Michigan2
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Posts posted by Michigan2
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JinxZero said:
Although, given the original decree was about "Legion Astartes" perhaps Gulliman thought "Chapters" were safe?Yeah... I don't see Gulliman as the type to play schemantic games with the spoken word of the Emperor.
Librarians were allowed back into the fold sometime after the Council of Nikea, we just haven't been given details as to how or when... probably because the event(s) surrounding that decision just wouldn't be as dramatic as a face-off between two halves of the Legions. The Council of Nikea makes for awesome drama... the assembly, proof-reading, editing, and final codification of the million pages of the Codex Astartes? Yawn.
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"Do you want to know more?" ( wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Council_of_Nikea )
The true irony, of course, is that the Emperor himself is one of the most powerful psykers in existance, his representives to the Council consisted of five individuals, of whom three were psykers of incredible power: the Choirmaster of Astropath, the Master of Navigators, and Malcador.
This decree was, eventually, lifted. Presumably by the "will of the Emperor," manifested by either the Tarot or a decree by the High Lords of Terra. Librarians are part of the Codex Astartes and I doubt that Guilliman woul dhave included them without a rather obvious sign from the Emperor that the use of librarians was kosher. We all know that over the millennia the High Lords of Terra and other higher-ups in the Imperium have invoked "the will of the Emperor" to justify or explain away their own motives.... but I just don't see Guilliman and the other primarchs going falling for that.
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Interesting take on the Flesh Tearers, and it certainly seems to fit the chapter. Are you balancing the extra weakness with any sort of bonus? (Not that it has to be done - accepting flaws without mechanic reward is a trait I find sadly lacking in many gamers today. But I am curious... a small increase to the Omophagea's effect seems reasonable.)
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Your game, your rules. I'm the last person who will argue that "You're doing it wrong!!!11one!" if you and yours are having fun.
That said, I just think the Grey Knights are too rare, too specialized, and too dang powerful to be seconded to the Deathwatch. I'd suggest you take a good, long look at the Exorcists ( wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Exorcists ) They're very badass, and quite specialized in counter-deamonic training, tools, and success. Albeit not the equal of the Grey Knights, that's okay by me, given the Grey Knights are generally depicted as being as far beyond Space Marines as Space Marines are beyond baseline humans.
Added bonus, the anthology novel, Heroes of the Space Marines, featured a battle-brother from the Exorcists that had been seconded to the Deathwatch in the short-story Headhunted. So, yeah, it matches with semi-canon fluff!
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ak-73 said:
Wolf Sense :: Can a space wolf after failing a roll remove his helmet and then reroll?This is the Warhammer 40,000 universe, where the Laws of Physics are in a distinctly subservient role to the Rule of Cool. So, given the right circumstances, I would allow such a re-roll.
Battle-Brother Erik the Bloodyhewn scanned the chamber, unike the areas of the space hulk the kill-team had cleared earlier, this one showed signs of xenos activitiy. The lights were out - even the emergency backups had failed (or been cut) - there were claw marks on the floor, and a blood splatter n the starboard bulk head was the only sign that a human had once been here. The other walls had been coated in some strange crystalline secreation... his Auspex readout indicated the room was clear, his armor's multilens showed nothing in any of the visual spectrums it could read... but something felt wrong.
Erik raised his fist, as one the kill-team halted dead still outside the door... although Erik thought he saw Brother Grimaldis take his flamer from safe to standby. Erik popped the seal on his helmet, and removed it carefully. He paused, and half kneeling, drew his combat knife... he sniffed the stale air of the chamber. Without a word, the knife arced through the air, slicing through the alien hive wall like a plasmasword through soft grox-butter. The alien screamed, shuddered, and fell dead... its adative camoflauge failing as it died.
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The big difference is that Self-Reliance is more of an out-of-combat thing; The marine suffers fairly little by not being in solo mode during an action scene. Other chapters offer more tempation to use them in combat, at the expense of squad mode, and this is balanced by being more potent.
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THE IRON SNAKESThe Iron Snakes of Ithaka are an old Chapter, although the origins of the Iron Snakes are difficult to pin down; reportedly a Second Founding chapter, their Legion of origin is unknown. Although they pay respect to Roboute Guilliman, it is uncertain if they are an Ultramarine descendant, particularly as they are a non-Codex chapter.
The Iron Snakes are based around the planet Ithaka, 'The Cradle of Snakes' and their Fortress Monastery is located on the fortress moon of Karybdis. The Chapter defends the Reef Stars from all enemies, regularly engaging their ancient foe, the Dark Eldar or Primuls as they are sometimes known in the region.
