Eagle Marines: WH40K Back Story Update 2023

Eagle Marines – Background Update 2023

Previously........ 8th Edition

The original back story for my Eagle Marines was that the Primaris marine units joined the Chapter and rather than them be integrated into existing companies, the Chapter Master decreed that the reinforcements should form ten new companies numbered 11 to 20 to replicate the First Born companies of the Chapter. 

One good reason for not integrating Primaris with First Born was that the new units had incompatible tech. This is why Primaris cannot ride in Rhino transports. The connections and interfaces are not compatible. It is like trying to plug into a VHS recorder using a USB cable when you require a Scart Lead. 

Previously........... 9th edition

As more and more units of Primaris reinforcements were released and added to the collection it became less satisfying that they were the 12th Battle Company with supporting elements of the 18th, 19th 20th etc 

I took the decision to re-write the back story. 

The updated version of events is that the Primaris reinforcements were dispatched from Mars to go and meet up with the Chapter fleet. However, shortly after departing they received word from the Tech Priests that the entire Chapter had been out of contact for several months. Their last report had been to declare that they were about to tackle a massive Tyranid Hive Fleet invasion force in the far Eastern sector of the quadrant. The silence from the Chapter led to the conclusion that they had failed in their attempt to stop the Aliens in their tracks and it is assumed that there are no survivors to be contacted. 

The Primaris Eagle Marines were told that they must organize themselves into companies under a new Command Headquarters. They would carry on the traditions of the Eagle Marines as a chapter reborn. 

Presently.............10th Edition Update..........

The Leviathan Edition has re-introduced Terminators and Sternguard Veterans as new sculpts.

Fortunately these are both 'First Company' units and so, my Eagle Marines Back Story only needs a slight update.

The story is that the Pramaris Eagle Marine forces that went to meet up with the First Born Chapter Brothers were able to locate, and meet up with, a few Veteran Battle Brothers that had survived the Hive Fleet Invasion and the Over Run of the planetary systems in the Eastern Sector.

Although these veterans were not all First Company Brothers when they left to fight the Tyranids, the new Chapter Master immediately promoted any First Born Brothers into the Fist Company to fight alongside his Primaris Blade Guard units.

Warhammer 40,000: 10th Edition

Greetings,

I have not posted for a while, but the launch of WH40K: 10th Edition has prompted me to create an update.

At the time of writing, I have had three games of the new edition so far.

Game 1: My Chaos Knights v Imperial Guard

I used my Chaos Knights in my final game of 9th Edition and came away with a good win against my regular Tyranids opponent. The buffs and synergies really worked and my knights were powered up. So, seeing how the same list would do seemed like a plan.

The first game of 10th Edition ended after Battle Round Three (due to time running out) The result was a narrow win for the Imperial Guard. But if the game had carried on, I could not have turned it around as I had few assets left. One big knight and two little ones.

First impressions? The 'rules on index cards' did not speed things up particularly. There are still lots of layers. Plus, no psychic phase means psychic powers 'go off' in unexpected phases. Also, vehicles are now very tough to 'bring down' easily. Which might be more 'realistic' but will take getting used to.

One other point was that the ability to create a 2,000 points list was not easy. I ended up with an 1,850 point list and added (illegally) missile pods to two knights to level the points.

There was one stratagem on the index cards that was unusable: extending the aura of the Abominant - who had no auras.

Game 2: My Adeptus Custodes v Tyranids

My second game against my regular opponent was a solid victory. The Custodes are very resiliant, especially in decent sized units, with a leader in each.

I only had four unit blocks: Wardens, Guard, Terminators, Bikes (plus a Culexus Assassin)

The bikes (five plus captain) went up the centre and took a lot of damage, the other units did what the wanted, the assassin took out the Neurothrope.

Overall a decent game with a good result.

Game 3: My Adeptus Custodes v Tyranids

My third game resulted in a defeat.

I wanted to include Sisters of Silence to see how they performed. In 9th Edition they had a valuable role against Tyranids, shutting down their psychic phase.

In 10th Edition: T3, W1 sisters are like paper against any non-psychic attacks.

The smaller Custodes units (reduced to be able to free up points for the sisters) meant they got cut down more easily, leaving my Guard and my Bikes with just their Captains left after Battle Round Three.

