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SNEAK PEAK: Codex Space Marines

2 Minute Read
Jul 26 2008
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Hi guys,

Games Day Chicago is over, and our Bothan spies tell us the following based on a review of Codex:Space Marines

In general, almost all of the latest round of rumors are correct. The codex is described as lavish, with a large color section, and clocking in at nearly 150 pages. Lets dive right into some of the details:

HQs
Master
Has well over 20 wargear options, and access to a once per game S:10 AP:1 Orbital Strike that is somewhat similar to the Witchhunter power.

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Librarian
Leadership 10, and has an entire page of various powers to select from. Big news is the Psychic Hood which now has a range of 24″ instead of infinite.

Master of the Forge
Access to the Conversion Beamer, an old-school Rogue Trader era weapon with a 72″ range that grows more powerful the greater the distance to its targets. At its top end, it is S:10 AP:1 Small Blast.

Elites
Terminators
Available in squad sizes of 5-10. Stormshields for Assault Termys confirmed as 3+ invulnerable vs all attacks (assault and shooting).

Techmarines
Has a power allowing you to improve the cover save of a single piece of ruins in your deployment zone by +1. Access to the Thunderfire Cannon, which is artillery and has multiple fire modes based upon 4 small blast markers. One of the fire modes makes its target count as being in difficult ground next turn. ~neat!

Honor Guard
These bad boys have access to “Relic blades” which are +2S powerweapons. Their squad leader is the “Company Champion” who is required to direct attacks vs enemy ICs if possible. ~cool!

Troops
Tactical Squads
Available in 5-10 men. Squads of ten grant access to Flamer/Multimelta/Missile Launcher/Heavy Bolter for FREE. Squads less than 10 may not purchase any special or heavy weapons. ~Heed the words of the Codex Astartes indeed!

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Scouts
WS/BS:3; the heavy bolter option has access to Hellfire rounds.

Land Speeder Storm
Scout transport land speeder nullifies enemy teleport homers and icons within 6″. Enemy deepstrikers within 12″ roll double scatter. Enemy units who are assualted from it are at -2 Leadership.

Combat Tactics
New marine special rule allows you to voluntarily fail any morale check for any unit in the army.

ICs
Shrike (Raven Guard)
Grants the entire army Fleet instead of Combat Tactics. He has rending lightning claws and Infiltrate.

Cantor (Crimson Fists)
Grants the entire army Stubborn instead of Combat Tactics. Sternguard Veterans count as scoring units.

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~I’m thinking of two things. First is the wailing and gnashing of teeth that will ensue as folk’s 6-man las-plas squads are consigned to history. Second is the awesome combos Combat Tactics and ATSKNF will allow. Things such as taking shooting casualties, then falling back out of assault range to blast away at assaulters comes to mind. I’m sure there are many, many other mean tactics this will allow. What do you guys think?

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Author: Larry Vela
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