Ithaka is an ocean world that includes a rare species of giant water snake know as great wyrms or Iron Snakes. They are vast creatures, with hides covered in adamantine hard scales and with jaws big enough to swallow gunships and tanks whole. As part of initiation and training Iron Snakes petitioners must kill a great wyrm with a Sea Lance, a heavy harpoon that they throw from a fleet water skiff. It is a good omen for a petitioner to kill an Iron Snake with a single lance throw.
The Reef Stars
The Iron Snakes appear to have been stationed in the sector of space known as the Reef Stars many thousands of years ago, and charged with its protection as their primary mission. The inhabited worlds of the Reef, while varied in their technological development, each appear to have some form of summoning aid from the Iron Snakes ritualised into their society. The Iron Snakes are a myth or legend to some worlds, an awe-inspiring reality to others. Regardless of how they are viewed, the Snakes of Ithaka take their duty to the Reef Stars as seriously as only Space Marines can, and will go to any lengths possible to protect the sector and its citizenry.The actions they have fought in the Reef Stars are numerous, as the whole area appears to be under constant threat by Dark Eldar raiding parties. As a result, the Iron Snakes have amassed considerable experience fighting the Dark Eldar, who they (and the people of the Reef Stars) also refer to as the "primuls." The Iron Snakes also fought a ten year all-out war against a supremely large Ork invasion. The Ork forces, made up of multiple Waaaghs, were so large that it was impossible for the Iron Snakes to defeat them by martial means. However, having managed to secure a relic apparently considered sacred by the Orks, the Iron Snakes were able to draw the Ork forces out of the Reef Stars and into unclaimed/Xenos territory. The remainder of the Orks were expunged, and the Reef Stars were judged greenskin-free for over a thousand years.
Combat Doctrine
When a mission, referred to within the chapter as an 'undertaking', is decided upon the Chapter Master announces how many squads he believes are required to ensure its success. All squad-leaders who wish to volunteer their units for the mission then place their tokens into a kylix (a form of drinking cup whose origins lie in ancient Terra). The Chapter Master then decides which squads to assign to the undertaking based upon which tokens he finds in the kylix.The Iron Snakes appear to rely heavily on squad based tactics, operating rarely in company strength groups. However their most significant divergence is their use of Sea Lances and combat shields in combat. In certain situations, usually when sustained and hard fought close combat is expected, Iron Snakes squads are equipped with combat shields and adamantine tipped Sea Lances for the battle. Standing before the enemy onslaught the Iron Snakes thin their ranks with rapid bolter fire before forming a shield wall, using their lances and combat swords to present a united front to the enemy. Though this method of fighting seems anachronistic it has nonetheless proved effective, particularly against the greenskin menace. Beyond such special circumstances the Chapter appears to follow the Codex, relying on their power armour and bolter to carry most battles.
While the squad is the principal tactical unit of the Chapter, sometimes even less manpower is deployed. In cases of responding to general aid requests from the worlds of the Reef Stars, it is customary to dispatch only one Battle-Brother from the closest squad to investigate. The Brother chosen is often either the newest member of the squad, or a member being considered for the role of successor by the squad-leader; a one-person undertaking is seen as a fitting challenge for such marines. Historically, only one warrior usually suffices in cases of general aid requests, though it is no shame for the individual to request the presence of his fratery-brothers once appraised of the specific situation.
The Iron Snakes are unique in their tactical squads in the fact that all squads are attached with an Apothecary unlike other codex astartes who are assigned one per company.
IRON SNAKESCHARACTERS
Iron Snakes gain the following benefits +5 Weapon Skill, +5 to any other attribute, and the Self-Reliance Solo Mode ability.SELF-RELIANCE (IRON SNAKES)
Required Rank: 1
Effects: All Iron Snakes are trained in repair and the maintenance of their gear. The Battlebrother gains Trade (Armorer) as a trained skill and chooses one field of mastery from Bolter, Flamer or Power Armor. All testes to repair or maintain equipment of the chosen mastery may be rerolled by the marine and he may un-jam weapons he has mastery in with a half action.
Improvements: At Rank 3 the Battle-Brother may choose one additional mastery from the list and his penetration with weapons he has mastery in is increased by 2.