General Thoughts

It is early days and learning the unit rules will take time. The core rules are 'ok' but ditching the psychic phase was a mistake.

I am hoping that GW re-introduces per model points cost. Many of my lists use odd unit sizes for fluffy or practical reasons. Having to leave models 'on the shelf' or pay a big 'points tax' to field them is a feel bad moment.

My fear is that most of the 10th Edition Codexes are now 'written' and addressing any issues will be by FAQ, Balance Data Slates etc meaning that I'll be writing edits in pen in brand new books as soon as they arrive. Not a great prospect.

Future Plans

 I have my fourth game tomorrow. My Eagle Marines v Tyranids. I have picked a 'Seven Cards Only' Strike Force based around Intercessors/Terminators/Dreadnoughts to try to reduce rules complexity.

As mentioned, Vehicles are 'tough' so will only be vulnerable to my opponents biggest guns.

I'll see how it goes.....................  

Chaos Space Marines! Codex 2022

 Chaos Space Marines! Codex 2022

This is a follow up to my posts and thoughts on Chaos Space Marines now that the Codex: 2022 has landed. At the time of writing the Codex has been out a few weeks but I have not yet had a game using it.

I have been playing about on Battle Scribe with list building and trying to put each of my Companies or Warbands into viable 2,000 point strike force armies. But not yet fielded them in battle.

For a bit of fun I will firstly use the Hounds of Abaddon using the Codex and the White Dwarf rules.

Overall I do like the new Codex. The way it is set out is good, devoting a separate section to each Legion (or pseudo legion in the case of the Red Corsairs). Again it was disappointing not to see the Table of Twenty Legions like the Space Marine Codex always includes. Doing this would be really useful for new players especially to see how the Horus Heresy divided the Legions as it did. Maybe Chaos Codex: 2025 will be the time we see it.....

It is perhaps best that GW has gone down the route of sub-factions in the main book, as opposed to a main book and supplements. The downside for some players will be that if they only play Black Legion, several pages are going to be irrelevant to their Army.

I think most Factions now have a similar Codex layout though. Certainly in 9th Edition several of my Armies have Codexes with pages that I may never use.

Anyhow, I'll try to do a post after I've played a few games with Chaos Space Marines, see how they perform.

Nick's News! Hobby Update

 Nick's News! Hobby Update

Greetings. It has been a while.......

Hobby Time

I have been constantly active in the hobby since my last update. Mainly in the world of Warhammer 40K. I have enjoyed two or three games a week. Mostly 'friendly' MatchPlay but some OpenWar too.

Since my last hobby update when I wrote about my Eagle Marines getting table top time, I switched soon after to give other armies a try.

My Black Legion project is ongoing (see my YouTube Channel) with the Six Companies each progressing since the last video record of the whole. As it was (still is) some time before 9th Edition Codex: Chaos Space Marines is released I decided to field the Bringers of Decay Warband using Codex: Death Guard. This was good because I got marines with two wounds, and a 9th Edition Codex to employ strategems etc. It was not perfect as my Warband does not include Codex: Death Guard specific units (e.g. Plague Burst Crawlers or Deathshroud Terminators) but I used the force in several games, won a couple, and enjoyed seeing them on the tabletop.

Following on from there I did a similar thing using Codex: Thousand Sons. My Sons of the Cyclops Warband had a few battles. Not having Exulted Sorcereres or Scarab Occult Terminators was a handicap but my 'magic marines' did ok and gave my regular opponents some things to think about.

(see below for my thoughts on Bolters!)

After the Marines of Nurgle and Marines of Tzeentch got their outings it was time for something very different. Genestealer Cult. 

I had been working on my GSC Army for a good while (since Deathwatch Overkill was released in February 2016). I had added units and built and painted them slowly over time. I did not have a battle ready force to use in 8th Edition but when 9th Edition Codex dropped in early 2022 it was time to see how they faired. Luckily my random purchases when put into BattleScribe created a fairly neat 2,000 points list. It was very character skewed and there was no room for any a purestrain unit (or two) but it fitted nicely into two detachments - one mostly Neophytes, the other Acolytes.

The GSC had several battles. Remembering all the rules for them was the hardest part. My inability to make crucial (re-rollable) charge rolls let them down terribly!! 

