I love where the SMs are after the early BFGR votes but I think the inclusion of the Vanguard light cruiser (with the 2nd shield option to make them similar to the and chapters are a good thing as long as they are balanced with an equal downside.
Here are some preliminary thoughts on chapters:
Ultramarines: They get a free RR but they need a downside. A free RR is a significant bonus.
Space Wolves: They get -1 to enemy boarding them or H&R attacks against them. They need a small downside.
Imperial Fists: I think this is a good one. Balances out.
Raven Guard: Plaxor and I disagreed about this. I think this is an un-fluffy rule because most of the lore behind Raven Guard are about their battle barges and strike cruisers. I like the roll 2D6 and choose for H&R attacks because I think that is very Raven Guard fluffy, but I think they need a downside. I was thinking that, if people use this, they should have a restriction on Hunters, because that is what most people will want to pile up on with this special rule. I was thinking that we should make a rule that says that Raven Guard fleets cannon have more Hunters than other escorts. This way, it will prevent overwhelming boarding torp spam.
Iron Hands: Repair criticals on 4+ but additional -1 Ld when crippled. I think this should be -2 Ld. This is a downside especially when it comes to disengaging and bracing while crippled. It needs to be -2 because their Ld is going to be 8, 9, or 10 already.
Salamanders: No negative leaderships from blast markers. They should have attack rating 2 and one other small downside. Some people do not use attack rating (though I think it's a good idea for balance reasons). Maybe we could give their battle barges the BFGR "unstoppable" quality, which means that they cannot use Burn Retros, yet blast markers do not slow them. I think adding this makes Salamanders, with these 4 rules, balanced and fluffy.
White Scars: Automatically pass AAF special orders. That's just a small bonus but there is no downside. I think they should take a -1 Ld to RO. That is fluffy for White Scars (from what I know) because it encourages their speed and encourages them to get in close to use their guns more than ordnance. -2 would be too much.
Dark Angels: Attack rating 4. That's a small bonus. I am not sure that we need to counter-balance this but maybe with something really slight. I propose that we make every DA battlebarge purchase terminators (Deathwing).
Black Templar: I think we should put a price on the Annihilator per ship that takes it, probably +5pts. Also, we need to rework Annihilators.
Blood Angels: I think the BA rules are awesome. Let's keep it.
Can't wait to work on these. I think chapters add a lot of interesting options and character to the otherwise bland Space Marine fleet.