At Rank 5 the marine counts all gear he has a mastery in as having a quality one step better than it is. (No effect if already master crafted)
At Rank 7 he gains the last remaining mastery and +10 bonus to pinning and fear tests.CHAPTER DEMEANOR: SELFISH
The emphasis on small unit training and independent action of the Iron Snakes space marines makes them ideal for small scale operations where they may need to fight for extended periods with little or no support. However, it makes interaction and cooperation with other Chapters difficult. Cohesion between the Iron Snakes and more traditional chapters (GM's discretion) is always considered 1 less.PRIDE OF ITHAKA
Works exactly like Pride of Ultramar (Ultramarines), see page 281 for details.Iron Snakes Chapter Advances
Navigation ................................ 300 ..... Skill ..... ---
Navigation +10 ......................... 400 ..... Skill ..... Navigation
Navigation +20 ......................... 600 ..... Skill ..... Navigation +10
Survival .................................... 300 ..... Skill ..... ---
Survival +10 ............................. 400 ..... Skill ..... Survival
Survival +20 ............................. 600 ..... Skill ..... Survival+10
Tactics .................................... 400 ..... Skill ..... ---
Tactics +10 ............................. 400 ..... Skill ..... Tactics
Tactics +20 ............................. 400 ..... Skill ..... Tactics +10
Blademaster ............................ 800 ..... Talent ..... WS 30
Hatred (Dark Eldar) .................. 500 ..... Talent ..... ---
Talented (Survival) .................... 500 ..... Talent .....Survival+10
CHAPTER ATTACK PATTERNS: Can't Think of One!
Action: Dunno Action
Cost: ?
Sustained: Maybe
Effects: Stuff Happens
Improvements: If stuff happens it gets better.CHAPTER DEFENSIVE STANCES: SHIELD-WALL
Standing before the enemy onslaught the Iron Snakes may form a shield wall, using their lances and combat shields to present a united front to the enemy.
Action: Free Action
Cost: 3
Sustained: Yes
Effects: When two or more battle-brothers, armed with melee weapons and shields, are within support range and take no more than a half-move action, they gain +10 to Weapon Skill and a further +10 bonus to Parry attempts.
Improvements: If the Battle-brother is Rank 4 or more each member within the support
range gain +20 to Weapon Skill and a further +20 bonus to Parry attemptsCHAPTER TRAPPINGS
Ithakan Sealance
The Iron Snakes regularly issue combat shields and sealances (javelin-type fighting spears) to all brothers, enabling them to close up and use phalanx (shield-wall) style tactics. The Iron Snakes sealance is a high tech, adamantine-tipped verision of the native sealance, designed for the use of the Astartes.Sealance, Melee, 2d10+4R, Pen:5, Tearing, Unbalanced; Weight: 15kg, 15 Requistion.
(Note: The sealance is not considered to be either Master Crafted or of Exceptional Quality, although and these upgrades may be added to it should you wish.)Ithakan Seawater
Although Iron Snakes are able to train in a number of environments across their homeworld, it is the sea that is most precious to them, to the point where each marine carries a vial of Ithakan seawater with him when on active duty, and with which he anoints the soil of any other planet he steps on.
Waters of the Arctic Wastes: +3 to all Survival rolls
Waters of the Wyrms' Nest: +2 to Weapon Skill
Waters of the Storm Coast: Add +3 to Command Tests
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The exact attitudes and treatment will, of course, also vary from one Black Templar to the next... rank, role, and pure pragmatism will all come into influencing these interactions.
Sword-Brother Gruntius the lowest-ranked member of Tactical Squad #34 probably has zero contact with the Navigator(s) and has probably only seen and never spoken with the Astropaths. Brother Gruntius is going to operate on a "All wyches are evil, but some are a necessary evil." mentality.
Brother-Captain Veteranio, on the other hand, as master and commander of the Strike Cruiser Kickassio has to work with his Navigator every single day; Although a highly decorated and much respected veteran of a hundred wars and thousand of battles, he has spent the last century on the bridge of a warp ship and is becoming more accustomed to the hum of the Gellar Field generators than the whir of a chainsword. To a man like this, "The Emperor knows all men's souls, and I will trust in His wisdom... but with caution." is going to be the order of the day.
There is going to be a full spectrum of opnions and reactions across the whole chapter. Besides, its not like the Imperium of Man is without its internal inconsistencies and hipocrasy.
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The Grey Knigths are, in essence, the chamber militant of the Ordo Malleus in the same way that the Deathwatch are the chamber militant of the Ordo Xenos; it seems incredibly unlikly that a Grey Knight would ever be seconded to the Deathwatch. The Grey Knigths' mission is of such grave importance to the Imperium and their numbers too few.
