STRIKE CRUISERS Some questions for 2010 FAQ

[patghiggins]

From the PDF BFG_Imperial_Fleets.pdf
Like battlebarges, strike cruisers do not represent a single class of vessel, or
specific configurations of weapons and systems, but rather represent a
broad range of different Space Marine vessels used for largely similar tasks.
Strike cruisers, first and foremost, need to be swift vessels, with a
substantial transport capacity and various means of delivering those troops
(be that a mixture of teleporters, drop pods or launch bays equipped with
Thunderhawks). Within these parameters, strike cruisers can, and do, take
a variety of forms. 

So does this mean, that Strike Cruisers can look different   >  BUT still have to use the “Strike Cruiser” Stats, as listed in the pdf?

Maybe Strike Cruisers should be done like the DE Torture class cruiser somehow to help support these statements?

“The Grey Knights, perhaps the most secretive and unusual chapter of all,
have their base within the Solar System itself, within easy striking distance
of Mars and hence their strike cruisers are sleek vessels, utilising quite the
simply the most advanced systems available, even by Space Marine
standards”. 

So does mean GK Strike Cruisers get to use Ad-Mech gifts or tech without being part of an Ad-mech fleet?

Other chapters, too, possess widely differing forms of strike
cruiser, each shaped by centuries of tradition and varying doctrine amongst
the chapters of the Adeptus Astartes.

I have not developed any options like the Torture, I'm sure there are others who could come up with some great options

[horizon]

Yes, Strike Cruisers can look different but they always use the same statline as presented in Armada.

No, Grey Knights do not use AdMech upgrades (as matter of fact the AdMech rules only appeared much later).

In the end: there is no love for Space Marines in Specialist Games That is what 40k is for. heh heh.

In space chapter traits are too small to be in effect.

There have been some Space Marine vessel variants (check out the Space Wolves in Warp Rift 11 for a good example).

[patghiggins]

Great and Thank you Horizon,  Would it be possible to include the GK and Admech issue in the new FAQ, now that both sets are out there and some what related? Or atleast have it looked at.

[horizon]

I dunno, I do not see a connection really but maybe others think differently.

[Zelnik]

The Adeptus Mechanus knows better then to give any space marine chapter access to their secrets, lest they gain too much knowledge and try to usurp them from their place of power.

The Grey Knights are allowed the finest technology the admech have at their disposal within the restrictions made by the Imperial Navy after the Horus Heresy (when it was stated that Space Marines were not allowed to have any ships but their heavy-duty troop transports).  As such, this technology manifests itself in a sleeker, and more compact design, while at the same time maintaining all of the weapon, armor and movement characteristics of a larger vessel.

One of the first signs of higher technology is miniaturization. 

At this scale, A battle barge full of Ultramarines has no difference then a barge full of Blood Angels, they both deal roughly the same amount of damage.

You can make your strike cruiser look any way you wish, but it still follows the strike cruiser rules.

[RayB HA]

There is no GK fleet, and to be honest it would be strange for them to have one. GK's are an arm of the Inquistion and as such will use almost any Imperial vessel or resource. The use of a basic escort to ferry a single squad of GK's would be quite common, in BFG terms they'd probably get +1 boarding modifier.

A while back I wrote the Black Templar fleet list for FOM. There are a number of variants in that, it being a kind of experimental ruleset for SM's.

You could add chapter specific rules but they wouldn't be major (unless it's BT's or GK's as they're weird). For example Blood Angels might get a Black Rage special rule meaning they can perform teleporter attacks against ships with more hits and Dark Angels might have a roll on a 'Fallen' subplot table. You could probably come up with something for each legion(including successors).

Cheers,

RayB HA   

[Zelnik]

Ray.. you could not be more wrong if you tried.

IF the GK didn't have a fleet, Forgeworld would not make ships for them.

The GK are a space marine chapter, therefore they have access to strike cruisers, battle barges and strike craft.

The Inquisiton use black ships, and the sisters of battle use battle barges and strike cruisers as well, since they are given the same equipment as space marines in the first place.

The Inquisiton have a unique ship called the blackship as well, but those rules aren't 'official'. 

[Admiral_d_Artagnan]

Never read of SoBs having their own BBs and SCs. Where do you base this on? Just because they use the same equipment doesn't mean they have their own fleet.

GKs probably have a fleet similar to SM but probably not in the same number. I don't think they have as much marines as the typical SM chapter.

Surprisingly managed to access the SG Forums.

[RayB HA]

Hi Guys,

GK's are a massive chapter, numbering about 5000. Almost as big as the Black Templars.

GK's unlike other SM chapters only have one purpose, to kill daemons and the like. As such thier fleet and chapter is scattered through out the imperium. As they are an arm of the Inquistion they get placed in fleets requisioned by the Inq. Although the GK's do have ships they don't really have fleets, they support or are guarded by other IN ships.

The GK's do have SC's and most likely have escorts and maybe the odd BB aswell but they don't form fleets (well maybe a 500pt fleet), they're too rare and specific to be wasted in conventional fleet battles. Quite alot of the time though GK's are simply placed on board a normal IN ship (or Inq ship) and the ferried to thier mission.

SOB's don't have fleet resources in the manner you describe. They have the odd ship here and there but nothing big and certainly not enough to call a fleet of thier own. They are part of the inquistion and will be placed on normal IN ships (or Inq ships). SOB Blackships are a special case, but they don't go round looking for fights, they're transports! Note: Inq Blackships (not SOB Blackships) are just super retrofitted IN ships.

Cheers,

RayB HA

[fracas]

GK should get special rules against demonship then.

[patghiggins]

Thank you all for your input.  As I understand, the SOB's are the Military Arm of the Ordo Hereticus, and provide security on the INQ Blackships to watch over the psyker "Harvest" of the INQ // They could be an option in Boarding or hit and run > JUST for INQ Blackships because they have SOB's on board  //  The GK are the military Arm of the Ordo Mallus and yes they are a chapter in their own right as Ray said, and would have their own "better than other Chapter's" SC's and I guess sleeker or more compact is what that turns out to be > Maybe a Boarding or Hit and Run plus modifier vs Demonships over the normal modifier.

In reference to Horizon's earlier comment
In the end: there is no love for Space Marines in Specialist Games   That is what 40k is for. heh heh.

Come on even a Space Marine needs a Hug Sometime  

[Zelnik]

Pat, I appreciate your desire, but bombardment cannons, 6+ armor on a light cruiser and 2+ boarding are all the hugs they need.


Ray. The moment you tell people how to play or build their fleets is the moment you lose credibility. If someone wants to make a gray knights fleet, they will do it.

As a matter of fact, I take that statement personally, because i happen to have over 2k worth of Gray Knight space marine ships in my display case, including a custom Diabolis Extremis.

I respect you greatly Ray, but I can't hear you over the sound of my Grey Knights fleet.

[RayB HA]

Zelnik,

Whoa, I'm not stopping anyone from playing with any custom fleet they want in friendly games. Heck, I encourage our gaming group to come up with all kinds of whacky things as long as all players have fun, I'm just saying it as it's written.

Your fleet looks great and as it is just using the SM fleet list it's prefectly legal in a tourny or stranger games as well. It's just not fluff accurate. But then GW does stretch the accuracy to make more individual armies/fleets, Chaos/IN for example.

If you want to make your GK fleet more fluff accurate, add common IN and Chaos ships!  It won't be legal though. 

Cheers,

RayB HA