies of Alpha Legion. Is GW retarded? Anyway, the Dark Apostle looks better now. Umm, did you include a Crozius? Also, I think making it a Personal Icon like Stitch suggests is a great ideal. Remember, WB love Daemons!

[Imperial Commander Gent]

1. Crozius is in there and it is a personal icon!
2. I am actually plannin on doing house rules for all the original legions!

[Imperial Commander Gent]

In the absence of daemons and other warp entities, the rank and file frontline troops of the host are the Power Armored Word Bearers Marines. Each and every one of these warriors has been fighting the servants of the false emperor for millenia and are imbued with the religious fervor of a zealot.

Word Bearers Chaos Space Marine Coteries occupy 1 troops slot on the force organization chart
Word Bearers Chaos Space Marines Coterie
ws bs s t w i a ld sv
4 4 4 4 1 4 1 9 3+ - Standard warrior brother - 15 Points Each
4 4 4 4 1 4 2 10 3+ - Aspiring Champion - 30 Points

Squad size: 1 Aspiring Champion and 4-19 Warrior Brothers

Equipment:
Bolter
Bolt Pistol
Close combat weapon
Frag grenades
Krak Grenades
Mark of Choas Undivided (See Icon of chaos glory for effect)

Options:
For every 6 warrior brothers in a squad, one marine may exchange his Bolter for a weapon from the following list;
Combi-Weapon for +5 Points
Flamer for +5 Points
Meltagun for +10 Points
Plasma Gun for +15 Points

One marine not armed with a special weapon may exchange his bolter with a heavy weapon from the following list;
Heavy Bolter for +15 Points
Missile Launcher for +15 Points
Reaper Autocannon for +20 Points

The aspiring champion may exchange his bolter with a combi-weapon for +5 Points
He may also replace either his bolt pistol or his close combat weapon with one of the weapons from the following list;
Power Weapon for +15 Points
Power Fist for +25 Points
He alternatively may replace all of his weapons with a pair of lightning claws for +30 Points

If the squad numbers 10 models or less they may be mounted in a rhino (see codex chaos marines for details)

[Dravenguild]

The Aspiring champion not able to take plasma pistol?

BLASPHEMER!

But otherwise I love the setup, maybe develop their bond with daemons a bit more but
+50 Smexyness for those rules!

[Imperial Commander Gent]

I plan on developing their bond with daemons in their possessed squads! It will be great fun!

[Drax]

Originally Posted by Imperial Commander Gent

Dark Apostle - 175 Points Base
ws bs s t w i a ld sv
6 5 4 4 3 5 3 10 3+

Equipment:
Cursed Crozius (See Below)
Bolt Pistol
Frag Grenades
Krak Grenades
Power Armor

Options:
May Replace his bolt pistol or combi-bolter with a combi-weapon for +5 points
May Take a chaos Bike for +30 points
May Take a jump pack/wings for +20 points
May Replace All Wargear with Terminator armor, a combi-bolter, and a cursed crozius for +30 Points

really this should be:
May replace his Bolt Pistol for a Plasma Pistol for x points
May Replace his Bolter for a Combi Bolter for x points or a combi weapon for x points

it seems wrong that he would swap his pistol so that he has 2 two handed weapons, and also he ought to have the option of the plasma pistol

[Imperial Commander Gent]

Drax, the cursed Crozius isnt a two handed weapon but thank you for the input.

He has been updated.

[Drax]

sorry, no it seemed like you were saying he had a bolt pistol and a combi bolter and the pistol could be swapped for a combi weapon giving him a combi bolter and combi weapon - but reading it again i think you meant swap pistol for either a combi bolter or combi weapon - right?

anyway - its looking good!

[SteveBerenyi]

Hey gent! wow i was just thinking about word bearers this should come in handy.

[Kharne]

On a note, one can get a daemon prince with a 4+ invulnerable save and immune to insta-kill for 130 points by giving it mark of tzeentch. I'd say 150 for DA is reasonable.