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Ah, I misread your statement as "can a male play a battle sister," rather than "can somebody play a battle sister that is male." My bad.
Although this might seem odd to some, I'd actual go with "No." The question comes down to how important sex and/or gender is to the character archetype; Although Games Workshop has always said 'all marines are male,' in my opinion this bit of fluff is rather inconsequential when it comes to what defines the Adeptus Astartes. On the other hand, the fact that the Sisters of Battle are women is of imense importance to the history, role, and archetype of the Adeptas Sororitas.
If someone wants to play, say, a barbarian warrior or crusading knight in a D&D-type game, they I have little issue with them chosing a male or femal character even if most of the barbarian warriors and knights in the setting are male. But if someone wants to play a male Amazon or a female Priest, well, that just won't work.
YMMV, of course, some folks put a lot more importance on the sex of space marines than I do.
But enough about all that... what do ya'll think of the rules.
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I'm a guy, and I've been playing a Sister of Battle off-and-on since Dark Heresy was released (at first she was built as a guardsman with fluff, but we switched when proper Sororitas rules were released.) Given that I have a little shy of 4,000 points of Battle Sisters for the wargame, it wasn't hard to convince my GM that I knew how to play one of the daughters of the Emperor.
Generally, no one in my group has any problem with cross-gender or cross-sex roleplaying (and yes, there is a distinction). I've only included the female Fighting Tigers in the above write-up because they are a key part of Mr. Kilgore's original work. That said, removing the women from the chapter doesn't make that much of a difference. The Fighting Tigers are a chapter with women, not a chapter of women.
My game works my way, your game works your way. We all live happily ever after.
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I should have mentioned this before, but the Fighting Tigers are not my creation. They were created by Kenton Kilgore and have been covered in incredible detail by hime at his website: www.fightingtigersofveda.com/ .
And yes, the chapter includes female marines. I'm not going to participate in the flame war that usually develops over the idea. I like them, Mr. Kilgore likes them, and so do a good number of other players. You don't like the idea, don't use them.
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The Fighting Tigers of Veda
The Fighting Tigers of Veda are an old but relatively little known Space Marine Chapter stationed on the dangerous eastern side of the Maelstrom, an area of warp-space flux similar to the infamous Eye of Terror, in the Ultima Segmentum.The Fighting Tigers were established as Chapter #531 during the Nineteenth Founding, with Shiva Nagordarika as their first Maharaja (or Chapter Master). For thousands of years, it was assumed that Fighting Tigers were from Ultramarine geneseed stock, but recent tests have proved that they are in fact descended from the White Scars.
The Fighting Tigers were assigned to the Regulus Secundus system, with its large yellow star and nineteen planets (eleven of which are human habitable), and ordered to rid it of a large Dark Eldar pirate force, the Kabal of the Ozone Scorpions, that was preying upon the feudal-level human civilizations there. The Fighting Tigers swiftly defeated the Ozone Scorpions and claimed the ninth planet, Veda, as their own, adding its name to theirs. Shortly thereafter, the Tigers adopted Vedic names, languages, deities, customs, and traditions as their own, replacing the ones that had before.
Shiva Nagordarika ruled Veda and the Fighting Tigers for many centuries before he and the entire Chapter were lured into a trap and ambushed by the Chaos Lord Baalzephon Zgorch and his Khornate Chaos Space Marines, the Warband Bloodcomet. Shiva was crippled by a summoned Bloodthirster and more than eight-hundred Fighting Tigers perished before the remaining Space Marines and their allies defeated the Warband Bloodcomet and drove Zgorch into the Maelstrom.
Under Raja Surya Ashoka and Raja Shrendi Vashtar, the Fighting Tigers slowly recovered. Because Zgorch and his treacherous followers had killed so many Fighting Tigers as well as native warriors of Veda and the neighboring planets, Surya and Vashtar were forced to recruit women as Space Marines. Fortunately, their Apothecaries found the surgical processes little different from those used on men, and soon, guided by their death goddess Kali, female Fighting Tigers joined their male counterparts on the battlefields.
Shiva Nagordarika (reborn as the venerable Dreadnought Shiva the Destroyer) is still officially Maharaja, or Chapter Master, but in his debilitated state, the Fighting Tigers are actually led by the two Rajas, or Caste Commanders. Each Raja rules not only their half of the Chapter but also the native people living on their respective continent of Veda. The two Rajas regularly confer on issues affecting the Chapter as a whole and together guide the Chapter until (it is hoped) Shiva resumes his duties. As the centuries pass, this becomes increasingly unlikely.
