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Get 5+ Invulnerable Saves On All Your Free Transports!

By Gothmog | November 3rd, 2015 | Categories: Forge World, Miniature Wargaming Editorials, Space Marines

ultramarines legion

Do you run a full Gladius Strike Force? Are you looking to make your FREE tanks even better? Well check this out!

Recently I emailed Forge World about their characters and the viability of using them in a Gladius Strike Force

“To whom it may concern,

Per the rules right now, you cannot take Space Marine Characters from Imperial Armour books/the Character Update online in a Gladius SF. Is this just an oversight or will this be corrected?

 Can I take Forge World Space Marines in place of characters from a Gladius Strike Force (ie instead of the Generic Captain, Chaplain, or Librarian), and any of its composite formations (Battle Demi-Company, Strike Force Command, Reclusiam Command Squad, and Librarius Conclave)?”
Here is the response I received:

“Hi.

 Our rules guys will be working on an errata/faq to cover how the Forge World Space Marine characters and units interact with the new Codex: Space Marines. We can’t tell you when this this will happen as we simply don’t know at the moment but hopefully it shouldn’t be too far away.

In the meantime we think it’s perfectly acceptable to replace any of the special characters mentioned in the Gladius Strike Force formations with any of the Badab War characters where appropriate. By this last point we mean Captains exchanged for Captains, Chaplains for Chaplains and Chapter Masters or Chapters Masters etc.”

So I am taking this as a definitive yes for now. If you choose not to, I understand, but it is good enough for me.

Now there is one Forgeworld Character who SCREAMS USE ME for a full Gladius Strike Force

Captain Tarnus Vale! (Rules are downloadable here from FW)

So what does Vale bring? Well other than Ultramarines doctrine goodness to a GIGANTIC formation of marines, you also get the Warlord Trait “storm of fire” from the codex AND he grants Tank Hunters to a unit. Plus he and has these two GREAT rules:

  • Master Gunner: Any friendly vehicle with the sub-type (Tank) chosen from Codex: Space Marines or the Space Marine Siege Assault Vanguard army list in which Captain Vale is being transported gains the benefit of his Ballistic Skill and the Tank Hunters special rule.
  • Unstoppable Advance: All Rhinos, Razorbacks and Land Raiders in a primary detachment commanded by Tarnus Vale gain an Invulnerable save of 5+ against glancing hits.

5+ INVUL SAVES ON ALL YOUR FREE TANKS!!!! AND when you get to LARGE games, you can include a Land Raider Formations as one of the mandatory Auxilary Choices for the Gladius SF and give them a 5+ invuln (on top of ignoring most damage already!)

Space Marine walpaper

That combo seems crazy good, in a world of gargantuan creatures and super shooty Tau I think marine players may just have something new to look forward too!

So if you are not one to walk the beaten tactical path, then come check out more articles like this on Sepulchre of Heroes, home of the 9th Legion. You can also find there plenty of other thoughts and discussions on the hobby and Warhammer 40k, particularly Blood Angels. We feature ample hobby content in painting and kitbashing and cover several GW specialist games such as Battlefleet Gothic and Blood Bowl. Working daily to Bring the Hobby Back, so check us out!

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About the Author: Gothmog

Hobbyist and Gamer since 1999. Blood Angels faithful since the beginning. I am also big into various GW Specialist Games and Historical Wargames. Love the hobby, love the fluff, Grognard for life. @Gotmog_Balrog www.sepulchreofheroes.blogspot.com