I had a couple of games using half the force each time against my Dark Angels opponent. Each element did ok considering they did not have the combined benefits of shooting/melee in the full list.

Next out of storage are the Adeptus Custodes. The 9th Edition Codex sees me with circa 3,000 points worth including a 500 point Sisters of Silence. 

I cut down the list to 2,000 points (no Sisters) and had my first match play game with them yesterday. It was a close game but I lost to a hard hitting Guard army that Missiled my bikes off the board in turn one!

Chaos Marines

At the time of writing the release of Codex: Chaos Space Marines has just been announced. I am looking forward to fielding the Black Legion and it's allied warbands soon......

Bolters!

The datasheet for Legionaries was released/leaked a few days ago. It included the standards stats for the Boltgun. This is a huge opportunity missed by GW. Playing with the Magic Marines and their Inferno Boltguns with -2 AP was very nice.

I recently watched a YouTube vid bemoaning the fact that a Tactical Marine with standard Bolter was now overshadowed by several Troops choices in the game. The presenter was suggesting one or more of increased Strength, Range or AP without coming to a conclusion. And saying that it would be tricky to introduce with so many Codexes including Bolters.

The solution is obvious and simple. xRef Astartes Chainswords

Imperial Bolters: Rapid Fire 1; S4; AP 0; D1

Astartes Bolters: Raid Fire 1; S4; AP -1; D1

Heretic Bolters: Rapid Fire 1; S4; AP -1; D1

Inferno Bolters: Rapid Fire 1; S4; AP -2; D1

[Inquisition Bolters: Rapid Fire 2; S5; AP -2; D2]

The last one is tongue in cheek as my next project is Sisters of Battle.......

They should all be 24" range as Bolt Rifles can be 30" Range and not upset things.

As Codex updates get released, just run out new versions.

I'd like to have had:

Bubonic Bolters: Rapid Fire 1; S5, AP 0; D1 (Plague Rounds, so re-roll wounds)

It always puzzled me that a lowly Guard Sergeant could carry a rare and revered weapon like a Bolter. Giving them lesser versions fixes the anomaly.  

Anyhow. These are my thoughts. It will be interesting to see what occurs over the next 12 months and into 10th Edition.

 

Nick's News: Eagle Marines Back Story

 Eagle Marines – Background Update 2021 

Previously...... 

The original back story for my Eagle Marines was that the Primaris marine units joined the Chapter and rather than them be integrated into existing companies, the Chapter Master decreed that the reinforcements should form ten new companies numbered 11 to 20 to replicate the First Born companies of the Chapter. 

One good reason for not integrating Primaris with First Born was that the new units had incompatable tech. This is why Primaris cannot ride in Rhino transports. The connections and interfacesw are not compatible. It is like trying to plug into a VHS recorder using a USB cable when you require a Scart Lead. 

Presently....... 

As more and more units of Primaris reinforcements were released and added to the collection it became less satisfying that they were the 12th Battle Company with supporting elements of the 18th, 19th 20th etc 

I took the decision to re-write the back story. 

The updated version of events is that the Primaris reinforcements were dispatched from Mars to go and meet up with the Chapter fleet. However, shortly after departing they received word from the Tech Priests that the entire Chapter had been out of contact for several months. Their last report had been to declare that they were about to tackle a massive Tyranid Hive Fleet invasion force in the far Eastern sector of the quadrant. The silence from the Chapter led to the conclusion that they had failed in their attempt to stop the Aliens in their tracks and it is assumed that there are no survivors to be contacted. 

The Primaris Eagle Marines were told that they must organize themselves into companies under a new Command Headquarters. They would carry on the traditions of the Eagle Marines as a chapter reborn. 

10th Edition Update..........

The Laviathan Edition has re-introduced Terminators and Sternguard Veterans as new sculpts.

Fortunately these are both 'First Company' units and so, my Eagle Marines Back Story only needs a slight update.

The story is that the Pramaris Eagle Marine forces that went to meet up with the First Born Chapter Brothers were able to locate, and meet up with, a few Veteran Battle Brothers that had survived the Hive Fleet Invasion and the Over Run of the planetary systems in the Eastern Sector.

Although these veterans were not all First Company Brothers when they left to fight the Tyranids, the new Chapter Master immediately promoted any First Born Brothers into the Fist Company to fight alongside his Primaris Blade Guard units.