Welcome to the Jungle
Veda is a large planet with a hot climate similar to many tropical and subtropical areas of Earth. There are two large continents, connected by several narrow land bridges, both located in the eastern hemisphere. Scattered islands dot the warm, shallow oceans that cover the rest of the planet.Both continents are populated by feudal level agrarian humans living in small villages. Villages are bound together into tribes, but all people of Veda bow to the Maharaja, the Chapter Master of the Fighting Tigers. Through him they faithfully serve and worship the Emperor, whom they call the Brahman, the Sleeping God whose dreams shape the universe.
The northern continent, Mahaduyana, has huge expanses of jungle broken occasionally by wide stretches of grassy plains. In the extreme north are several high mountain ranges, where snow falls year round. In Mahaduyana can be found titanium, adamantium, coal, and natural gas.
The southern continent, Ghuyarashtra, is roughly twice as large as Mahaduyana. Like Mahaduyana, there are some mountains and jungles, but most of Ghuyarashtra is covered by plains. Because of the rich, black soil and annual summer monsoons, these plains are very fertile. In addition, gold, silver, copper, and diamonds are found here. Roughly 65% of Veda’s human population lives in Ghuyarashtra.
“Go anywhere, fight anyone.” — Unofficial Fighting Tigers Motto
Combat Doctrine
The Fighting Tigers of Veda are charged with guarding many star systems lying due east of the Maelstrom, a dangerous area similar to the Eye of Terror. The Fighting Tigers mostly fight against the Orks, Dark Eldar, and Chaos Space Marines that infest the Maelstrom, but the Tigers have on occasion been called to other areas to battle Craftworld Eldar, Rebel Guard, Genestealer Cults, and Tyranids.Fighting Tigers have also clashed with Imperial forces a number of times. The most famous example was the Kyrniov Conflict. Offended that the Fighting Tigers were using female Space Marines, Confessor Kyrniov, supported by the Adepta Sororitas, led a brief, disastrous campaign to destroy the Tigers of Kali. After capturing Kyrniov, the Rajas negotiated a truce with him, but emnity between the Sisters of Battle and the Fighting Tigers remains.
In addition, the Fighting Tigers have only one Space Marine ally, the Space Wolves, who helped train the new Fighting Tiger recruits (including the first Tigers of Kali) after the heavy losses against the Warband Bloodcomet. Believing the Ultramarines to be arrogant, the Blood Angels to be damned to Chaos, and the Dark Angels to be perfidious, the Fighting Tigers rarely have anything to do with any of them.
“Do not confuse caution with cowardice. No Space Marine is expendable. Even if we kill 10,000 of the enemy, it is still a day of mourning, not celebration, if we lose even one of our own." — Raja Khandar Madu
Past Experience
1) Blood Deserts of Auros IX: You took part to the long and bitter fighting over the world of Auros IX against the massive Ork hordes. You are a veteran of the fierce rolling battles fought in the deep deserts of Auros IX as your sabha clashed with the orks.
2) Return of the Ozone Scorpions: You took part to the long and bitter fighting on your chapeter's homeworld which the Dark Eldar once claimed as their own. You were deployed as a part of a Singh Squad aiding your kshatriya (captain) as part of his or her personal retinue. You fought with distinction during the deadly cat-and-mouse fights with Dark Eldar Wyches and Mandrakes.
3) Crewman: You served your chapter as a crewman in one of the chapter's combat vehicles, perhaps manning a Predator's weapons, assisting in navigation of a Land Speeder, or keeping watch on the bridge of a battle barge. You have a deeper understanding of the role of vehicles in a campaign.
4) Black Ops: You've served in several ultra-secret operations of the chapter's covert operations sabha, developing a sharp eye and steady hand. You have assassinated several important heretical cultists and have developed quite a reputation as a sniper.
5) Tigers Eternal: You did aid in some way in the maintaining of the Chapters hallowed Dreadnaughts. These ancient and venerable warriors live on from from hallowed times, including Founder and first Chapter Master, Maharaja Shiva Nagordarika, filled with ancient knowledge and battlefield tactics honed by millenia of war.
FIGHTING TIGERS CHARACTERS
Fighting Tigers Space Marines gain the following benefits: +5 Willpower, +5 Perception, and the Fearful Symmetry Solo Mode ability.
FEARFUL SYMMETRY (FIGHTING TIGERS)
Jatis Mahaduyana emphasizes strength, Jatis Ghuyarashtra emphasizes speed, either approach resulting in a battle-brother that excells in close-combat.
