This was pretty interessting! Maybe something for the Imperial revision?
Eivind
-----Original Message-----
From: talos402000 [mailto:allis0nbayaushi_at_...]
Sent: 13. april 2002 22:27
To: netepic_at_yahoogroups.com
Subject: [NetEpic ML] article on robots I found; not mine
I found this aricle while surfing the net and thought the group
might like to see it. These units are not mine.
Imperial Robots
With eerie electric grace the conqueror strode forward, looking for
targets. Its sensor probes were fully extended and it perceptions
covered a far broader spectrum than those of the flesh things that
were its prey.
Olfactory receptors picked up a cloud of pheromones. The conqueror
subjected them to analysis. Marines. A metallic odour compounded
with oil. They were being accompanied by a Dreadnought. With
terrible, inhuman patience the killer robot set itself to wait. It
froze in position, shutting down all non-essential systems to reduce
the chance of detection.
IMPERIAL ROBOTS
Imperial battle robots are maintained by the Legio Cybernetica,
which is a fighting arm of the Adeptus Mechanicus in the same way as
the Collegia Titanica. They are assigned to Space Marine forces for
battlefield duties, but are not part of the Legions Astartes.
Robots have seen service in just about every campaign of the Horus
Heresy so far. Perhaps one of the most famous robot-vs-robot actions
took place in the Eastern Industrial sector of Myrdinn City during
the Scouring of Entessian, when a small but well-programed force of
Traitor robots held off a small force of Fire Wasp Titans supported
by dreadnoughts and robots for almost an hour, causing considerable
disruption to the planned flanking sweep.
The majority of Imperial robots which have seen service in the Horus
Heresy belonged to the following five classes:
Castellan: The Castellan class is a heavy assault robot, slower than
the Crusader but more heavily armed. The most common configuration
concentrates on anti-personnel weapons.
Move CAF Save Weapons Range AD To Hit S.M. Special
10cm +2 5+ Storm Bolters 25cm 2 4+ -1 ---
Cataphract: This in one of the heaviest of the Imperial battle
robots, designed for a general-purpose role with the accent on
versatility and durability.
Move CAF Save Weapons Range AD To Hit S.M. Special
5cm +2 5+ Lascannon 75cm 1 5+ -2 ---
Flamer 25cm 1 5+ - ignores
cover
Colossus: The Colossus was developed as a siege robot, but has
proved itself sufficiently versatile to take on a wider range of
battlefield roles, including support and assault.
Move CAF Save Weapons Range AD To Hit S.M. Special
10cm +2 5+ Thermal Cannon 25cm 1 4+ -3 ---
Note: Carries Siege Hammer, before CC is initiated the Imperial
player may select one target stand which takes a hit on 4+ with a -2
Save Mod.
Conqueror: The Conqueror is very effective against infantry, and its
broad range of weapons suit it for every situation from support to
close assault.
Move CAF Save Weapons Range AD To Hit S.M. Special
10cm +2 5+ Autocannon 50cm 1 5+ --- ---
Crusader: The Crusader class was designed for speed and agility, and
has been most successful in close assaults against infantry and
other walkers. It has also been effective in the role of tank-
killer, thanks to its speed and the firepower of its back-m ounted
lase-cannon.
Move CAF Save Weapons Range AD To Hit S.M. Special
15cm +4 none Lascannon 75cm 1 5+ -2 ---
Robot Programs
Each robot detachment (not each individual robot) must be given one
program for the duration of the game. Place a program marker beside
each detachment at the start of the game. The program marker may not
be changed once the game has started.
The order counter that is given to a robot detachment in each order
phase is decided by the detachment's program. Read down the list of
conditions under each order until you find the first case that
applies to any of the robots in the detachment. You mu st always
start at the top of the list and work down stopping at the first
case that applies - even if it only applies to one of the
detachment's robots. The following programs are available:
Battle Program: This is a general-purpose program, which makes the
robot detachment seek out and engage the nearest enemy.
Condition Orders: Enemy infantry stand within charge range? Charge.
Enemy within weapon range? First Fire. Enemy in sight? Advance. No
enemy in site? No Orders.
Support Program: As its name suggests, the support program makes the
robot detachment avoid close combat with the enemy, while laying
down support fire for friendly units.
Condition Orders: Enemy stand within charge range? Fall Back. Enemy
within weapon range? First Fire. Enemy in sight? Advance. No enemy
in sight? No Orders.
Defensive Program: This program is used when a robot detachment is
used to defend a point on the battlefield. The robots will fire on
any enemy units within range, and charge into close combat with any
enemy stand that comes too close.
Condition Orders: Enemy infantry stand within charge range? Charge.
Enemy within weapon range? First Fire. Enemy in sight? First Fire.
No enemy in sight? No Orders.
Take and Hold: This orders the detachment to advance to a nominated
point and defend it.
Condition Orders: Enemy infantry stand within charge range? Charge.
Objective not yet taken? Advance. Enemy in weapon range? First Fire.
No enemy in sight? No Orders.
Notes about robot orders:
Charge Orders: Charge nearest enemy - the robots must enter close
combat if possible.
Advance Orders: Advance twords nearest enemy (or objective if using
Take and Hold program). Fire on the nearest enemy in the Advanced
Fire phase.
First Fire Orders: Fire on nearest enemy.
Fall Back Orders: Move directly away from the nearest enemy. If
there is more than one enemy stand or model, move so that no stand
ends the turn closer to any enemy than it started. (The robots are
moving to avoid close combat.) Since this order is jus t a
representation of the robots program there is no close combat
penalty for robots that are caught on fall back. Additionally, any
robots on fall back must fire on the nearest enemy in the Advance
Fire phase.
No Orders: The detachment remains stationary. If an enemy moves
within weapons range later in the movement phase, the robots fire at
the nearest enemy during the Advance Fire phase. Robots with no
orders are assumed to be in stealth mode so they can no t be
targeted from over 25 cm unless they have already fired a weapon in
the phase.
All the other robot rules from AOI (Armies of the Imperium) and the
back of the robot detachment card remain the same.
Some final thoughts
First almost all of the above text is copywrite GW Ltd. 1989 (for
whatever legal slack that will gain me!)
How did I come up with the robot data? I feel the most important
thing is to keep the value of the robots consistent. That is, no
single robot type should be "better" than the others AND all the
types should be worth about 100 points so the card value s tays the
same.
As for the data. The Conqueror is the "average" robot represented in
AOI. The other robot were adjusted based on this. For example, the
Castellan and Colossus each gain an extra weapon and a better to hit
and SM at the expense of range. (And again, th e idea for the Siege
Hammer belongs to E. Scheuerman.) The Cataphract gain a weapon and a
better SM at the expense of speed. The Crusader (which, IMO, is the
coolest of the models) gains speed, CAF and a better SM at the
expense of its save.
On the surface, these are not really exciting units and some people
might argue that all this "programs and orders" stuff is a lot of
work for a 100 point detachment. True. But, like I put in my
signature line "it's the little things." By that I mean th at the
fun is in the details. Point for point, the land raider company is
one of the best deals in the game, but wouldn't think of fielding
five companies of L.S. for a 3,000 point game. One of the best
things about the Epic system is the incredible var iety of troops
and vehicles. Things like robots add a little extra spice, and the
model are way cool!
BTW, these little babies can be hell on chaos - "plague wind THIS
you anorexic son-of-a-bitch."
Presented by Dan Taylor
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Received on Sun Apr 14 2002 - 12:22:23 UTC