Additional Rules
Epic 40K - General

Wrath of God Detachments
Support and Recon


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Notes

This is something that I have been thinking about for a while, but didnt get around to until I had one of those relatively rare inspirations of simply making the detachment almost identicle in structure to all the other detachments, and to try to give each race a support which was characterful and different, but not outstanding or heaps better than any other. So, this detachment was born. The ideas for Recon and Off Table Support have been around for a while, and we wanted Recon in the game from the start. It may seem a bit of a homage to earlier versions of the game, I am OK with that.

Background

It is rare that an army marches to war with little or no support. Forces are observed by orbital barges and miles behind the front line are artillery pieces which are static and with such a range that movement is not necessary. The ebb and flow of battle is watched by commanders, scholars and reporters alike, from their relative safety. On the front line, certain types of troops are given the responsibility of observing the enemy formations and bringing down retribution. These units are often veterans, but are lightly armoured and fast units, able to sneak in and report before disappearing. They work alone, or in small groups so that the enemy is unable to detect them, or they are simply not perceived as a threat until it is too late.

Imperial orbital barrages are controlled and measured, the enemy is suddenly thrown into turmoil as they are pounded by heavy shells. Often this is the precursor to a strong advance of Imperial forces. Eldar barrages are more exact, as high powered lasers and lances target units, little is able to withstand such a direct hit. Chaos barrages are unique in that they may include orbital barrages, siege and artillery, or even psychic storms which errupt from the very ground. The Tyranids use a spore launching, targetting units and the battlefield in the dual effort of causing disruption and to throw more forces into the fray. The Ork barrages are almost wild. Ork recon units call down firepower onto their own position in a fashion that only an Ork would contemplate! The barrage consists of heavy shells and anything that can be dropped or thrown out of an Ork Cruiser in orbit - it is not uncommon for infantry to find furniture and equipment raining down onto them, and even an unfortunate Gretchin.

Using These Rules

Any army except Genestealer Cult Armies can take a Wrath of God detachment. However, each force may only field one for a battle (although several may exist in a campaign or complete army). The detachments exist and are selected in the normal way, except that you may only have a maximum of five choices for the Main and Support selections, instead of the normal ten. While it is possible to have no Main or no Support choices, this makes the detachment unable to function. At least one selection from each is necessary to use Orbital Support.

All Support units in the Wrath of God detachment have the Recon special ability, however any transports bought for the unit do not have this ability.

Wrath of God
Main Force: Make up to 5 choices from the following list Support: Make up to 5 choices from the following list, but you may not exceed the number of Main Force choices
Imperial Forces
Imperial Orbital Barrage 100 Points
1 Rough Rider stand 12 Points
1-2 Imperial Sentinels 10 Points each
1 Space Marine Scout stand 18 Points
  0-1 Rhino (Scout Transport) +7 Points
1-2 Space Marine Land Speeders 22 Points each
Eldar Forces
Eldar Tsunami Orbital Barrage 100 Points
1-2 Vypers 24 Points each
1 Eldar Scout stand 12 Points
  0-1 Falcon (Scout Transport) +29 Points
Chaos Forces
Chaos Warpstorm Orbital Barrage 100 Points
1 Veteran Marine stand 18 Points
  0-1 Rhino (Veteran Transport) +7 Points
1 Chaos Biker stand 12 Points
1 Khorne Juggernaught stand 17 Points
1 Slaanesh Steed stand 27 Points
1 Tzeentch Disc Rider stand 17 Points
Tyranid Forces
Tyranid Spore Barrage 100 Points
1 Lictor 19 Points
1 Zoanthrope 17 Points
Ork Forces
Ork Bangin' Barrage 100 Points
1 Stormboyz stand 14 Points
1 Kommandos stand 14 Points
  0-1 Battlewagon (Kommandos Transport) +14 Points

Statistics

Each race has its own type of Orbital Barrage. Where needed, assume that the Recon is firing the barrage.

Imperial Orbital Barrage - One detachment within 60cm and in line of sight of the Recon unit suffers 3D6 firepower hits, modify for terrain as normal.

Eldar Tsunami Orbital Barrage - One detachment with 45cm and within line of sight of the Recon unit suffers 2D6 anti-tank hits. Modify for terrain as normal.

Chaos Warpstorm Orbital Barrage - One detachment within 45cm and within line of sight of the Recon unit suffers 2D6 firepower hits, but do not modify for terrain at all.

Tyranid Spore Barrage - One detachment within 45cm and within line of sight of the Recon unit suffers 2D6 firepower hits, modified for terrain as normal. Additionally, pick a point within 30cm of the HQ unit of the enemy detachment and place D6 Hormagaunt stands within 5cm of this point, but not in close combat.

Ork Bangin' Barrage - Any enemy detachment with a stand within 30cm of the Recon unit (line of sight is not necessary) suffers 2D6 firepower hits, modified for terrain as normal. However, each member of the Recon unit (including any transport) also takes a single hit.

Genestealers - Genestealers do not use Orbital craft of their own, and are unlikely to have access to the heavy artillery required. Therefore, they may not use a Wrath of God detachment.

Chaos Riders - Chaos Recon units are often favoured Marines, mounted on the steed of their patron.

Chaos Riders
Unit Points Speed Range FP Assault Armour Notes
Khorne Juggernaughts 17 10cm 30cm 1 3 5+ Rapid Fire, Cavalry, Recon
Slaanesh Steeds 17 10cm 30cm 1 3 5+ Rapid Fire, Cavalry, Recon
Tzeentch Disc Riders 17 10cm 30cm 1 3 5+ Rapid Fire, Cavalry, Skimmer, Recon

Special Rules

  • All Support units, except transports, are considered to have the Recon special ability.
  • A Recon unit can choose call down a single orbital barrage in a turn, but may call more than one during the course of a game.
  • The Recon ability adds +2 points to the cost of the unit (already included in the Wrath of God detachment above). Other stats for the unit are unchanged.
  • Recon units are considered independant, a Recon unit is treated as a mini detachment of its own. Each Recon unit must remain within 30cm of at least one other Recon unit. Transport units must remain within 30cm of a Recon unit. Otherwise, any units not within 30cm are Out of Command, this means that if two Land Speeders more than 30cm away, then they are both Out of Command. However, if only transport units are Out of Command, then the Recon units are not considered Out of Command.
  • Air units cannot be the target of orbital barrages.
  • If a Recon unit calls down a barrage, this counts as its firing for the turn, although if in a pair its partner may fire as normal.
  • Recon units reveal enemy hidden setup counters at 30cm, instead of 15cm. Dummy counters revealed by recon units are never booby traps, only ever dummies or mine fields.
  • Recon units function deep inside enemy lines, and are often hidden even from their own units. They are unnoticed and do not affect the armies Morale. The Wrath of God detchment does not use Morale at any time, even when the rest of the army does. This means that you do not add the Morale value of the detachment to the army total, neither do you delete Morale when Recon units are destroyed or when the unit suffers blast markers. The detachment will retreat when the army Morale drops below a certain level as normal. Recon units cannot be used to take or hold objectives.

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Date: 16/11/2001
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