Required Rank: 1
Effects: When the Battle-Brother succeeds to wound an enemy in close-combat he gets +10 to hit on his next ranged attack. When the Battle-Brother succeeds to wound an enemy with a ranged attack, he gets +10 to hit on his next attack in close-combat .
Improvements: At Rank 3 and above the Battle-brother also gains +2 to damage on his next attack. At Rank 5 and above the Battle-brother also gains +2 to penetration on his next attack. At Rank 7 and above the Battle-brother can make the next attack as a free action immediately after the first attack is resolved. The next attack must be of a different type that the original (a ranged attack must be followed by a close-combat attack, and vice-versa).CHAPTER DEMEANOR: PROUD
Fighting Tigers Space Marines are extremely proud of their heritage and tactics, sometimes to the point of being a bit hard to tolerate by those who follow the Codex Astartes more closely.VEDIC PRIDE (FIGHTING TIGERS)
Works exactly like Pride of Ultramar (Ultramarines), see page 281 for details.Fighting Tigers Chapter Advances
Survival ..................................... 300 ............ Skill ............ ---
Survival+10 ............................. 400 ............ Skill ............ Survival
Survival +20 ............................. 600 ............ Skill ............ Survival+10
Tactics ..................................... 300 ............ Skill ............ ---
Tactics +10 .............................. 400 ............ Skill ............ Tactics
Tactics +20 .............................. 600 ............ Skill ............ Tactics +10
Talented (Concealment) ....... 500 ............ Talent ........ ---
Talented (Move Silent) ..,,,,..... 500 ............ Talent ........ ---
Hatred (Dark Eldar) ................ 500 ............ Talent ........ ---
Heightened Sense (Smell) ... 500 ............ Talent ........ ---
Heightened Sense (Taste) ... 500 ............ Talent ........ ---
Furious Assault ....................... 800 ............ Talent ........ ---“Guns. Tanks. Rockets. These weapons are only extensions of the only real weapon: the mind.” — Maharaja Shiva Nagordarika
CHAPTER ATTACK PATTERNS: THE TIGER POUNCES
Action: Free Action
Cost: 2
Sustained: Yes
Effects: The Fighting Tigers are adept at finding and exploiting even the smallest breaches in enemy lines. Once the moment comes the Battle-brother can lead his squad in assault that is quick as lighting and hard to stop. As long as every one in the squad is using at least a half action to move towards the enemy everyone within the support range of the Battle- brother will make all ranged and melee attacks first as if they automatically had higher initiative than the enemy does. If even one member of the squad voluntarily stops or is unable to move towards enemy the effect stops.
Improvements: If the Battle-brother is Rank 4 or more each member within the support range also has +10 to all to-hit rolls.CHAPTER DEFENSIVE STANCES: THE TIGER ROARS
Action: Reaction
Cost: 2
Sustained: No
Effects: The Fighting Tigers can prepare and launch a surprise attack in almost any tactical situation and are adept at turning ambushe situations around. At the start of any combat theFighting Tigerscan spend a Fate Point and any battle-brothers within support range of him immediately gain a Surprise Round as if they had Surprised their foes. He can do this even if the Kill-Team was Surprised. In this case the Fighting Tiger managed to turn the ambush around and enemy does not get Surprise Round.
Improvements: This ability cannot be improved.
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Please disregard the above; I thought this forum used BBCode, and I cannot figure out how to edit it.
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The Fighting Tigers of Veda
The Fighting Tigers of Veda are an old but relatively little known Space Marine Chapter stationed on the dangerous eastern side of the Maelstrom, an area of warp-space flux similar to the infamous Eye of Terror, in the Ultima Segmentum.The Fighting Tigers were established as Chapter #531 during the Nineteenth Founding, with Shiva Nagordarika as their first Maharaja (or Chapter Master). For thousands of years, it was assumed that Fighting Tigers were from Ultramarine geneseed stock, but recent tests have proved that they are in fact descended from the White Scars.
The Fighting Tigers were assigned to the Regulus Secundus system, with its large yellow star and nineteen planets (eleven of which are human habitable), and ordered to rid it of a large Dark Eldar pirate force, the Kabal of the Ozone Scorpions, that was preying upon the feudal-level human civilizations there. The Fighting Tigers swiftly defeated the Ozone Scorpions and claimed the ninth planet, Veda, as their own, adding its name to theirs. Shortly thereafter, the Tigers adopted Vedic names, languages, deities, customs, and traditions as their own, replacing the ones that had before.
