Thursday, December 6, 2018

Vigilus Defiant Preview: Imperial Specialists Detachments


Detatchments and Stratagems for Imperial Forces is the subject of today's rules preview for Vigilus Defiant. Here is the latest.


via the Warhammer Community
https://www.warhammer-community.com/2018/12/06/6th-dec-imperial-specialist-detachments-rules-previewgw-homepage-post-4/
We’re back, this time with a look at the Imperial Specialist Detachments found in Vigilus Defiant. We’ve already introduced how to include Specialist Detachments in your army, and offered some insight into those available to the xenos forces on Vigilus, but before we look at those available to the Imperium, we can reveal another innovative layer to their rules – the Field Commander Stratagem:
This enables you to lead your Specialist Detachment with an appropriately thematic Character without sacrificing your usual preference of Warlord (or indeed their associated Warlord Trait) – all for the cost of a single Command Point! For example, you could lead a sweeping right hook with a Kult of Speed ‘field commanded’ by a Deffkilla Wartrike, while your Warboss leads the Boyz down the middle. If you like to forge a narrative with your games, this is a great way to do it!
So, let’s get on with taking a look at the Imperial Specialist Detachments:
If you’re a fan of Primaris Space Marines, then this is the one for you, as it represents the combined armies of Primaris Marines that surged forth from Terra to take the fight to foes of the Imperium alongside its Lord Commander. This is epitomised by the Grey Shield Warlord Trait and Standard of the Ultima Founding, which both offer incredibly useful once-per-battle abilities and represent the combined fighting experience of the different Chapters that fought in Gulliman’s galactic crusade.
However, arguably the coolest part of this Specialist Detachment is the ability to upgrade your Intercessors further with the Veteran IntercessorsStratagem. Not only does it upgrade their Attacks and Leadership characteristics by 1 for the cost of a single Command Point, but it unlocks one of three additional Stratagems according to their wargear. Fed up with those pesky characters bolstering enemy units with their aura abilities? Deal with the problem directly with the Target Sighted Stratagem:
There are also Specialist Detachments for some of the other famous Chapters fighting on Vigilus, such as the Imperial Fists Siegebreaker Cohort, the Crimson Fists Liberator Strike Force, the Black Templars Sword Brethren, the Ravenwing Attack Squadron and the Space Wolves Stalker Pack. However, there is one more for the Adeptus Astartes that deserves a special mention…
If you like the idea of fielding Space Marine Veterans in large quantities, this is the way to do it. Not only do these super-elite Ultramarines have access to two powerful relics in the Standard of Macragge Inviolate and Soldier’s Blade (not to mention a Warlord Trait that adds 1 to wound rolls for nearby Victrix Guard units in the Fight phase), but check out these two Stratagems:
Fight Like Demigods doesn’t just sound awesome, it offers a handy buff too. Strike First, though costly at 3 Command Points, can blunt or destroy an enemy charge before it has even begun. If used in the right situation, it’s a potential game-winner.
Do you like the idea of an army of marching Kastelan Robots? Well, look no further than the Cybernetica Cohort. In addition to the Power Surge Stratagem that adds 3 to a unit’s charge rolls, or the Strafing Fire Run Stratagem that temporarily turns Heavy weapons into Assault weapons, you’ll have access to a great Warlord Trait for keeping your beloved machines of death in the battle:
Adeptus Mechanicus players will also be able to field a Servitor Maniple, which more than caters for all your Kataphron-based killy-death needs.
If you’re one of the Astra Militarum’s finest tread-heads, who favours crushing their foes with unstoppable armoured assaults, then this Specialist Detachment is for you. First up is a nasty Warlord Trait called Unflinching Resolve that enables Emperor’s Fist units within 6″ to re-roll failed hit rolls when firing overwatch – as if charging towards a punisher gatling cannon wasn’t scary enough. There are also two Stratagems that help your glorious Leman Russ to squish enemies on the charge or fire twice, even if they Advanced. Finally, there’s this really cool relic battle cannon – the only Astra Militarum relic designed for use on a tank:
Of course, that’s not all for the Astra Militarum – they can also field Emperor’s Blade Assault Companies, Emperor’s Wrath Artillery Companies and Emperor’s Conclave Infantry Companies for good measure, not to mention Militarum Tempestus Drop Forces.
That’s it for the various Imperial Specialist Detachments in Vigilus Defiant. You can order a Space Marines Primaris Interdiction Force or Imperial Fists Supremacy Force today, and grab some Kastelan Robots or Leman Russ Battle Tanks online or in your nearest stores to get you ready for the war on Vigilus.
But we’re not done yet – check back tomorrow, when we’ll be discussing the sweeping campaign rules in the book and how you can apply them to your own gaming group.