Forbidden Weapon (Pocket Nukes)

[Draconis Argentus Falzone]

Alright, so in a lot of cases, I've joked about seeing a real rule to use in games.

While I don't think it would be a good addition to tournament legal rules, I thought of a scenario where one could be used.

On a 6'x4' table, both players must place two makers representing Imperial Computer terminals. (this scenario is more believable with Traitors, Imperials and Orks. Tau would not see the value of a Nuke, and Eldar would see the negatives more than the positives... Tyranids just wouldn't understand... or would they?)

These four markers must all be within 18" of the center, but at least 12" from each other.

To gain control of a terminal, the player must have at least one model in base-to-base contact with the terminal for a full turn and not locked in close combat.

The first person to gain control of three terminals (not necessarily at the same time) gets to use the nuke the next turn.

When the nuke hits, it hits in a place designated by the player calling it in. This can be anywhere on the table, and there's no restriction to placing the blast in a way which harms his/her own troops... Place a marker to designate the central blast (dice or a small coin, like a dime). This will be the central point for all three blast radii.

Primary Flashzone (Incineration zone)
Str: N/A* AP: 1 Radius: 2 1/2"
Ordnance

Secondary Blast (Fireball)
Str: 9 AP: 2 Radius: 4"
Ordnance

Tertiary Blast (Concussive winds)
Str: 4 (6 for skimmers, except the monolith) AP: 5 Radius: 9"
Ordnance

*All models fully under the primary flashzone automatically are wounded as if hit with twice their toughness, or recieve a penetrating ordnance hit. Invulnerable saves and effects which negate instakill are ignored.

Mark off the outer edge of the Fireball.

On subsequent turns, any models passing through the fireball zone take a Str4 AP4 hit.

Some explanations:

Flashzone: Within the fireball, there is a severe flashover zone which incinerates and vapourizes everything it touches. It would overload any rosarius and melt any adamantine mantle. Even Monoliths could be wiped off the board (blast centered on the monolith = no more necrons).

Fireball: The whole of the primary blast is a large fireball, while its center is severely hotter, the outer skin of the blast is still superheated plasma, but in such concentrations that it is stronger than any harnessable plasma weaponry in the Imperial Arsenal. And likewise, still has a strong chance of removing most armor and infantry.

Concussive Winds: The shockwave of a nuke drastically dies out at a certain distance, so rather than taper off the wind damage, it just has a specific range. Skimmers and fliers would be hurt by flying debris or just getting knocked about by the force of air... I've seen what would happen to a helicopter in the concussion of a nuke. I would guess a Land Speeder would likewise be torn up...


I was also thinking there should be a table-wide pinning test/crewstunned effect... just because nukes would be that scary.

Thoughts?

[DeAd_cOmMaNdO]

i was expecting a much bigger blast! but it looks cool for a scenario.

1 question - you said theres two computer trminals but you need to control 3 to call the nuke. how can you do this?

[Killermoose]

Hmm, that would be a problem. Later on he says 4 markers though so I assume it was a typo. I may have to try this out!

Blast range is a bit small though, but definitely strong enough.

[r4wr89]

wow yea this is a cool idea. as for pinning tests...wouldn't that totally mess up a lot of horde armies? well i guess it makes sense but sometimes that might just go CRAZY. haha. i might try this sometime :] if you do, tell us how that goes!

[Inquisitor Rosenadel]

Y'know, this is pretty cool! The Adeptus Mechanicus used nuclear weapons during the Horus Heresy, so this could be some kind of secret installation. Very neat.

This makes me want to think up more ancient-type stuff...

[Draconis Argentus Falzone]

I meant to say that both players put out two terminals each, totaling to four...

I made it a small blast, because the original size (central blast radius: 9" secondary fireball: 12" and concussive windforce: 36") seemed WAY too huge for 40k scale...

However, if you'd like, experiment with the blast size. The objective is that after you launch the nuke, you may not have annihilated your enemy.

I didn't include scatter, but I should point out, that would be a good idea (main blast is ordnance blast size, so, scattering at 2d6 could be a big deciding factor for what dies).

And another note: Orks wouldn't get their normal large squad leadership bonus against the pinning test... It's the biggest shiny they've ever seen. They gots ta stop an' ogle at it.

[Killermoose]

Honestly, who wouldn't? I may have a go at this this week at some point. Who doesn't love nukes?

[DeAd_cOmMaNdO]

the japanese, id say

[Killermoose]

Whoops.....I didn't think of that.
(slaps hand for being so foolish)

[Dan296]

ooo thats cold.......also the pacific ilsands that underwent nuke tests
but why wouldnt tyranids understand it? some dumb termagaunt crawling over a terminal accidently steps on a big red button....hmm...
but you could also have it so it takes a turn to program coordinates and another to launch it, and you can have a victory chart like this
win--you launch the nuke, your commander survives
draw--you launch the nuke, commander dies OR opponent launches nuke, his commander dies
loss-opponent launches nuke, his commander lives

this would be like programming the nuke to fire at the opponents main base, and then getting your commander out of there to fight another day. the scenario would be 6 turns long, only ending before that if the player who fired it gets his commander to touch the table edge (and he leaves)

[Khadhar'phak]

A nice idea. I think that the initial blast should fry out synapse for a turn with the nids, as such a large noise being experienced by thousands of creatures hearing it at the same time would surely be enough to muck with the Synapse creatures powers. Like Obi Wan when that planet gets destroyed (bad example, but meh.)