Shiva Nagordarika ruled Veda and the Fighting Tigers for many centuries before he and the entire Chapter were lured into a trap and ambushed by the Chaos Lord Baalzephon Zgorch and his Khornate Chaos Space Marines, the Warband Bloodcomet. Shiva was crippled by a summoned Bloodthirster and more than eight-hundred Fighting Tigers perished before the remaining Space Marines and their allies defeated the Warband Bloodcomet and drove Zgorch into the Maelstrom.
Under Raja Surya Ashoka and Raja Shrendi Vashtar, the Fighting Tigers slowly recovered. Because Zgorch and his treacherous followers had killed so many Fighting Tigers as well as native warriors of Veda and the neighboring planets, Surya and Vashtar were forced to recruit women as Space Marines. Fortunately, their Apothecaries found the surgical processes little different from those used on men, and soon, guided by their death goddess Kali, female Fighting Tigers joined their male counterparts on the battlefields.
Shiva Nagordarika (reborn as the venerable Dreadnought Shiva the Destroyer) is still officially Maharaja, or Chapter Master, but in his debilitated state, the Fighting Tigers are actually led by the two Rajas, or Caste Commanders. Each Raja rules not only their half of the Chapter but also the native people living on their respective continent of Veda. The two Rajas regularly confer on issues affecting the Chapter as a whole and together guide the Chapter until (it is hoped) Shiva resumes his duties. As the centuries pass, this becomes increasingly unlikely.
Welcome to the Jungle
Veda is a large planet with a hot climate similar to many tropical and subtropical areas of Earth. There are two large continents, connected by several narrow land bridges, both located in the eastern hemisphere. Scattered islands dot the warm, shallow oceans that cover the rest of the planet.Both continents are populated by feudal level agrarian humans living in small villages. Villages are bound together into tribes, but all people of Veda bow to the Maharaja, the Chapter Master of the Fighting Tigers. Through him they faithfully serve and worship the Emperor, whom they call the Brahman, the Sleeping God whose dreams shape the universe.
The northern continent, Mahaduyana, has huge expanses of jungle broken occasionally by wide stretches of grassy plains. In the extreme north are several high mountain ranges, where snow falls year round. In Mahaduyana can be found titanium, adamantium, coal, and natural gas.
The southern continent, Ghuyarashtra, is roughly twice as large as Mahaduyana. Like Mahaduyana, there are some mountains and jungles, but most of Ghuyarashtra is covered by plains. Because of the rich, black soil and annual summer monsoons, these plains are very fertile. In addition, gold, silver, copper, and diamonds are found here. Roughly 65% of Veda’s human population lives in Ghuyarashtra.
“Go anywhere, fight anyone.”—unofficial Fighting Tigers mottoCombat Doctrine
The Fighting Tigers of Veda are charged with guarding many star systems lying due east of the Maelstrom, a dangerous area similar to the Eye of Terror. The Fighting Tigers mostly fight against the Orks, Dark Eldar, and Chaos Space Marines that infest the Maelstrom, but the Tigers have on occasion been called to other areas to battle Craftworld Eldar, Rebel Guard, Genestealer Cults, and Tyranids.Fighting Tigers have also clashed with Imperial forces a number of times. The most famous example was the Kyrniov Conflict. Offended that the Fighting Tigers were using female Space Marines, Confessor Kyrniov, supported by the Adepta Sororitas, led a brief, disastrous campaign to destroy the Tigers of Kali. After capturing Kyrniov, the Rajas negotiated a truce with him, but emnity between the Sisters of Battle and the Fighting Tigers remains.
In addition, the Fighting Tigers have only one Space Marine ally, the Space Wolves, who helped train the new Fighting Tiger recruits (including the first Tigers of Kali) after the heavy losses against the Warband Bloodcomet. Believing the Ultramarines to be arrogant, the Blood Angels to be damned to Chaos, and the Dark Angels to be perfidious, the Fighting Tigers rarely have anything to do with any of them.
“Do not confuse caution with cowardice. No Space Marine is expendable. Even if we kill 10,000 of the enemy, it is still a day of mourning, not celebration, if we lose even one of our own."—Raja Khandar MaduPast Experience
1) Blood Deserts of Auros IX: You took part to the long and bitter fighting over the world
of Auros IX against the massive Ork hordes. You are a veteran of the fierce rolling
battles fought in the deep deserts of Auros IX as your sabha clashed with the orks.
2) Return of the Ozone Scorpions: You took part to the long and bitter fighting on your chapeter's homeworld which the Dark Eldar once claimed as their own. You were deployed as a part of a Singh Squad aiding your kshatriya (captain) as part of his or her personal retinue. You fought with distinction during the deadly cat-and-mouse fights with Dark Eldar Wyches and Mandrakes.
3) Crewman: You served your chapter as a crewman in one of the chapter's combat vehicles,
perhaps manning a Predator's weapons, assisting in navigation of a Land Speeder, or keeping watch on the bridge of a battle barge. You have a deeper understanding of the role of vehicles in a campaign.
4) Black Ops: You've served in several ultra-secret operations of the chapter's covert operations sabha, developing a sharp eye and steady hand. You have assassinated several important heretical cultists and have developed quite a reputation as a sniper.
5) Tigers Eternal: You did aid in some way in the maintaining of the Chapters hallowed Dreadnaughts. These ancient and venerable warriors live on from from hallowed times, including Founder and first Chapter Master, Maharaja Shiva Nagordarika, filled with ancient knowledge and
battlefield tactics honed by millenia of war.FIGHTING TIGERS CHARACTERS
Fighting Tigers Space Marines gain the following benefits: +5 Willpower, +5 Perception,
and the Fearful Symmetry Solo Mode ability.FEARFUL SYMMETRY (FIGHTING TIGERS)
Jatis Mahaduyana emphasizes strength, Jatis Ghuyarashtra emphasizes speed, either approach resulting in a battle-brother that excells in close-combat.
Required Rank: 1
Effects: When the Battle-Brother succeeds to wound an enemy in close-combat he gets +10 to hit on his next ranged attack. When the Battle-Brother succeeds to wound an enemy with a ranged attack, he gets +10 to hit on his next attack in close-combat .
Improvements: At Rank 3 and above the Battle-brother also gains +2 to damage on his
next attack. At Rank 5 and above the Battle-brother also gains +2 to
penetration on his next attack. At Rank 7 and above the Battle-brother
can make the next attack as a free action immediately after the first attack is resolved. The next attack must be of a different type that the original (a ranged attack must be followed by a close-combat attack, and vice-versa).CHAPTER DEMEANOR: PROUD
Fighting Tigers Space Marines are extremely proud of their heritage and tactics, sometimes to the
point of being a bit hard to tolerate by those who follow the Codex Astartes more closely.VEDIC PRIDE (FIGHTING TIGERS)
Works exactly like Pride of Ultramar (Ultramarines), see page 281 for details.Fighting Tigers Chapter Advances
Survival 300 Skill --- Survival +10 400 Skill Survival Survival +20 600 Skill Survival+10 Tactics 400 Skill --- Tactics +10 400 Skill Tactics Tactics +20 400 Skill Tactics +10 Talented (Concealment) 500 Talent --- Talented (Move Silent) 500 Talent --- Hatred (Dark Eldar) 500 Talent --- Heightened Senses (Smell) 500 Talent --- Heightened Senses (Taste) 500 Talent --- Furious Assault 800 Talent ---
“Guns. Tanks. Rockets. These weapons are only extensions of the only real weapon: the mind.”—Maharaja Shiva Nagordarika
CHAPTER ATTACK PATTERNS: THE TIGER POUNCES
Action: Free Action
Cost: 2
Sustained: Yes
Effects: The Fighting Tigers are adept at finding and exploiting even the smallest breaches
in enemy lines. Once the moment comes the Battle-brother can lead his squad in assault
that is quick as lighting and hard to stop. As long as every one in the squad is using at least a
half action to move towards the enemy everyone within the support range of the Battle-
brother will make all ranged and melee attacks first as if they automatically had higher
initiative than the enemy does. If even one member of the squad voluntarily stops or is unable
to move towards enemy the effect stops.
Improvements: If the Battle-brother is Rank 4 or more each member within the support
range also has +10 to all to-hit rolls.CHAPTER DEFENSIVE STANCES: THE TIGER ROARS
Action: Reaction
Cost: 2
Sustained: No
Effects: The Fighting Tigers can prepare and launch a surprise attack in almost any
tactical situation and are adept at turning ambushe situations around. At the start of any
combat theFighting Tigerscan spend a Fate Point and any battle-brothers within
support range of him immediately gain a Surprise Round as if they had Surprised their
foes. He can do this even if the Kill-Team was Surprised. In this case the Fighting Tiger
managed to turn the ambush around and enemy does not get Surprise Round.
Improvements: This ability cannot be improved.
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